Heat pump system, air conduction assembly for a heat pump system and method for operating a heat pump system

Abstract

The invention relates to a heat pump system 100 for outdoor installation with a refrigerant circuit, wherein the heat pump system comprises an evaporator 110, a guide area 120, a fan 130 and an external opening 160, wherein the guide area is arranged on the evaporator and is configured to guide air that enters the guide area from the evaporator towards the fan, wherein the fan is arranged on the guide area and is configured to transport air that is guided towards the fan towards the external opening, wherein the heat pump system further comprises a refrigeration circuit space 140, wherein the refrigerant circuit is arranged in the refrigeration circuit space (140), and wherein the refrigeration circuit space has a fluid connection 150 with the guide area.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of heat pump systems and in particular to heat pump systems for outdoor installation with a refrigerant circuit, an air duct arrangement for a heat pump system and a method for operating a heat pump system.

[0002] When using a flammable refrigerant heavier than air in a heat pump system's refrigerant circuit, it has been recognized that if the refrigerant (unintentionally) escapes from the refrigerant circuit, there is a risk that the refrigerant could escape from the heat pump system in an uncontrolled and uncontrolled manner. This can then result in a highly flammable amount of refrigerant reaching the area around the heat pump system. This creates a more or less large area containing a flammable gas mixture.

[0003] Therefore, the use of a flammable refrigerant in a heat pump system represents a hazard that requires protective countermeasures.

[0004] An object underlying the present invention is to increase the safety of a heat pump system using a flammable refrigerant or to reduce a hazard caused by the use of a flammable refrigerant.

[0005] According to a first aspect of the invention, a heat pump system for outdoor installation with a refrigerant circuit is proposed, as defined in claim 1, wherein the heat pump system has an evaporator, a guide region, a fan and an external opening, wherein the guide region is arranged on the evaporator and is designed to guide air which passes from the evaporator into the guide region in the direction of the fan, wherein the fan is arranged on the guide region and is designed to transport air which is guided in the direction of the fan in the direction of the external opening, wherein the heat pump system further has a refrigerant circuit installation space, wherein the refrigerant circuit is arranged in the refrigerant circuit installation space and wherein the refrigerant circuit installation space has a fluid connection with the guide region.

[0006] The heat pump system according to the invention allows a flammable refrigerant to be easily discharged through the external opening via the guide area upon escaping from the refrigerant circuit. This allows escaping refrigerant to be guided and discharged in a controlled manner.

[0007] The heat pump system corresponds to a heat pump and is preferably an air-water heat pump and more preferably designed and configured for outdoor installation. The heat pump system or heat pump has a refrigerant circuit. The heat pump system also has an evaporator.

[0008] Correct installation of the heat pump system or heat pump defines an upper side of the heat pump and a lower side of the heat pump. Specifically, an upper side of the guide area or the refrigerant circuit installation space points toward the upper side of the heat pump, and a lower side of the guide area or the refrigerant circuit installation space points toward the lower side of the heat pump. Furthermore, the heat pump system has a rear side and a front side, with a rear side of the guide area facing toward the rear of the heat pump and a front side of the guide area facing toward the front of the heat pump.

[0009] The heat pump system includes an evaporator, a guide section, a fan and an outside opening.

[0010] The evaporator of the heat pump system is arranged at a rear side of the heat pump system, wherein the guide region is arranged from the evaporator of the heat pump system towards a front side of the heat pump system and guides air from the evaporator towards the front side of the heat pump system.

[0011] In particular, the guide area forms an air duct that guides the air on four sides from the evaporator towards the front of the heat pump system.

[0012] The guide area is preferably prismatic. The guide area is a region between the evaporator of the heat pump and a fan. The guide area is preferably defined by a guide assembly, wherein the guide assembly delimits the guide area on at least four sides of the guide area. The guide area is further delimited on a fifth side of the guide area by the evaporator, in particular a surface of the evaporator, and on a sixth side by the fan.

[0013] The fan (or several fans) is designed to transport air, which in particular comes from the evaporator and is guided toward the fan, toward the outside opening. The fan can be any type of fan, particularly a known one, with the fan having, for example, three or four fan blades.

[0014] Preferably, the evaporator fan is used, ie preferably the evaporator comprises an evaporator fan and the fan corresponds to the evaporator fan.

[0015] Preferably, the fan, which particularly preferably corresponds to the evaporator fan, conveys a volume flow with which escaping refrigerant is diluted below a lower explosion limit of 0.038 kg / m 3<.

[0016] The heat pump system further comprises a refrigeration circuit installation space. The refrigeration circuit installation space is arranged, in particular, adjacent to the guide installation space, i.e., viewed from a front or rear side of the heat pump system, it is arranged next to the guide installation space. A large part of the refrigerant circuit of the heat pump system is arranged within the refrigeration circuit installation space. A large part of the refrigerant circuit here refers, in particular, to the compressor, the connected refrigerant lines, and the expansion valve. Furthermore, the refrigeration circuit installation space has a fluid connection to the guide area.

[0017] In a preferred embodiment, the heat pump system is designed to guide a refrigerant, which passes from the refrigerant circuit into the refrigeration circuit space, through the fluid connection into the guide area.

[0018] In a further advantageous embodiment, the refrigerant circuit is enclosed, in particular completely enclosed, by the refrigeration circuit installation space. This means that the refrigeration circuit installation space provides a housing for the refrigerant circuit that surrounds the refrigerant circuit on all sides. Particularly preferably, the refrigeration circuit installation space is designed to be sealed, meaning that no openings lead out of the refrigeration circuit installation space (except for the fluid connection), and any refrigerant that enters the refrigeration circuit installation space remains there or is guided into the guide area through the fluid connection.

[0019] In a further preferred embodiment, the refrigeration circuit installation space has a first wall and the guide region has a second wall, wherein the fluid connection runs from the first wall to the second wall and connects an interior space of the refrigeration circuit installation space with an interior space of the guide region. In particular, the refrigeration circuit installation space and the guide installation space can thus be realized as two separate assemblies, which can then be connected to one another by the fluid connection.

[0020] The fluid connection is preferably arranged closer to the upper side of the heat pump system than to the lower side of the heat pump system. The fluid connection is therefore also arranged closer to the upper side of the refrigeration circuit installation space and the guide region than to the lower side of the refrigeration circuit installation space and the guide region. This ensures that the refrigerant is better mixed with air in the guide region. In particular, the refrigerant is preferably heavier than air, so that when flowing out from a higher position it sinks downwards and mixes more thoroughly with air than when flowing out from a lower position, which can lead to the formation of a lake of concentrated refrigerant that only slowly mixes with air through diffusion processes.

[0021] In a further advantageous embodiment, the heat pump system further comprises a refrigerant detector, wherein the refrigerant detector is arranged in the refrigeration circuit installation space, wherein the heat pump system is configured to control the fan based on a detector signal from the refrigerant detector. Additionally or alternatively, a (further) refrigerant detector can be arranged in the guide area. This allows the fan's operation to be used specifically to remove leaked refrigerant.

[0022] According to the invention, in a second aspect, an air guide arrangement for a heat pump system with an evaporator is proposed, as defined in claim 7, namely an air guide arrangement with a guide region and a fan, wherein the guide region is designed to guide air that passes from the evaporator into the guide region in the direction of the fan, wherein the fan is arranged on the guide region and is designed to transport air that is guided in the direction of the fan in the direction of an outer opening, wherein the guide region has an inner opening that is designed to provide a fluid connection between the guide region and a refrigeration circuit installation space.

[0023] According to a further aspect of the invention, a method for operating a heat pump system for outdoor installation with a refrigerant circuit is proposed, as defined in claim 8, wherein the method comprises the steps of: (i) guiding air emerging from the evaporator in the direction of a fan through a guide region, (ii) transporting air guided in the direction of the fan in the direction of an external opening of the heat pump system through the fan, (iii) guiding a refrigerant from a refrigeration circuit space into the guide region through a fluid connection, and (iv) transporting the refrigerant guided from the refrigeration circuit space into the guide region in the direction of the external opening of the heat pump system through the fan.

[0024] Preferably, the fan is driven in such a way that a concentration of the refrigerant in the guide region is reduced below a lower explosion limit.

[0025] The method preferably comprises a further step of detecting a refrigerant quantity in the refrigeration circuit space by a refrigerant detector and operating the fan based on a detector signal of the refrigerant detector.

[0026] Features of advantageous embodiments of the invention are defined in particular in the subclaims, wherein further advantageous features, embodiments and configurations can also be gathered by the person skilled in the art from the above explanation and the following discussion.

[0027] In the following, the present invention is further illustrated and explained with reference to exemplary embodiments shown in the figures. Fig. 1 is a schematic horizontal sectional view to illustrate a first embodiment of the heat pump system according to the invention, Fig. 2 is a schematic vertical sectional view to illustrate the first embodiment of the heat pump system according to the invention from the front, and Fig. 3 is a schematic flow diagram of an embodiment of the method according to the invention.

[0028] In the accompanying drawings and the explanations to these drawings, corresponding or related elements are - where appropriate - identified by corresponding or similar reference numerals, even if they are found in different embodiments.

[0029] Fig. 1 shows a schematic horizontal sectional view to illustrate a first embodiment of the heat pump system according to the invention. In particular, the heat pump system 100 is intended and configured for outdoor installation. The heat pump system comprises a refrigerant circuit. The refrigerant circuit is arranged in a refrigeration circuit space 140. The refrigeration circuit space is arranged on a first side of the heat pump system 100 (in Fig. 1 left) and particularly sealed, except for a fluid connection 150 for the targeted removal of escaping refrigerant. The heat pump system 100 also has an evaporator 110, a guide area 120, a fan 130 and an outer opening 160, wherein the outer opening in Fig. 1 directed downwards. The evaporator 110, the guide area 129 and the fan 130 are arranged on a second side of the heat pump system 100 (in Fig. 1 right).

[0030] The guide area 120 is arranged on the evaporator 110 and designed to direct air that passes from the evaporator 110 into the guide area 120 in the direction of the fan 130, ie in Fig. 1 downwards. The fan 130 is arranged on the guide area 120 and designed to guide air that comes out of the evaporator 110 and is guided towards the fan 120 towards the outside opening, ie in Fig. 1 downwards, to transport.

[0031] Between the refrigeration circuit space 140 and the guide area 120, the heat pump system 100 has a fluid connection 150. The fluid connection 150 enables a refrigerant that exits in the refrigeration circuit space 140 to be guided into the guide area 120. This means that the heat pump system 100 is designed to guide a refrigerant that enters the refrigeration circuit space 140 from the refrigerant circuit through the fluid connection 150 into the guide area 120 (see arrow in Fig. 1 ).

[0032] Thus, refrigerant that enters the refrigeration circuit space 140 from the refrigerant circuit can be guided or transported through the fluid connection 150 into the guide area 120 and further via the fan 130 through the outer opening 160 out of the heat pump system 100.

[0033] Fig. 2 shows a schematic vertical sectional view to illustrate the first embodiment of the heat pump system according to the invention.

[0034] In particular, Fig. 2 the outer opening 160 can be seen, which in Fig. 2 directed towards the viewer. The refrigeration circuit chamber 140 is on the left side in Fig. 2 and the evaporator 110 with the guide area 120 on the right side in Fig. 2 arranged.

[0035] Further in Fig. 2 It can be seen that the fluid connection 150 is arranged closer to the upper side of the heat pump system 100 than to the lower side of the heat pump system 100.

[0036] Fig. 3 shows a schematic flow diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a method according to the invention. The method 200 is provided for operating a heat pump system for outdoor installation, wherein the heat pump system has a refrigerant circuit. In particular, the heat pump system can be the heat pump system 100.

[0037] In a first step 210, air emerging from the evaporator is guided through a guide region toward a fan. In a second step 220, air guided toward the fan is transported by the fan toward an external opening of the heat pump system. In a step 230, refrigerant that enters the refrigeration circuit space, particularly due to a defect, is guided from the refrigeration circuit space into the guide region through a fluid connection. Furthermore, in a step 240, the refrigerant that is guided from the refrigeration circuit space into the guide region is transported by the fan toward the external opening of the heat pump system.

[0038] Although various aspects or features of the invention are shown in combination in the figures, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art—unless otherwise stated—that the illustrated and discussed combinations are not the only possible ones. In particular, corresponding units or feature complexes from different embodiments can be interchanged.

[0039] Further considerations regarding the invention follow: In a preferred embodiment, the heat pump system comprises an arrangement of a refrigeration circuit space such that it is tightly enclosed (leakage < 5 cm² cumulative). The refrigeration circuit space comprises a fluid connection, wherein an opening of the refrigeration circuit space for the fluid connection to the guide area is particularly preferably > 40 cm². Additionally or alternatively, the opening for the fluid connection to the guide area is arranged at the highest possible point on a suction side of the evaporator.

[0040] If flammable refrigerant escapes, it is specifically removed via the ducting area, which can also be considered the evaporator air duct. The preferred, targeted discharge at an elevated location has the advantage that the refrigerant is more effectively diluted as it flows out than with a discharge near the ground, thus reducing the likelihood of areas with high refrigerant concentrations occurring outside the heat pump, which could potentially enter the building through open windows, doors, or light shafts.

[0041] By preferentially operating the fan, which can also be the evaporator fan, the distribution of the flammable refrigerant can be further improved. For example, at a flow rate of 150-400 m / h, the flammable refrigerant can be diluted to a non-critical, non-flammable concentration.

[0042] The operation of the fan for refrigerant dilution can be continuous, e.g. at very low speed and a power consumption of < 3 W, or initiated by a detector that can detect escaping flammable refrigerant.

[0043] The invention relates to a heat pump system for outdoor installation with a refrigerant circuit, wherein the heat pump system has an evaporator, a guide region, a fan and an external opening, wherein the guide region is arranged on the evaporator and is designed to guide air which passes from the evaporator into the guide region in the direction of the fan, wherein the fan is arranged on the guide region and is designed to transport air which is guided in the direction of the fan in the direction of the external opening, wherein the heat pump system further has a refrigerant circuit installation space, wherein the refrigerant circuit is arranged in the refrigerant circuit installation space, and wherein the refrigerant circuit installation space has a fluid connection with the guide region.

Claims

1. Heat pump system (100) for outdoor installation with a refrigerant circuit, wherein the heat pump system (100) has an evaporator (110), a guide area (120), a fan (130) and an external opening (160), wherein the guide area (120) is arranged on the evaporator (110) and is designed to guide air, which passes from the evaporator (110) into the guide area (120), in the direction of the fan (130), wherein the fan (130) is arranged on the guide area (120) and is designed to transport air, which is guided in the direction of the fan (130), in the direction of the external opening (160), wherein the heat pump system (100) further has a refrigeration circuit installation space (140), wherein the refrigerant circuit is arranged in the refrigeration circuit installation space (140), and wherein the refrigeration circuit installation space (140) has a fluid connection (150) with the guide area (120).

2. Heat pump system (100) according to claim 1, wherein the heat pump system (100) is designed to guide a refrigerant, which passes from the refrigerant circuit into the refrigeration circuit space (140), through the fluid connection (150) into the guide region (120).

3. Heat pump system (100) according to one of claims 1 and 2, wherein the refrigeration circuit installation space (140) is designed such that the refrigerant circuit is enclosed, in particular completely enclosed, by the refrigeration circuit installation space (140).

4. Heat pump system (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the evaporator (110) comprises an evaporator fan and wherein the fan (110) corresponds to the evaporator fan.

5. Heat pump system (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the fan (110) is designed to convey a volume flow with which escaping refrigerant falls below a lower explosion limit of 0.038 kg / m 3 is diluted.

6. Heat pump system (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the refrigeration circuit space (140) has a first wall and the guide region (120) has a second wall, wherein the fluid connection (150) runs from the first wall to the second wall and connects an interior space of the refrigeration circuit space (140) to an interior space of the guide region (120).

7. Heat pump system (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the heat pump system (100) has an upper side and a lower side, wherein the fluid connection (150) is arranged closer to the upper side of the heat pump system (100) than to the lower side of the heat pump system (100).

8. Heat pump system (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the heat pump system (100) further comprises a refrigerant detector, wherein the refrigerant detector is arranged in the refrigeration circuit space (140), wherein the heat pump system (100) is configured to control the fan (130) based on a detector signal of the refrigerant detector.

9. An air guide arrangement for a heat pump system (100) having an evaporator (110), the air guide arrangement comprising a guide region (120) and a fan (130), the guide region (120) being designed to guide air, which passes from the evaporator (110) into the guide region (120), in the direction of the fan (130), the fan (130) being arranged on the guide region (120) and being designed to transport air, which is guided in the direction of the fan (130), in the direction of an outer opening (140), the guide region (120) having an inner opening which is designed to provide a fluid connection (150) between the guide region (120) and a refrigeration circuit space (140).

10. A method (200) for operating a heat pump system for outdoor installation with a refrigerant circuit and an evaporator, the method comprising the steps of: guiding (210) air coming from the evaporator in the direction of a fan through a guide region, transporting (220) air guided in the direction of the fan in the direction of an external opening of the heat pump system through the fan, guiding (230) a refrigerant from a refrigeration circuit space into the guide region through a fluid connection, and transporting (240) the refrigerant guided from the refrigeration circuit space into the guide region in the direction of the external opening of the heat pump system through the fan.

Images