Interconnection device for a heat exchange block of a heat pump, heat pump, drying device and method for operating an interconnection device

Abstract

The invention relates to a connection device (115) for a heat exchanger block (200) of a heat pump (110), wherein the connection device (115) comprises an inlet pipe (210) for introducing a coolant and / or refrigerant into the connection device (115), a tripod element (215) for dividing the coolant and / or refrigerant in parallel into a first temperature control circuit (220) and at least one further temperature control circuit (225), wherein the tripod element (215) is fluidically connected to the inlet pipe (210), at least one further tripod element (230) for combining the divided coolant and / or refrigerant from the first temperature control circuit (220) and the further temperature control circuit (225), and an outlet pipe (235) for releasing the coolant and / or refrigerant from the connection device (115), wherein the outlet pipe (235) is connected to the further Tripod element (230) is fluidically connected.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a connecting device for a heat exchanger block of a heat pump, a heat pump, a drying device and a method for operating a connecting device.

[0002] DE 10 2017 118 433 A1 describes a heat exchanger for a refrigerant circuit of a heat pump unit for a household appliance, pipe connection element and heat pump unit for a household appliance. The approach presented here aims to improve

[0003] To create a connecting device for a heat exchanger block of a heat pump, an improved heat pump, an improved drying device and an improved method for operating a connecting device.

[0004] According to the invention, this problem is solved by a connection device for a heat exchanger block of a heat pump, a heat pump, a drying device, and a method for operating a connection device with the features of the main claims. Advantageous embodiments and further developments of the invention are described in the following dependent claims.

[0005] The presented approach offers a way to reduce manufacturing costs while simultaneously increasing efficiency. Furthermore, the described approach can simplify the assembly of the device and / or its individual components.

[0006] A connection device for a heat exchanger block of a heat pump is presented, wherein the connection device comprises an inlet pipe for introducing a coolant and additionally or alternatively a refrigerant into the connection device, a tripod element for dividing the coolant and additionally or alternatively the refrigerant into a first temperature control circuit and at least one further temperature control circuit, the tripod element being fluidically connected to the inlet pipe. Furthermore, the connection device has at least one further tripod element for combining the divided coolant and additionally or alternatively refrigerant from the first temperature control circuit and the further temperature control circuit, as well as an outlet pipe for discharging the coolant and additionally or alternatively refrigerant from the connection device, the outlet pipe being fluidly connected to the further tripod element.

[0007] The manifold can, for example, be designed as a multi-section pipe suitable for use with a heat pump. The refrigerant or cooling agent can flow directly into the manifold at a single point via the inlet pipe. The tripod elements can advantageously form a branch for the refrigerant or cooling agent. For example, the tripod elements can be T-shaped and / or Y-shaped. Using the tripod elements allows for the creation or connection of two temperature control circuits, through which the refrigerant and / or cooling agent can flow simultaneously. The manifold can be manufactured cost-effectively by using tripod elements. Furthermore, only a small amount of refrigerant or cooling agent is required for distribution, resulting in additional cost savings.The efficiency of the interconnection device can be improved by the inlet and outlet pipes, as well as by the late division of the temperature control circuits within the interconnection device, since a subcooling section with a high mass flow rate is possible. Advantageously, the refrigerant can be divided between the two temperature control circuits and then recombined by using the tripod elements within the heat exchanger block.

[0008] According to one embodiment, the inlet pipe and, additionally or alternatively, the outlet pipe can be arranged in a meandering shape, at least partially, within a wall of the heat exchanger block. Advantageously, this saves installation space, as the inlet and outlet pipes run through the wall. The meandering shape thus reduces the space required for connecting pipes.

[0009] The inlet pipe, the outlet pipe, the first temperature control circuit, and additionally or alternatively the second temperature control circuit can have sections in different planes of the wall of the heat exchanger block, with through-hole sections for connecting the sections located in different planes being arranged in a tube row comprising a plurality of tube rows. The two planes can be aligned parallel to each other. For connecting the sections arranged in the different planes, the connection device can advantageously have connecting pipes, which can also be aligned parallel to each other and perpendicular to the planes. The sections can be arranged in different tube rows of the connection device. By way of example only, the inlet pipe and additionally or alternatively the tripod element can be arranged in a second tube row.The additional tripod element can, for example, be arranged in a third-to-last row of pipes from the plurality of pipe rows.

[0010] Furthermore, the first temperature control circuit can be arranged in a first section of the interconnection device. The second temperature control circuit can be arranged in a second section of the interconnection device adjacent to the first section. Additionally, the outlet pipe can be arranged in a third section of the interconnection device adjacent to both the first and second sections. In particular, the sections can be arranged in the same plane. Advantageously, an overlap of the temperature control circuits can be prevented by the adjacent arrangement of the sections. Advantageously, the temperature control circuits can be combined in the third section.

[0011] According to one embodiment, the first and second temperature control circuits can have at least approximately the same length. Advantageously, this improves the temperature control effect on the coolant and, additionally or alternatively, on the refrigerant. Simultaneously, thermal stress can be distributed uniformly.

[0012] Furthermore, the diameter of the inlet pipe, the tripod elements, and additionally or alternatively the outlet pipe can be 3.5 mm to 4.5 mm, preferably 3.9 mm to 4.2 mm, and particularly 4 mm. Advantageously, the diameter prevents an increase in pressure loss. In modern heat exchangers, the pipe diameter is typically around 5 mm. Due to the reduced pipe diameters, including those for the pipes within the heat exchanger, a longer pipe system can be provided with the same internal volume of the piping system, or a reduced internal volume of the piping system can be used. This allows the heat exchanger to provide improved heat transfer from the piping system to the process air.If the piping system with the aforementioned pipe diameter of 3.5 mm to 4.5 mm, preferably 3.9 mm to 4.2 mm, is designed to reduce its internal volume, the heat pump can operate with a smaller quantity of refrigerant compared to a conventional heat pump with a piping system with a pipe diameter of approximately 5 mm within the heat exchanger. The aforementioned pipe diameter is particularly well-suited for heat pumps used in clothes dryers. The reduced pipe diameter of approximately 3.5 mm to 4.5 mm, preferably 3.9 mm to 4.2 mm, is specifically intended for the evaporator heat exchanger. The condenser heat exchanger and the downstream piping system can have a conventional pipe diameter of approximately 5 mm.The entire piping system, including the evaporator and condenser, can also be constructed with the reduced pipe diameter.

[0013] The tripod element, and additionally or alternatively the second tripod element, can be Y-shaped. Advantageously, the temperature control circuits can be defined by the tripod elements. This also advantageously allows for a more uniform temperature control effect.

[0014] According to one embodiment, the interconnection device can have first temperature control circuit pipe sections that can be connected between the tripod element and the next tripod element in the first temperature control circuit. Additionally or alternatively, the interconnection device can have second temperature control circuit pipe sections that can be connected between the tripod element and the next tripod element in the second temperature control circuit. In particular, different sections of the first temperature control circuit pipe sections and, additionally or alternatively, different sections of the second temperature control circuit pipe sections can be arranged in different planes of a wall of the heat exchanger block. The temperature control circuit sections can, for example, each be implemented as a part of the aforementioned sections and be arranged, for example, in the first and second regions of the interconnection device.

[0015] The first temperature control circuit pipe sections, and additionally or alternatively the second temperature control circuit pipe sections, can be arranged in a meandering pattern, at least partially within the wall. Advantageously, this allows for a compact design of the connection device.

[0016] The connecting device can comprise a plurality of pipe sections, which can be arranged between the further tripod element and the outlet pipe in different planes of a wall of the heat exchanger block. In particular, the plurality of pipe sections can be arranged in a meandering pattern, at least partially within the wall of the heat exchanger block. The pipe sections can, for example, be implemented as part of the previously mentioned sections and be arranged, for example, in the third area of ​​the connecting device. This could, for example, be a third temperature control circuit resulting from the merging of the other two temperature control circuits.

[0017] Furthermore, a heat pump for a drying device is presented, wherein the heat pump comprises a heat exchanger block, a connecting device in a previously mentioned variant, which is at least partially arranged in a wall of the heat exchanger block, and a fluid system which is fluidically coupled to the connecting device.

[0018] The heat exchanger block can advantageously be designed to incorporate a condenser and, additionally or alternatively, an evaporator for the heat pump. The connection device can, for example, also be described as a piping system through which the refrigerant can be routed. The fluid system can advantageously be designed to introduce the refrigerant into the connection device and, additionally or alternatively, to discharge the refrigerant from the connection device.

[0019] Furthermore, a method for operating a circuit device in a previously mentioned variant is presented. The method comprises a step of introducing a coolant and, additionally or alternatively, refrigerant into the circuit device through the inlet pipe, and a step of expelling the coolant and, additionally or alternatively, refrigerant from the circuit device through the outlet pipe.

[0020] The process can advantageously be controlled or carried out within a drying device, which can be used, for example, as a household appliance.

[0021] The approach presented here further creates a control unit designed to execute, control, and implement the steps of a variant of the method presented here in appropriate devices. This embodiment of the invention, in the form of a device, also allows the underlying problem to be solved quickly and efficiently.

[0022] The control unit can be configured to read input signals and use these input signals to determine and provide output signals. An input signal can, for example, be a sensor signal readable via an input interface of the control unit. An output signal can be a control signal or a data signal that can be provided at an output interface of the control unit. The control unit can be configured to determine the output signals using a processing instruction implemented in hardware or software. For example, the control unit can include a logic circuit, an integrated circuit, or a software module and may be implemented as a discrete component or comprised of a discrete component.

[0023] A computer program product or computer program with program code that can be stored on a machine-readable medium such as semiconductor memory, hard disk memory, or optical memory is also advantageous. If the program product or program is executed on a computer or control unit, it can be used to carry out, implement, and / or control the steps of the method according to one of the embodiments described herein.

[0024] Furthermore, a drying unit with a control unit and a heat pump as mentioned above, and additionally or alternatively with a switching device in a previously mentioned variant, is presented.

[0025] The drying device can advantageously be a standard household dryer or a washer-dryer. Furthermore, the drying device can generally be any appliance that has a drying function. Although the described approach is based on a household appliance, it can be applied analogously to commercial or professional equipment, such as medical devices, cleaning or disinfection equipment, small sterilizers, large-capacity disinfectors, or container washing systems.

[0026] An embodiment of the invention is shown purely schematically in the drawings and is described in more detail below. It shows Figure 1 is a schematic representation of an embodiment of a drying device; Figure 2 is a schematic representation of an embodiment of a heat pump; Figure 3 is a schematic enlarged representation of an embodiment of a switching device; Figure 4 is a schematic representation of sections of a switching device according to an embodiment; Figure 5 is a flowchart of an embodiment of a method for operating a switching device; and Figure 6 is a block diagram of a control unit according to an embodiment.

[0027] Figure 1Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of an embodiment of a drying device 100. The drying device 100 is, for example, a standard household dryer or washer-dryer for drying textiles, such as laundry. The drying device 100 has a drum 105 for holding the textiles to be dried, which are dried using process air. For this purpose, the process air is dried and heated, for example, using a heat pump 110, and then directed into the drum 105.

[0028] Additionally or alternatively, the drying unit 100 has a connection device 115 and a control unit 120. The connection device 115 is designed or can be designed as a component of the heat pump 110. For example, a process air blower is used to convey the process air.

[0029] The heat pump 110 comprises an evaporator 125, a condenser 130 (also referred to as a condenser), and a fluid system 135, with the connecting device 115 being located in the region of the condenser 130. According to this embodiment, the fluid system 135 comprises an expansion valve 140 and a compressor 145, with the expansion valve 140 and / or the compressor 145 being located between the evaporator 125 and the condenser 130. Superheating the refrigerant at the outlet of the evaporator 125 ensures that the refrigerant is drawn into the compressor 145 in a gaseous state.

[0030] The heat pump will be installed in a total of 110 units. Figure 2The control unit 120 is designed to control and / or execute a method for operating a switching device 115 within the drying unit. For example, the control unit 120 is designed to control and / or execute device programs of the drying unit.

[0031] Figure 2 shows a schematic representation of an embodiment of a heat pump 110, as it is used in Figure 1as part of a drying unit. The heat pump 110 has a heat exchanger block 200, which is configured to implement the condenser 130 and / or the evaporator 125. The evaporator 125 is configured to cause the process air to condense, thereby heating the refrigerant and / or coolant, which then evaporates. In the condenser 130, the refrigerant and / or coolant condenses, so that the heat generated is transferred to the process air, thus heating it. Furthermore, the heat pump 110 has a connecting device 115, as described in Figure 1as mentioned at least, and which is at least partially arranged in a wall 205 of the heat exchanger block 200. Additionally, the heat pump 110 has the fluid system 135, which is fluidically coupled to the connection device 115. According to this embodiment, the throttle 140 of the fluid system is shown. The fluid system 135 is configured, for example, to introduce into and / or discharge the coolant and / or a refrigerant from the connection device 115.

[0032] The interconnection device 115 has an inlet pipe 210 for introducing the coolant and / or refrigerant into the interconnection device 115, so that the refrigerant enters the interconnection device 115 via a single access point. Furthermore, the interconnection device 115 has a tripod element 215 for dividing the coolant and / or refrigerant in parallel into a first temperature control circuit 220 and at least one further temperature control circuit 225, wherein the tripod element 215 is fluidically connected to the inlet pipe 210. Furthermore, the interconnection device 115 has at least one further tripod element 230 for combining the divided coolant and / or refrigerant from the first temperature control circuit 220 and the further temperature control circuit 225, as well as an outlet pipe 235 for releasing the coolant and / or refrigerant from the interconnection device 115, wherein the outlet pipe 235 is fluidically connected to the further tripod element 230.According to this embodiment, the tripod elements 215, 230 are configured in a Y-shape or T-shape, allowing the refrigerant to be divided into the two temperature control circuits 220, 225 and subsequently combined from these circuits. This means that the first temperature control circuit 220 is located in a first section 240 of the interconnection device 115, and that the second temperature control circuit 225 is located in a second section 245 of the interconnection device adjacent to the first section 240. Consequently, the outlet pipe 235 is located in a third section 250 of the interconnection device 115, adjacent to both the first section 240 and the second section 245. More precisely, areas 240, 245, and 250 are arranged in the same plane, so that there is no overlap between areas 240, 245, and 250 and the temperature control circuits 220 and 225. The two temperature control circuits 220 and 225 have at least approximately the same length.The diameter of the inlet tube 210, the tripod elements 215, 230 and / or the outlet tube 235 is, for example, 3.5 mm to 4.5 mm, preferably 3.9 mm to 4.2 mm, preferably 4 mm.

[0033] Figure 3 shows a schematic enlarged representation of an embodiment of a circuit device 115, as used, for example, in at least one of the Figures 1 to 2 described or at least mentioned. According to this embodiment, the inlet pipe 210 and / or the outlet pipe 235 are arranged in a meandering pattern, at least partially, within the wall 205 of the heat exchanger block. The temperature control device 115 has a plurality of sections 300, 305 arranged in different planes. However, according to this embodiment, only the sections 300 on one side of the wall 205 are shown. The sections 305 are arranged on a far side of the wall 205, which is why the sections 305 are shown in Figure 3not shown. According to this embodiment, sections 300 and 305, and thus the different planes, are connected to each other by means of vias 310, which are oriented transversely to sections 300 and 305.

[0034] Figure 4 Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of sections 300 and 305 of a circuit device 115 according to an exemplary embodiment, which is, for example, the one in at least one of the Figures 1 to 3The described interconnection device corresponds to, or at least resembles, the interconnection device 115. More precisely, this embodiment shows a pipe system of the interconnection device 115 with its meandering shape. The sections 300 are located in a different plane than the sections 305. Furthermore, the sections 300 and 305, and thus the different planes, are connected to each other by means of a plurality of vias 310. In other words, the inlet pipe 210, the outlet pipe 235, the first temperature control circuit 220, and / or the second temperature control circuit 225 have sections 300 and 305 in different planes of the wall 205, which are arranged in different planes. The vias 310 are arranged in a pipe row 400, consisting of a plurality of pipe rows, to connect the sections 300 and 305 located in different planes.According to this embodiment, the via sections 305 are configured as connecting tubes between sections 300 and 305 and are arranged transversely to sections 300 and 305. For example, the inlet tube 210 and the tripod element 215 are arranged in a second of the tube rows 315. The further tripod element 230 is, for illustrative purposes only, arranged in a third-to-last of the tube rows 315. According to this embodiment, the tripod elements 215 and 230 are arranged in the same plane as the sections 300 and are thus configured as part of the sections 300.

[0035] Sections 300, which are connected between tripod element 215 and the further tripod element 230 in the first temperature control circuit 220, are also implemented, for example, as first temperature control circuit pipe sections 402, 405. Sections 300, 305, which are connected between tripod element 215 and the further tripod element 230 in the second temperature control circuit 225, are consequently implemented as second temperature control circuit pipe sections 410, 415. Here, different sections of the first temperature control circuit pipe sections 402, 405 and / or different sections of the second temperature control circuit pipe sections 410, 415 are arranged in different planes of the wall of the heat exchanger block. More precisely, they are arranged in a meandering pattern, at least partially within the wall. Sections 300, 305, which are connected between the further tripod element 230 and the outlet pipe 235 at different levels of the wall and meander through the wall, are realized, for example, as pipe sections 420, 425.

[0036] In other words, this embodiment describes a condenser circuit with preferably 4 mm pipes. Key features include the refrigerant entering the circuit assembly 115 through only one pipe, referred to here as the inlet pipe 210, and entering the second of the pipe rows 315. This results in a so-called 1-2-1 configuration. This means that the refrigerant enters the circuit assembly 115 via a single inlet pipe 210 and is divided by the tripod element 215, which is also referred to simply as the tripod, into at least two parallel temperature control circuits 220, 225, before being combined into a common third circuit with a subsequent subcooling section using the further tripod element 230 and exiting via a single outlet pipe 235.The parallel temperature control circuits 220 and 225, for example, have at least approximately the same pipe length. The refrigerant is combined and further cooled over, for example, 33% of the total pipe length of the connecting device 115.

[0037] Figure 5 shows a flowchart of an embodiment of a method 500 for operating a switching device, as used in at least one of the Figures 1 to 4 described or mentioned. Method 500 comprises a step 505 of introducing a coolant and / or refrigerant into the interconnection device through the inlet pipe and a step 510 of discharging the coolant and / or refrigerant from the interconnection device through the outlet pipe.

[0038] Figure 6 shows a block diagram of a control unit 120 according to an exemplary embodiment, which is, for example, the one described in Figure 1The control unit described corresponds to the one described and is therefore used for a drying device. The control unit 120 is designed to control and / or execute a method for operating a switching device, as is the case, for example, in Figure 5 The control unit 120 has an inlet unit 600, which is configured to allow a coolant and / or refrigerant to enter the interconnection device through the inlet pipe. Furthermore, the control unit 120 has an outlet unit, which is configured to allow the coolant and / or refrigerant to exit the interconnection device through the outlet pipe.

Claims

1. Interconnection device (115) for a heat exchanger block (200) of a heat pump (110), wherein the interconnection device (115) has the following features: - an inlet pipe (210) for introducing a coolant and / or refrigerant into the interconnection device (115); - a tripod element (215) for dividing the coolant and / or refrigerant in parallel into a first temperature control circuit (220) and at least one further temperature control circuit (225), wherein the tripod element (215) is fluidically connected to the inlet pipe (210); - at least one further tripod element (230) for combining the divided coolant and / or refrigerant from the first temperature control circuit (220) and the further temperature control circuit (225); and - an outlet pipe (235) for releasing the coolant and / or refrigerant from the interconnection device (115), wherein the outlet pipe (235) is fluidically connected to the further tripod element (230).

2. Interconnection device (115) according to claim 1, wherein the inlet pipe (210) and / or the outlet pipe (235) is or are arranged in a meandering shape at least partially in a wall (205) of the heat exchanger block (200).

3. Interconnection device (115) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the inlet pipe (210) and / or the outlet pipe (235) and / or the first temperature control circuit (220) and / or the second temperature control circuit (225) has sections (300, 305) in different planes of the wall of the heat exchanger block (200), wherein through-hole sections (310) for connecting the sections (300, 305) lying in different planes are arranged in each tube row (115) of a plurality of tube rows (400).

4. Interconnection device (115) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first temperature control circuit (220) is arranged in a first region (240) of the interconnection device (115), wherein the second temperature control circuit (225) is arranged in a second region (245) of the interconnection device (115) adjacent to the first region (240), wherein the outlet pipe (235) is arranged in a third region (250) of the interconnection device (115) adjacent to the first region (240) and the second region (245), in particular wherein the regions (240, 245, 250) are arranged in the same plane.

5. Interconnection device (115) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first temperature control circuit (220) and the second temperature control circuit (225) have at least approximately the same length.

6. Interconnection device (115) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the diameter of the inlet tube (210) and / or the tripod elements (215, 230) and / or the outlet tube (235) is 3.5 mm to 4.5 mm, preferably 3.9 mm to 4.2 mm, in particular 4 mm.

7. Interconnection device (115) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the tripod element (215) and / or the further tripod element (210) is or are Y-shaped.

8. Interconnection device (115) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising first temperature control circuit pipe sections (402, 405) which are connected between the tripod element (215) and the further tripod element (230) in the first temperature control circuit (220), and / or comprising second temperature control circuit pipe sections (410, 415) which are connected between the tripod element (215) and the further tripod element (230) in the second temperature control circuit (225), in particular wherein different of the first temperature control circuit pipe sections (402, 405) and / or different of the second temperature control circuit pipe sections (410, 415) are arranged in different planes of a wall (205) of the heat exchange block (200).

9. Interconnection device (115) according to claim 8, wherein the first temperature control circuit pipe sections (402, 405) and / or the second temperature control circuit pipe sections (410, 415) are arranged in a meandering manner at least partially in the wall (205).

10. Interconnection device (115) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a plurality of pipe sections (420, 425) arranged between the further tripod element (230) and the outlet pipe (235) in different planes of a wall (205) of the heat exchange block (200), in particular wherein the plurality of pipe sections (420, 425) are arranged in a meandering pattern at least partially in the wall (205) of the heat exchange block (200).

11. Heat pump (110) for a drying unit (100), wherein the heat pump (110) has the following features: - a heat exchange block (200); - a connecting device (115) according to one of the preceding claims, which is arranged at least partially in a wall (205) of the heat exchange block (200); and - a fluid system (135) which is fluidically coupled to the connecting device (115).

12. Method (500) for operating a connecting device (115) according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the method (500) comprises the following steps: - Inlet (505) of a coolant and / or refrigerant into the connecting device (115) through the inlet pipe (210); and - Outlet (510) of the coolant and / or refrigerant from the connecting device (115) through the outlet pipe (235).

13. Control unit (120) configured to execute and / or control the steps (505, 510) of the method (500) according to claim 12 in corresponding units (600, 605).

14. Computer program product with program code for carrying out the method (500) according to claim 12, when the computer program product is executed on a control unit (120) according to claim 13.

15. Drying device (100) with a control unit (120) according to claim 13, with a heat pump (110) according to claim 11 and / or with a connecting device (115) according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

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