Insulated thermal machine with a heat transfer gas circulation circuit

Abstract

Insulated thermal machine with a heat transfer gas circulation circuit. The invention relates to a thermal machine (1) with a casing containing at least some of its various functional components (2, 3, 4, 5) and having inlet (7) and outlet openings for an airflow to be treated, which is drawn into an internal volume delimited by said casing and passes through the evaporator (2) under the action of an air circulation means. Machine (1) characterized in that the casing is made up of wall portions (9, 9', 9'', 9''') of an insulating material assembled together, at least one condenser (4) is housed in the thickness of one (9) of the lateral wall portions (9, 9') of the casing and at least some of the internal faces (10) of the housing formed in said wall portion (9) and receiving said condenser (4).include formations (11) for the recovery of condensate likely to form on the external faces (4') of the condenser (4) referred to and for the directed conveyance of said condensate, under the effect of gravity, to means (12, 13) for evacuating said condensate from said portion of wall (9) and to the outside of the casing. Figure to be published with the abbreviation: Fig. 4,

Description

Title of the invention: Insulated heat engine with a heat transfer gas circulation circuit

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of thermal machines with a heat transfer gaseous fluid, such as a refrigerant, in particular heat pumps, and has as its object a thermal machine, thermally insulated, and possibly acoustically insulated, comprising integrated means for evacuating condensate.

[0002] A heat pump-type thermal machine includes, in a known manner, a heat transfer gas (refrigerant) circulation circuit comprising, in particular, at least one evaporator, at least one compressor, at least one condenser, and at least one expansion valve. It also includes a casing (6) containing at least some of the aforementioned functional components and having inlet and outlet openings for an airflow to be treated. This airflow is drawn from the external environment into the internal volume of the casing and passes through the evaporator under the action of an air circulation means (turbine or blower) before being discharged again into the external environment (the same as the intake environment or not).

[0003] The evaporator supplies energy to the heat transfer fluid (refrigerant) from the expansion valve, vaporizes it, and sends it to the compressor. The vaporized, high-pressure refrigerant is injected into the condenser where the refrigerant's energy is transferred to a second fluid. The refrigerant eventually condenses and returns to the expansion valve.

[0004] The purpose of a heat pump is to extract energy from a medium (for example, ambient air, brought to the evaporator by means of a turbine or a blower) and transfer it from that medium to another. In the case of a heating application, the air heats the heat transfer fluid in the evaporator, which rises in temperature and vaporizes. It is then compressed and its temperature is raised by the compressor before being sent to the condenser. There, in gaseous form, the heat transfer fluid is at a high temperature and therefore loses its energy by transferring it to the chosen source (water, for example). In doing so, its temperature drops and the gaseous fluid condenses.

[0005] If the condenser is located in an indoor environment (a dwelling), the ambient air only slightly condenses on the external walls of said condenser.

[0006] However, the heat pump can also operate in cooling mode by functioning on a reverse refrigeration cycle. In this case, energy is extracted from the condenser and transferred to the evaporator. Instances where the temperature at the condenser is lower than the ambient air temperature will then be more frequent, and in these cases, condensation will form around the condenser. These condensates must be collected and removed to prevent them from running into the heat pump and damaging it, reducing its lifespan, disrupting its operation or generating safety risks for the user.

[0007] The evolution of standards and construction constraints means that the requirements for heat loss and airtightness of heat engines are gradually becoming more stringent. Thus, heat exchangers, which are an area of ​​intense heat transfer and can also be located in the internal / external interfaces of a heat pump, must be thermally and / or acoustically insulated, as they are more sensitive to these regulatory changes.

[0008] In this context, the invention aims to simultaneously meet the requirements for thermal insulation of the exchanger, thermal (and possibly acoustic) insulation of the thermal machine and collection and evacuation of condensates likely to form in this machine.

[0009] To this end, the invention relates to a thermal machine, in particular a heat pump, with a heat transfer gas circulation circuit comprising in particular at least one evaporator, at least one compressor, at least one condenser or similar exchanger and at least one expansion valve, as well as a casing containing at least some of the various functional components mentioned above and having inlet and outlet openings for an airflow to be treated, which is drawn into an internal volume delimited by said casing and passes through the evaporator under the action of an air circulation means,

[0010] thermal machine characterized in that the casing is made up of wall portions of a material with thermal insulation properties, and preferably sound insulation properties, assembled together, in that said at least one condenser is housed in the thickness of one of the lateral wall portions of the casing and in that at least some of the internal faces of the housing, arranged in said wall portion and receiving said at least one condenser, have formations for the recovery of the condensate likely to form on the external faces of the condenser referred to and for the directed conveyance of said condensate, under the effect of gravity, to means, integrated into said casing and mutually cooperating, of evacuating said condensate from said wall portion and to the outside of the casing.

[0011] The invention will be better understood from the following description, which relates to a preferred embodiment, given by way of non-limiting example, and explained with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings, in which:

[0012] [Fig.1A] and [Fig.1B] are views, in perspective and from above respectively, of a heat engine according to the invention (on [Fig.1B], the air circulation means is symbolically represented, as well as the treated airflow), an envelope may optionally be present and cover the assembly shown [Fig.1B] (not shown);

[0013] [Fig. IC] is a top view of the heat engine similar to that of [Fig.1B], the portion of the upper wall being removed and the functional components present in the internal volume of the casing not being shown;

[0014] [Fig. 1D] is a cross-sectional view along BB and an elevation view of the heat engine shown [Fig.1B];

[0015] [Fig.2A] and [Fig.2B] are elevation views of the heat engine shown [Fig.1A] in both directions of direction D;

[0016] [Fig.3A] is a top perspective view of the heat engine of [Fig.1A] (the portion of the upper wall and a portion of the side wall of the casing being removed) and [Fig.3B] is a bottom perspective view of the heat engine of [Fig.1A];

[0017] [Fig.4] is an exploded view of the heat engine, with its functional components, as shown in figures 1, 2 and 3B;

[0018] [Fig.5] is an exploded view of the housing of the heat engine shown in figures 1, 2, 3B and 4;

[0019] [Fig.6] is an exploded view of the heat engine, with its functional components, as shown in [Fig.4], the portion of the side wall of the casing incorporating the condenser being removed;

[0020] [Fig.7] is an exploded view of the portion of the side wall of the housing incorporating the condenser, the general direction of condensate circulation under the effect of gravity being indicated;

[0021] [Fig.8] is a cross-sectional and elevational view of the evaporator, along the principal plane of the latter, and of the portion of wall forming the bottom of the machine casing shown in figures 1, 2, 3B and 4;

[0022] [Fig.9] is a perspective view of the portion of the wall forming the bottom of the casing on which the flow of condensate from the condenser (solid arrows) and the flow of condensate from the evaporator (dashed arrows) are represented by arrows;

[0023] [Fig. 10] is a partial view and at a different scale of the lower part of the object shown [Fig.8], on which the flow of condensate from the condenser (solid arrows) and the flow of condensate from the evaporator (dashed arrows) are shown by arrows;

[0024] [Fig. 11] is a cross-sectional view and at a different scale of detail A of [Fig.2A].

[0025] Figures 1 to 4 show, in part only, a heat engine (1), in particular a heat pump, with a heat transfer gas circulation circuit comprising, in particular, at least one evaporator (2), at least one compressor (3), at least one condenser (4) and at least one expansion valve (5). This heat engine also comprises a casing (6) containing at least some of the various functional components (2, 3, 4, 5) mentioned above and having inlet (7) and outlet (7') openings for an airflow (F) to be treated, which is drawn into the internal volume (V) of the casing (6) and passes through the evaporator (2) under the action of an air circulation means (8).

[0026] With reference to Figures 1 to 4, it can be understood that the evaporator (2) supplies energy to a refrigerant from an expansion valve (5), vaporizing it, and sends it to a compressor (3). The vaporized refrigerant, now at high pressure, is sent to the condenser (4) where the energy is transferred to a second fluid. The refrigerant eventually condenses and returns to the expansion valve (5).

[0027] To achieve sufficient heat transfer, a turbine or blower (8) is positioned downstream of the evaporator (2) to draw in air (see flow F in [Fig. 1B]) from an inlet duct (not shown) and through an opening (7), and to discharge it outside the heat engine (1) after passing it through the evaporator (2). The discharge can also be carried out through an outlet duct (not shown). In heating mode, the intake air has its energy extracted and is therefore discharged at a lower temperature than when it entered the heat engine (1). In cooling mode, the intake air is heated by the hot fluid contained in the evaporator (2) and is therefore discharged at a higher temperature.

[0028] Since the heat engine (1) can be installed in a heated enclosure (dwelling), it is desirable that its energy supply be the (outside) air that feeds its inlet duct and not the air from the immediate environment in which the engine (1) is positioned (heat losses). Therefore, the portion of the internal volume (V) of the casing dedicated to the intake and located upstream of the evaporator (2) should be insulated and preferably airtight. Furthermore, the presence of the compressor (3), a source of vibration, can generate an undesirable level of noise for the user.

[0029] To this end and in accordance with the invention, a housing (6) is provided, consisting of wall portions (9, 9', 9”, 9'”) made of a material with thermal insulation properties, and preferably sound insulation properties, assembled together, preferably in an airtight manner. The internal volume (V) is thus delimited or “enclosed,” and the wall portions (9, 9', 9”, 9'”) forming said housing (6) are preferably rigid elements based on closed-cell polymer materials.

[0030] Furthermore, with regard to the condenser (4), condensation will necessarily form on its external walls / faces, especially in cooling applications, but also in heating applications. In addition, for reasons of operating efficiency, said condenser (4) should not suffer detrimental heat losses.

[0031] To this end and in accordance with the invention also, said at least one condenser (4) is housed in the thickness of one (9) of the lateral wall portions (9, 9') of the casing (6), in a suitable space, and at least some of the internal faces (10) of the housing (10'), provided in said wall portion (9) and receiving said at least one condenser (4), have formations (11) for the recovery / collection of the condensate (C) likely to form on the external faces (4') of the condenser (4) referred to and for its directed conveyance, under the effect of gravity, to integrated and mutually cooperating means (12, 13, 14, 15) for evacuating said condensate (C) from said wall portion (9) and to the outside of the casing (6).

[0032] Thus, the condenser (4) is located on the insulation interface forming the boundary between the internal volume (V) of suction and the environment in which the heat engine (1) is installed.

[0033] The condenser (4) is thus confined within the thickness of one of the lateral wall portions (9, 9') in the form of insulating material panels that form the casing (6) delimiting the enclosure of said suction volume. The raised features (11) and the drainage means (12, 13, 14, 15) work together to collect, channel, and drain the condensate that forms, all by simple gravity. Their rapid removal helps, in particular, to limit the extent of potential icing on the heat exchanger (4).

[0034] In accordance with an advantageous construction of the heat engine (1), shown in the aforementioned figures, the casing (6) contains the functional components (2, 3, 5) other than said at least one condenser (4) integrated into a portion of side wall (9), said functional components (2, 3, 4, 5) advantageously comprising an evaporator (2), a compressor (3), a condenser (4) and an expansion valve (5), and in that the means (12, 13, 14, 15) for evacuating the condensate (C) from the or a condenser (4) comprise a single passage (15) for evacuating to the outside of the casing (6) condensate (C) coming simultaneously from at least one condenser (4) and at least one evaporator (2).

[0035] As shown in Figures 3B, 9 and 10, it may be provided that some (14, 15) of the means (12, 13, 14, 15) for evacuating the condensate (C) from the condenser (4) also serve to collect and evacuate to the outside of the casing (6) the condensate (C) from the evaporator (2).

[0036] As illustrated by way of example in Figures 4, 5 and 7, the formations (11) consist of grooves, molded or engraved in the internal faces (10) of the housing (10') which are in contact with the condenser (4), and the formations (11) of a relevant face (10) of the housing (10') together form an interconnected network (11') of grooves, and in that each network (11') opens, in the lower part of the portion of wall (9) incorporating the condenser (4), into the opening of a condensate (C) evacuation passage (12) present in the lower part of the housing (10') of the portion of the side wall (9) receiving the condenser (4), said opening being preferably located in a lower zone (12') of gravity collection of said housing (10').

[0037] This or these collecting network(s) of formations (11), which extends substantially over the entire surface of the internal faces (10) which are located opposite the main faces at least of the condenser (4), may alternatively also include protruding formations of the rib type (not shown), in addition to or instead of the hollow formations of the groove type.

[0038] As a preferred embodiment, and as shown by way of example in Figures 4 to 6 and 9 to 11, the integrated and mutually cooperating means (12, 13, 14, 15) for evacuating the condensate (C) comprise, on the one hand, a condensate (C) discharge passage (12) from the housing (10'), which is located in the lower part of the housing (10) of the portion of the side wall (9) receiving the condenser (4) and which opens into a means (13) for recovering and conveying said condensate (C) present in the portion of the wall (9”) forming the bottom of the casing (6), for example in the form of a gutter, and, on the other hand, a condensate (C) collection tray (14) from the evaporator (2), located below the latter, formed in said portion of the wall (9”) forming the bottom of the casing (6) and comprising an area (16) gravity collection,the means (13) for recovering and conveying the condensate (C) from the housing (10') opening into said tray (14) and the gravity collection zone (16) being arranged around the opening of a condensate (C) discharge passage (15) to the outside of the casing (6).

[0039] Although different types of condenser (4) can be envisaged within the framework of the invention, this one is advantageously a condenser with a planar structure with two main opposing external faces (4'), the latter being in contact with the faces (10) of the housing (10') provided with the formations (11).

[0040] In order to achieve a simple, lightweight, and easy-to-assemble construction of the housing (6), the wall portions (9, 9', 9”, 9'”) that together form the housing (6) may be assembled together, preferably in an airtight manner, by means of interlocking or mutually fitting connections of complementary formations, for example male (17) / female (17'), and these wall portions (9, 9', 9”, 9'”) consist of a material with thermal and acoustic insulation properties of the cellular type. In the illustrated embodiment, the housing (6) is formed of a lower wall portion (9”) or forming a base for the housing, an upper wall portion (9”’) or forming a lid for the housing, and at least two lateral or intermediate wall portions (9, 9') connecting the first two (9” and 9’”). The upper closing wall portion (9") (or forming a cover) advantageously includes the inlet opening (7) of the airflow (F), to which is typically connected an outside air intake duct (not shown) under the effect of the blower (8), allowing air to be drawn from a distance from the immediate environment of the heat engine (1).

[0041] According to a feature of the invention, shown in figures 4 to 7 and 11, the means (13) for recovering and conveying said condensate (C) present in the portion of wall (9”) forming the bottom of the casing (6), and having for example the form of a gutter, is present in a female formation (17') in the form of a groove of said bottom wall portion (9”) which cooperates by interlocking with a male formation (17) in the form of a wing of the side wall portion (9) incorporating the condenser (4) for the purpose of their assembly.

[0042] In order to facilitate the recovery of the condensate flowing from the portion of wall (9), and to guarantee it despite possible manufacturing or assembly play, the groove (17') of the bottom portion of wall (9") has, opposite and below the outlet of the passage (12) for evacuating the condensate (C) out of the housing (10'), a flared or enlarged area (13'), this area (13') communicating fluidly by gravity with the gutter (13), which is located at the bottom of the groove (1'), not occupied by the wing (17) of the side portion of wall (9) fitted into said groove (17).

[0043] As shown by way of example in Figures 4 to 7, it may be provided that the portion of the side wall (9) receiving said at least one condenser (4) has a composite constitution and consists of a main part (18) with an open recessed area defining the internal volume of the housing (10') and at least one complementary secondary part (18') closing the recessed area to form the housing (10'), each of the parts (18, 18') providing an internal face (10) with formations (11).More specifically, the portion of wall (9) can be formed by the assembly of three elementary parts (18, 18', 18”), preferably all from molding, namely: a main part (18) in which the housing (10') with its formations (11) is hollowed out and two complementary parts (18', 18”) for closing said housing (10') and having openings for the passage of the condenser supply ducts (4) (see figures 4 and 7).

[0044] The attached drawings show a heat engine (1) with a single heat exchanger (4) in the form of a condenser integrated into one (9) of the side wall portions (9, 9') of the casing (6).

[0045] According to the invention, it may also be provided that this machine (1) comprises at least two heat exchangers / condensers (4), of the same type or not, and integrated into one or more of said side wall portions (9, 9'). In the embodiment shown, the casing (6) comprises three side wall portions (9, 9'): it may also comprise only two or more than three.

[0046] In the embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings, the outlet opening (7') of the housing (6) corresponds to a side of said housing (6) that is substantially free of a wall. Alternatively, this opening (7') may also correspond to an opening formed in a portion of the side wall delimiting this side of the housing (6). As shown in particular in [Fig. 1C], the airflow (F) exiting through this opening (7') necessarily passes through the evaporator (2) located in this opening.

[0047] As can be seen from figures 1 to 6 in particular, the portion of the bottom wall (9”) can extend laterally beyond the housing (6), in particular also under the blower (8).

[0048] Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiment described and shown in the accompanying drawings. Modifications remain possible, particularly with regard to the composition of the various elements or by substitution of technical equivalents, without departing from the scope of protection of the invention.

Claims

1.

2. Demands Heat engine (1), in particular a heat pump, with a heat transfer gas circulation circuit comprising in particular at least one evaporator (2), at least one compressor (3), at least one condenser (4) or similar heat exchanger and at least one expansion valve (5), as well as a casing (6) containing at least some of the aforementioned functional components (2, 3, 4, 5) and having inlet (7) and outlet (7') openings for an airflow (F) to be treated, which is drawn into an internal volume (V) delimited by said casing (6) and passes through the evaporator (2) under the action of an air circulation means (8), heat engine (1) characterized in that the casing (6) is made up of wall portions (9, 9', 9”, 9'”) of a material with thermal insulation properties, and preferably sound insulation properties, assembled together, in that said at least one condenser (4) is housed within the thickness of one (9) of the lateral wall portions (9,9') of the casing (6) and in that at least some of the internal faces (10) of the housing (10'), fitted into said portion of wall (9) and receiving said at least one condenser (4), have formations (11) for the recovery of the condensate (C) likely to form on the external faces (4') of the condenser (4) referred to and for the directed conveyance of said condensate (C), under the effect of gravity, to means (12, 13, 14, 15), integrated into said casing (6) and mutually cooperating, for the evacuation of said condensate (C) from said portion of wall (9) and to the outside of the casing (6). Thermal machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the casing (6) contains the functional components (2, 3, 5) other than said at least one condenser (4) integrated into a portion of side wall (9), said functional components (2, 3, 4, 5) advantageously comprising an evaporator (2), a compressor (3), a condenser (4) and an expansion valve (5), and in that the means (12, 13, 14, 15) for evacuating the condensate (C) from the or a condenser (4) comprise a single passage (15) for evacuating to the outside of the casing (6) condensate (C) coming simultaneously from at least one condenser (4) and at least one evaporator (2).

3. Thermal machine according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that certain (14, 15) of the means (12, 13, 14, 15) for evacuating the condensate (C) from the condenser (4) also serve to collect and evacuate to the outside of the casing (6) the condensate (C) from the evaporator (2).

4. A heat engine according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the formations (11) consist of grooves, molded or engraved in the internal faces (10) of the housing (10') which are in contact with the condenser (4), and in that the formations (11) of a relevant face (10) of the housing (10') together form an interconnected network (11') of grooves, and in that each network (11') opens, in the lower part of the portion of wall (9) incorporating the condenser (4), into the opening of a condensate (C) evacuation passage (12) present in the lower part of the housing (10') of the lateral wall portion (9) receiving the condenser (4), said opening being preferably located in a lower gravity collection zone (12') of said housing (10').

5. A thermal machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the integrated and mutually cooperating means (12, 13, 14, 15) for evacuating the condensate (C) comprise, on the one hand, a condensate (C) evacuation passage (12) out of the housing (10'), which is present in the lower part of the housing (10) of the portion of the side wall (9) receiving the condenser (4) and which opens into a means (13) for recovering and conveying said condensate (C) present in the portion of the wall (9”) forming the bottom of the casing (6), for example in the form of a gutter, and, on the other hand, a condensate (C) receiving tray (14) from the evaporator (2), located below the latter, formed in said portion of the wall (9”) forming the bottom of the casing (6) and comprising a gravity collection zone (16),the means (13) for recovering and conveying the condensate (C) from the housing (10') opening into said tray (14) and the gravity collection zone (16) being arranged around the opening of a passage (15) for draining the condensate (C) to the outside of the casing (6).

6. Heat engine according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the condenser (4) is a condenser with a planar structure with two main opposing external faces (4'), the latter being in contact with the faces (10) of the housing (10') provided with the formations (11).

7. Heat engine according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the wall portions (9, 9', 9”, 9'”) forming together the casing (6) are assembled together, preferably in an airtight manner, by means of interlocking or mutually fitting connections of complementary formations, for example male (17) / female (17'), and in that these wall portions (9, 9', 9”, 9'”) consist of a material with thermal and acoustic insulation properties of the cellular material type.

8. Thermal machine according to claims 5 and 7, characterized in that the means (13) for recovering and conveying said condensate (C) present in the portion of wall (9”) forming the bottom of the casing (6), and having for example the form of a gutter, is present in a female formation (17') in the form of a groove of said bottom wall portion (9”) which cooperates by interlocking with a male formation (17) in the form of a wing of the side wall portion (9) incorporating the condenser (4) for the purpose of their assembly.

9. Thermal machine according to claim 8, characterized in that the groove (17') of the bottom wall portion (9”) has, opposite and below the outlet of the condensate (C) evacuation passage (12) out of the housing (10'), a flared or enlarged area (13'), this area (13') communicating fluidly by gravity with the gutter (13), which is located at the bottom of the groove (1'), not occupied by the wing (17) of the side wall portion (9) fitted into said groove (17).

10. Heat engine according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the portion of side wall (9) receiving said at least one condenser (4) has a composite constitution and is made up of a main part (18) with an open recessed area defining the internal volume of the housing (10') and at least one complementary secondary part (18') closing the recessed area to form the housing (10'), each of the parts (18, 18') providing an internal face (10) with formations (11).

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