Heat pump valve unit, heat pump and building

Abstract

The invention relates to a heat pump valve unit (2) having a housing (4) with a reversing valve. The reversing valve has an electrically positionable or adjustable valve control body (6) in the form of a rotor - carrying at least one magnet (8) - of an electric motor with refrigerant-conducting channels (26, 28, 30, 32, 34), wherein the magnet (8) of the rotor interacts with a stator of the electric motor, which stator is stationary with respect to the housing (4). A separating means (12) which is secured to the housing is provided between the valve control body (6) and the stator (14), which separating means (12) delimits a refrigerant space of the valve control body (6) from the stator (14). The invention also relates to a heat pump and a building.

Description

[0001] 202401197

[0002] 1

[0003] Description

[0004] Heat pump valve unit, heat pump and building

[0005] The present invention relates to a heat pump valve unit, a heat pump with such a heat pump valve unit and a building with such a heat pump.

[0006] Heat pumps are used, among other things, for heating or cooling buildings, for example in the form of a so-called air-to-water heat pump.

[0007] The object of the present invention is to improve such a heat pump.

[0008] This problem is solved by a heat pump valve unit proposed and protected according to claim 1.

[0009] The proposed heat pump valve unit represents a highly compact, flexibly deployable heat pump valve unit.

[0010] The separating agent - or splitting agent - can be formed in the shape of a split pot or split tube, whereby the split tube is or must be closed off at its end facing away from the housing to form a split pot.

[0011] Such a separating agent simplifies the design of the housing for the heat pump valve unit because it complements or extends the housing and also assumes a refrigerant-carrying function for housing 4. This separating agent thus forms part of the housing of the proposed heat pump valve unit. The conveyed refrigerant is received, guided, and redirected by this separating agent.

[0012] The valve actuator, which is essentially cylindrical and can have different diameters in sections, acts with 202401197

[0013] 2 the housing and the separating agent or separating agent together in such a way that - with regard to the reversing valve - in a first and second position of the valve actuator, two flow paths of a conveyed refrigerant can be set, along which the refrigerant is guided section by section axially and / or tangentially.

[0014] Axial guidance refers to the refrigerant being guided along an axis or in an axial direction. Tangential guidance, on the other hand, means that the refrigerant is guided around such an axis in sections. When transitioning from such axial guidance to tangential guidance, or vice versa, the refrigerant undergoes a corresponding deflection.

[0015] It is proposed that the housing be designed as a housing plate. Such a housing plate facilitates and enables, on the one hand, the aforementioned highly compact design of such a heat pump valve unit. On the other hand, it facilitates and enables a flexibly deployable solution for such a heat pump valve unit.

[0016] In one version, the reversing valve is designed as a 4 / 2-way valve, specifically with:

[0017] • a high-pressure inlet channel for a compressed refrigerant,

[0018] • a low-pressure drain channel for an evaporated refrigerant,

[0019] • a separate inlet channel from or outlet channel to a first, external heat exchanger in the sense of an interface to a first, external environment of a building's heat pump and

[0020] • a separate inlet channel from or outlet channel to a second, internal heat exchanger in the sense of an interface to a second, internal environment of the building's heat pump.

[0021] In another embodiment, a control board for the electric motor is arranged or provided at one end of the separating agent facing away from the housing. The reversing valve of the proposed heat pump valve unit 202401197 is used in this embodiment.

[0022] 3 are arranged between the housing plate and the control board. This type of sandwich arrangement allows for a very compact design of such a heat pump valve unit.

[0023] The proposed valve actuator has, on the one hand, refrigerant-carrying channels that completely penetrate the valve actuator in one direction of rotation. On the other hand, the proposed valve actuator has at least one refrigerant-carrying channel that extends only partially into the valve actuator in the direction of rotation. The latter also extends in an arc around the circumference of the valve actuator, or over an angular range, or arc-shaped around the direction of rotation or the axis of rotation of the valve actuator.

[0024] The proposed valve actuator guides the refrigerant over an end face facing the housing with a flat, closed circumferential sealing surface, which interacts with a flat, closed circumferential sealing surface of the housing, in which the individual inlet and outlet channels of the housing end or begin, which can be optionally connected to the refrigerant-carrying channels of the valve actuator in such a way that two refrigerant flow paths can be formed or set.

[0025] These two interacting sealing surfaces create a so-called disc sealing principle, which is known to provide excellent sealing.

[0026] It is also proposed to design the electric motor in the form of a stepper motor, for example in the form of a permanent magnet stepper motor or reluctance stepper motor.

[0027] In one embodiment, the valve actuator is designed in the form of a permanent magnet-bearing rotor of the electric motor.

[0028] In an alternative version, the valve actuator is designed as a highly conductive, magnetic iron component. Valve actuator 202401197

[0029] 4 forms a so-called reluctance motor with the coils or coil windings of the stator.

[0030] Furthermore, a heat pump with a heat pump valve unit of the type described above is proposed, which can be operated in a heating mode or cooling mode.

[0031] Furthermore, a building with such a heat pump is proposed.

[0032] It is also proposed to use a heat pump of the type described above for heating or cooling a building.

[0033] It is also proposed to use a heat pump valve unit of the type described above with a compressor which is briefly switched off during the operation of such a heat pump in order to facilitate adjustment of the valve actuator.

[0034] The invention will now be explained in detail with reference to the figures. Further advantageous embodiments of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims and the subsequent description of preferred embodiments. These are shown, in part schematically:

[0035] Fig. 1 shows a proposed valve unit in a first view,

[0036] Fig. 2 shows the valve unit shown in Fig. 1 in a second view in the form of an exploded view,

[0037] Fig. 3 shows the valve unit shown in Fig. 1 in a third view in the form of an exploded view,

[0038] Fig. 4 shows part of the valve unit shown in Fig. 1, 202401197

[0039] 5

[0040] Fig. 5 shows a first view of an actuating element of the proposed valve unit,

[0041] Fig. 6 shows the actuator shown in Fig. 5 in a second view,

[0042] Fig. 7 shows the proposed valve unit in a first position of a valve actuator,

[0043] Fig. 8 shows a proposed heat pump system in a first operating mode and

[0044] Fig. 9 shows the heat pump system shown in Fig. 8 in a second operating mode.

[0045] The heat pump valve unit 2 illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3, hereinafter simply referred to as valve unit 2, has a flat, plate-shaped or plate-like housing or housing plate 4 with an electrically actuated reversing valve which - in conjunction with a return spring 10 (see Fig. 3) - assumes a first valve position when de-energized and a second valve position when energized.

[0046] In an alternative embodiment, such a return spring 10 is omitted, so that no electrical energy is required to maintain a state of the reversing valve.

[0047] This reversing valve has an electrically adjustable valve actuator 6 in the form of a rotor of an electric motor – for example, carrying permanent magnets 8 – wherein the permanent magnets 8 interact with a stator 14 of the electric motor that is stationary relative to the housing plate 4. The electric motor can be designed as a stepper motor. The stepper motor is designed as an internal rotor because its rotor is arranged inside the stator. 202401197

[0048] 6

[0049] An electromagnetic rotating field generated in the stator 14 allows the valve actuator 6 to pivot or adjust about a rotational axis Y-Y of the stepper motor against the force of a return spring 10 from the first valve position to the second valve position. When the stepper motor is de-energized, this return spring 12 forces or pivots the valve actuator 6 back to the first valve position. This return spring 12 can be designed as either a compression or tension spring.

[0050] A separating element 12, in the form of a cylindrical containment vessel, is provided between the valve actuator 6 and the stator 14. This separating element is attached to the housing plate 4 and demarcates a refrigerant chamber of the valve actuator 6 from the stator 14. The permanent magnets 8 are arranged internally to the stator 14. This containment vessel 12 is fluidically or hermetically sealed to the housing plate 4. Furthermore, this containment vessel 12 forms a cylindrical unit or a cylindrical section of the proposed valve unit 2 with the valve actuator 6. This valve unit is arranged between the housing plate 4 and a control board 16 for the electric motor.

[0051] This split pot 12 not only acts as a separating agent, but also extends the refrigerant-guiding function of the housing plate 4. It thus simultaneously forms part of the housing of the proposed heat pump valve unit 2, in which the refrigerant is received, guided and redirected.

[0052] Instead of a rotor carrying such permanent magnets 8, a reluctance-based rotor can also be provided, which is designed in the form of a magnetically conductive iron part and forms a so-called reluctance motor with the coils or coil windings of the stator 14.

[0053] Figures 1 to 3 illustrate a kind of sandwich arrangement with the aforementioned control board 16, which as such is mounted on the bottom of the split pot 12 at one end facing away from the housing plate 4.

[0054] 7

[0055] The reversing valve is arranged adjacent to the splitting pot 12. It is positioned between the housing plate 4 and the control board 16.

[0056] The reversing valve is designed in the form of a 4 / 2-way valve, the connections of which are formed by the housing plate 4.

[0057] The housing plate 4 has the following features:

[0058] • a high-pressure inlet channel section 18 for a compressed refrigerant,

[0059] • a low-pressure drain channel section 20 for an evaporated refrigerant,

[0060] • a separate inlet channel section 22 from or outlet channel section 22 to a - fluidically connectable - first, outer heat exchanger 50 and

[0061] • a separate inlet channel section 24 from or outlet channel section 24 to a second, internal heat exchanger 44 that can be connected fluidically.

[0062] Via the valve actuator 6, the high-pressure inlet channel section 18 can be selectively connected to one of the outlet channel sections 22, 24 to the respective heat exchanger 44, 50, and the low-pressure outlet channel section 20 can be connected to the inlet channel section 22, 24 of the respective other heat exchanger 44, 50.

[0063] The valve actuator 6 is essentially cylindrical and has different diameters in sections (Fig. 5).

[0064] The valve actuator 6 has a first cylinder section facing away from the housing plate 4, which carries the permanent magnets 8 on its circumference, and a second cylinder section adjoining it, facing the housing plate 4, which has a larger diameter than the first cylinder section.

[0065] The valve actuator 6 also has closed, circumferential channels 26, 28, 30, 32, 34 carrying refrigerant (see Figs. 5 and 6). The channels 26, 28, 30 penetrate the valve actuator 6 in the direction of rotation.

[0066] 8 of the direction shown Y - Y completely. Channels 32, 34, however, only extend partially in this direction of rotation or in the direction shown Y - Y into the valve actuator 6.

[0067] The channel 26 extends as a central channel over or through the first and second cylinder sections of the valve actuator 6. The channels 28, 30, 32, 34, which are formed in the second cylinder section of the valve actuator 6, are arranged around this channel 26.

[0068] Channels 28 and 30, on the one hand, and channels 32 and 34, on the other, are diametrically opposed to each other. Channels 32 and 34 also extend in an arc around the rotation axis Y-Y.

[0069] Channel 26 is aligned with the high-pressure inlet channel (section) 18 of the housing plate 4. Compressed refrigerant enters the containment vessel 12 via these two channels or channel sections, from where it is diverted into the two channels 28 and 30, which are radially offset from channel 26. Depending on the position of the valve actuator 6, the refrigerant then flows into one of the outlet channel sections 22 or 24.

[0070] While channels 26, 28, 30 carry the compressed refrigerant and thus form a high-pressure flow path, channels 32, 34 carry the evaporated refrigerant and thus form a low-pressure flow path.

[0071] The recesses 27 shown in Fig. 5 – functioning as channels – in the direction of the axis of rotation Y-Y guide the compressed refrigerant past a guide section of the containment vessel 12 (not shown here). This guide section is formed in the base of the containment vessel 12 and extends – in Fig. 5 – from above into the channel 26 to accommodate and thereby position the valve actuator 6.

[0072] The valve actuator 6 with its channels 26, 28, 30, 32, 34 guides the refrigerant over one end face facing the housing plate 4 and thereby over a flat, 202401197

[0073] 9 closed circumferential, raised sealing surface 7a, which is formed by the valve actuator 6 and which fluidically seals together with a flat, closed circumferential, raised sealing surface 7b of the housing plate 4, in which the individual inlet channel sections 18, 22, 24 and outlet channel sections 20, 22, 24 of the housing plate 4 end (see Figs. 3, 4 and 6).

[0074] The term "raised" means that the respective sealing surface 7a, 7b protrudes slightly or marginally relative to a neighboring surface of the same component in the direction of the rotation axis Y - Y.

[0075] In this process, the valve actuator 6 with its flat sealing surface 7a and the housing plate 4 with its flat sealing surface 7b implement a so-called disc sealing principle with a known excellent sealing effect.

[0076] The housing plate 4 can also be designed in such a way that it can accommodate at least one additional component - not shown here.

[0077] Fig. 7 illustrates the proposed heat pump valve unit 2 and its valve actuator 6 in one of two possible valve positions, in which the high pressure inlet channel section 18 is connected to the outlet channel section 24 to the inner heat exchanger 44 and in which the low pressure outlet channel section 20 is connected to the inlet channel section 22 from the outer heat exchanger 50.

[0078] The arrow lines in Fig. 7 clearly show the resulting flow paths of the conveyed refrigerant, along which the refrigerant is guided axially and / or tangentially in sections.

[0079] Figure 8 illustrates a proposed heat pump 40 in heating mode. Figure 9, on the other hand, illustrates this heat pump 40 in cooling mode. The valve position shown in Figure 7 corresponds to the valve position shown in Figure 8. 202401197

[0080] 10

[0081] A refrigerant circuit underlying Figures 8 and 9 comprises the proposed heat pump valve unit 2 with the housing plate 4, a compressor 42 acting as a high-pressure source, which is connected to the high-pressure inlet channel section 18 of the housing plate 4 via an associated refrigerant line or high-pressure inlet line, a refrigerant receiver (not shown here) acting as a low-pressure source, which is arranged in an associated refrigerant line or low-pressure outlet line between the housing plate 4 and the compressor 42 and is connected to the low-pressure outlet channel section 20 of the housing plate 4, and a first, outer heat exchanger 50, which is connected to the inlet channel section 18 of the housing plate 4 via an associated refrigerant line or inlet / outlet line.a second, internal heat exchanger 44, which is connected to the inlet channel section 22 of the housing plate 4 via an associated refrigerant line or inlet or outlet line, and a first expansion valve 48 and a second expansion valve 46, which are arranged in an associated refrigerant line or line between the heat exchanger 44 and the heat exchanger 50 such that, depending on the respective operating mode of the heat pump 40, only one of these expansion valves 46, 48 opens at any given time, while the other remains closed.

[0082] At this point, it is clarified purely as a precaution that the previously used notation of terms with parentheses, such as refrigerant circuit, is intended to cover possible variations or alternative terms that, as such, describe the same thing (e.g. Refrigerant circuit (refrigerant cycle).

[0083] In heating mode as shown in Fig. 8, expansion valve 46 opens, while expansion valve 48 remains closed. In cooling mode as shown in Fig. 9, expansion valve 48 opens, while expansion valve 46 remains closed.

[0084] The heat exchanger 50 represents a thermal connection or interface to an environment, whereas the heat exchanger 44 is a thermal 202401197

[0085] 11

[0086] represents a connection or interface to at least one room, which as such can be heated by means of the heat pump 2 (50 = evaporator;

[0087] 44 = condenser) or to cool (50 = condenser; 44 = evaporator).

[0088] Depending on the position of the reversing valve of the heat pump valve unit 2, the two heat exchangers 44, 50 are connected to the high pressure inlet channel section 18 or the low pressure outlet channel section 20 of the housing plate 4.

[0089] The lines or line sections shown in Figs. 8 and 9 between the individual components of the refrigerant circuit are lines in the form of hoses and / or pipes and / or channels or cavities of objects.

[0090] The housing plate 4 can also accommodate a pressure and temperature sensor connected to the high-pressure inlet channel section, a pressure and temperature sensor connected to the low-pressure outlet channel section, a pressure switch connected to the high-pressure inlet channel section, a service valve connected to the high-pressure inlet channel section and / or a service valve connected to the low-pressure outlet channel section in a corresponding bore of the housing plate 4.

[0091] However, for the sake of simplicity, these additional components are not shown in Figures 1 to 9.

[0092] The refrigerant circuit can be filled or emptied via at least one service valve. The pressure switch allows the power supply to compressor 42 to be temporarily interrupted and then restored, if necessary.

[0093] In one embodiment, the housing plate 4 can be a metallic casting and the containment pot 12 can be made of metal. The containment pot 12 is hermetically sealed to the housing plate 4, either welded or laser-welded. 202401197

[0094] 12

[0095] The proposed valve unit 2 represents a highly compact solution which, as such, requires little installation space.

[0096] This valve unit 2 allows for component savings and thus a reduction in the number of parts required. This, in turn, reduces the manufacturing costs of such a valve unit 2.

[0097] This valve unit 2 also provides only a single, but highly efficient, sealing surface. Therefore, this valve unit 2 represents a simple and thus cost-effective solution.

[0098] This proposed valve unit 2 also allows the reversing valve to be set or adjusted independently of the system pressure of such a heat pump 40.

[0099] Furthermore, the use of such a valve unit 2 is proposed, in which the compressor 42 is briefly switched off to facilitate adjustment or pivoting of the valve actuator 6. This advantageously allows the electric motor to be designed in the smallest possible size.

[0100] Although the preceding description explains exemplary embodiments, it should be noted that a multitude of variations are possible. Furthermore, it should be emphasized that the exemplary embodiments are merely examples and are not intended to restrict the scope of protection, applications, or structure in any way. Rather, the preceding description provides the skilled person with a guideline for implementing at least one exemplary embodiment, whereby various modifications, particularly with regard to the function and arrangement of the described components, can be made without departing from the scope of protection as defined by the claims and these equivalent combinations of features.

Claims

202401197 13 Patent claims 1. Heat pump valve unit (2) with a housing (4) with a reversing valve, wherein the reversing valve has an electrically adjustable valve actuator (6) in the form of a rotor of an electric motor carrying at least one magnet (8) with refrigerant-carrying channels (26, 28, 30, 32, 34), wherein the magnet (8) of the rotor interacts with a stator of the electric motor fixed to the housing (4), wherein a separating element (12) attached to the housing is provided between the valve actuator (6) and the stator (14), which separates a refrigerant space of the valve actuator (6) from the stator (14).

2. Heat pump valve unit (2) according to claim 1, wherein the separating agent (12) is formed in the shape of a split pot or split tube, wherein the split tube is closed off at its end facing away from the housing (4) to form a split pot against an environment.

3. Heat pump valve unit (2) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the housing (4) is formed in the shape of a housing plate.

4. Heat pump valve unit (2) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the reversing valve is designed in the form of a 4 / 2-way valve.

5. Heat pump valve unit (2) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a control board (16) for the electric motor is arranged at an end of the separating medium (12) facing away from the housing (4). 202401197 14 6. Heat pump valve unit (2) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the valve actuator (6) has, on the one hand, refrigerant-carrying channels (26, 28, 30) which completely penetrate the valve actuator (6) in a direction of rotation, and, on the other hand, has refrigerant-carrying channels (32, 34) which extend only partially in the direction of rotation into the valve actuator (6) and in an arc-shaped manner around the axis of rotation of the valve actuator (6).

7. Heat pump valve unit (2) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the valve actuator (6) guides the refrigerant over an end face facing the housing (4) with a flat, closed circumferential sealing surface (7a) which interacts with a flat, closed circumferential sealing surface (7b) of the housing (4) in which the individual inlet and outlet channels of the housing (4) terminate, which are connectable to the refrigerant-carrying channels (26, 28, 30, 32, 34) of the valve actuator (6).

8. Heat pump valve unit (2) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the electric motor is designed in the form of a stepper motor.

9. Heat pump valve unit (2) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the valve actuator (6) is designed in the form of a permanent magnet (8) carrying rotor of the electric motor.

10. Heat pump valve unit (2) according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 8, wherein the valve actuator (6) is designed in the form of a magnetically conductive iron part.

11. Heat pump (40) with a heat pump valve unit (2) according to one of the preceding claims, which can be operated in a heating mode or cooling mode.

12. Building with a heat pump according to claim 11. 202401197 15 13. Use of a heat pump (40) according to claim 11 for heating or cooling a building.

14. Use of a heat pump valve unit (2) according to any of the preceding claims 1 to 10 with a compressor (42) which is briefly switched off during operation of a heat pump according to claim 10 in order to facilitate adjustment of the valve actuator (6).

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