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EP4400776A1 - Système de pompe à chaleur comprenant un dispositif de dégazage et un dispositif de chauffage de secours - Google Patents

Système de pompe à chaleur comprenant un dispositif de dégazage et un dispositif de chauffage de secours Download PDF

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Publication number
EP4400776A1
EP4400776A1 EP23206923.7A EP23206923A EP4400776A1 EP 4400776 A1 EP4400776 A1 EP 4400776A1 EP 23206923 A EP23206923 A EP 23206923A EP 4400776 A1 EP4400776 A1 EP 4400776A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
heat pump
pump system
fluid
refrigerant
leaks
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Pending
Application number
EP23206923.7A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Angelo LE PERA
Marco Molteni
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Ariston SpA
Original Assignee
Ariston SpA
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Ariston SpA filed Critical Ariston SpA
Publication of EP4400776A1 publication Critical patent/EP4400776A1/fr
Pending legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24H—FLUID HEATERS, e.g. WATER OR AIR HEATERS, HAVING HEAT-GENERATING MEANS, e.g. HEAT PUMPS, IN GENERAL
    • F24H15/00—Control of fluid heaters
    • F24H15/10—Control of fluid heaters characterised by the purpose of the control
    • F24H15/12—Preventing or detecting fluid leakage
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24D—DOMESTIC- OR SPACE-HEATING SYSTEMS, e.g. CENTRAL HEATING SYSTEMS; DOMESTIC HOT-WATER SUPPLY SYSTEMS; ELEMENTS OR COMPONENTS THEREFOR
    • F24D17/00—Domestic hot-water supply systems
    • F24D17/0089—Additional heating means, e.g. electric heated buffer tanks or electric continuous flow heaters, located close to the consumer, e.g. directly before the water taps in bathrooms, in domestic hot water lines
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24D—DOMESTIC- OR SPACE-HEATING SYSTEMS, e.g. CENTRAL HEATING SYSTEMS; DOMESTIC HOT-WATER SUPPLY SYSTEMS; ELEMENTS OR COMPONENTS THEREFOR
    • F24D19/00—Details
    • F24D19/08—Arrangements for drainage, venting or aerating
    • F24D19/082—Arrangements for drainage, venting or aerating for water heating systems
    • F24D19/083—Venting arrangements
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24H—FLUID HEATERS, e.g. WATER OR AIR HEATERS, HAVING HEAT-GENERATING MEANS, e.g. HEAT PUMPS, IN GENERAL
    • F24H4/00—Fluid heaters characterised by the use of heat pumps
    • F24H4/02—Water heaters
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
    • F25B1/00—Compression machines, plants or systems with non-reversible cycle

Definitions

  • the object of the present invention is a heat pump system for room heating/cooling functions and/or for the production of domestic water preferably operating with a low environmental impact refrigerant and arranged to prevent any refrigerant leaks from reaching and spreading internally into the environment in which said heat pump system is installed and/or operates.
  • the object of the present invention is a heat pump system for room heating/cooling functions and/or for the production of domestic water capable of integrating a device adapted to intercept and expel said possible refrigerant leaks without this resulting in an increase in the overall number of the functional components of said heat pump.
  • the invention falls within the sector of heat pump conditioning equipment for residential and/or industrial/commercial buildings (or the like), where "conditioning” is indifferently referred to as “heating” or “cooling”, preferably made by electrical power supply.
  • a heat pump system 1' comprises at least (see Fig. 1 ):
  • condition circuit 3′′′ the circuit 3' of the technical fluid shall be referred to as “conditioning circuit 3′′′, where, as already mentioned, "conditioning” is indifferently referred to as both room cooling/heating and domestic water heating function.
  • the refrigeration circuit and the conditioning circuit share at least one heat exchanger 21', for example a plate exchanger 21', in which the heat exchange between the relative refrigeration and technical fluid is carried out. More precisely, when a heat pump system 1' is used for heating the environment and/or domestic water, said heat exchanger 21' operates as a condenser. On the contrary, if the same heat pump system 1' operates in cooling mode, said heat exchanger 21' operates as an evaporator.
  • the conditioning circuit 3' of a heat pump system 1' may also comprise at least one backup heater 5', generally arranged to provide an additional heating capacity for the technical fluid and/or to protect the heat pump system from freezing during the cold periods of operation.
  • the most polluting refrigerants such as the common R410A
  • others having a low environmental impact i.e. having a low "Global Warming Potential” or "GWP"
  • the heat pumps operate more and more frequently with refrigerants belonging to the group of the hydrofluorocarbons and/or of the aliphatic hydrocarbons such as, without any limiting intent, propane R290 (chemical formula: C 3 H 8 ) or R32 (a difluoromethane having chemical formula CH 2 F 2 ).
  • said heat pumps may provide for air tight chambers in which any refrigerant leaks may remain confined without any risk of flammability or dispersion in the environment surrounding the same heat pump and/or be connected to pipes appropriately designed to convey said refrigerant leaks directly into the atmosphere.
  • degassers appropriately placed in the heat pump system, have been developed to separate, and possibly expel, any refrigerant leaks due to breakages and/or malfunctions of components and/or pipes of the refrigeration circuit. Such breakages and/or malfunctions, in fact, may allow the refrigerant fluid to infiltrate and reach the conditioning circuit, mixing with the technical fluid.
  • a degasser 4' is positioned immediately downstream of the heat exchanger 21' in charge, as anticipated, for the heat exchange between the refrigerant of the refrigeration circuit 2' and the technical fluid (technical water or the like) of the same conditioning circuit 3'. Since it shall be referred to several times during the present description, it is specified that "operating direction” or “operating flow” is to be understood as the direction normally imparted to the technical fluid in the conditioning circuit 3' by the relevant circulation pump 30', when the heat pump system operates in heating and/or cooling conditions (see reference F in Fig. 1 or 3 ).
  • said degasser 4' may be positioned between said heat exchanger 21' and said backup heater 5', when provided.
  • degasser 4' A known type of degasser 4' is shown in Fig. 1 and/or 2a, 2b.
  • Said degasser 4' is suitably shaped and sized to define a chamber 40' therein, referred to as "deaerator chamber 40'", in which the technical fluid of the conditioning circuit 3', which passes therethrough, may pour and propagate by decreasing the speed thereof.
  • any separator devices 43' inside the deaerator chamber 40' such as mesh filters (as it is well illustrated in Fig. 2a or 2b ), perforated meshes, baffles, turbulators or similar means interfering with the flow of the technical fluid, may facilitate the slowing down thereof and the above-mentioned separation of the refrigerant.
  • the refrigerant which is generally in a gaseous state (e.g.
  • degasser 4' it, as mentioned, a component per se already known to a man skilled in the art, widely used and available in a wide variety of models and construction variants (see, in such regard, also the variant described and shown in the prior art document EP 4 075 078 A1 and/or the degasser of document US 6 526 921 B1 ).
  • a degasser 4' constitutes an additional component for a heat pump system 1' which may negatively influence the production and installation costs and the size and overall dimensions thereof, especially of the external unit, where it is usually housed. Furthermore, if on one hand the use of a degasser 4' increases the safety of a heat pump system against possible refrigerant leaks, on the other hand it introduces and generates strong localised load losses and therefore a significant resistance to the circulation of the technical fluid in the conditioning circuit 3', consequently worsening the efficiency of the entire system 1'.
  • the object of the present invention is to obviate such type of inconveniences by providing a low environmental impact heat pump system for room heating/cooling functions and/or for the production of domestic water comprising at least one highly efficient device capable of preventing any refrigerant leaks from spreading internally to the installation and/or usage environment.
  • a further purpose of the present invention is to provide a low environmental impact heat pump system for room heating/cooling functions and/or for the production of domestic water in which said at least one device adapted to intercept any such refrigerant leaks does not lead to an increase in the load losses and in the resistance to the flow of technical fluid of the same heat pump system.
  • a further object of the present invention is to provide a low environmental impact heat pump system for room heating/cooling functions and/or for the production of domestic water capable of integrating at least one device adapted to intercept any such refrigerant leaks without it leading to an increase in the overall number of the functional components of said heat pump system.
  • Reference numeral 1 therefore indicates, as a whole, the heat pump system of the invention that may be used for a domestic or non-domestic environment (e.g. commercial or industrial) heating and/or cooling functions and/or for the production of domestic water, for example domestic hot water.
  • a domestic or non-domestic environment e.g. commercial or industrial
  • a first circuit 2 is shown of the heat pump system 1, in which a refrigerant fluid circulates and which is evaporated at low pressure, brought to high pressure, condensed and finally brought back to an evaporation pressure, and a second circuit 3 crossed by a technical fluid, preferably technical water, that may be used for room heating/cooling and/or for the production of domestic water.
  • a technical fluid preferably technical water
  • said first 2 and second 3 circuit of the heat pump system 1 of the invention shall be respectively referred to as “refrigeration circuit 2" and “conditioning circuit 3", where, as already mentioned, “conditioning” is indifferently to be referred to as both the cooling/heating function of an environment, and that of domestic water heating.
  • said refrigeration 2 and conditioning 3 circuit may be housed in the external unit 10 of the heat pump system 1.
  • refrigerant fluid shall be referred to as, without any limiting intent, a low environmental impact refrigerant (e.g. low GWP - Global Warming Potential ) which, as mentioned, presents a greater flammability risk, such as, for example, the well-known R290 ( Propane ), R32 ( Difluoromethane ), or similar/the like.
  • a low environmental impact refrigerant e.g. low GWP - Global Warming Potential
  • R290 Propane
  • R32 Difluoromethane
  • the refrigeration circuit 2 comprises, connected to each other via special pipes:
  • Said refrigerant circuit 2 may be switched, by means of a switching valve (not shown), e.g. "4 ways” between "cooling” and “heating” operating mode (and vice versa) with said first 20 and second 21 heat exchanger that may therefore operate, if necessary, either as a condenser or as an evaporator.
  • a switching valve not shown
  • said first 20 and second 21 heat exchanger that may therefore operate, if necessary, either as a condenser or as an evaporator.
  • the refrigerant fluid When in "heating" mode, the refrigerant fluid dissipates heat, by condensing, in the second exchanger 21 which therefore acts as a condenser, while absorbing heat, evaporating, in the first exchanger 20 which acts as an evaporator.
  • the above-mentioned first heat exchanger 20 operates as a condenser of the refrigeration circuit 2, while the second exchanger 21 as a relative evaporator.
  • the second heat exchanger 21 is preferably that in which the heat exchange takes place between the refrigerant fluid of the refrigeration circuit 2 and the technical fluid of the conditioning circuit 3.
  • main heat exchanger said second heat exchanger 21 shall be referred to as “main heat exchanger” or, more simply, “main exchanger”.
  • the main heat exchanger 21 may therefore operate:
  • the conditioning circuit 3 may further comprise at least one circulation pump 30 of the technical fluid and is connected and/or cooperating with one or more terminals (not shown) for ambient heating/cooling and/or for the domestic water.
  • Said terminals may therefore operate:
  • the circulation pump 30 may be placed upstream of the secondary side 25 of the main heat exchanger 21 (see Fig. 3 ).
  • the conditioning circuit 3 may further comprise at least:
  • said ventilation valve 6 may therefore allow the expulsion of:
  • said conditioning circuit 3 further comprises one backup heater 5, arranged to provide additional heating capacity for the technical fluid and/or to protect the heat pump system 1 from freezing during the coldest periods of operation.
  • said backup heater 5 is a substantially box-shaped body in fluid communication with the pipes of the conditioning circuit 3 and it is therefore also crossed by the technical fluid.
  • the backup heater 5, which is preferably installed downstream of the main heat exchanger 21 (referring to the operating direction F of the technical fluid) comprises at least:
  • said at least one heating element 53 may for example comprise one or more electric heaters (also referred to as “resistances”), each for example comprising a tubular element, generally metallic, repeatedly wrapped and folded on itself so as to form a plurality of coils or branches 54, adjacent, preferably close to each other (see, for example, Figures 3 and/or 4).
  • electric heaters also referred to as "resistances”
  • each for example comprising a tubular element, generally metallic, repeatedly wrapped and folded on itself so as to form a plurality of coils or branches 54, adjacent, preferably close to each other (see, for example, Figures 3 and/or 4).
  • said at least one backup heater 5 also as a "degasser device”.
  • the backup heater 5 therefore, also performs a degassing function and may therefore intercept and/or expel at least any refrigerant leaks before they spread into the conditioning circuit 3, preventing them from reaching the pipes, the manifolds, the valves, the radiators or fan coils or any other device of the technical fluid distribution circuit inside a building.
  • the backup heater 5 integrates at least the above-mentioned ventilation valve 6 of the conditioning circuit 3, while:
  • the ventilation valve 6, which as seen may be either automatic or manual, is preferably installed at or in the proximity of the top wall 56 of the backup heater 5 and in fluid communication with the heating chamber 50 thereof.
  • Said ventilation valve 6 is capable of remaining closed (or closing) in the absence of refrigerant leaks or for modest or tolerable quantities thereof, or of opening when said quantity of refrigerant separated from the technical fluid exceeds significant and no longer negligible values.
  • said ventilation valve 6 may consist of a known jolly valve of the type already usable for the expulsion of the excess air that may be present in a heating/cooling system.
  • the backup heater 5, comprising said ventilation valve 6, may, due to the structure thereof, facilitate the evacuation of any gas intercepted and separated from a fluid and therefore may also allow the elimination of said excess air in the technical fluid.
  • said ventilation valve 6 may be of the automatic type, where the opening of a relative vent 64, aimed at discharging, for example into the atmosphere, the refrigerant intercepted and separated from the technical fluid is assigned to a shutter 60, that may be operated depending on the presence and quantity of said refrigerant.
  • the shutter 60 may be housed inside a compartment or valve body 61 in fluid communication with the underlying heating chamber 50 of the backup heater 5 and is generally in contact and/or cooperating with the technical fluid that fills and/or passes through the same chamber 50.
  • said shutter 60 may be connected, via a special return means 62 (e.g. a control rod 62) to a float 63 capable of floating in the technical fluid of the heating chamber 50.
  • a special return means 62 e.g. a control rod 62
  • said ventilation valve 6 is "normally closed", i.e. the shutter 60 is positioned in such a way as to keep the vent 64 closed, but capable of opening immediately in case of refrigerant leaks, thus passing from a "closing configuration" to an "opening configuration".
  • backup heater 5 comprising, integrated and/or in fluid communication with the heating chamber 50 thereof, also the above-mentioned relief valve (not shown), otherwise alternatively positioned and installed in the conditioning circuit 3 preferably downstream of the main exchanger 21.
  • the heating element 53 inside the heating chamber 50, does not reach too high temperatures which may lead to the ignition and combustion of the refrigerant possibly present in the technical fluid and with which, in case of leaks, it may come into direct contact.
  • the surface temperatures T ist of said at least one heating element 53 are sufficiently lower than the self-ignition temperature T acc of the refrigerant used in the heat pump system 1.
  • the maximum temperature T risc that may be reached by said heating element 53 may be set and/or adjusted to remain below said self-ignition temperature T acc of the refrigerant fluid by an appropriate safety threshold ⁇ safety (T risc ⁇ T acc - ⁇ safety ).
  • said at least one heating element 53 may therefore:
  • a component specifically and exclusively used for the interception and subsequent expulsion of any refrigerant leaks is eliminated from the heat pump system 1, i.e. the traditional degasser or similar devices (that is, the component 4' of Fig. 1 is eliminated).
  • the integration of a degasser device and backup heater into a single component also reduces the total number of hydraulic connections, fittings, joints, or the like, of the conditioning circuit 3, effectively reducing the risk of technical fluid leakages in case of sealing defects thereof. This may lead to a reduction in the management and maintenance costs of the heat pump system of the invention.
  • the backup heater 5 of the invention comprising at least one ventilation valve 6 there is the possibility to intercept and discharge, according to methods and with results substantially similar to those provided for the refrigerant leaks, any excess air in the pipes and/or terminals of the conditioning circuit 3, guaranteeing regularity of the flow of technical fluid and the thermal capacity thereof.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Other Air-Conditioning Systems (AREA)
  • Steam Or Hot-Water Central Heating Systems (AREA)
  • Central Heating Systems (AREA)
EP23206923.7A 2023-01-16 2023-10-31 Système de pompe à chaleur comprenant un dispositif de dégazage et un dispositif de chauffage de secours Pending EP4400776A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
IT102023000000459A IT202300000459A1 (it) 2023-01-16 2023-01-16 Sistema a pompa di calore comprendente un dispositivo degasatore ed un riscaldatore di riserva

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP4400776A1 true EP4400776A1 (fr) 2024-07-17

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP23206923.7A Pending EP4400776A1 (fr) 2023-01-16 2023-10-31 Système de pompe à chaleur comprenant un dispositif de dégazage et un dispositif de chauffage de secours

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP4400776A1 (fr)
FR (1) FR3145030B3 (fr)
IT (1) IT202300000459A1 (fr)

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6526921B1 (en) 1998-09-30 2003-03-04 Spiro Research B.V. Method for operating a closed hot-water installation and apparatus to be used therewith
CN101970940A (zh) 2008-03-20 2011-02-09 大金工业株式会社 加热器
EP2312224B1 (fr) 2009-10-07 2019-12-25 STIEBEL ELTRON GmbH & Co. KG Pompe à chaleur dotée d'un module hydraulique
US20190390873A1 (en) 2017-03-15 2019-12-26 Mitsubishi Electric Corporation Heat pump apparatus and method for installing the same
EP4075078A1 (fr) 2021-04-12 2022-10-19 Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd. Système de circulation de milieu thermique

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6526921B1 (en) 1998-09-30 2003-03-04 Spiro Research B.V. Method for operating a closed hot-water installation and apparatus to be used therewith
CN101970940A (zh) 2008-03-20 2011-02-09 大金工业株式会社 加热器
EP2312224B1 (fr) 2009-10-07 2019-12-25 STIEBEL ELTRON GmbH & Co. KG Pompe à chaleur dotée d'un module hydraulique
US20190390873A1 (en) 2017-03-15 2019-12-26 Mitsubishi Electric Corporation Heat pump apparatus and method for installing the same
EP4075078A1 (fr) 2021-04-12 2022-10-19 Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd. Système de circulation de milieu thermique

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
IT202300000459A1 (it) 2024-07-16
FR3145030A3 (fr) 2024-07-19
FR3145030B3 (fr) 2025-01-03

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