Heat pump
First Claim
1. A heat pump comprising:
- a compressor configured to compress and discharge a refrigerant;
an oil separator configured to separate an oil from the refrigerant discharged from the compressor;
an oil return channel configured to return the oil separated by the oil separator to the compressor;
a pressure sensor configured to detect a pressure in the oil return channel;
a first capillary disposed in a first portion of the oil return channel on an oil separator side of the pressure sensor, and a second capillary disposed in a second portion of the oil return channel on a compressor side of the pressure sensor;
a shut-off valve disposed in a third portion of the oil return channel on the oil separator side of the first capillary, the shut-off valve being kept open while the compressor is operating and kept closed while the compressor is stopped; and
a control device configured to permit an increase in output of the compressor when a pressure detected by the pressure sensor exceeds a suction pressure of the compressor and is less than a discharge pressure of the compressor.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An exemplary heat pump (10) includes: a compressor (16A, 16B) that discharges refrigerant; an oil separator (30) that separates oil from the refrigerant discharged from the compressor; an oil return channel (80) that returns the oil separated by the oil separator to the compressor; a pressure sensor (86A, 86B) that detects a pressure in the oil return channel; a first pressure loss member (84A, 84B) and a second pressure loss member (88A, 88B) disposed in portions of the oil return channel at an oil separator side and a compressor side relative to the pressure sensor; and a control device that increases an output of the compressor in a case where a pressure detected by the pressure sensor exceeds a suction pressure of the compressor and less than a discharge pressure of the compressor.
4 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A heat pump comprising:
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a compressor configured to compress and discharge a refrigerant; an oil separator configured to separate an oil from the refrigerant discharged from the compressor; an oil return channel configured to return the oil separated by the oil separator to the compressor; a pressure sensor configured to detect a pressure in the oil return channel; a first capillary disposed in a first portion of the oil return channel on an oil separator side of the pressure sensor, and a second capillary disposed in a second portion of the oil return channel on a compressor side of the pressure sensor; a shut-off valve disposed in a third portion of the oil return channel on the oil separator side of the first capillary, the shut-off valve being kept open while the compressor is operating and kept closed while the compressor is stopped; and a control device configured to permit an increase in output of the compressor when a pressure detected by the pressure sensor exceeds a suction pressure of the compressor and is less than a discharge pressure of the compressor.
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2. A heat pump comprising:
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a first compressor configured to compress a refrigerant and discharge the compressed refrigerant; an oil separator configured to separate an oil from the compressed refrigerant discharged from the first compressor; an oil return channel configured to return the oil separated by the oil separator to the first compressor; a first pressure sensor configured to detect a pressure at a first location in the oil return channel; first and second means for decreasing pressure disposed in or defining portions of the oil return channel, wherein; the first means for decreasing pressure is upstream of the first location; and the second means for decreasing pressure is downstream of the first location; and a first shut-off valve configured to selectively block fluid communication between the oil separator and the first means for decreasing pressure. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of operating a heat pump, the method comprising:
at the heat pump comprising a compressor, an oil separator, an oil return channel, a pressure sensor, a first capillary upstream of the pressure sensor in a flow path and a second capillary downstream of the pressure sensor in the flow path, and a shut-off between the oil separator and the first capillary, performing; compressing a refrigerant by the compressor; separating an oil from the compressed refrigerant by the oil separator; supplying the oil from the oil separator to the compressor via the oil return channel; detecting a pressure of the oil at a first location in the oil return channel; decreasing the pressure of the oil at a location upstream of the first location of the oil return channel; decreasing the pressure of the oil at a location downstream of the first location of the oil return channel; and increasing an output of the compressor based on the pressure of the oil detected at the first location being within a first pressure range.
Specification