Cogeneration system

• US 7,305,841 B2
• Filed: 06/20/2005
• Issued: 12/11/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Kim, Cheol Min, Ryu, Yun Ho, Ko, Cheol Soo, Cho, Eun Jun, Hwang, Yoon Jei
• Primary Examiner(s): Tapolcai; William E.
• Application Number:
  US11/155,484
• Publication Number:
  US 20060123821A1
• Time in Patent Office: 904 Days
• Field of Search: 622386-2387
• US Class Current: 62/238.7
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 13/00 Compression machines, plants or systems, with reversible cycle defrosting cycles F25B47/02
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2313/006 two pipes connecting the outdoor side to the indoor side with multiple indoor units
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2313/0233 in parallel arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2500/02 Increasing the heating capacity of a reversible cycle during cold outdoor conditions
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 27/02 using waste heat, e.g. from internal-combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 30/274 using waste energy, e.g. from internal combustion engine
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 20/14 Combined heat and power generation [CHP]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/14 Thermal energy storage
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 80/15 On-site combined power, heat or cool generation or distribution, e.g. combined heat and power [CHP] supply

Abstract

A cogeneration system is disclosed. The cogeneration system includes a heat pump type air conditioner, a waste heat recoverer to recover waste heat of a drive source, a waste heat supplying heat exchanger, which is heated by the waste heat recovered by the waste heat recoverer, and a bypassing unit, which causes the waste heat supplying heat exchanger to function as an evaporator during a heating operation of the heat pump type air conditioner. In accordance with this arrangement, it is possible to enhance the heating capacity of the heat pump type air conditioner irrespective of outdoor temperature, to prevent damage of compressors, and to minimize power consumption.

Claims

1. A cogeneration system comprising:

a heat pump type air conditioner including a compressor, a 4-way valve, an indoor heat exchanger, expansion devices, and an outdoor heat exchanger;

a generator to generate electricity;

a drive source, which operates to drive the generator, and generates waste heat during the operation of the drive source;

a waste heat recoverer to recover the waste heat of the drive source;

a waste heat supplying heat exchanger, which is heated by the waste heat recovered by the waste heat recoverer; and

a bypassing unit to guide a refrigerant such that the refrigerant, which is expanded while passing though the expansion devices, during a heating operation of the heat pump type air conditioner, bypasses the outdoor heat exchanger, and enters the 4-way valve after being evaporated in the waste heat supplying heat exchanger, and such that the refrigerant, which is compressed in the compressor during a cooling operation of the heat pump type air conditioner, bypasses the waste heat supplying heat exchanger, and passes through the outdoor heat exchanger while being condensed in the outdoor heat exchanger;

a radiating heat exchanger to radiate the waste heat recovered by the waste heat recoverer;

a heat medium circulation conduit, which connects the waste heat recoverer and the waste heat supplying heat exchanger, and through which a heat medium is circulated;

a radiating bypass conduit, which connects the radiating heat exchanger and the heat medium circulation conduit, and guides the heat medium passing through the heat medium circulation conduit to bypass the waste heat supplying heat exchanger; and

a waste heat distributor to distribute the waste heat recovered by the waste heat recoverer to the waste heat supplying heat exchanger and the radiating heat exchanger, said waste heat distributor comprising a 3-way valve arranged at an inlet of the radiating bypass conduit.

2. The cogeneration system according to claim 1, wherein the radiating heat exchanger is partially or entirely arranged in at least one of a water heating tank and a heat storage tank.

3. The cogeneration system according to claim 1, wherein the waste heat supplying heat exchanger comprises a plurality of ones, which are connected in series or in parallel.

4. The cogeneration system according to claim 1, wherein the heat pump type air conditioner is coupled with the generator so that the heat pump type air conditioner is driven with the electricity generated from the generator.

5. A cogeneration system comprising:

a heat pump type air conditioner including a compressor, a 4-way valve, an indoor heat exchanger, expansion devices, and an outdoor heat exchanger;

a generator to generate electricity;

a drive source, which operates to drive the generator, and generates waste heat during the operation of the drive source;

a waste heat recoverer to recover the waste heat of the drive source;

a waste heat supplying heat exchanger, which is heated by the waste heat recovered by the waste heat recoverer; and

a bypassing unit to guide a refrigerant such that the refrigerant, which is expanded while passing through the expansion devices, during a heating operation of the heat pump type air conditioner, bypasses the outdoor heat exchanger, and enters the 4-way valve after being evaporated in the waste heat supplying heat exchanger, and such that the refrigerant, which is compressed in the compressor during a cooling operation of the heat pump type air conditioner, bypasses the waste heat supplying heat exchanger, and passes through the outdoor heat exchanger while being condensed in the outdoor heat exchanger,

wherein the waste heat recoverer comprises;

a cooling water heat exchanger to recover waste heat of cooling water used to cool the drive source;

a first exhaust gas heat exchanger to recover waste heat of exhaust gas generated from the drive source; and

a second exhaust gas heat exchanger to recover the waste heat of the exhaust gas remaining after being absorbed in the first exhaust gas heat exchanger.

6. The cogeneration system according to claim 5, further comprising:

a heat transfer unit to transfer heat from the cooling water heat exchanger, the first exhaust gas heat exchanger, and the second exhaust gas heat exchanger to the waste heat supplying heat exchanger.

7. The cogeneration system according to claim 5, further comprising:

a heat transfer unit to transfer heat from at least one of the cooling water heat exchanger, the first exhaust gas heat exchanger, and the second exhaust gas heat exchanger to the waste heat supplying heat exchanger;

a second waste heat supplying heat exchanger to heat the refrigerant, which is compressed in the compressor during the heating operation of the heat pump type air conditioner; and

a second heat transfer unit to transfer heat from the remaining one or ones of the cooling water heat exchanger, the first exhaust gas heat exchanger, and the second exhaust gas heat exchanger to the second waste heat supplying heat exchanger.

8. The cogeneration system according to claim 7, wherein the second waste heat supplying heat exchanger comprises a plurality of ones, which are connected in series or in parallel.

9. A cogeneration system comprising:

a heat pump type air conditioner including a compressor, a 4-way valve, an indoor heat exchanger, expansion devices, and an outdoor heat exchanger;

a generator to generate electricity;

a drive source, which operates to drive the generator, and generates waste heat during the operation of the drive source;

a waste heat recoverer to recover the waste heat of the drive source;

a waste heat supplying heat exchanger, which is heated by the waste heat recovered by the waste heat recoverer; and

a bypassing unit to guide a refrigerant such that the refrigerant, which is expanded while passing through the expansion devices, during a heating operation of the heat pump type air conditioner, bypasses the outdoor heat exchanger, and enters the 4-way valve after being evaporated in the waste heat supplying heat exchanger, and such that the refrigerant, which is compressed in the compressor during a cooling operation of the heat pump type air conditioner, bypasses the waste heat supplying heat exchanger, and passes through the outdoor heat exchanger while being condensed in the outdoor heat exchanger;

wherein the bypassing unit comprises;

an outdoor heat exchanger bypass conduit to guide the refrigerant, which is expanded by the expansion devices, during the heating operation of the heat pump type air conditioner, to bypass the outdoor heat exchanger;

a waste heat supplying heat exchanger connecting conduit to guide the refrigerant, which is bypassed through the outdoor heat exchanger bypass conduit during the heating operation of the heat pump type air conditioner, to be introduced into the 4-way valve after passing through the waste heat supplying heat exchanger; and

a waste heat supplying heat exchanger bypass conduit to guide the refrigerant, which passes through the 4-way valve during the cooling operation of the heat pump type air conditioner, to bypass the waste heat supplying heat exchanger, wherein the bypassing unit comprises;

a first heating operation control valve arranged at the outdoor heat exchanger bypass conduit;

a second heating operation control valve arranged at the waste heat supplying heat exchanger connecting conduit;

a first cooling operation control valve arranged between an inlet of the outdoor heat exchanger bypass conduit and the outdoor heat exchanger;

a second cooling operation control valve arranged between an outlet of the outdoor heat exchanger bypass conduit and the outdoor heat exchanger; and

a third cooling operation control valve arranged at the waste heat supplying heat exchanger bypass conduit.

10. The cogeneration system according to claim 9, wherein each of the first and second heating operation control valves, and the first, second and third cooling operation control valves, is an ON/OFF valve.

11. The cogeneration system according to claim 9, further comprising:

a chassis, in which the generator, the drive source, the waste heat recoverer, and the waste heat supplying heat exchanger are arranged,

wherein the outdoor heat exchanger bypass conduit, the first heating operation control valve, the first cooling operation control valve, and the second cooling operation control valve are arranged in the heat pump type air conditioner,

wherein the waste heat supplying heat exchanger bypass conduit, the second heating operation control valve, and the third cooling operation control valve are arranged in the chassis.

12. The cogeneration system according to claim 9, further comprising:

a chassis, in which the generator, the drive source, the waste heat recoverer, and the waste heat supplying heat exchanger are arranged,

wherein the outdoor heat exchanger bypass conduit, the waste heat supplying heat exchanger bypass conduit, the first and second heating operation control valves, and the first, second and third cooling operation control valves are arranged in the heat pump type air conditioner.

13. A cogeneration system comprising:

a heat pump type air conditioner including a compressor, a 4-way valve, an indoor heat exchanger, expansion devices, and an outdoor heat exchanger;

a generator to generate electricity;

a drive source, which operates to drive the generator, and generates waste heat during the operation of the drive source;

a waste heat recoverer to recover the waste heat of the drive source;

a waste heat supplying heat exchanger, which is heated by the waste heat recovered by the waste heat recoverer; and

a bypassing unit to guide a refrigerant such that the refrigerant, which is expanded while passing through the expansion devices, during a heating operation of the heat pump type air conditioner, bypasses the outdoor heat exchanger, and enters the 4-way valve after being evaporated in the waste heat supplying heat exchanger, and such that the refrigerant, which is compressed in the compressor during a cooling operation of the heat pump type air conditioner, bypasses the waste heat supplying heat exchanger, and passes through the outdoor heat exchanger while being condensed in the outdoor heat exchanger;

wherein the bypassing unit comprises;

an outdoor heat exchanger bypass conduit to guide the refrigerant, which is expanded by the expansion devices, during the heating operation of the heat pump type air conditioner, to bypass the outdoor heat exchanger;

a waste heat supplying heat exchanger connecting conduit to guide the refrigerant, which is bypassed through the outdoor heat exchanger bypass conduit during the heating operation of the heat pump type air conditioner, to be introduced into the 4-way valve after passing through the waste heat supplying heat exchanger; and

a waste heat supplying heat exchanger bypass conduit to guide the refrigerant, which passes through the 4-way valve during the cooling operation of the heat pump type air conditioner, to bypass the waste heat supplying heat exchanger, wherein the bypassing unit comprises;

first and second 3-way valves, respectively arranged at an inlet of the outdoor heat exchanger bypass conduit and an outlet of the outdoor heat exchanger bypass conduit; and

third and fourth 3-way valves, respectively arranged at an inlet of the waste heat supplying heat exchanger bypass conduit and an outlet of the waste heat supplying heat exchanger bypass conduit.

14. A cogeneration system comprising:

a generator to generate electricity;

a heat pump type air conditioner, which includes a compressor, a 4-way valve, an indoor heat exchanger, expansion devices, and an outdoor heat exchanger, and operates with the electricity generated from the generator;

a drive source, which operates to drive the generator, and generates waste heat during the operation of the drive source;

a cooling water heat exchanger to recover waste heat of cooling water used to cool the drive source;

a first exhaust gas heat exchanger to recover waste heat of exhaust gas generated from the drive source; and

a second exhaust gas heat exchanger to recover the waste heat of the exhaust gas remaining after being absorbed in the first exhaust gas heat exchanger;

a waste heat supplying heat exchanger, which is heated by the waste heat recovered by the waste heat recoverer;

a heat transfer unit to transfer heat from the cooling water heat exchanger, the first exhaust gas heat exchanger, and the second exhaust gas heat exchanger to the waste heat supplying heat exchanger;

a second waste heat supplying heat exchanger to heat the refrigerant, which is compressed in the compressor during the heating operation of the heat pump type air conditioner;

a second, heat transfer unit to transfer heat from the remaining one or ones of the cooling water heat exchanger;

the first exhaust gas heat exchanger, and the second exhaust gas heat exchanger to the second waste heat supplying heat exchanger;

an outdoor heat exchanger bypass conduit to guide the refrigerant, which is expanded by the expansion devices, during the heating operation of the heat pump type air conditioner, to bypass the outdoor heat exchanger;

a waste heat supplying heat exchanger connecting conduit to guide the refrigerant, which is bypassed through the outdoor heat exchanger bypass conduit during the heating operation of the heat pump type air conditioner, to be introduced into the 4-way valve after passing through the waste heat supplying heat exchanger; and

a waste heat supplying heat exchanger bypass conduit to guide the refrigerant, which passes through the 4-way valve during the cooling operation of the heat pump type air conditioner, to bypass the waste heat supplying heat exchanger.

15. The cogeneration system according to claim 14, further comprising:

a first heating operation control valve arranged at the outdoor heat exchanger bypass conduit;

a second heating operation control valve arranged at the waste heat supplying heat exchanger connecting conduit;

a first cooling operation control valve arranged between an inlet of the outdoor heat exchanger bypass conduit and the outdoor heat exchanger;

a second cooling operation control valve arranged between an outlet of the outdoor heat exchanger bypass conduit and the outdoor heat exchanger; and

a third cooling operation control valve arranged at the waste heat supplying heat exchanger bypass conduit.

16. The cogeneration system according to claim 15, wherein each of the first and second heating operation control valves, and the first, second and third cooling operation control valves, is an ON/OFF valve.

17. The cogeneration system according to claim 14, further comprising:

first and second 3-way valves, respectively arranged at an inlet of the outdoor heat exchanger bypass conduit and an outlet of the outdoor heat exchanger bypass conduit; and

third and fourth 3-way valves, respectively arranged at an inlet of the waste heat supplying heat exchanger bypass conduit and an outlet of the waste heat supplying heat exchanger bypass conduit.