Heat pump cycle

• US 9,605,883 B2
• Filed: 12/03/2012
• Issued: 03/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Sakamoto, Kota, Kami, Yuuichi, Katoh, Yoshiki
• Primary Examiner(s): Duke, Emmanuel
• Application Number:
  US14/362,310
• Publication Number:
  US 20140318170A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,576 Days
• Field of Search: 625/15, 165/58, 165/164
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00921 where the flow direction of the refrigerant does not change and there is an extra subcondenser, e.g. in an air duct
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 2001/00949 comprising additional heating/cooling sources, e.g. second evaporator
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 2001/00961 comprising means for defrosting outside heat exchangers
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2339/047 Water-cooled condensers
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2400/0409 for the evaporator
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 25/005 using primary and secondary systems
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2600/2501 Bypass valves
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 30/02 of the compression type
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 47/006 for preventing frost
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 47/025 by reversing the cycle
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 5/04 arranged in series
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 6/00 Compression machines, plants or systems, with several condenser circuits
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 6/04 arranged in series
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 1/0408 Multi-circuit heat exchangers, e.g. integrating different heat exchange sections in the same unit or heat exchangers for more than two fluids F28F9/0234 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 1/05391 with multiple rows of conduits or with multi-channel conduits combined with a particular flow pattern, e.g. multi-row multi-stage radiators
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 2021/008 for vehicles for aircrafts F28D2021/0021
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 7/0025 the conduits for one medium or the conduits for both media being flat tubes or arrays of tubes
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 7/106 consisting of two coaxial conduits or modules of two coaxial conduits
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 1/128 Fins with openings, e.g. louvered fins
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 2215/02 Arrangements of fins common to different heat exchange sections, the fins being in contact with different heat exchange media
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 27/02 : for controlling the distribution of heat-exchange media between different channels static flow control means in header boxes F28F9/026; arrangements of guide plates or guide vanes F28F9/22, F28F25/12
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 9/0278 : in the form of stacked distribution plates or perforated plates arranged over end plates
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 9/26 : Arrangements for connecting different sections of heat-exchange elements, e.g. of radiators connecting different sections in water heaters F24H9/14 , connecting headers with inlet or outlet fittings F28F9/0246
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 30/52 : Heat recovery pumps, i.e. heat pump based systems or units able to transfer the thermal energy from one area of the premises or part of the facilities to a different one, improving the overall efficiency

Abstract

A heat pump cycle includes a refrigerant circuit and a coolant circuit. A first heat exchanger and a second heat exchanger are disposed between the refrigerant circuit and the coolant circuit. The first heat exchanger includes an exterior heat exchanger that functions as an evaporator in a heating operation, and a radiator for radiating heat of a coolant. The second heat exchanger transmits a heat of high-pressure refrigerant to the coolant in the heating operation. A temperature of refrigerant within the second heat exchanger is higher than a temperature of refrigerant within the first heat exchanger. The heat obtained from the second heat exchanger is supplied to the first heat exchanger through the coolant. Further, the heat obtained from the second heat exchanger is stored in the coolant. In defrosting operation, the coolant that has stored the heat therein is supplied to the first heat exchanger.

Claims

1. A heat pump cycle, comprising:

a compressor that sucks and compresses a low-pressure refrigerant to supply a high-pressure refrigerant;

a use-side heat exchanger to which the high-pressure refrigerant is supplied and a heat is supplied from the high-pressure refrigerant in a heating use;

a decompressor that decompresses the high-pressure refrigerant to supply the low-pressure refrigerant in the heating use;

an exterior heat exchanger including an air passage to allow an air to flow therein, and low-temperature medium tubes that conduct a heat exchange between the air and the low-pressure refrigerant and allow the low-pressure refrigerant to absorb a heat in the heating use;

a heat source heat exchanger that supplies a heat obtained from the high-pressure refrigerant to an auxiliary medium, the high-pressure refrigerant being higher in temperature than the low-pressure refrigerant, and

an auxiliary heat exchanger that is arranged adjacent to the exterior heat exchanger, the auxiliary heat exchanger including an air passage to allow the air to flow therein, and high-temperature medium tubes through which the auxiliary medium flows to supply the obtained heat to the exterior heat exchanger in the heating use, wherein

the exterior heat exchanger and the auxiliary heat exchanger configure a first heat exchanger unit that is usable as an integrated unit,

the low-temperature medium tubes and the high-temperature medium tubes are arranged to be thermally coupled with each other in at least a part of the first heat exchanger unit,

the first heat exchanger unit includes an upstream row in which tubes are arranged in a line, and a downstream row in which tubes are arranged in a line on a downstream side of the upstream row in a flow direction of the air,

the upstream row includes a group of the high-temperature medium tubes, and a group of the low-temperature medium tubes,

tubes of the group of the low-temperature medium tubes and tubes of the group of the high-temperature medium tubes are alternately arranged in at least a part of the upstream row, and

the exterior heat exchanger and the heat source heat exchanger are integrated as a second heat exchanger unit that is usable as an integrated unit.

2. The heat pump cycle according to claim 1, further comprising a cycle switching device that switches a flow channel between the heating use in which the exterior heat exchanger functions as an absorption heat exchanger that allows the low-pressure refrigerant to absorb the heat and a cooling use in which the exterior heat exchanger functions as a radiation heat exchanger that allows the high-temperature refrigerant to radiate heat to the air, wherein

the auxiliary heat exchanger radiates the heat obtained from the high-temperature refrigerant to the air in the cooling use.

3. The heat pump cycle according to claim 2, further comprising a flow rate regulator that makes a flow rate of the high-temperature refrigerant in the cooling use larger than a flow rate of the high-temperature refrigerant in the heating use.

4. The heat pump cycle according to claim 1, wherein

the low-temperature medium tubes and the high-temperature medium tubes are thermally coupled with each other through a fin arranged in the air passage.

5. The heat pump cycle according to claim 1, wherein

the compressor, the use-side heat exchanger, the decompressor, and the exterior heat exchanger configure a mainstream circuit in the heating use, and

the auxiliary heat exchanger supplies heat to the exterior heat exchanger, and the heat supplied from the auxiliary heat exchanger to the exterior heat exchanger is obtained from the high-temperature refrigerant upstream or downstream of the use-side heat exchanger.

6. The heat pump cycle according to claim 1, wherein

the compressor, the use-side heat exchanger, the decompressor, and the exterior heat exchanger configure a mainstream circuit in the heating use,

the heat pump cycle further comprises a branching circuit that is branched from upstream or downstream of the use-side heat exchanger, and

the auxiliary heat exchanger supplies the heat to the exterior heat exchanger, and the heat supplied from the auxiliary heat exchanger to the exterior heat exchanger is obtained from the high-temperature refrigerant in the branching circuit.

7. The heat pump cycle according to claim 1, wherein

the auxiliary heat exchanger supplies the heat to the exterior heat exchanger in order to limit frosting of the exterior heat exchanger when the exterior heat exchanger absorbs heat.

8. The heat pump cycle according to claim 1, wherein

the auxiliary heat exchanger supplies the heat from the auxiliary medium to the exterior heat exchanger in order to remove a frost adhered on the exterior heat exchanger after the exterior heat exchanger has absorbed heat.

9. The heat pump cycle according to claim 1, wherein

the second heat exchanger unit includes the decompressor, and

the decompressor is disposed between the heat source heat exchanger and the exterior heat exchanger.

10. The heat pump cycle according to claim 1, further comprising:

an auxiliary medium circuit in which the auxiliary medium circulates through the auxiliary heat exchanger and the heat source heat exchanger; and

an external heat source that is disposed in the auxiliary medium circuit and supplies the heat to the auxiliary medium.

11. The heat pump cycle according to claim 1, wherein

the auxiliary heat exchanger allows the high-temperature refrigerant to flow therein and receives the heat directly from the high-temperature refrigerant.

12. The heat pump cycle according to claim 1, wherein the exterior heat exchanger is in direct contact with the heat source heat exchanger.

13. The heat pump cycle according to claim 12, wherein

the decompressor is provided between the exterior heat exchanger and the heat source heat exchanger and includes a hole extending through a partition wall that divides the exterior heat exchanger and the heat source heat exchanger.

14. The heat pump cycle according to claim 13, wherein the decompressor includes a nozzle extending from the partition wall into the exterior heat exchanger and defining the hole.

15. The heat pump cycle according to claim 13, wherein the decompressor includes a valving element movable to change an opening degree of the hole, and a drive portion supporting and moving the valving element.

16. The heat pump cycle according to claim 15, wherein

the decompressor is disposed in a tank of the second heat exchanger unit that extends along a side of the second heat exchanger unit,

the tank communicates with both the exterior heat exchanger and the heat source heat exchanger,

the drive portion is liquid-tightly fixed onto an end surface of the tank of the second heat exchanger unit, and

the valving element is movable along the extending direction of the tank.

17. The heat pump cycle according to claim 16, wherein

the decompressor further includes a cylindrical sleeve having a cylindrical hollow shape and extending from the drive portion in the tank,

an outer circumferential surface of an end of the cylindrical sleeve contacts an inner wall of the tank to provide the partition wall and define the hole, and

the cylindrical sleeve includes a side hole through which the refrigerant flows into the cylindrical sleeve from the heat source heat exchanger.