Heat Pump and Method for Controlling the Same

This application is a continuation application, claiming priority under 35 U.S.C. § 365(c), of an International application No. PCT/KR2025/003199, filed on Mar. 11, 2025, which is based on and claims the benefit of a Korean patent application number 10-2024-0055032, filed on Apr. 24, 2024, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, and of a Korean patent application number 10-2024-0099791, filed on Jul. 26, 2024, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of each of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

The disclosure relates to a heat pump for adjusting a temperature of water passing through an air temperature control device and a method of controlling the heat pump.

A heat pump is a heating and cooling device that transfers a low-temperature heat source to a high temperature or a high-temperature heat source to a low temperature by using a refrigeration cycle of compressing, condensing, and evaporating a refrigerant.

Heat pumps are classified into an electric type (electric heat pump (EHP)) and an engine type (gas heat pump (GHP)) depending on the drive methods, into an air source type, a water source type (waste heat source type), and a ground source type (ground source heat pumps (GSHPs)) depending on the heat sources, into a hot air type, a cold air type, a hot water type, and a cold water type depending on the heat supply methods, and into a heating type, a cooling type, a dehumidifying type, and a heating and cooling type depending on the scope of use of pumps.

Latest heat pumps (hereinafter, also referred to as ‘air conditioners or heat pump systems’) include an outdoor unit, an indoor unit, and a hydro unit, and use the outdoor unit, the indoor unit, and the hydro unit to perform cooling and heating through air (air to air) and cooling and heating through water (air to water).

For example, a heat pump generates hot water through heat exchange between water and a refrigerant, and either uses the generated hot water for hot water supply or supplies the generated hot water to an air temperature control device. Here, the air temperature control device uses the hot water to heat the floor through radiation or heat an air-conditioned space through convection.

The latest heat pumps cool or heat one or more air-conditioned spaces to the same target temperature using a single air temperature control device.

The above information is presented as background information only to assist with an understanding of the disclosure. No determination has been made, and no assertion is made, as to whether any of the above might be applicable as prior art with regard to the disclosure.

Aspects of the disclosure are to address at least the above-mentioned problems and/or disadvantages and to provide at least the advantages described below. Accordingly, an aspect of the disclosure is to provide a heat pump and a control method for supplying water to a plurality of air temperature control devices independently using a storage tank and a mixing valve.

Another aspect of the disclosure is to provide a heat pump and a control method for independently controlling a target temperature of water supplied to each of a plurality of air temperature control devices.

Additional aspects will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the presented embodiments.

In accordance with an aspect of the disclosure, a heat pump is provided. The heat pump includes a compressor, a heat exchanger configured to receive a refrigerant from the compressor, a heat exchange pipe provided adjacent to the heat exchanger, wherein water exchanging heat with the refrigerant of the heat exchanger flows through the heat exchange pipe, a storage tank configured to store water supplied through an outlet of the heat exchange pipe and supply the stored water to a plurality of air temperature control devices, a mixing valve connected to at least one air temperature control device of the plurality of air temperature control devices and configured to mix water supplied from the storage tank with water discharged from the at least one air temperature control device and supply the mixed water to the at least one air temperature control device, and a circulation pump configured to pump the water stored in the storage tank and transfer the pumped water to the heat exchanger, wherein a part of the plurality of air temperature control devices includes a floor heating device, wherein a remaining part of the plurality of air temperature control devices includes a radiating device, and wherein the mixing valve is connected to the floor heating device.

The heat pump further includes a plurality of pumps respectively connected to the plurality of air temperature control devices and configured to pump the water of the storage tank and supply the pumped water to the plurality of air temperature control devices, a first temperature sensor configured to detect a temperature of outflow water discharged through the outlet of the heat exchange pipe, a second temperature sensor configured to detect a temperature of inflow water flowing into the radiating device, memory storing one or more computer programs, and one or more processors communicatively coupled to the plurality of pumps, the first temperature sensor, and the second temperature sensor to control on/off of the compressor based on the temperature of outflow water detected by the first temperature sensor and a target temperature of outflow water and maintain operations of the plurality of pumps during the on/off control of the compressor.

A part of the plurality of air temperature control devices of the heat pump includes a floor heating device. A remaining part of the plurality of air temperature control devices of the heat pump includes a radiating device, and the mixing valve of the heat pump is connected to the floor heating device.

The heat pump further includes a plurality of pumps respectively connected to the plurality of air temperature control devices and configured to pump the water of the storage tank and supply the pumped water to the plurality of air temperature control devices, a first temperature sensor configured to detect a temperature of outflow water discharged through the outlet of the heat exchange pipe, a second temperature sensor configured to detect a temperature of first inflow water flowing into the radiating device, a third temperature sensor configured to detect a temperature of second inflow water flowing into the floor heating device among the air temperature control devices, and one or more processors communicatively coupled to the plurality of pumps, the first temperature sensor, the second temperature sensor, and the third temperature sensor to control on/off of the compressor based on the detected temperature of inflow water, the detected temperature of outflow water, the target temperature of outflow water, and a target temperature of inflow water, and maintain operations of the plurality of pumps during the on/off control of the compressor.

The one or more computer programs further include computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors of the heat pump individually or collectively, cause the heat pump to recognize a first difference value between the detected temperature of outflow water and the detected temperature of inflow water and a second difference value between the target temperature of inflow water and the detected temperature of inflow water, recognize a compensated target temperature of outflow water based on the first difference value, the second difference value, and the target temperature of inflow water, recognize a first target compensation temperature based on the compensated target temperature of outflow water and a first compensation temperature, turn off the compressor based on the compensated target temperature of outflow water being identical to the target temperature of outflow water and the detected temperature of outflow water being higher than or equal to the first target compensation temperature, recognize a second target compensation temperature based on the target temperature of outflow water and a second compensation temperature, and turn on the compressor according to a temperature of outflow water detected during off control of the compressor being lower than the second target temperature.

The one or more computer programs further include computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors of the heat pump individually or collectively, cause the heat pump to recognize a first difference value between the detected temperature of outflow water and the detected temperature of inflow water and a second difference between the target temperature of inflow water and the detected temperature of inflow water, recognize a compensated target temperature of outflow water based on the first difference value, the second difference value, and the target temperature of inflow water, recognize a third target compensation temperature based on the compensated target temperature of outflow water and a third compensation temperature, and turn off the compressor based on the detected temperature of outflow water being higher than or equal to the third target compensation temperature.

The one or more computer programs further include computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors of the heat pump individually or collectively, cause the heat pump to recognize a temperature of outflow water detected by the first temperature sensor at a time at which the compressor is turned off, recognize a fourth target compensation temperature based on the temperature of outflow water recognized at the time at which the compressor is turned off and a fourth compensation temperature, and switch the compressor to a turned-on state based on the temperature of outflow water and the fourth target compensation temperature according to the temperature of outflow water being lower than the target temperature during off control of the compressor.

The heat pump further includes a plurality of pumps respectively connected to the plurality of air temperature control devices and configured to pump the water of the storage tank and supply the pumped water to the plurality of air temperature control devices, a first temperature sensor configured to detect a temperature of outflow water discharged through the outlet of the heat exchange pipe, a second temperature sensor configured to detect a temperature of first inflow water flowing into the radiating device, a third temperature sensor configured to detect a temperature of second inflow water flowing into the floor heating device among the air temperature control devices, and a processor configured to, while the radiating device or the floor heating device operates, control on/off of the compressor based on a target temperature of an air temperature control device operating, a temperature of inflow water detected by a temperature sensor connected to the air temperature control device operating, the detected temperature of outflow water, and the target temperature of outflow water, and maintain operations of the plurality of pumps during the on/off control of the compressor.

The one or more computer programs further include computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors of the heat pump individually or collectively, cause the heat pump to recognize a difference value between a temperature of outflow water and a temperature of inflow water detected by the temperature sensor connected to the air temperature control device operating, recognize a compensated target temperature of outflow water based on the recognized difference value and a target temperature of the air temperature control device operating, turn off the compressor based on the compensated target temperature of outflow water being identical to the target temperature of outflow water and the detected temperature of outflow water being higher than or equal to a first target compensation temperature, recognize a second target compensation temperature based on the target temperature of outflow water and a second compensation temperature, and turn on the compressor based on a temperature of outflow water detected during off control of the compressor being lower than the second target temperature.

The one or more computer programs further include computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors of the heat pump individually or collectively, cause the heat pump to recognize a difference value between the temperature of outflow water and the temperature of inflow water detected by the temperature sensor connected to the air temperature control device operating, recognize a compensated target temperature of outflow water based on the recognized difference value and a target temperature of the air temperature control device operating, recognize a third target compensation temperature based on the compensated target temperature of outflow water and a third compensation temperature, and turn off the compressor based on the detected temperature of outflow water being higher than or equal to the third target compensation temperature.

The one or more computer programs further include computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors of the heat pump individually or collectively, cause the heat pump to recognize a temperature of outflow water detected by the first temperature sensor at the time at which the compressor is turned off, recognize a fourth target compensation temperature based on a fourth compensation temperature and the temperature of outflow water recognized at the time at which the compressor is turned off, and according to the temperature of outflow water being lower than the target temperature during off control of the compressor, switch the compressor to a turned-on state based on the temperature of outflow water and the fourth target compensation temperature.

The one or more computer programs further include computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors of the heat pump individually or collectively, cause the heat pump to, according to the temperature of outflow water being higher than or equal to the compensated target temperature of outflow water, adjust a frequency of the compressor from a first frequency to a second frequency. The first frequency of the heat pump is higher than the second frequency.

The heat pump includes a third temperature sensor configured to detect a temperature of inflow water flowing into the at least one air temperature control device through the mixing valve, and a processor configured to open or close the mixing valve based on the temperature of inflow water detected by the third temperature sensor and a target temperature of the at least one air temperature control device.

In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, a method of controlling a heat pump, the heat pump including a compressor and a heat exchanger through which a refrigerant circulates and a storage tank configured to store water heat-exchanged in the heat exchanger and supply the stored water to first and second air temperature control devices are provided. The method includes detecting a temperature of outflow water discharged through an outlet of a heat exchange pipe provided in the heat exchanger during on control of the compressor, turning off the compressor based on the detected temperature of outflow water and a target temperature of outflow water, maintaining operations of first and second pumps connected to the first and second air temperature control devices during off control of the compressor, turning on the compressor based on the target temperature of outflow water and a temperature of outflow water detected during the off control of the compressor, maintaining operations of the first and second pumps, and controlling a mixing valve provided between any one air temperature control device of the first and second air temperature control devices and the storage tank to adjust a temperature of water flowing from the storage tank to the any one air temperature control device.

The turning off of the compressor includes detecting a temperature of inflow water flowing into an air temperature control device having a highest target temperature between the first and second air temperature control devices, and according to a difference value between the temperature of outflow water and the temperature of inflow water being less than or equal to a reference value and the temperature of outflow water being higher than or equal to the target temperature, turning off the compressor.

The turning off of the compressor includes recognizing a first difference value between the detected temperature of outflow water and the detected temperature of inflow water and a second difference value between the target temperature of inflow water and the detected temperature of inflow water, recognizing a compensated target temperature of outflow water based on the first difference value, the second difference value, and the target temperature of inflow water, recognizing a first target compensation temperature based on the target temperature of outflow water and a first compensation temperature, and turning off the compressor based on the compensated target temperature of outflow water being identical to the target temperature of outflow water and the detected temperature of outflow water being higher than or equal to the first target compensation temperature.

The on controlling of the compressor includes recognizing a second target compensation temperature based on the target temperature of outflow water and a second compensation temperature, and turning on the compressor according to a temperature of outflow water detected during the off control of the compressor being lower than the second target temperature.

The turning off of the compressor includes recognizing a first difference value between the detected temperature of outflow water and the detected temperature of inflow water and a second difference value between the target temperature of inflow water and the detected temperature of inflow water, recognizing a compensated target temperature of outflow water based on the first difference value, the second difference value, and the target temperature of inflow water, recognizing a third target compensation temperature based on the compensated target temperature of outflow water and a third compensation temperature, and turning off the compressor according to the detected temperature of outflow water being higher than or equal to the third target compensation temperature.

The on controlling of the compressor includes recognizing a temperature of outflow water detected by the first temperature sensor at the time at which the compressor is turned off, and recognizing a fourth target compensation temperature based on the temperature of outflow water recognized at the time at which the compressor is turned off and a fourth compensation temperature, and according to a temperature of outflow water during the off control of the compressor being lower than the target temperature, switching the compressor to a turned-on state based on the temperature of outflow water and the fourth target compensation temperature.

The method of controlling the heat pump further includes, while an air temperature control device of the first and second air temperature control devices operates, controlling on/off of the compressor based on a target temperature of the air temperature control device operating, a temperature of inflow water detected by a temperature sensor connected to the air temperature control device operating, a detected temperature of outflow water, and a target temperature of outflow water.

According to the disclosure, by adjusting target temperatures of water passing through a plurality of air temperature control devices respectively provided in a plurality of air-conditioned spaces to different temperatures, a user's satisfaction may be improved.

According to the disclosure, by, when a temperature of water passing through the plurality of air temperature control devices is adjusted, maintaining operations of pumps respectively connected to the plurality of air temperature control devices and turning on/off only an operation of a compressor, consumption power may be reduced compared to a case of adjusting the number of rotations of the compressor to adjust a temperature of water in the plurality of air temperature control devices.

According to the disclosure, by including a storage tank for supplying water to the plurality of air temperature control devices, a change in temperature of water to be supplied to the plurality of air temperature control devices may be reduced. Therefore, the disclosure may increase a time for which a temperature of water to be supplied to the plurality of air temperature control devices is maintained to adjust an on time of the compressor and the number of turning-on of the compressor, thereby reducing consumption power.

The disclosure may improve safety of the heat pump and a user's convenience, improve quality and marketability of the heat pump, and further secure competitiveness of the heat pump.

Other aspects, advantages, and salient features of the disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, which, taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings, discloses various embodiments of the disclosure.

The same reference numerals are used to represent the same elements throughout the drawings.

The following description with reference to the accompanying drawings is provided to assist in a comprehensive understanding of various embodiments of the disclosure as defined by the claims and their equivalents. It includes various specific details to assist in that understanding but these are to be regarded as merely exemplary. Accordingly, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that various changes and modifications of the various embodiments described herein can be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the disclosure. In addition, descriptions of well-known functions and constructions may be omitted for clarity and conciseness. The terms and words used in the following description and claims are not limited to the bibliographical meanings, but, are merely used by the inventor to enable a clear and consistent understanding of the disclosure. Accordingly, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the following description of various embodiments of the disclosure is provided for illustration purpose only and not for the purpose of limiting the disclosure as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

It is to be understood that the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to “a component surface” includes reference to one or more of such surfaces.

In this document, phrases, such as “A or B”, “at least one of A and B”, “at least one of A or B,” “A, B or C,” “at least one of A, B and C,” and “at least one of A, B, or C”, may include any one or all possible combinations of items listed together in the corresponding phrase among the phrases.

As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of associated listed items.

As used herein, such terms as “1” and “2” or “first” and “second” may be used to simply distinguish a corresponding component from another, and does not limit the components in other aspect (for example, importance or order).

It is to be understood that if a certain component (for example, a first component) is referred to, with or without the term “operatively” or “communicatively”, as “coupled with,” “coupled to,” “connected with,” or “connected to” another component (for example, a second component), it means that the component may be connected to the other component directly (for example, wiredly), wirelessly, or via a third element.

It is to be understood that the terms, such as “including” or “having,” or the like, are intended to indicate the existence of the features, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof disclosed in the specification, and are not intended to preclude the possibility that one or more other features, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof may exist or may be added.

It is to be understood that if a certain component is referred to as being “connected to,” “coupled to,” “supported on” or “in contact with” another component, it means that the component may be connected to, coupled to, or in contact with the other component directly or indirectly via a third component.

It will also be understood that when a certain component is referred to as being “on” or “over” another component, it can be directly on the other component or intervening components may also be present.

A heat pump according to various embodiments may be an apparatus capable of performing not only a cooling or heating function in an air-conditioned space (hereinafter, referred to as “indoor”) but also functions, such as cold water supply, hot water supply, air purification, ventilation, and humidity control.

The heat pump may include a refrigeration cycle in which a refrigerant circulates along a compressor, a first heat exchanger, an expansion device, and a second heat exchanger.

All components of a heat pump may be installed in a single housing forming an appearance of the heat pump, which corresponds to a window-type air conditioner or a portable air conditioner.

On the other hand, components of a heat pump may be installed in a plurality of housings forming the heat pump, which corresponds to a wall-mounted air conditioner, a stand-alone air conditioner, or a system air conditioner.