WO2009017375A1

WO2009017375A1 - Compressor for heat pump

Info

Publication number: WO2009017375A1
Application number: PCT/KR2008/004468
Authority: WO
Inventors: Seokmin Kim
Original assignee: Seokmin Kim
Priority date: 2007-07-31
Filing date: 2008-07-31
Publication date: 2009-02-05
Also published as: WO2009017377A1; KR100818544B1

Abstract

Disclosed is a heat pump and a compressor for the heat pump, which can prevent disablement or breakdown of the compressor due to overheating of the compressor, thereby increasing the compression power of the compressor. The compressor includes: a compressor housing having an introduction port, an exhaust port, and a compression chamber connected to the exhaust port; a motor seated in the compressor housing; a reducer seated in the compressor housing and connected to the motor; and a blower connected to the reducer and disposed in the compression chamber, wherein the working fluid supplied from the synthetic heat regenerator to the compressor is introduced into the compressor through the introduction port, flows through the motor and the reducer, is introduced into the compression chamber, is compressed in the compression chamber by the blower, and is then exhausted through the exhaust port.

Description

COMPRESSOR FOR HEAT PUMP

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates to a heat pump, and more particularly to a compressor for a heat pump, which can prevent disablement or breakdown of the compressor due to overheating of the compressor, thereby increasing the compression power of the compressor, and the heat pump having the compressor. Background Art

[2] A heat pump refers to an apparatus for absorbing heat from a low temperature heat source and supplying the heat to a high temperature heat source. Like a refrigerator, the heat pump operates in a reverse cycle of a heat engine cycle. The heat engine warms a predetermined space by supplying heat to the predetermined space in winter season, and cools the space by absorbing heat from the space in summer season.

[3] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a structure of a conventional heat pump system, and FIG. 2 is a temperature-entropy (T-S) diagram of the heat pump system illustrates in FIG. 1.

[4] Referring to FIGs. 1 and 2, working fluidcirculates in the path indicated by the solid line arrows when the conventional heat pump system operates as a heating apparatus, while it circulates in the path indicated by the broken line arrows when the conventional heat pump system operates as a cooling apparatus. First, when the conventional heat pump system operates as a heating apparatus, the working fluid evaporates by absorbing heat Q2 from the low temperature heat source when it passes through the evaporator E (stage from point 14 to point 1 l),and is then compressed by the compressor W (stage from point 11 to point 12). The compressed working fluid discharged from the compressor W is liquefiedwithin the condenser C (stage from point 12 to point 13). At this time, the working fluid warms the space B by radiating heat Ql to the space B. Thereafter, the working fluid passes through the expansion valve V while it is throttled and cooled (stage from point 13 to point 14).

[5] In contrast, when the conventional heat pump system operates as a cooling apparatus, the working fluid circulates in the path indicated by the broken arrows, cools the space B by absorbing heat Ql from the space B, and radiates heat Q2 through the condenserE. At this time, the element C functions as an evaporator while the element E functions as a condenser E. In this structure, a three-way valve and additional elements are employed in order to switch the flow direction of the working fluid, a detailed description of which is omitted here since it is known in the art.

[6] In the conventional heat pump having the above-mentioned structure, the compressor has a compression chamber. When working fluid is introduced into the compression chamber through an introduction port, the working fluid is compressed within the compression chamber. Then, the compressed working fluid of a high temperature and a high pressure is exhausted out of the compression chamber and is then supplied to a condenser.

[7] However, when the conventional heat pump including the compressor having the above-mentioned construction operates for long time, a motor of the compressor may be overheated and stopped or the thermal efficiency of the heat pump may be degraded.

Disclosure of Invention

Technical Problem

[8] Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and the present invention provides a heat pump and a compressor for the heat pump, which can prevent disablement or breakdown of the compressor due to overheating of the compressor, thereby increasing the compression power of the compressor. Technical Solution

[9] In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a compressor including: a compressor housing having an introduction port, an exhaust port, and a compression chamber connected to the exhaust port; a motor seated in the compressor housing; a reducer seated in the compressor housing and connected to the motor; and a blower connected to the reducer and disposed in the compression chamber, wherein the working fluid supplied from the synthetic heat regeneratorto the compressor is introduced into the compressor through the introduction port, flows through the motor and the reducer, is introduced into the compression chamber, is compressed in the compression chamber by the blower, and is then exhausted through the exhaust port.

Advantageous Effects

[10] In a compressor for a heat pump according to the present invention, working fluid of a relatively low temperature before the compression is introduced into a compression chamber after passing through a motor of the compressor. Therefore, the heat pump according to the present invention can provide a cooling effect to the compressor, so that it can prevent disablement or breakdown of the compressor due to overheating of the compressor, thereby increasing the compression power of the compressor. Furthermore, a reducer employed in the compressor increases the compression power of the compressor, thereby improving the compression efficiency of the compressor and the thermal efficiency of the heat pump. Brief Description of the Drawings [11] The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

[12] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a structure of a conventional heat pump system;

[13] FIG. 2 is a temperature-entropy (T-S) diagram of the heat pump system illustrates in

FIG. 1;

[14] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a structure of a heat pump having a compressor according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[15] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of the heating cycle circuit illustrated in FIG. 3;

[16] FIG. 5 is a temperature-entropy (T-S) diagram of a theoretical cycle corresponding to the heating cycle circuit;

[17] FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a compressor for a heat pump according to an embodiment of the present invention. Mode for the Invention

[18] Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[19] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a structure of a heat pump 1000 having a compressor 101 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[20] Referring to FIG. 3, a heat pump 1000 having a compressor 101 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a heating cycle circuit 301, a cooling cycle circuit 303, a first heat transfer circuit 305, and a second heat transfer circuit 307.

[21] The heating cycle circuit 301, which is a circuit for heating a target space, includes a compressor 101, a first condenser 103, and a synthetic heat regenerator 203. The synthetic heat regenerator 203 includes a second condenser 105, a first expansion valve 107, and a first evaporator 109.

[22] The cooling cycle circuit 303, which is a circuit for cooling the target space, includes the compressor 101, the first condenserl03, a first three-way valve 111, a third condenser,a second expansion valve 119, a second evaporator 121, and a second three- way valve 113.

[23] The first heat transfer circuit 305, which is a circuit for transferring the heat radiated from the first condenser 103 to a heat accumulator 125, includes a first heat transfer device 115 and the heat accumulator 125. The first heat transfer device 115 and the first condenser 103 are installed in a heat exchanger 201, so that the heat Ql radiated from the first condenser 103 is transferred through the first heat transfer device 115 to the heat accumulator 125 and is then accumulated therein.

[24] The second heat transfer circuit 307, which is a circuit for transferring heat from the heat accumulator 125 to a heat radiating device 123, includes the heat accumulator 125, a circulation pump 127, and the heat radiating device 123. The circulation pump 127 allows heat transfer through the second heat transfer circuit 307 only when the heat pump 1000 performs a heating function, and does not allow heat transfer through the second heat transfer circuit 307 when the heat pump 1000 performs a cooling function. The second evaporator 121 and the heat radiating device 123 are installed in a heating/cooling unit 205.

[25] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of the heating cycle circuit 301 illustrated in FIG. 3, and FIG. 5 is a temperature-entropy (T-S) diagram of a theoretical cycle corresponding to the heating cycle circuit 301.

[26] As described above, the heating cycle circuit 301 includes the compressor 101, the first condenser 103, the second condenser 105, the first expansion valve 107, and the first evaporator 109. Here, the second condenser 105, the first expansion valve 107, and the first evaporator 109 constitute the synthetic heat regenerator 203.

[27] FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the compressor 101 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[28] The compressor 101 includes a compressor housing 401 having an introduction port

402, an exhaustport 404, and a compression chamber 406 connected to the exhaust port 404, a motor 408 disposed within the compressor housing 401, a reducer 410 disposed within the compressor housing 401 and connected to themotor 408, and a blower 412 connected to the reducer 410 and seated within the compression chamber 406.

[29] The compressor 101 further includes a motor rotation shaft 414 and a blower rotation shaft 416. The motor rotation shaft 414 and the blower rotationshaft 416 are rotatably supported by bearings 426 fixed to the inner surface of the compressor housing 401 and are concentrically arranged to each other. The blower 412 includes the blower rotation shaft 416, vanes 418 rotating about the blower rotation shaft 416, and a support bracket 428.

[30] The motor 408 includes a rotor 422 and a stator 420. The working fluid flows through the gap 424 between the rotor 422 and the stator 420 while absorbing heat from the motor 408 and lubricating the gap 424.

[31] The working fluid supplied to the compressor 101 from the synthetic heat regenerator

203 is introduced into the compressor 101 through the introduction port 402, flows through the motor 408 and the reducer 410, and is then introduced into the compression chamber 406. The working fluid is compressed by the blower 412 within the compression chamber 406, and is then exhausted through the exhaust port 404 to be supplied to the first condenser 101.

[32] Hereinafter, an operation of the heat pump 1000 having a compressor according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described. [33] First, when the heat pump 1000 including a synthetic heat regenerator according to an embodiment of the present invention performs a heating function, the working fluid flows through the heating cycle circuit 301. That is, the working fluid, which is in a high-temperature high-pressure state after being compressed by the compressor 101, is condensed while it passes through the first condenser 103 within the heat exchanger 201. At this time, the first heat Ql radiated from the first condenser 103 is transferred to the first heat transfer device 115. The first heat Ql is transferred from the first heat transfer device 115 to the heat accumulator 125 by the first heat transfer circuit 305, and is then transferred from the heat accumulator 125 to the heat radiating device 123 by the second heat transfer circuit 307. During the heat transfer by the second heat transfer circuit 307, the circulation pump 127 helps the heat transfer from the heat accumulator 125 to the heat radiating device 123. The heat radiating device 123 is disposed within the heating/cooling unit 205, and radiates the heat transferred from the heat accumulator 125, thereby providing a heating effect to the target space, within which the heating/cooling unit 205 is installed.

[34] The working fluid having been condensed by the first condenser 103 is directed toward the synthetic heat regenerator 203 by the first three-way valve 111. Then, the working fluid sequentially passes through the second condenser 105, the first expansion valve 107, and the first evaporator 109 within the synthetic heat regenerator 203, and is then introduced into the collection tank 208. While the working fluid passes through the second condenser 105, it is condensed and radiates the second heat Q2, which is transferred to the heat transfer medium 206. Thereafter, the working fluid undergoes throttle expansion while passing the first expansion valve 107. Then, the working fluid evaporates while passing through the first evaporator 109. At this time, the second heat Q2 is transferred from the heat transfer medium 206 to the evaporator 109, so as to help the evaporation of the working fluid within the first evaporator 109. That is, the second heat Q2 radiated from the second condenser 106 is utilized in the evaporation by the first evaporator 109.

[35] A construction of the heating cycle circuit 301 as described above is roughly illustrated in FIG. 4, and its theoretical temperature-entropy (T-S) diagram is illustrated in FIG. 5.

[36] As illustrated in FIGs. 4 and 5, in evaporating the working fluid in the low temperature state, the heating cycle circuit 301 uses the second heat Q2 transferred from the second condenser 105 without receiving heat from a low temperature heat source. Further, the heating cycle circuit 301 provides the heat Ql to a high temperature heat source by using the work W of the compression process by the compressor 101.

[37] Next, when the heat pump 1000 including a synthetic heat regenerator according to an embodiment of the present invention performs a cooling function, the working fluid flows through the cooling cycle circuit 301. That is, the working fluid, which is in a high-temperature high-pressure state after being compressed by thecompressor 101, is condensed while it passes through the first condenser 103 within the heat exchanger 201. At this time, the first heat Ql radiated from the first condenser 103 is transferred to the first heat transfer device 115. The first heat Ql is transferred from the first heat transfer device 115 to the heat accumulator 125 by the first heat transfer circuit 305. Then, the first heat Ql can be used for heating water to provide warm water or for other uses, or can be discharged outside.

[38] At this time, the circulation pump 127 stops its operation and prevents the heat transfer from the heat accumulator 125 to the heat radiating tank 123. Therefore, the heat radiating tank 123 disposed within the heating/cooling unit 205 is not heated at all, and the heating/cooling unit 205 does not perform a heating function.

[39] Meanwhile, the first three-way valve 111 prevents the working fluid having been condensed by the first condenser 103 from flowing to the synthetic heat regenerator 203, and allows the working fluid to flow into the third condenser 117. While passing the third condenser 117, the working fluid radiates the second heat Q2, which is not collected but is discarded. Thereafter, the working fluid undergoes throttle expansion while passing throughthe second expansion valve 119, and then evaporates while passing through the second evaporator 121 disposed within the heating/cooling unit 205. At this time, the second evaporator 121 absorbs the third heat Q3 from the target space, thereby providing a cooling effect to the target space.

[40] In the meantime, the working fluid supplied to the compressor 101 from the synthetic heat regenerator 203 is introduced into the compressor 101 through the introduction port 402 and then flows through the motor 408. That is, the working fluid flows through the gap 424 formed between the stator 420 and the rotor 422 while cooling the stator 420 and the rotor 422 heated due to the high speed rotation of the rotor 422. If the working fluid includes liquid working fluid, the liquid working fluid lubricates the stator 420 and the rotor 422.

[41] Thereafter, the working fluid flows through the reducer 410 while cooling and lubricating the reducer 410. The reducer 410 reduces the number of revolutions of the rotor 422, thereby increasing the torque of the blower rotation shaft 416 and compression force of the blower.

[42] The working fluid having passed through the reducer 410 is introduced into the compression chamber 406. Then, the working fluid is compressed by the blower 412within the compression chamber 406 and is then exhausted through the exhaust port 404 to be supplied to the first condenser 103.

[43] Although several exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been described for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.

Claims

[ 1 ] A compressor comprising: a compressor housing having an introduction port, an exhaust port, and a compression chamber connected to the exhaust port; a motor seated in the compressor housing; a reducer seated in the compressor housing and connected to the motor; and a blower connected to the reducer and disposed in the compression chamber, wherein the working fluid supplied from the synthetic heat regeneratorto the compressor is introduced into the compressor through the introduction port, flows through the motor and the reducer, is introduced into the compression chamber, is compressed in the compression chamber by the blower, and is then exhausted through the exhaust port.

[2] The compressor of claim 1, further comprising a motor rotation shaft and a blower rotation shaft, which are arranged concentrically to each other in the compressor housing.

[3] The compressor of claim 2, wherein the blower comprises the blower rotation shaft and vanes rotating about the blower rotation shaft.

[4] The compressor of claim 3, wherein the motor rotation shaft and the blower rotation shaft are rotatably supported by bearings fixed to an inner surface of the compressor housing.

[5] The compressor of claim 3, wherein the motor comprises a rotor and a stator, and the working fluid flows through a gap between the rotor and the stator while absorbing heat from the motor and lubricating the gap.

[6] The compressor of one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the compressor is a compressor for a heat pump, which provides a compression work to a heat pump cycle of the heat pump.

[7] A heat pump system comprising: a compressor for compressing working fluid; a first condenser for radiating first heat to a high temperature heat source by performing first condensation of the working fluid discharged from the compressor; and a synthetic heat regenerator for radiating second heat by performing second condensation of the working fluid discharged from the first condenser, throttling the working fluid, and then evaporating the working fluid by heating the working fluid by means of the second heat radiated through the second condensation, wherein the working fluid discharged from the synthetic heat regenerator is supplied to the compressor, and the compressor comprises: a compressor housing having an introduction port, an exhaust port, and a compression chamber connected to the exhaust port; a motor seated in the compressor housing; a reducer seated in the compressor housing and connected to the motor; and a blower connected to the reducer and disposed in the compression chamber, wherein the working fluid supplied from the synthetic heat regeneratorto the compressor is introduced into the compressor through the introduction port, flows through the motor and the reducer, is introduced into the compression chamber, is compressed in the compression chamber by the blower, and is then exhausted through the exhaust port.

[8] The heat pump system of claim 7, wherein the synthetic heat regenerator comprises: a second condenser for radiating the second heat by performing second condensation of the working fluid discharged from the first condenser; a first expansion valve for throttling the working fluid discharged from the second condenser, thereby adiabatically expanding the working fluid; and a first evaporator for evaporating the working fluid by heating the working fluid discharged from the first expansion valve by means of the second heat radiated through the second condensation.

[9] The heat pump system of claim 8, wherein the synthetic heat regenerator further comprises a heat transfer medium for transferring the second heat from the second condenser to the first evaporator, and a regenerator housing, in which the second condenser, the first evaporator, and the heat transfer medium are housed, the heat transfer medium comprises heat transferfluid contained in the regenerator housing, and the second condenser and the first evaporator are submerged in the heat transfer fluid.

[10] The heat pump system of claim 9, wherein the synthetic heat regenerator further comprises a collection tank installed within the regenerator housing, the first evaporator extends from the first expansion valve to the collection tank, and the collection tank is connected to the compressor.

[11] The heat pump system of claim 10, wherein the synthetic heat regenerator further comprises a separate auxiliary heating means for heating the heat transfer fluid.

[12] The heat pump system of claim 7, wherein the compressor further comprises a motor rotation shaft and a blower rotation shaft, which are arranged concentrically to each other in the compressor housing.

[13] The compressor of claim 12, wherein the blower comprises the blower rotation shaft and vanes rotating about the blower rotation shaft. [14] The compressor of claim 13, wherein the motor rotation shaft and the blower rotation shaft are rotatably supported by bearings fixed to an inner surface of the compressor housing. [15] The compressor of claim 13, wherein the motor comprises a rotor and a stator, and the working fluid flows through a gap between the rotor and the stator while absorbingheat from the motor and lubricating the gap.