US 12,007,122 B2
Reversible heat pump assembly and district thermal energy distribution system comprising such a reversible heat pump assembly
Bengt Lindoff, Bjarred (SE); Jacob Skogstrom, Lomma (SE); and Per Rosen, Lund (SE)
Assigned to E.ON SVERIGE AB, Malmo (SE)
Appl. No. 17/056,396
Filed by E.ON SVERIGE AB, Malmo (SE)
PCT Filed May 14, 2019, PCT No. PCT/EP2019/062324
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Nov. 17, 2020,
PCT Pub. No. WO2019/219670, PCT Pub. Date Nov. 21, 2019.
Claims priority of application No. 18172779 (EP), filed on May 17, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2021/0364168 A1, Nov. 25, 2021
Int. Cl. F25D 11/02 (2006.01); F24D 10/00 (2022.01); F24D 11/02 (2006.01); F25B 13/00 (2006.01)
CPC F24D 10/003 (2013.01) [F24D 11/0214 (2013.01); F25B 13/00 (2013.01); F24D 2200/12 (2013.01)] 12 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A reversible heat pump assembly comprising:
a heat pump having a first side and a second side, the first side having a first side inlet and a first side outlet allowing heat transfer liquid to flow through the first side of the heat pump, the second side having a second side inlet and a second side outlet allowing heat transfer liquid to flow through the second side of the heat pump, the heat pump being configured to transfer heat from the first side to the second side or vice versa;
a first side inlet valve assembly comprising:
a heat pump connection to the first side inlet;
a hot conduit connection connectable to a hot conduit of a thermal energy grid, the hot conduit being configured to allow heat transfer liquid of a first temperature to flow therethrough; and
a cold conduit connection connectable to a cold conduit of the thermal energy grid, the cold conduit being configured to allow heat transfer liquid of a second temperature to flow therethrough, the second temperature being lower than the first temperature; and
a second side outlet valve assembly comprising:
a heat pump connection to the second side outlet;
a heating circuit connection connectable to a heating circuit being configured to allow heat transfer liquid to flow therethrough; and
a cooling circuit connection connectable to a cooling circuit being configured to allow heat transfer liquid to flow therethrough;
a second side inlet valve assembly comprising:
a heat pump connection to the second side inlet,
a heating circuit connection connectable to the heating circuit; and
a cooling circuit connection connectable to the cooling circuit; and
a heat pump assembly mode controller configured to selectively set the reversible heat pump assembly in either a heating mode or a cooling mode,
wherein in the heating mode, the heat pump assembly mode controller is configured to set:
the heat pump to transfer heat from the first side to the second side;
the first side inlet valve assembly to fluidly connect the hot conduit connection and the heat pump connection;
the second side outlet valve assembly to fluidly connect the heat pump connection and the heating circuit connection; and
the second side inlet valve assembly to fluidly connect the heat pump connection and the heating circuit connection;
wherein in the cooling mode, the heat pump assembly mode controller is configured to set:
the heat pump to transfer heat from the second side to the first side;
the first side inlet valve assembly to fluidly connect the cold conduit connection and the heat pump connection;
the second side outlet valve assembly to fluidly connect the heat pump connection and the cooling circuit connection; and
the second side inlet valve assembly to fluidly connect the heat pump connection and the cooling circuit connection;
wherein the second side outlet valve assembly comprises a plurality of heating circuit connections each connectable to one of a plurality of heating circuits each heating circuit being configured to allow heat transfer liquid to flow therethrough; and
wherein in the heating mode, the heat pump assembly mode controller is configured to set the second side outlet valve assembly to fluidly connect the heat pump connection and one of the heating circuit connections, thereby to set which one of the plurality of heating circuits to be provided with heating from the heat pump assembly.