US 12,339,046 B2
Heat pump device
Yukio Matsusaka, Osaka (JP); Teruo Nishida, Osaka (JP); and Kento Okuzawa, Osaka (JP)
Assigned to DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD., Osaka (JP)
Appl. No. 17/279,778
Filed by DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD., Osaka (JP)
PCT Filed Jul. 29, 2019, PCT No. PCT/JP2019/029665
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Mar. 25, 2021,
PCT Pub. No. WO2020/066273, PCT Pub. Date Apr. 2, 2020.
Claims priority of application No. 2018-185412 (JP), filed on Sep. 28, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2021/0341192 A1, Nov. 4, 2021
Int. Cl. F25B 5/02 (2006.01); F25B 41/20 (2021.01); F25B 41/26 (2021.01); F25B 47/02 (2006.01)
CPC F25B 47/02 (2013.01) [F25B 5/02 (2013.01); F25B 41/20 (2021.01); F25B 2400/19 (2013.01); F25B 2600/25 (2013.01)] 13 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A heat pump device comprising:
a refrigerant circuit in which a compressor, a first use-side heat exchanger, an expansion mechanism, and a heat source-side heat exchanger are connected in a loop;
a storage unit arranged between the compressor and the expansion mechanism;
a flow rate adjusting unit arranged between the storage unit and the expansion mechanism; and
a control device that controls the compressor and the flow rate adjusting unit, wherein
the control device is configured to adjust an amount of refrigerant stored in the storage unit during a positive cycle defrost operation,
the storage unit is a second use-side heat exchanger,
the flow rate adjusting unit is provided so as to be located on a downstream side of a port of the second use-side heat exchanger during the positive cycle defrost operation,
the storage unit being the second use-side heat exchanger are connected in parallel to the first use-side heat exchanger, and
the flow rate adjusting unit includes a first end and a second end, the first end being connected to a flow path guiding refrigerant from the first use-side heat exchanger to the expansion mechanism during the positive cycle defrost operation, the second end being connected to the second use-side heat exchanger.
 
6. A heat pump device comprising:
a refrigerant circuit in which a compressor, a use-side heat exchanger, an expansion mechanism, and a heat source-side heat exchanger are connected in a loop;
a storage unit being a refrigerant container connected in parallel to a pipe between the use-side heat exchanger and the expansion mechanism;
a first flow rate adjusting unit arranged between the refrigerant container and the expansion mechanism on a downstream side of the refrigerant container during a positive cycle defrost operation;
a third flow rate adjusting unit arranged between the use-side heat exchanger and the expansion mechanism, the third flow rate adjusting unit being connected in parallel to the refrigerant container and the first flow rate adjusting unit; and
a control device that controls the compressor and the first flow rate adjusting unit during the positive cycle defrost operation, wherein
the control device is configured to adjust an amount of refrigerant stored in the refrigerant container,
the first flow rate adjusting unit throttles a flow rate of refrigerant flowing out from an expansion-mechanism-side port of the refrigerant container,
and
the first flow rate adjusting unit includes a first end and a second end, the first end being connected to a flow path guiding refrigerant from the third flow rate adjusting unit to the expansion mechanism during the positive cycle defrost operation, the second end being connected to the refrigerant container, wherein
the heat pump device further comprises a second flow rate adjusting unit that opens and closes a use-side-heat-exchanger-side port of the refrigerant container, wherein
during the positive cycle defrost operation, the control device is configured to open the second flow rate adjusting unit in a state in which the flow rate of the refrigerant flowing out from the expansion-mechanism-side port of the refrigerant container is throttled by the first flow rate adjusting unit, wherein
the control device is configured to:
close the third flow rate adjusting unit in a state of the first flow rate adjusting unit and the second flow rate adjusting unit being opened, during a period from a predetermined time before the positive cycle defrost operation is started to a time when the positive cycle defrost operation is started, and
during the positive cycle defrost operation, open the second flow rate adjusting unit and the third flow rate adjusting unit in a state in which the flow rate of the refrigerant flowing out from the expansion-mechanism-side port of the refrigerant container is throttled by the first flow rate adjusting unit.
 
10. A heat pump device comprising:
a refrigerant circuit in which a compressor, a use-side heat exchanger, an expansion mechanism, and a heat source-side heat exchanger are connected in a loop;
a storage unit being a refrigerant container connected in parallel to a pipe between the use-side heat exchanger and the expansion mechanism;
a first flow rate adjusting unit arranged between the refrigerant container and the expansion mechanism;
a second flow rate adjusting unit that opens and closes a use-side-heat-exchanger-side port of the refrigerant container,
a third flow rate adjusting unit arranged between the use-side heat exchanger and the expansion mechanism, the third flow rate adjusting unit being connected in parallel to the refrigerant container; and
a control device that controls the compressor and the first flow rate adjusting unit, wherein
the control device is configured to adjust an amount of refrigerant stored in the refrigerant container during a positive cycle defrost operation,
the first flow rate adjusting unit throttles a flow rate of refrigerant flowing out from an expansion-mechanism-side port of the refrigerant container,
the first flow rate adjusting unit includes a first end and a second end, the first end being connected to a flow path guiding refrigerant from the third flow rate adjusting unit to the expansion mechanism during the positive cycle defrost operation, the second end being connected to the refrigerant container,
during the positive cycle defrost operation, the control device is configured to open the second flow rate adjusting unit in a state in which the flow rate of the refrigerant flowing out from the expansion-mechanism-side port of the refrigerant container is throttled by the first flow rate adjusting unit, and
the control device is configured to:
close the third flow rate adjusting unit in a state of the first flow rate adjusting unit and the second flow rate adjusting unit being opened, during a period from a predetermined time before the positive cycle defrost operation is started to a time when the positive cycle defrost operation is started, and
during the positive cycle defrost operation, open the second flow rate adjusting unit and the third flow rate adjusting unit in a state in which the flow rate of the refrigerant flowing out from the expansion-mechanism-side port of the refrigerant container is throttled by the first flow rate adjusting unit.