US 11,739,993 B2
Heat pump and method of operating heat pump to control power to boiler based on expected efficiency of heat pump
Jihyeong Ryu, Seoul (KR); Eunjun Cho, Seoul (KR); Minsoo Kim, Seoul (KR); Youngmin Lee, Seoul (KR); and Hojin Seo, Seoul (KR)
Assigned to LG ELECTRONICS INC., Seoul (KR)
Filed by LG ELECTRONICS INC., Seoul (KR)
Filed on Feb. 24, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/184,156.
Claims priority of application No. 10-2020-0023206 (KR), filed on Feb. 25, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2021/0262709 A1, Aug. 26, 2021
Int. Cl. F25B 49/02 (2006.01); F25B 30/02 (2006.01); F24H 15/16 (2022.01); F24D 19/10 (2006.01)
CPC F25B 30/02 (2013.01) [F24D 19/1006 (2013.01); F24H 15/16 (2022.01); F25B 49/022 (2013.01); F25B 2313/0315 (2013.01); F25B 2313/0316 (2013.01); F25B 2333/002 (2013.01); F25B 2333/003 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A heat pump, comprising:
a compressor configured to compress a refrigerant;
a first temperature sensor configured to detect an outdoor temperature;
a second temperature sensor provided in at least one heating pipe connected to a heating device and configured to detect a temperature of fluid flowing through the at least one heating pipe; and
a controller configured to:
when a first sensed value of the first temperature sensor is less than a predetermined temperature, control power to a boiler such that the boiler is turned on, and control the compressor to stop operating,
when the first sensed value is equal to or greater than the predetermined temperature, calculate an expected efficiency of the heat pump based on the first sensed value and an initial target temperature, which is predetermined based on a temperature of fluid flowing through the at least one heating pipe,
when the expected efficiency is equal to or greater than a predetermined efficiency value, control power to the boiler such that the boiler is turned off, and
when the expected efficiency is less than the predetermined efficiency value, calculate a target temperature for the temperature of fluid flowing through the at least one heating pipe for heating an indoor space based on the expected efficiency,
when a second sensed value of the second temperature sensor is equal to or higher than the target temperature, control the power to the boiler such that the boiler is turned off, and
when the second sensed value of the second temperature sensor is less than the target temperature, control the power to the boiler such that the boiler is turned on.