Heat Pump
A heat pump intended to operate in a space (S), includes a compressor (3), preferably located in the space (S), and a first inlet conduit (10) for supplying air/gas to the compressor (3). The heat pump also includes a Ranque generator (1), a connection conduit (5) extending between the compressor (3) and the Ranque generator (1), the connection conduit (5) transferring compressed air/gas to the Ranque generator (1), a first outlet conduit (7) for air/gas emanating from the hot side of the Ranque generator (1), the first outlet conduit (7) emerging inside the space (S) or being connected to a first heat exchanger (211) inside the space (S2), and a second outlet conduit (9) for air/gas emanating from the cold side of the Ranque generator (1), the second outlet conduit (9) emerging outside the space (S).
The present invention relates to a heat pump that is intended to operate in a space, said heat pump comprising a compressor and an inlet conduit for supplying air/gas to the compressor.
PRIOR ARTIt is previously known a great number of different heat pumps that normally comprise a compressor, an evaporator, a condenser and an expansion valve. As regards heat pumps with air it is a well known fact that they have low efficiency when the outdoor air has low temperature.
A Ranque generator is a device that was invented by George Ranque in the 1930's, a Ranque generator generally having the function that it divides a compressed air- or gas stream into a cold air- or gas stream and a hot air- or gas stream. The Ranque generator will be described more in detail below.
From for instance U.S. Pat. No. 6,334,841 a centrifuge for biological products is previously known, said centrifuge comprising a device for cooling the space where centrifuging takes place. In this last mentioned device a Ranque generator is included, said generator producing the cold air that is used in the cooling.
OBJECTS AND FEATURES OF THE INVENTIONA primary object of the present invention is to present a heat pump of the type defined above, said heat pump having a coefficient of performance that is higher than one.
A further object of the present invention is to present a heat pump that is extremely environment friendly since it is completely free from CFC or other gases that are hazardous to the environment when it is used in an open system. If it is used in a closed system the gases that are used will not come into contact with the environment.
Still an object of the present invention is to present a heat pump having small dimensions.
A further object of the present invention is to present a heat pump that is easy to install.
At least the primary object of the present invention is realized by means of a device that has been given the features of the appending independent claim 1. Preferred embodiments are defined in the dependent claims.
Below a number of embodiments of the invention will be described, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, where:
Figure A schematically shows a Ranque generator;
The Ranque generator shown in figure A comprises a chamber C, a first outlet pipe P1 emanating from the chamber C and a second outlet pipe P2 emanating from the chamber, said outlet pipes P1 and P2 generally being attached to opposite sides of the chamber C. The chamber C defines a space that generally has circular cylindrical cross section relative to an axis in the plane of the paper. In operation of the Ranque generator compressed air or gas is supplied to the chamber C.
The supplied air or gas will flow along the circular cylindrical limiting surface of the chamber at a high speed, about 1.000.000 revolutions/min. Due to means provided in the chamber C there is a division in an outer hot air- or gas stream and an inner cold air- or gas stream. Both these air- or gas streams are deviated in different directions via the two outlet pipes P1 and P2. The difference in temperature between the cold air- or gas stream and the hot air- or gas stream is considerable. In exemplifying and non-restricting purpose it may be mentioned that if compressed air of 7 bar is supplied to the chamber C a hot air stream could be achieved with a temperature that is about 50° C. higher than the supplied air and a cold air stream with a temperature that is about 50° C. lower than the supplied air. If there is a division in hot and cold air streams of different volume the difference in temperature relative to the supplied air will decrease if the volume increases.
The Ranque generator represents prior art and will not be described in further detail.
In
The heat pump according to the present invention, shown in
The connection conduit 5 extends between the compressor 3 and the Ranque generator 1. The first outlet conduit 7 emerges in the space S while the other outlet conduit extends through the limiting wall of the space S and thus emerges in the open air. The first inlet conduit 10 extends from the open air outside the space S to the compressor 3. The components in the dashed square in
The heat pump shown in
The enthalpy in the hot air stream will thus be of use to the space S. In this connection it should also be noticed that the heat that is generated when the compressor 3 compresses the air will be of use to the space S. Losses due to the efficiency of the compressor 3 is also of use to the space S in the shape of heat.
In the embodiment according to
The heat pump shown in
As regards the arrangement shown in
The embodiment shown in
The heat pump, shown schematically in
The hot air-/gas stream that is discharged via the first outlet conduit 207 passes the first heat exchanger 211 and the hot air-/gas stream emits heat to the space S2. The chilled air-/gas stream then continues in the second inlet conduit 212 and is mixed with the air-/gas stream in the first inlet conduit 210, upstream the compressor 203.
The cold air/gas that is discharged from the Ranque generator 201 flows in the second outlet conduit 209 and passes through the second heat exchanger 213. Since the air/gas that flows in the outlet conduit 209 is substantially chilled it will be heated by the outdoor air when passing through the second heat exchanger 213, even if the outdoor air has a comparatively low temperature. When the air/gas has pass the second heat exchanger 213 it is supplied to the compressor 203 via the first inlet conduit 210. As has been pointed out above a mixture will then take place with the air/gas that emanates from the first heat exchanger 211.
The embodiment of a heat pump according to the present invention that is shown in
The embodiment of a heat pump according to the present invention that is described in
In the embodiment shown in
In
In the embodiment according to
In the embodiment shown in
Generally, in the embodiments described above of a heat pump according to the present invention, said heat pump comprising a Ranque generator and a compressor. Preferably, a worm compressor is used that has a high capacity and a regular air flow rate. The heat that is generated when the compressor compresses the air will be of use to the space, in which the heat pump is installed.
Feasible Modifications of the InventionIn the embodiments of the invention described above the compressor 3; 103; 203; 303; 403; 503 is located in the space S; S1; S2; S3; S4; S5. However, within the scope of the present invention is also feasible that the compressor is located outside the space, in which the heat pump operates.
The heat pump system according to the present invention may for instance be equipped with a temperature sensor to register the temperature difference between the hot and the cold side of the Ranque generator 1; 101; 201; 301; 401; 501, the rotational frequency of the compressor 3; 103; 203; 303; 403; 503 being regulated dependent on said measured temperature difference.
The compressor 3; 103; 203; 303; 403; 503 that is used in a heat pump according to the present invention may be water cooled, the heat that is generated adjacent to the compressor 3; 103;, 203; 303; 403; 503 may be taken care of via a heat exchanger.
In the embodiment according to
In the embodiment according to
In the embodiment according to
Within the scope of the present invention is also feasible that one or both heat exchangers are integrated with the heat pump according to the present invention, i.e. the compressor, the Ranque generator and at least one of the heat exchangers form a unit in the space, in which the heat pump is intended to operate. If the heat exchanger that is connected to the cold side of the Ranque generator is integrated in this unit the cold air that is generated in the area of this heat exchanger must be taken care of in a suitable way, this being for instance effected by means of a fan that transports the cold air to the outside of the space, in which the heat pump operates.
The embodiments shown in
Claims
1. Heat pump that is intended to operate in a space (S; S1; S2; S3; S4; S5), said heat pump comprising a compressor (3; 103; 203; 303; 403; 503) and a first inlet conduit (10; 110; 210; 310; 410; 510) for supplying air/gas to the compressor (3; 103; 203; 303; 403; 503), characterised in that the heat pump comprises a Ranque generator (1; 101; 201; 301; 401; 501), a connection conduit (5; 105; 205; 305; 405; 505) extending between the compressor (3; 103; 2203; 303; 403; 503) and the Ranque generator (1; 101; 201; 301; 401; 501) to transfer compressed air/gas to the Ranque generator (1; 101; 201; 301; 401; 501), a first outlet conduit (7; 107; 207; 307; 407; 507) for air/gas emanating from the hot side of the Ranque generator (1; 101; 201; 301; 401; 501), said first outlet conduit (7; 107; 207; 307; 407; 507) emerging inside the space (S; S1; S4; S5) or being connected to a first heat exchanger (211; 311) inside the space (S2; S3), and a second outlet conduit for air/gas emanating from the cold side of the Ranque generator (1; 101; 201; 301; 401; 501), said second outlet conduit (9; 109; 209; 309; 409; 509) emerging outside the space (S; S1; S4; S5) or being connected to a second heat exchanger (213; 313).
2. Heat pump according to claim 1, characterised in that the second heat exchanger (213; 313) is located outside the space (S2; S3).
3. Heat pump according to claim 1, characterised in that the inlet of the inlet conduit (10; 410; 510) is located in the open air outside the space (S; S4; S5).
4. Heat pump according to claim 1, characterised in that the inlet of the first inlet conduit (110) is located in the open air inside the space (S1).
5. Heat pump according to claim 1, characterised in that the first inlet conduit (210; 310), at its end remote from the compressor (203; 303), is connected to the second heat exchanger (213; 313) outside the space (S2; S3).
6. Heat pump according to claim 5, characterised in that the first inlet conduit (310) extends around the compressor (303) and the connection conduit (305), said connection conduit (305) transferring compressed air/gas to the Ranque generator (301).
7. Heat pump according to claim 5, characterised in that a second inlet conduit (212; 312) that emanates from the first heat exchanger (211; 311) joins the first inlet conduit (210; 310) upstream the compressor (203; 303).
8. Heat pump according to claim 1, characterised in that the compressor constitutes a worm compressor (3; 103; 203; 303; 403; 503).
9. Heat pump according to claim 1, characterised in that it comprises a temperature sensor to register the temperature difference between the hot and cold side of the Ranque generator (1; 101; 201; 301; 401; 501), and that the heat pump also comprises means to regulate the rotational frequency of the compressor (3; 103, 203, 303; 403; 503) dependent on the measured temperature difference.
10. Heat pump according to claim 1, characterised in that the space (S4; S5) also includes a third heat exchanger (415; 515) that constitutes a part of a conventional heat pump.
11. Heat pump according to claim 2, characterised in that the inlet of the inlet conduit (10; 410; 510) is located in the open air outside the space (S; S4; S5).
12. Heat pump according to claim 2, characterised in that the inlet of the inlet conduit (10; 410; 510) is located in the open air outside the space (S; S4; S5).
13. Heat pump according to claim 2, characterised in that the inlet of the inlet conduit (10; 410; 510) is located in the open air outside the space (S; S4; S5).
14. Heat pump according to claim 13, characterised in that the first inlet conduit (310) extends around the compressor (303) and the connection conduit (305), said connection conduit (305) transferring compressed air/gas to the Ranque generator (301).
15. Heat pump according to claim 6, characterised in that a second inlet conduit (212; 312) that emanates from the first heat exchanger (211; 311) joins the first inlet conduit (210; 310) upstream the compressor (203; 303).
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 11, 2005
Publication Date: May 22, 2008
Inventor: Peter Blomkvist (Segeltorp)
Application Number: 11/659,787
International Classification: F25B 9/02 (20060101);