Cooling/heating system and method for controlling the same

Abstract

A cooling/heating system is disclosed which includes a compressor, an indoor heat exchanger, an expansion device, and an outdoor heat exchanger which are connected in series via a refrigerant line, wherein a refrigerant, which flows through the refrigerant line, heat-exchanges with supply water. A method for controlling the cooling/heating system is also disclosed.

1 . A cooling/heating system comprising: 
 a compressor, an indoor heat exchanger, an expansion device, and an outdoor heat exchanger which are connected in series via a refrigerant line,    wherein a refrigerant, which flows through the refrigerant line, heat-exchanges with supply water.    
   
   
       2 . The cooling/heating system according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the refrigerant line comprises a first parallel line and a second parallel line which are arranged between the expansion device and the compressor; and    the outdoor heat exchanger is arranged in the first parallel line.    
   
   
       3 . The cooling/heating system according to  claim 2 , further comprising: 
 a first heat exchanger, through which the supply water passes, and which is arranged in the second parallel line, the first heat exchanger heat-exchanging with the refrigerant passing through the second parallel line, using the supply water.    
   
   
       4 . The cooling/heating system according to  claim 3 , further comprising: 
 a connecting line arranged between predetermined portions of the first and second parallel lines; and    a valve arranged in the connecting line to open/close a refrigerant flow path through the connecting line.    
   
   
       5 . The cooling/heating system according to  claim 2 , further comprising: 
 a second heat exchanger, through which the supply water passes, and which is arranged in the first parallel line between the outdoor heat exchanger and the compressor, the second heat exchanger heat-exchanging with the refrigerant passing through the first parallel line, using the supply water.    
   
   
       6 . The cooling/heating system according to  claim 2 , further comprising: 
 a third heat exchanger, through which the supply water passes, and which is arranged in the refrigerant line between the compressor and the indoor heat exchanger, the third heat exchanger heat-exchanging with the refrigerant passing through the refrigerant line between the compressor and the indoor heat exchanger, using the supply water.    
   
   
       7 . The cooling/heating system according to  claim 2 , further comprising: 
 a bypass line connected between a portion of the refrigerant line arranged between the expansion device and the indoor heat exchanger and a portion of the refrigerant line arranged between the compressor and the outdoor heat exchanger.    
   
   
       8 . The cooling/heating system according to  claim 7 , further comprising: 
 a fourth heat exchanger, through which the supply water passes, and which is arranged in the bypass line, the fourth heat exchanger heat-exchanging with the refrigerant passing through the bypass line, using the supply water.    
   
   
       9 . The cooling/heating system according to  claim 8 , further comprising: 
 a check valve arranged at a refrigerant inlet side of the fourth heat exchanger.    
   
   
       10 . The cooling/heating system according to  claim 3 , further comprising: 
 a second heat exchanger, through which the supply water passes, and which is arranged in the first parallel line between the outdoor heat exchanger and the compressor, the second heat exchanger heat-exchanging with the refrigerant passing through the first parallel line, using the supply water.    
   
   
       11 . The cooling/heating system according to  claim 10 , further comprising: 
 a third heat exchanger, through which the supply water passes, and which is arranged in the refrigerant line between the compressor and the indoor heat exchanger, the third heat exchanger heat-exchanging with the refrigerant passing through the refrigerant line between the compressor and the indoor heat exchanger, using the supply water.    
   
   
       12 . The cooling/heating system according to  claim 11 , further comprising: 
 a bypass line connected between a portion of the refrigerant line arranged between the expansion device and the indoor heat exchanger and a portion of the refrigerant line arranged between the compressor and the outdoor heat exchanger.    
   
   
       13 . The cooling/heating system according to  claim 12 , further comprising: 
 a fourth heat exchanger, through which the supply water passes, and which is arranged in the bypass line, the fourth heat exchanger heat-exchanging with the refrigerant passing through the bypass line, using the supply water.    
   
   
       14 . The cooling/heating system according to  claim 13 , wherein the first through fourth heat exchangers have independent supply water flow paths, respectively.  
   
   
       15 . The cooling/heating system according to  claim 13 , wherein at least two of the first through fourth heat exchangers have a common supply water flow path.  
   
   
       16 . The cooling/heating system according to  claim 1 , wherein the refrigerant line comprises a first parallel line and a second parallel line which are arranged between the expansion device and the outdoor heat exchanger, further comprising: 
 a first heat exchanger, through which the supply water passes, and which is arranged in the second parallel line, the first heat exchanger heat-exchanging with the refrigerant passing through the second parallel line, using the supply water.    
   
   
       17 . The cooling/heating system according to  claim 16 , further comprising: 
 a valve arranged in the second parallel line to open/close a refrigerant flow path through the connecting line.    
   
   
       18 . The cooling/heating system according to  claim 17 , wherein the valve is arranged at a refrigerant inlet side of the first heat exchanger.  
   
   
       19 . The cooling/heating system according to  claim 16 , further comprising: 
 a second heat exchanger, through which the supply water passes, and which is arranged in the refrigerant line between the outdoor heat exchanger and the compressor, the second heat exchanger heat-exchanging with the refrigerant passing through the refrigerant line, using the supply water.    
   
   
       20 . The cooling/heating system according to  claim 16 , further comprising: 
 a third heat exchanger, through which the supply water passes, and which is arranged in the refrigerant line between the compressor and the indoor heat exchanger, the third heat exchanger heat-exchanging with the refrigerant passing through the refrigerant line between the compressor and the indoor heat exchanger, using the supply water.    
   
   
       21 . The cooling/heating system according to  claim 16 , further comprising: 
 a bypass line connected between a portion of the refrigerant line arranged between the expansion device and the indoor heat exchanger and a portion of the refrigerant line arranged between the compressor and the outdoor heat exchanger.    
   
   
       22 . The cooling/heating system according to  claim 21 , further comprising: 
 a fourth heat exchanger, through which the supply water passes, and which is arranged in the bypass line, the fourth heat exchanger heat-exchanging with the refrigerant passing through the bypass line, using the supply water.    
   
   
       23 . The cooling/heating system according to  claim 22 , further comprising: 
 a check valve arranged at a refrigerant inlet side of the fourth heat exchanger.    
   
   
       24 . The cooling/heating system according to  claim 19 , further comprising: 
 a third heat exchanger, through which the supply water passes, and which is arranged in the refrigerant line between the compressor and the indoor heat exchanger, the third heat exchanger heat-exchanging with the refrigerant passing through the refrigerant line between the compressor and the indoor heat exchanger, using the supply water.    
   
   
       25 . The cooling/heating system according to  claim 24 , further comprising: 
 a bypass line connected between a portion of the refrigerant line arranged between the expansion device and the indoor heat exchanger and a portion of the refrigerant line arranged between the compressor and the outdoor heat exchanger.    
   
   
       26 . The cooling/heating system according to  claim 25 , further comprising: 
 a fourth heat exchanger, through which the supply water passes, and which is arranged in the bypass line, the fourth heat exchanger heat-exchanging with the refrigerant passing through the bypass line, using the supply water.    
   
   
       27 . The cooling/heating system according to  claim 26 , further comprising: 
 a temperature sensor arranged at a refrigerant outlet side of at least one of the first through fourth heat exchangers.    
   
   
       28 . The cooling/heating system according to  claim 26 , wherein the first through fourth heat exchangers have independent supply water flow paths, respectively.  
   
   
       29 . The cooling/heating system according to  claim 26 , wherein at least two of the first through fourth heat exchangers have a common supply water flow path.  
   
   
       30 . A cooling/heating system comprising: 
 a compressor, an indoor heat exchanger, an expansion device, and an outdoor heat exchanger which are connected in series via a refrigerant line;    a bypass line connected between a portion of the refrigerant line arranged between the expansion device and the indoor heat exchanger and a portion of the refrigerant line arranged between the compressor and the outdoor heat exchanger; and    a supply water heat exchanger, through which the supply water passes, and which is arranged in the bypass line, the supply water heat exchanger heat-exchanging with the refrigerant passing through the bypass line, using the supply water.    
   
   
       31 . The cooling/heating system according to  claim 30 , further comprising: 
 a check valve arranged at a refrigerant inlet side of the supply water heat exchanger.    
   
   
       32 . A method for controlling a cooling/heating system including a compressor, an indoor heat exchanger, an expansion device, and an outdoor heat exchanger which are connected in series via a refrigerant line, a bypass line connected between a portion of the refrigerant line arranged between the expansion device and the indoor heat exchanger and a portion of the refrigerant line arranged between the compressor and the outdoor heat exchanger, and a supply water heat exchanger arranged in the bypass line, the method comprising the steps of: 
 determining whether or not a refrigerant is introduced into the bypass line during a heating operation of the cooling/heating system; and    supplying supply water to the supply water heat exchanger when it is determined that the refrigerant is introduced into the bypass line, thereby causing the supply water to heat-exchange with the refrigerant in the supply water heat exchanger.    
   
   
       33 . A method for controlling a cooling/heating system including a compressor, an indoor heat exchanger, an expansion device, and an outdoor heat exchanger which are connected in series via a refrigerant line, and a supply water heat exchanger arranged in a predetermined portion of the refrigerant line, the method comprising the steps of: 
 determining whether or not a refrigerant, which is introduced into the supply water heat exchanger through the refrigerant line, has a temperature not more than a predetermined temperature during a heating operation of the cooling/heating system; and    supplying supply water to the supply water heat exchanger when it is determined that the refrigerant temperature is not more than the predetermined temperature, thereby causing the supply water to heat-exchange with the refrigerant in the supply water heat exchanger.    
   
   
       34 . A method for controlling a cooling/heating system including a compressor, an indoor heat exchanger, an expansion device, and an outdoor heat exchanger which are connected in series via a refrigerant line, first and second parallel lines included in the refrigerant line and arranged between the expansion device and the compressor, a connecting line arranged between predetermined portions of the first and second parallel lines, a valve arranged in the connecting line to open/close a refrigerant flow path through the connecting line, and a supply water heat exchanger arranged in the second parallel line, the outdoor heat exchanger being arranged in the first parallel line, 
 wherein the valve of the connecting line is opened during a defrosting operation of the cooling/heating system so that supply water is supplied to the supply water heat exchanger via the connecting line and the second parallel line, to heat-exchange with a refrigerant passing through the supply water heat exchanger.    
   
   
       35 . A method for controlling a cooling/heating system including a compressor, an indoor heat exchanger, an expansion device, and an outdoor heat exchanger which are connected in series via a refrigerant line, first and second parallel lines included in the refrigerant line and arranged between the expansion device and the compressor, a valve arranged in the second parallel line to open/close a refrigerant flow path through the connecting line, and a supply water heat exchanger arranged in the second parallel line, the outdoor heat exchanger being arranged in the first parallel line, 
 wherein the valve of the second parallel line is opened during a defrosting operation of the cooling/heating system so that supply water is supplied to the supply water heat exchanger via the second parallel line, to heat-exchange with a refrigerant passing through the supply water heat exchanger.