Compact Water/Water Heat Pump Core, and Heat Pump Comprising Same

Abstract

The whole set includes a compressor assembly ( 10 ), inlet ( 23 ) and outlet ( 24 ) to and from a harnessing loop, inlet ( 33 ) and outlet ( 34 ) to and from a heating loop, and two heat exchangers ( 20, 30 ), coupled to the compressor assembly and to the inlets and outlets. Linking pipes ( 21, 22, 31, 32 ) between heat exchangers and the compressor assembly, and/or inlets and outlets from and to harnessing and heating loops, are not linking pipes assembled by brazing but are welded stainless steel pipes, notably by orbital TIG welding. The whole set is enclosed in a tighten enclosure ( 40 ) comprising a supporting base ( 41 ) and a bonnet ( 42 ) sealed together.

1 . A water loop heat pump core comprising
 a compressor assembly ( 10 ), comprising a closed circuit of cooling gas with a compressor ( 11 ), a condenser ( 13 ), an expander ( 14 ) and a vaporiser ( 12 ),   an inlet ( 23 ) and an outlet ( 24 ) from and to a harnessing loop,   an inlet ( 33 ) and an outlet ( 34 ) from and to a heating loop,   a first heat exchanger ( 20 ), coupled on its primary side to the vaporiser of the compressor assembly and on its secondary side to the inlet and outlet of the harnessing loop, and   a second heat exchanger ( 30 ), coupled on its primary side to the condenser of the compressor assembly and on its secondary side to the inlet and outlet of the heating loop,   
     characterised in that the linking pipes ( 21 ,  22 ,  31 ,  32 ) between the heat exchangers and the compressor assembly, and/or the linking pipes ( 25 ,  26 ,  35 ,  36 ) between the heat exchangers and the inlets and outlets of the harnessing and heating loops, are non-brazed linking pipes which are made from welded stainless steel pipes. 
   
   
       2 . The heat pump core of  claim 1 , wherein the stainless steel pipes are welded by orbital TIG welding. 
   
   
       3 . The heat pump core of  claim 1 , wherein the heat exchangers ( 20 ,  30 ) are stainless steel tubular exchangers. 
   
   
       4 . The heat pump core of  claim 1 , wherein the compressor assembly, the heat exchangers, the linking pipes between the exchangers and the compressor assembly, and between the exchangers and the inlets and outlets of the harnessing and heating loops, are enclosed inside a tight containment enclosure ( 40 ). 
   
   
       5 . The heat pump core of  claim 1 , wherein the exchangers are essentially without support brackets for attaching them to the supporting frame. 
   
   
       6 . The heat pump core of  claim 1 , wherein the containment enclosure ( 40 ) comprises a supporting base ( 41 ) forming at least part of at least one side of the assembly, supporting the compressor assembly and the heat exchangers, and a bonnet ( 42 ) mounted onto said supporting base. 
   
   
       7 . The heat pump core of  claim 6 , wherein the supporting base ( 41 ) and the bonnet ( 42 ) are attached together in a permanent manner. 
   
   
       8 . The heat pump core of  claim 6 , wherein the remaining free space inside the containment enclosure is filled with an insulating material, and the supporting base ( 41 ) includes an occlusive aperture ( 44 ) to introduce said insulating material. 
   
   
       9 . The heat pump core of  claim 6 , wherein vacuum has been applied to the internal atmosphere of the containment enclosure, and the supporting base ( 41 ) includes an occlusive aperture ( 44 ) in communication with said atmosphere to apply said vacuum. 
   
   
       10 . The heat pump core of  claim 6 , wherein the internal atmosphere of the containment enclosure is filled with a dry insulating gas, and the supporting base ( 41 ) includes an occlusive aperture ( 44 ) in communication with said atmosphere to introduce said gas. 
   
   
       11 . The heat pump core of  claim 8 , wherein the inlets and outlets ( 23 ,  24 ) of the harnessing loop and the inlets and outlets ( 24 ,  34 ) of the heating loop, and said occlusive aperture(s) ( 44 ) are all grouped on said supporting base ( 41 ). 
   
   
       12 . A heat pump, characterised by including, in combination:
 a pump heart according to  claim 1 ,   coupling members, including at least one circulating pump, to a harnessing loop,   coupling members, including at least one circulating pump, to a heating loop,   thermal regulating means, and means for supplying electricity to the assembly.