Heat Pump for Heating Swimming Pool Water

Abstract

The invention relates to a heat pump. It relates to a heat pump which, in a primary circuit, comprises a compressor ( 10 ), a condenser ( 12 ) forming a heat exchanger between the refrigerating fluid and the swimming pool water, an expander ( 14 ) and an evaporator ( 16 ) forming a heat exchanger between the external surroundings and the refrigerating fluid. The condenser ( 12 ) comprises two heat exchange circuits and the heat pump comprises a pressure sensor ( 18 ), a member for switching the circulation of the refrigerating fluid between states in which it is circulated in just one or in at least two of the heat exchange circuits, and a member for controlling the switching member according to the value of the signal from the sensor ( 18 ). Application to the heating of swimming pool water.

1 . Heat pump intended for heating swimming pool water, of the type which comprises, in a primary circuit of refrigerating fluid:
 a compressor ( 10 ),   a condenser ( 12 ) forming a heat exchanger between the refrigerating fluid and the swimming pool water circulating in a secondary circuit,   an expander ( 14 ), and   an evaporator ( 16 ) forming a heat exchanger between the external medium and the refrigerating fluid, characterized in that   the condenser ( 12 ) comprises at least two heat exchange circuits ( 22 ), and   the heat pump comprises
 a sensor ( 18 ) for detecting an operating parameter of the heat pump, 
 at least one member ( 26 ,  28 ) for switching the circulation of the refrigerating fluid between a state in which it is circulated in just one of the heat exchange circuits ( 22 ), and a state in which it is circulated in at least two of the heat exchange circuits ( 22 ), and 
 a member for controlling the switching member at least according to the value of the signal from the sensor ( 18 ). 
   
   
   
       2 . Heat pump according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the at least one switching member comprises at least one solenoid valve ( 26 ,  28 ). 
   
   
       3 . Heat pump according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the sensor ( 18 ) for detecting an operating parameter of the heat pump detects the pressure of the refrigerating fluid at the high pressure part of the refrigerating circuit. 
   
   
       4 . Heat pump according to  claim 1 , characterized in that it comprises at least two heat exchange circuits ( 22 ) which are disposed in series in the condenser ( 12 ). 
   
   
       5 . Heat pump according to  claim 4 , characterized in that it further comprises a branch circuit ( 24 ) with respect to one of the heat exchange circuits ( 22 ). 
   
   
       6 . Heat pump according to  claim 1 , characterized in that it comprises at least two heat exchange circuits ( 22 ) disposed in parallel in the condenser ( 12 ). 
   
   
       7 . Method for heating swimming pool water by means of a heat pump according to  claim 1 , characterized in that it comprises:
 the measurement of an operating parameter of the heat pump,   the comparison of the measured value of the parameter with a threshold and,   when the parameter exceeds a threshold, the control of the switching of the circulation of the refrigerating fluid in a heat exchange circuit ( 22 ).   
   
   
       8 . Method according to  claim 7 , characterized in that the comparison with a threshold comprises the use of two different thresholds, depending on whether the parameter increases or decreases, so that control is obtained with a hysteresis effect. 
   
   
       9 . Heat pump according to  claim 2 , characterized in that the sensor ( 18 ) for detecting an operating parameter of the heat pump detects the pressure of the refrigerating fluid at the high pressure part of the refrigerating circuit. 
   
   
       10 . Heat pump according to  claim 2 , characterized in that it comprises at least two heat exchange circuits ( 22 ) which are disposed in series in the condenser ( 12 ). 
   
   
       11 . Heat pump according to  claim 3 , characterized in that it comprises at least two heat exchange circuits ( 22 ) which are disposed in series in the condenser ( 12 ). 
   
   
       12 . Heat pump according to  claim 2 , characterized in that it further comprises a branch circuit ( 24 ) with respect to one of the heat exchange circuits ( 22 ). 
   
   
       13 . Heat pump according to  claim 3 , characterized in that it further comprises a branch circuit ( 24 ) with respect to one of the heat exchange circuits ( 22 ).