Hot water circulation system associated with heat pump

Abstract

A hot water circulation system associated with a heat pump. The system includes a water-refrigerant exchanger for heating the refrigerant and a pump for forcedly circulating the heated water, and a heating tank for storing the heated water.

1 . A hot water circulation system associated with a heat pump, comprising:
 an outdoor unit comprising a heat pump refrigerant cycle;   an indoor unit for air-conditioning an indoor space by allowing refrigerant to heat-exchange with indoor air; and   a refrigerant heating apparatus that is selectively connected to the outdoor unit and heats the refrigerant in the heat pump refrigerant cycle in an extreme cold front area,   wherein the refrigerant heating apparatus heats the refrigerant by heating the water circulating a water heating passage, which is a closed-circuit along which the water circulates, using a heating source and allowing the heated water to heat-exchange with the refrigerant in the heat pump refrigerant cycle.   
     
     
         2 . The hot water circulation system according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a heat recovery unit for controlling flow a flow direction of the refrigerant;   a water-heat exchanger for heat exchange between the refrigerant and the water;   a hot water supply unit for generating hot water by allowing the water passing through the water-heat exchanger to circulate therein; and   a water-heat heating unit for allowing the water passing through the water-heat exchanger to circulate a wall or floor of the indoor space.   
     
     
         3 . The hot water circulation system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a refrigerant heating pipe for guiding flow of the refrigerant between the outdoor unit and the refrigerant heating apparatus. 
     
     
         4 . The hot water circulation system according to  claim 3 , wherein the refrigerant heating pipe comprises:
 first and second refrigerant pipes for directing the refrigerant that is condensed into the refrigerant heating apparatus; and   a third refrigerant pipe for directing the refrigerant from the refrigerant heating apparatus to the outdoor unit.   
     
     
         5 . The hot water circulation system according to  claim 4 , further comprising a third check valve that is provided on the third refrigerant pipe to prevent the refrigerant from being directed into the refrigerant heating apparatus in a cooling mode of the heat pump refrigerant cycle. 
     
     
         6 . The hot water circulation system according to  claim 5 , further comprising a bypass guide valve for selectively cutting off the flow of the refrigerant in the indoor unit when the refrigerant heating apparatus operates. 
     
     
         7 . The hot water circulation system according to  claim 6 , further comprising a bypass pipe for directing the refrigerant to an outdoor heat exchanger, wherein the bypass guide valve is closed when the bypass pipe is opened. 
     
     
         8 . The hot water circulation system according to  claim 7 , wherein the bypass pipe is selectively opened in a defrosting mode of the heat pump refrigerant cycle and a heating mode after being left off for a long time in the extreme cold front area. 
     
     
         9 . The hot water circulation system according to  claim 6 , further comprising a second check valve that directs the refrigerant to the refrigerant heating apparatus when the bypass guide valve is opened. 
     
     
         10 . The hot water circulation system according to  claim 7 , wherein a high pressure sensor for measuring pressure of the refrigerant is provided at an outlet side of a compressor for compressing the refrigerant and the bypass pipe is opened when the pressure measured by the high pressure sensor is less than target pressure. 
     
     
         11 . The hot water circulation system according to  claim 2 , a high pressure sensor for measuring pressure of the refrigerant is provided at an outlet side of a compressor for compressing the refrigerant and the target pressure varies depending on loads of the indoor unit, hot water supply unit, and water-heat heating apparatus. 
     
     
         12 . A hot water circulation system associated with a heat pump, comprising:
 a compressor for compressing refrigerant;   an outdoor heat exchanger for heat exchange between the refrigerant and outdoor air;   an outdoor linear expansion valve for expanding the refrigerant;   an indoor heat exchanger for heat exchange between the refrigerant and indoor air, the indoor heat exchanger forming a refrigerant cycle closed-circuit by being connected to the compressor and the outdoor linear expansion valve; and   a refrigerant heating apparatus that is selectively connected to the outdoor unit and heats the refrigerant in the heat pump refrigerant cycle in an extreme cold front area,   wherein the refrigerant heating apparatus heats the refrigerant by heating the water circulating a water heating passage, which is a closed-circuit along which the water circulates, using a heating source and allowing the heated water to heat-exchange with the refrigerant in the heat pump refrigerant cycle.   
     
     
         13 . The hot water circulation system according to  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a heat recovery unit for controlling flow a flow direction of the refrigerant;   a water-heat exchanger for heat exchange between the refrigerant and the water;   a hot water supply unit for generating hot water by allowing the water passing through the water-heat exchanger to circulate therein; and   a water-heat heating unit for allowing the water passing through the water-heat exchanger to circulate a wall or floor of the indoor space.   
     
     
         14 . The hot water circulation system according to  claim 12 , further comprising a refrigerant heating pipe for guiding flow of the refrigerant between the outdoor unit and the refrigerant heating apparatus. 
     
     
         15 . The hot water circulation system according to  claim 14 , wherein the refrigerant heating pipe comprises:
 first and second refrigerant pipes for directing the refrigerant that is condensed into the refrigerant heating apparatus; and   a third refrigerant pipe for directing the refrigerant from the refrigerant heating apparatus to the outdoor unit.   
     
     
         16 . The hot water circulation system according to  claim 15 , further comprising a third check valve that is provided on the third refrigerant pipe to prevent the refrigerant from being directed into the refrigerant heating apparatus in a cooling mode. 
     
     
         17 . The hot water circulation system according to  claim 16 , further comprising a bypass guide valve for selectively cutting off the flow of the refrigerant in the indoor unit when the refrigerant heating apparatus operates and a bypass pipe for directing the refrigerant to an outdoor heat exchanger, wherein the bypass guide valve is closed when the bypass pipe is opened. 
     
     
         18 . The hot water circulation system according to  claim 17 , wherein the bypass pipe is selectively opened in a defrosting mode of the heat pump refrigerant cycle and a heating mode after being left off for a long time in the extreme cold front area. 
     
     
         19 . The hot water circulation system according to  claim 17 , further comprising a second check valve that directs the refrigerant to the refrigerant heating apparatus when the bypass guide valve is opened. 
     
     
         20 . The hot water circulation system according to  claim 17 , wherein a high pressure sensor for measuring pressure of the refrigerant is provided at an outlet side of the compressor for compressing the refrigerant and the bypass pipe is opened when the pressure measured by the high pressure sensor is less than target pressure.