Heat pump

Abstract

A heat pump controls heating and/or cooling using a refrigeration cycle unit and a booster module, The refrigeration cycle unit includes a compressor to compress a coolant, a first heat exchanger to condense the coolant compressed in the compressor, an expansion mechanism to expand the coolant condensed in the first heat exchanger, and a second heat exchanger to evaporate the coolant expanded in the expansion mechanism. The booster module separates a gaseous coolant from the coolant flowing from the first heat exchanger to the expansion mechanism and then allows for compression of the separated gaseous coolant or coolant evaporated in the second heat exchanger.

1 . A heat pump comprising:
 a refrigeration cycle unit including a compressor to compress a coolant, a first heat exchanger to condense the coolant compressed in the compressor, an expansion mechanism to expand the coolant condensed in the first heat exchanger, and a second heat exchanger to evaporate the coolant expanded in the expansion mechanism; and a booster module, coupled to the refrigeration cycle unit, to:   separate a gaseous coolant from the coolant flowing from the first heat exchanger to the expansion mechanism, and   compress the separated gaseous coolant, the compressed gaseous coolant to flow between the compressor and first heat exchanger, or compress the coolant evaporated in the second heat exchanger, the compressed coolant to flow between the compressor and the first heat exchanger.   
     
     
         2 . The heat pump of  claim 1 , wherein the booster module includes:
 a first booster expansion mechanism to expand the coolant flowing in the first heat exchanger;   a gas/liquid separator to separate the coolant expanded in the first booster expansion mechanism into a liquid coolant and a gaseous coolant;   a second booster expansion mechanism to expand the gaseous coolant separated in the gas/liquid separator; and   a booster compressor to compress the coolant expanded in the second booster expansion mechanism.   
     
     
         3 . The heat pump of  claim 2 , wherein the booster module further includes:
 a booster suction pipe that guides the coolant evaporated in the second heat exchanger to be sucked into the booster compressor.   
     
     
         4 . The heat pump of  claim 3 , wherein the booster module further includes:
 a gas/liquid separator suction pipe coupled between the first booster expansion mechanism and the gas/liquid separator,   a gaseous coolant discharging pipe that guides the gaseous coolant separated in the gas/liquid separator to the second booster expansion mechanism,   a booster compressor suction pipe to allow the coolant expanded in the second booster expansion mechanism to be sucked into the booster compressor, and   a booster compressor discharging pipe to guide the coolant discharged from the booster compressor to flow between the compressor and first heat exchanger, the booster suction pipe to connect the booster compressor suction pipe located between the second heat exchanger and the compressor.   
     
     
         5 . The heat pump of  claim 4 , wherein the booster module further includes:
 a check valve, provided over the booster suction pipe, to prevent the coolant in the booster compressor suction pipe from being sucked through the booster suction pipe to the compressor.   
     
     
         6 . The heat pump of  claim 4 , wherein the first boost expansion mechanism is coupled to the first heat exchanger via a first booster expansion mechanism suction pipe. 
     
     
         7 . The heat pump of  claim 4 , wherein the gas/liquid separator is coupled to the expansion mechanism via a gas/liquid separator outlet pipe. 
     
     
         8 . The heat pump of  claim 3 , wherein the compressor is a capacity variable compressor and the booster compressor is a constant speed compressor. 
     
     
         9 . The heat pump of  claim 3 , wherein the booster compressor has a smaller capacity than the compressor. 
     
     
         10 . The heat pump of  claim 3 , wherein the heat pump includes a controller to control the compressor, the booster compressor, and the second booster expansion mechanism based on an operation mode. 
     
     
         11 . The heat pump of  claim 10 , wherein the controller drives the compressor, stops the booster compressor, and closes the second booster expansion mechanism under a general load mode. 
     
     
         12 . The heat pump of  claim 10 , wherein the controller turns off the compressor, drives the booster compressor, and closes the second booster expansion mechanism under a partial load mode. 
     
     
         13 . The heat pump of  claim 10 , wherein the controller drives the compressor and the booster compressor, and closes the second booster expansion mechanism under a multi operation mode. 
     
     
         14 . The heat pump of  claim 10 , wherein the controller drives the compressor and booster compressor and opens the second booster expansion mechanism under a gas injection mode. 
     
     
         15 . The heat pump of  claim 1 , wherein the first heat exchanger is a water coolant heat exchanger that performs heat exchange between water and a coolant, and is coupled to a room heating unit for room heating and a water heating unit for supplying hot water via a water circulation path. 
     
     
         16 . A heat pump comprising:
 a refrigeration cycle unit that includes a compressor to compress a coolant, a first heat exchanger to condense the coolant compressed in the compressor, an expansion mechanism to expand the coolant condensed in the first heat exchanger, and a second heat exchanger to evaporate the coolant expanded in the expansion mechanism; and   a booster module selectively mounted on the refrigeration cycle unit, the booster module including:   a first booster expansion mechanism to expand the coolant flowing in the first heat exchanger,   a gas/liquid separator to separate the coolant expanded in the first booster expansion mechanism into a liquid coolant and a gaseous coolant,   a second booster expansion mechanism to expand the gaseous coolant separated in the gas/liquid separator, and   a booster compressor to compress the coolant expanded in the second booster expansion mechanism, wherein the heat pump is selectively operated in response to an indoor load.   
     
     
         17 . The heat pump of  claim 16 , wherein the booster module further includes:
 a gas/liquid separator suction pipe coupled between the first booster expansion mechanism and the gas/liquid separator,   a gaseous coolant discharging pipe to guide the gaseous coolant separated in the gas/liquid separator to the second booster expansion mechanism,   a booster compressor suction pipe to allow the coolant expanded in the second booster expansion mechanism to be sucked into the booster compressor, and   a booster compressor discharging pipe to guide the coolant discharged from the booster compressor to flow between the compressor and first heat exchanger.   
     
     
         18 . The heat pump of  claim 17 , wherein the first boost expansion mechanism is coupled to the first heat exchanger via a first booster expansion mechanism suction pipe. 
     
     
         19 . The heat pump of  claim 18 , wherein the gas/liquid separator is coupled to the expansion mechanism via a gas/liquid separator outlet pipe. 
     
     
         20 . The heat pump of  claim 17 , wherein the compressor is a capacity variable compressor and the booster compressor is a substantially constant speed compressor.