Valve for changing over the heat flows of a heat pump, taking into account the flow direction reversal in a heat exchanger connected during heating operation to the source side of the heat pump

Abstract

A valve arrangement includes a changeover valve having a housing ( 7 ) with at least four connection pieces ( 8 ) connected to a heat pump and at least four additional connection pieces ( 9 ). At least two of the additional connection pieces are connected to a heat source and at least two of the additional connection pieces are connected to a heat sink. At least one valve body ( 10 ) is associated with a drive element for moving the valve body relative to the different connection pieces in the housing. A heat exchanger ( 2 ) is connected during heating operation to the source side of the heat pump, in which a flow direction reversal of the heat transfer medium can be generated when there is a changeover between heating operation and cooling operation.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A valve arrangement comprising a changeover valve having a housing ( 7 ) with at least four connection pieces ( 8 ) connected to a heat pump, with at least four connection pieces ( 9 ), at least two of which are connected to a heat source and at least two of which are connected to a heat sink, with at least one valve body ( 10 ) and a drive element for moving the valve body relative in relation to the different connection pieces in the housing and further comprising a heat exchanger ( 2 ) connected during heating operation to the source side of the heat pump, in which a flow direction reversal of the heat transfer medium can be generated when there is a changeover between heating operation and cooling operation. 
     
     
         2 . The valve arrangement according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the valve body ( 10 ) comprises penetrations or hollowly shaped passages, of which at least a few connect at least two connection pieces to each other in different ways according to the operating mode. 
     
     
         3 . The valve arrangement according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the valve body is designed rotationally symmetrical, like cylindrical or spherical, and is rotatable in relation to the housing surrounding the valve body for connecting the connection pieces to each other in different ways. 
     
     
         4 . The valve arrangement according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the valve body is movable linearly in relation to the housing, whereby the connection pieces are connectable to each other in different ways according to the operating mode by means of a translational movement. 
     
     
         5 . The valve arrangement according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the drive element is formed by a mechanical drive, wherein the controlling is carried out manually or based on e.g. electrical energy. 
     
     
         6 . The valve arrangement according to  claim 1 , characterized in that at least two connectors are designated for a condenser, at least two connectors for a vaporizer, at least two connectors for a cooling or heating cycle, respectively, and at least two connectors for a heat source/sink and/or a heat store device, such as a geothermal probe. 
     
     
         7 . The valve arrangement according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the connection pieces are connectable in different ways such that the heat source and sink of the heat pump are interchanged and thereby allow both heating and cooling operation. 
     
     
         8 . The valve arrangement according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the connectors are connectable such that the connection pieces of the heat source and heat sink are directly connectable to each other. 
     
     
         9 . The valve arrangement according to  claim 1 , characterized in that further connectors in the housing are designated for connecting accessory devices like thermal collectors, further cooling or heating cycles, heat stores, etc. 
     
     
         10 . A heat pump system having a heat pump, a coaxial geothermal probe, a room releasing system, circulation pumps and, where required, a thermal collector with a valve arrangement according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         11 . A method for operating a heat pump in different ways by changing over the heat flows of a heat pump, as well as for generating a flow direction reversal in a heat exchanger connected during heating operation to the source side of the heat pump, characterized in that the heat pump is connected to a housing of a valve arrangement by at least four connectors, as well as at least one heat source and at least one heat sink are also connected to the same housing by at least two connectors each and the different operating mode is carried out by connecting the connectors to each other in different ways by means of a valve body located in the housing, the valve body being moved in relation to the housing. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11  for heating or cooling a building by use of at least a heat source/heat sink each, such as a heat absorption/heat release system, as well as a geothermal probe, characterized in that the connectors of the heat pump and the heat source/heat sink are switched by means of the penetrations or hollowly shaped passages of the valve body such that a different usage of the heat pump (heating/cooling) is possible without reversal of the inner cooling medium flows. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 11 , characterized in that a reversal of the flow direction is generated by connecting the connectors in different ways, in particular in a coaxial geothermal probe. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 11 , characterized in that by arranging further connectors under usage of one or more thermal collectors by connecting the connectors in different ways, the perpetuation of the order of the flow of thermal collectors and geothermal probe is possible, where required, during simultaneous flow direction reversal of the geothermal probe.