Heat Pump With A Storage Tank

Abstract

A device includes a storage tank and a heat pump including at least one condenser, an expansion valve, an evaporator, and a compressor. The heat pump includes a working circuit for a circulating working fluid. The storage tank is arranged between the condenser and the evaporator with respect to the working circuit, and the storage tank includes a piston and/or a membrane for controlling a fluid level of the working fluid in the condenser.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device, comprising:
 a storage tank; and   a heat pump comprising:
 a condenser, 
 an expansion valve, 
 an evaporator, 
 a compressor, 
 a working circuit having a circulating working fluid, 
   wherein the storage tank is arranged, with respect to the working circuit, between the condenser and the evaporator, and   wherein the storage tank comprises at least one of a piston or a diaphragm that regulates a fluid level of the working fluid in the condenser.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the storage tank comprises a piston and is fluidically coupled to the heat pump via an outlet value and an inlet valve,
 wherein the outlet valve, with respect to the working circuit, is arranged between the condenser and the expansion valve, and the inlet valve is arranged between the expansion valve and the evaporator.   
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the storage tank comprises a hydraulic cylinder. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein at least one of the outlet valve or the inlet valve comprises a further expansion valve and a non-return valve. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the storage tank is a collecting tank comprising a diaphragm, and
 wherein the collecting tank is arranged, with respect to the working circuit, between the condenser and the expansion valve.   
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein the collecting tank is coupled to an air compressor, wherein the air compressor feeds compressed air into a partial volume of the collecting tank, the partial volume being delimited by the diaphragm. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein the partial volume of the collecting tank is coupled to a compressed-air outlet valve. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein the collecting tank includes a displacement unit configured to mechanically displace the diaphragm. 
     
     
         9 . A method for operating a heat pump with a working fluid circulating within a working circuit, the method comprising:
 condensing the working fluid using a condenser,   expanding the working fluid using an expansion valve,   evaporating the working fluid using an evaporator, and   compressing the working fluid using a compressor,   guiding the working fluid between the condenser and the evaporator to a storage tank, and   regulating a fluid level of the working fluid in the condenser using at least one of a piston or a diaphragm of the storage tank.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , comprising:
 regulating the fluid level using the piston, and   guiding the working fluid to the storage tank using an outlet valve.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , comprising guiding the working fluid from the storage tank back to the heat pump by closing the outlet valve and opening an inlet valve coupled between the expansion valve and the evaporate. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the storage tank a collecting tank including a diaphragm that regulates the fluid level, and   the working fluid is guided, with respect to the working circuit, between the condenser and the expansion valve to the collecting tank.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein at least a partial volume of the collecting tank is enlarged or reduced by a mechanical displacement of the diaphragm. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , comprising regulating the fluid level of the working fluid if the fluid level of the working fluid in the condenser exceeds or falls below a threshold value. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 9 , comprising regulating the fluid level of the working fluid if the temperature of the working fluid exceeds or falls below a threshold value.