Heat Pump Noise Cancelling Systems and Methods

Abstract

A heat pump system is disclosed. The heat pump system may include a housing defining an interior chamber of the heat pump system. The heat pump system may further include a heat pump component disposed inside the housing. The heat pump component may generate sound waves during heat pump component operation. The heat pump system may further include a noise cancelling device configured to cover at least one of housing inner walls and the heat pump component. The noise cancelling device may be a panel having a pattern configured to minimize sound wave transmission from the heat pump component.

That which is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A heat pump system comprising:
 a housing defining an interior chamber;   a heat pump component disposed inside the housing, wherein the heat pump component generates sound waves during operation of the heat pump component; and   a noise cancelling device configured to at least partially cover at least one of: one or more housing inner walls and the heat pump component,   wherein the noise cancelling device comprises a panel having a pattern configured to minimize sound wave transmission from the heat pump component.   
     
     
         2 . The heat pump system of  claim 1 , wherein the heat pump component is a compressor. 
     
     
         3 . The heat pump system of  claim 1 , wherein the heat pump component comprises an air mover. 
     
     
         4 . The heat pump system of  claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises a top wall, and wherein the noise cancelling device is configured to cover an interior surface of the top wall. 
     
     
         5 . The heat pump system of  claim 1 , wherein the panel comprises one or more cut-outs to cover a heat pump component portion. 
     
     
         6 . The heat pump system of  claim 1 , wherein the noise cancelling device comprises a plurality of panels that are stacked to cover at least a portion of outer walls of the heat pump component. 
     
     
         7 . The heat pump system of  claim 1 , wherein the panel comprises a plurality of wedge-shaped ridges. 
     
     
         8 . The heat pump system of  claim 1 , wherein the panel comprises a plurality of pyramid-shaped ridges. 
     
     
         9 . The heat pump system of  claim 1 , wherein the panel comprises a plurality of holes. 
     
     
         10 . The heat pump system of  claim 1 , wherein the noise cancelling device is selected based on a frequency response of the heat pump system or the heat pump component. 
     
     
         11 . A heat pump water heater comprising:
 a housing defining an interior chamber;   a heat pump component disposed inside the housing, wherein the heat pump component generates sound waves during operation of the heat pump component; and   a noise cancelling device configured to at least partially cover at least one of: one or more housing inner walls and the heat pump component,   wherein the noise cancelling device comprises a panel having a pattern configured to minimize sound wave transmission from the heat pump component, and wherein the pattern comprises a plurality of ridges or holes.   
     
     
         12 . The heat pump water heater of  claim 11 , wherein the heat pump component is a compressor. 
     
     
         13 . The heat pump water heater of  claim 11 , wherein the heat pump component is an air mover. 
     
     
         14 . The heat pump water heater of  claim 11 , wherein the housing comprises a top wall, and wherein the noise cancelling device is configured to cover an interior surface of the top wall. 
     
     
         15 . The heat pump water heater of  claim 11 , wherein the noise cancelling device comprises a plurality of panels that is stacked to cover at least a portion of outer walls of the heat pump component. 
     
     
         16 . The heat pump water heater of  claim 11 , wherein the panel comprises one or more cut-outs to cover a heat pump component portion. 
     
     
         17 . The heat pump water heater of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of ridges comprises a plurality of wedge-shaped ridges. 
     
     
         18 . The heat pump water heater of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of ridges comprises a plurality of pyramid-shaped ridges. 
     
     
         19 . A method to mount a noise cancelling device in a heat pump system, the method comprising:
 selecting a noise cancelling device from a plurality of noise cancelling devices to minimize sound wave transmission from the heat pump system, wherein the heat pump system comprises:
 a housing defining an interior chamber of the heat pump system, and 
 a heat pump component disposed inside the housing, wherein the heat pump component generates sound waves during heat pump component operation, 
 wherein the noise cancelling device is configured to cover at least one of: housing inner walls and the heat pump component, and wherein the noise cancelling device is a panel having a pattern; 
   selecting a position to mount the noise cancelling device; and   mounting the noise cancelling device in the heat pump system.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein mounting the noise cancelling device in the heat pump system comprises mounting the noise cancelling device via bonding.