A modular fluid-fluid heat transfer arrangement and a method thereof

Abstract

A modular fluid-fluid heat transfer arrangement is disclosed. The arrangement comprising first inlet and outlet junction pipes, second inlet and outlet junction pipes; and a plurality of heat pump modules, each comprises: first inlet and outlet ports; second inlet and outlet ports; control means; and a refrigerant circulation path including: a first heat exchanger unit fluidly connected to said first inlet and outlet ports; a compressor; a second heat exchanger unit fluidly connected to said second inlet and outlet ports; and an expander; wherein, when in use, said plurality of heat pump modules are connected in parallel to each other, by their respective first inlet and outlet ports being connected to said first inlet and outlet junction pipes, respectively, and by their respective second inlet and outlet ports being connected to said second inlet and outlet junction pipes, respectively. The disclosure further relates to a method for controlling the arrangement.

1 . A modular fluid-fluid heat transfer arrangement comprising:
 first inlet and outlet junction pipes for connecting the modular fluid-fluid heat transfer arrangement to a cold fluid side to form a cold side fluid recirculation path;   second inlet and outlet junction pipes for connecting the modular fluid-fluid heat transfer arrangement to a hot fluid side to form a hot side fluid recirculation path; and   a plurality of heat pump modules, wherein each heat pump module comprises:
 first inlet and outlet ports; 
 second inlet and outlet ports; 
 control means for controlling the heat pump module; and 
 a refrigerant circulation path which includes the following entities connected to one another in sequence:
 a first heat exchanger unit fluidly connected to said first inlet and outlet ports; 
 a compressor; 
 a second heat exchanger unit fluidly connected to said second inlet and outlet ports; and 
 an expander; 
 
   wherein, when in use, said plurality of heat pump modules are connected in parallel to each other,
 by their respective first inlet and outlet ports being connected to said first inlet and outlet junction pipes, respectively, and 
 by their respective second inlet and outlet ports being connected to said second inlet and outlet junction pipes, respectively. 
   
     
     
         2 . The modular fluid-fluid heat transfer arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one heat pump module of the plurality of heat pump modules is removably arranged in the arrangement in a manner which allows to remove and/or replace the heat pump module within the arrangement. 
     
     
         3 . The modular fluid-fluid heat transfer arrangement according to  claim 2 , wherein said at least one heat pump module of the plurality of heat pump modules is structured and arranged to be portable. 
     
     
         4 . The modular fluid-fluid heat transfer arrangement according to  claim 2 , wherein said at least one heat pump module of the plurality of heat pump modules have a height between 25-45 cm, a width between 15-35 cm, and a depth between 45-65 cm. 
     
     
         5 . The modular fluid-fluid heat transfer arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein each heat pump module of the plurality of heat pump modules comprises a cold side fluid flow control device configured to control a flow rate of cold side fluid being supplied to each heat pump module from said cold side fluid recirculation path. 
     
     
         6 . The modular fluid-fluid heat transfer arrangement according to  claim 5 , wherein the cold side fluid flow control device comprises a pump configured to be variably adjustable. 
     
     
         7 . The modular fluid-fluid heat transfer arrangement according to  claim 1 , further comprising a main controller being configured to control an operation of each heat pump module of the plurality of heat pump modules. 
     
     
         8 . The modular fluid-fluid heat transfer arrangement according to  claim 7 , wherein the main controller is configured to control the operation of each heat pump module of the plurality of heat pump modules to operate in an operational mode being common for all heat pump modules. 
     
     
         9 . The modular fluid-fluid heat transfer arrangement according to  claim 8 , wherein the operational mode is defined by an input power being common for all heat pump modules. 
     
     
         10 . The modular fluid-fluid heat transfer arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein each heat pump module of the plurality of heat pump modules comprises a hot side fluid flow control device configured to control a flow rate of hot side fluid being supplied to the hot fluid side from each heat pump module. 
     
     
         11 . The modular fluid-fluid heat transfer arrangement according to  claim 10 , wherein the main controller is configured to individually control the operation of each heat pump module of the plurality of heat pump modules to allow operating each heat pump module at a respective operational mode. 
     
     
         12 . The modular fluid-fluid heat transfer arrangement according to  claim 11 , wherein said respective operational mode of each heat pump module is based on a predetermined fraction of a maximum input power of that heat pump module, wherein the predetermined fraction is common for all heat pump modules. 
     
     
         13 . The modular fluid-fluid heat transfer arrangement according to  claim 11 , wherein said respective predefined operational mode of each heat pump module is based on a predetermined time sequence alternating between a first state, where the heat pump module is not in operation, and a second state, where the heat pump module is operated at a predetermined input power. 
     
     
         14 . The modular fluid-fluid heat transfer arrangement according to  claim 11 , wherein the control means of each heat pump module of the plurality of heat pump modules is in communication with the control means of the other heat pump modules of the plurality of heat pump modules and/or with the main controller. 
     
     
         15 . The modular fluid-fluid heat transfer arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein each heat pump module of the plurality of heat pump modules comprises a refrigerant, wherein an amount of the refrigerant in each heat pump module is below a predetermined threshold-value. 
     
     
         16 . The modular fluid-fluid heat transfer arrangement according to  claim 15 , wherein a total volume of refrigerant contained in each of the at least one modular liquid-liquid heat pump is below 400 g, or below 300 g, or below 200 g. 
     
     
         17 . The modular fluid-fluid heat transfer arrangement according to  claim 15 , wherein the predetermined threshold value is 334 g. 
     
     
         18 . The modular fluid-fluid heat transfer arrangement according to  claim 15 , wherein the refrigerant is R290. 
     
     
         19 . A method for controlling a modular fluid-fluid heat transfer arrangement comprising a plurality of heat pump modules, each comprising first inlet and outlet ports and second inlet and outlet ports, the method comprising:
 connecting the modular fluid-fluid heat transfer arrangement to a cold fluid side thereby forming a cold side fluid recirculation path;   connecting the modular fluid-fluid heat transfer arrangement to a hot fluid side thereby forming a hot side fluid recirculation path;   connecting each heat pump module of the plurality of heat pump modules in parallel to each other by connecting their respective first inlet and outlet ports to first inlet and outlet junction pipes of the modular fluid-fluid heat transfer arrangement, respectively, and by connecting their respective second inlet and outlet ports to second inlet and outlet junction pipes of the modular fluid-fluid heat transfer arrangement, respectively; and   controlling each heat pump module of the plurality of heat pump modules to operate in a respective operational mode.   
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein said operational mode is common for all heat pump modules of the plurality of heat pump modules or wherein said operational mode is individually defined for each heat pump module of the plurality of heat pump modules.