Heat pump with hot water storage and refrigerant leak detection
US11162725B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 26, 2017 |
| Grant date | Nov 2, 2021 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 26, 2037 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF25B2500/222
- WIPO fieldThermal processes and apparatus
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A heat pump apparatus includes a refrigerant circuit and a heat medium circuit. The refrigerant circuit performs a first operation using a load-side heat exchanger as a condenser, and a second operation using the load-side heat exchanger as an evaporator. A suction pipe provided between a refrigerant flow switching valve and a compressor has a container. To the heat medium circuit, an overpressure protection relief valve and a refrigerant leakage detector are connected. When leakage of refrigerant into the heat medium circuit is detected, the refrigerant flow switching valve is switched to a second state, an expansion device is set to a closed state, and the compressor is operated. When a requirement for ending the operation of the compressor is satisfied after the leakage is detected, the compressor is stopped, and the refrigerant flow switching valve is switched to a first state.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.