Heat pump comprising a cooling mode

US8484991B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• EFFICIENT ENERGY GMBH · DE

Inventors

• Holger Sedlak · Hersbruck, DE
• Oliver Kniffler · Sauerlach, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Nov 23, 2007
• Grant date: Jul 16, 2013
• Expiry date: Apr 18, 2030

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02B30/52
• WIPO field: Thermal processes and apparatus
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A heat pump having a cooling mode includes a cooling evaporator coupled to an advance flow and a backflow. The cooling evaporator is brought to a pressure such that a vaporization temperature of the working liquid in the backflow is below a temperature of an object to be cooled to which the backflow may be thermally coupled. In this manner, an area having vapor at high pressure is generated. This vapor is fed into a dynamic-type compressor which outputs the vapor at a low pressure and provides electrical energy in the process. The vapor at low pressure is fed to a cooling liquefier which provides vapor liquefaction at a low temperature, this temperature being lower than the temperature of the object to be cooled. The working liquid removed from the cooling evaporator due to the vaporization is refilled by a filling pump. The heat pump having a cooling mode also results when a specific heat pump is operated in the reverse direction, and provides cooling without any net use of electrical energy. Instead, the cooling even generates electrical energy.