Patent Publication Number: US-2015075206-A1

Title: Engine driven heat pump

Description:
INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE REGARDING APPLICATION AND PRIORITY 
     This nonprovisional application claims priority under U.S.C. 119(a) on Patent Application No. 2013-193236 filed in Japan on Sep. 18, 2013, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to an engine driven heat pump in which heat exchange is performed by use of a refrigerant, which is sucked and discharged by a compressor driven by an engine, thereby flowing through a refrigerant circuit. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Conventionally, it has been known that a generator is mounted in the engine driven heat pump in which heat exchange is performed by use of a refrigerant, which is sucked and discharged by a compressor driven by the engine, thereby flowing through a refrigerant circuit (see, for example, Japanese Patent No. 4682558). 
     Japanese Patent No. 4682558 discloses that the engine driven heat pump, in which the generator is mounted, is used as a power supply device at the time of power failure. 
     However, although Japanese Patent No. 4682558 discloses that the engine driven heat pump, in which the generator is mounted, is used as the power supply device at the time of power failure, Patent Document 1 fails to disclose any specific mounting constitution of members constituting a self-sustaining power supply device that includes an engine actuation battery, which is required for the actuation of the engine at the time of power failure. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides an engine driven heat pump, in which a generator is mounted, the engine driven heat pump that is used as a power supply device at the time of power failure, which provides the specific mounting constitution of members constituting a self-sustaining power supply device that includes an engine actuation battery, which is required for the actuation of an engine. 
     According to one aspect of the present invention, an engine driven heat pump includes an engine, a compressor configured to be driven by the engine, a refrigerant circuit configured to flow a refrigerant sucked and discharged by the compressor, a generator configured to be driven by the engine, a main body package configured to store the engine, the compressor, the refrigerant circuit, and the generator, an engine actuation battery configured to actuate the engine, a battery charging circuit configured to charge the engine actuation battery, and an inverter configured to convert output power from the generator into a predetermined voltage and a predetermined frequency, a separate body package configured to store the engine actuation battery, the battery charging circuit, and the inverter, the separate body package being a separate body with respect to the main body package, wherein a front surface and a back surface of the separate body package is made up of an area in such a manner as to fit in a side surface of the main body package, and the separate body package is provided on a side surface near to the generator, out of side surfaces of the main body package and supported by the main body package. 
     According to another aspect of the present invention, a mode can be exemplified where the engine and the generator, and the refrigerant circuit are separated in such a manner as be arranged right and left viewed from a front surface of the main body package. 
     According to the aspects of the present invention, with respect to the engine driven heat pump in which a generator is mounted, the engine driven heat pump is used as a power supply device at the time of power failure and can provide the specific mounting constitution of members constituting a self-sustaining power supply device that includes an engine actuation battery, which is required for the actuation of an engine. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic block diagram illustrating one example of a heat exchange system including an engine driven heat pump according to the embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2A  is a plan view illustrating the schematic constitution of the engine driven heat pump illustrated in  FIG. 1  in a state where the exterior cover of a separate body package is detached. 
         FIG. 2B  is a front view illustrating the schematic constitution of the engine driven heat pump illustrated in  FIG. 1  in the state where the exterior cover of the separate body package is detached. 
         FIG. 2C  is a right side view illustrating the schematic constitution of the engine driven heat pump illustrated in  FIG. 1  in the state where the exterior cover of the separate body package is detached. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view illustrating the schematic constitution of the engine driven heat pump illustrated in  FIG. 1  in a state where the exterior cover of a main body package and the exterior cover of the separate body package are detached. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view illustrating the schematic constitution of the engine driven heat pump illustrated in  FIG. 1  in the state where the exterior cover of the main body package and the exterior cover of the separate body package are detached. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described referring to drawings. 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic block diagram illustrating one example of a heat exchange system  500  including an engine driven heat pump  100  according to the embodiment of the present invention. 
     The heat exchange system  500  illustrated in  FIG. 1  is provided in such a manner that a refrigerant is circulated through a refrigerant circulation path  300  while a state where the refrigerant is decompressed and brought down to a low temperature and a state where the refrigerant is pressurized and brought up to a high temperature are alternated by means of the engine driven heat pump  100 . 
     The refrigerant circulation path  300  includes a first refrigerant circuit  310  (one example of a refrigerant circuit) provided in the engine driven heat pump  100  (an outdoor unit constituting an air conditioner in the example), a second refrigerant circuit  320  provided in a heat exchange unit  200  (an indoor unit constituting the air conditioner in the example), a third refrigerant circuit  330  with which the first refrigerant circuit  310  and the second refrigerant circuit  320  are communicated, a first heat exchanger  340  provided in the engine driven heat pump  100  and interposed in the first refrigerant circuit  310 , a second heat exchanger  350  provided in the heat exchange unit  200  and interposed in the second refrigerant circuit  320 , and an expansion valve  360  interposed in the refrigerant circuit (the first refrigerant circuit  310  in the example) provided between the first heat exchanger  340  and the second heat exchanger  350 . 
     The first refrigerant circuit  310  of the engine driven heat pump  100  includes a discharge-side first refrigerant pipe  311  that is connected to a discharge side of a compressor  120  that is driven by an engine  110 , thereby sucking and discharging the refrigerant, a one-side first refrigerant pipe  312  that is connected to one side of a third refrigerant pipe  331  on the one side of the third refrigerant circuit  330 , an other-side first refrigerant pipe  313  that is connected to a third refrigerant pipe  332  on the other side of the third refrigerant circuit  330 , an suction-side first refrigerant pipe  314  that is connected to the suction side of the compressor  120 , and a four-way valve  315 . The four-way valve  315  is connected to the discharge-side first refrigerant pipe  311 , the one-side first refrigerant pipe  312 , the other-side first refrigerant pipe  313 , and the suction-side first refrigerant pipe  314 , and the four-way valve  315  is switchable in such a manner that the refrigerant from the discharge-side first refrigerant pipe  311  is guided to the one-side first refrigerant pipe  312 , and the refrigerant from the other-side first refrigerant pipe  313  is guided to the suction-side first refrigerant pipe  314 , or in such a manner that the refrigerant from the discharge-side first refrigerant pipe  311  is guided to the other-side first refrigerant pipe  313 , and the refrigerant from the one-side first refrigerant pipe  312  is guided to the suction-side first refrigerant pipe  314 . The first heat exchanger  340  is provided in the other-side first refrigerant pipe  313 , and the expansion valve  360  is provided between the first heat exchanger  340  and the third refrigerant pipe  332  on the other side of the third refrigerant circuit  330  with respect to the other-side first refrigerant pipe  313 . The second refrigerant circuit  320  of the heat exchange unit  200  includes a second refrigerant pipe  321  connected to the third refrigerant pipe  331  on the one side of the third refrigerant circuit  330  and the third refrigerant pipe  332  on the other side of the third refrigerant circuit  330 . The second heat exchanger  350  is provided in the second refrigerant pipe  321 . 
     With the above-mentioned constitution, when the heat exchange system  500  is utilized for heating or hot-water supply (heating in the example), the four-way valve  315  is switched in such a manner that the refrigerant from the discharge-side first refrigerant pipe  311  is guided to the one-side first refrigerant pipe  312 , and the refrigerant from the other-side first refrigerant pipe  313  is guided to the suction-side first refrigerant pipe  314 , and the low-temperature refrigerant is brought into indirect contact with the open air or water via the first heat exchanger  340  so as to absorb heat, and further the refrigerant is compressed by the compressor  120  and brought up to a high temperature, and air in a room or water for hot-water supply (air in a room in the example) is heated via the second heat exchanger  350 . In contrast, when the heat exchange system  500  is utilized for air conditioning or cold storage (air conditioning in the example), the four-way valve  315  is switched in such a manner that the refrigerant from the discharge-side first refrigerant pipe  311  is guided to the other-side first refrigerant pipe  313 , and the refrigerant from the one-side first refrigerant pipe  312  is guided to the suction-side first refrigerant pipe  314 , and the high-temperature refrigerant is brought into indirect contact with the open air and the like via the first heat exchanger  340  so as to discharge heat, and further the refrigerant is decompressed through the expansion valve  360  and brought down to a low temperature, and the air in the room or a refrigerator (the room in the example) is cooled via the second heat exchanger  350 . 
     Also, regarding the heat exchange system  500 , the engine driven heat pump  100 , in which a generator  130  driven by an engine  110  is mounted, is used as a power supply device at the time of power failure of a system E (specifically, commercial power supply), and the heat exchange system  500  further includes a self-sustaining switching device  400 . 
     The self-sustaining switching device  400  includes a switching unit  410  that switches operations on whether the system E and wiring attachment connectors PL such as an attachment plug or a wall socket in a house are connected via wiring circuit breakers BK (breaker) or whether an independent output unit  101  of the engine driven heat pump  100  and the wiring attachment connectors PL in the house are connected via the wiring circuit breakers BK. 
     In the present embodiment, the switching unit  410  automatically switches from/to a system connection state where the system E and the wiring attachment connectors PL are connected when the system power is supplied from the system E to/from a power-failure connection state where the independent output unit  101  of the engine driven heat pump  100  and the wiring attachment connectors PL are connected when the power supply is cut off. It is noted that the switching unit  410  may switch the system connection state and the power-failure connection state in a manual manner. 
     Also, the self-sustaining switching device  400  further includes a transformer  420 . The transformer  420  transforms 200V system voltage to 100V system voltage. The transformer  420  is provided on a connecting line between the wiring circuit breaker BK corresponding to the wiring attachment connector PL for the 200V system (connector connected to the heat exchange unit  200  in the example) and the wiring circuit breaker BK corresponding to the wiring attachment connector PL for the 100V system (in the example, a connector connected to a general load Lo such as an illuminator or a television set that is usually used). 
     In the present embodiment, regarding the engine driven heat pump  100 , a main body package  150  stores the engine  110  (a gas engine in the example), the compressor  120  driven by the engine  110 , the first refrigerant circuit  310  that flows the refrigerant sucked and discharged by the compressor  120 , and the generator  130  driven by the engine  110 . Specifically, a driving force from the engine  110  is transmitted to the compressor  120  via an electromagnetic clutch  121 . The driving force from the engine  110  is transmitted to the generator  130  directly or indirectly via a driving transmission means not illustrated. It is noted that the engine  110  is provided as a gas engine, but not limited thereto. Engines except for the gas engine may be applied. 
     The engine driven heat pump  100  includes a self-sustaining power supply device  160  that includes an engine actuation battery  161  that supplies power to an engine starter  140  (specifically, a starter motor) for starting engine  110  and actuates the engine  110 , a battery charger  162  (one example of a battery charging circuit) that charges the engine actuation battery  161 , and an inverter  163  (specifically, a self-sustaining inverter) that converts the output power from the generator  130  into a predetermined voltage and a predetermined frequency. In the present embodiment, the self-sustaining power supply device  160  further includes a starter relay  164 . The starter relay  164  is connected between the engine starter  140  and the engine actuation battery  161  and configured to supply battery power from the engine actuation battery  161  to the engine starter  140 . 
     Next, mounting structure, in which a member constituting the self-sustaining power supply device  160  is mounted on the engine driven heat pump  100 , will be described below referring to  FIGS. 2A to 2C ,  FIG. 3 , and  FIG. 4 . 
       FIGS. 2A to 2C  are schematic constitutional views of the engine driven heat pump  100  illustrated in  FIG. 1  in a state where the exterior cover of a separate body package  170  is detached.  FIG. 2A  is a plan view of the engine driven heat pump  100 , and  FIG. 2B  is a front view of the engine driven heat pump  100 , and  FIG. 2C  is a right side view of the engine driven heat pump  100 . Also,  FIGS. 3 and 4  are schematic constitutional views of the engine driven heat pump  100  illustrated in  FIG. 1  in a state where the exterior cover of the main body package  150  and the exterior cover of the separate body package  170  are detached.  FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the engine driven heat pump  100  viewed from the front side, and  FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the engine driven heat pump  100  viewed from the back surface side. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 2A to 2C ,  FIG. 3 , and  FIG. 4 , regarding the main body package  150 , its external shape is formed in a hexahedron. In the example, the main body package  150  is formed in a rectangular parallelepiped of which all the surfaces are formed in a rectangular shape. 
     Regarding the main body package  150 , the area of a front surface  151 , which is a front side at the time of installation, and the area of a back surface  152 , which is a back side at the time of installation, are larger than the area of a right-side surface  153 , which is a side surface on the right side viewed from the front surface  151 , the area of a left-side surface  154 , which is the side surface on the left side viewed from the front surface  151 , the area of a flat surface  155 , which is disposed on the upper side at the time of installation, and the area of a bottom surface  156 , which is disposed on the lower side at the time of installation. Also, regarding the main body package  150 , the area of the right-side surface  153  and the area of the left-side surface  154  are larger than the area of the flat surface  155  and the area of the bottom surface  156 . Also, the front surface  151 , the back surface  152 , the right-side surface  153 , and the left-side surface  154  of the main body package  150  are extended in the up-and-down direction, and the flat surface  155  and the bottom surface  156  of the main body package  150  are extended in the right-and-left direction. It is noted that, in the example, the main body package  150  is formed in a rectangular parallelepiped of which all the surfaces are formed in a rectangular shape, but not limited thereto. A hexahedral shape, in which at least two surfaces are formed in a square, may be applied. 
     Then, regarding the engine driven heat pump  100 , the engine actuation battery  161 , the battery charger  162 , the inverter  163 , and the starter relay  164 , as members constituting the self-sustaining power supply device  160 , are stored in the separate body package  170  that is separate from the main body package  150 . The areas are constituted in such a manner that a front surface  171  (side surface on one side viewed from the front surface of the main body package  150 ) and a back surface  172  (side surface on the other side viewed from the main body package  150 ) of the separate body package  170  are fitted into the right-side surface  153  or the left-side surface  154  (the right-side surface  153  in the example) of the main body package  150 . It is noted that a battery unit  180  is constituted by the self-sustaining power supply device  160  and the separate body package  170 . 
     Also, regarding the engine driven heat pump  100 , the separate body package  170  is provided on the side surface (the right-side surface  153  in the example) near to the generator  130 , out of the right-side surface  153  and the left-side surface  154  of the main body package  150  and configured to be supported by the main body package  150 . 
     In the present embodiment, regarding the separate body package  170 , its external shape is formed in a hexahedron. In the example, the separate body package  170  is formed in a rectangular parallelepiped of which all the surfaces are formed in a rectangular shape. 
     Specifically, regarding the separate body package  170 , the back surface  172  is contiguous with the right-side surface  153  of the main body package  150 , and a distance L1 (see  FIGS. 2A and 2C ) in the right-and-left direction (front-and-back direction viewed from the front surface  151  of the main body package  150 ) of the front surface  171 , the back surface  172 , a flat surface  175  and a bottom surface  176  is equal to or smaller than (in the example, approximately 20 percent smaller than) a distance L2 (see  FIGS. 2A and 2C ) of the front-and-back direction (right-and-left direction viewed from the front surface  171  of the separate body package  170 ) of the right-side surface  153 , the left-side surface  154 , the flat surface  155 , and the bottom surface  156  of the main body package  150 . Also, regarding the separate body package  170 , a distance L3 (see  FIGS. 2B and 2C ) of the up-and-down direction of the front surface  171 , the back surface  172 , a right-side surface  173 , and a left-side surface  174  is equal to or smaller than (in the example, approximately 20 percent smaller than) a half of a distance L4 in the up-and-down of the front surface  151 , the back surface  152 , the right-side surface  153 , and the left-side surface  154  of the main body package  150 . Regarding the separate body package  170 , the area of the front surface  171  and the area of the back surface  172  are larger than the area of the right-side surface  173 , the area of the left-side surface  174 , the area of the flat surface  175 , and the area of the bottom surface  176 . Also, regarding the separate body package  170 , the area of the right-side surface  173  and the area of the left-side surface  174  are larger than the area of the flat surface  175  and the area of the bottom surface  176 . Also, the front surface  171 , the back surface  172 , the right-side surface  173 , and the left-side surface  174  of the separate body package  170  are extended in the up-and-down direction, and the flat surface  175  and the bottom surface  176  of the separate body package  170  are extended in the right-and-left direction (front-and-back direction viewed from the front surface  151  of the main body package  150 ). It is noted that, in the example, the separate body package  170  is formed in a rectangular parallelepiped of which all the surfaces are formed in a rectangular shape, but not limited thereto. A hexahedral shape, in which at least two surfaces are formed in a square, may be applied. 
     Specifically, the separate body package  170  is disposed in the central portion in the front-and-back direction viewed from the front surface  151  of the main body package  150  (right-and-left direction viewed from the front surface  171  of the separate body package  170 ). Regarding the separate body package  170 , the back surface  172  is supported by the right-side surface  153  of the main body package  150  (see  FIGS. 2B and 2C ). Also, in the separate body package  170 , the starter relay  164  is provided on one side (the left side in the example: the front side viewed from the front surface  151  of the main body package  150 ) in the right-and-left direction (front-and-back direction viewed from the front surface  151  of the main body package  150 ) of an upper portion, and the battery charger  162  is provided at the central portion (the central portion in the front-and-back direction viewed from the front surface  151  of the main body package  150 ) in the right-and-left direction of the upper portion, and the inverter  163  is provided on the other side (the right side in the example: the back side viewed from the front surface  151  of the main body package  150 ) in the right-and-left direction of the upper portion, and the engine actuation battery  161  is provided below these members. 
     In the present embodiment, as illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the engine  110  and the generator  130 , and the refrigerant circuit (the first refrigerant circuit  310  in the example) are separated in such a manner as to be arranged on the right and left of the engine driven heat pump  100 . 
     In the engine driven heat pump  100 , the engine  110  and the generator  130  are arranged on the right side or the left side in the right-and-left direction viewed from the front surface  151  (the right side in the example), and the first refrigerant circuit  310  is arranged on the left side or the right side in the right-and-left direction viewed from the front surface  151  (the left side in the example). 
     Specifically, in the engine driven heat pump  100 , on the lower side and on the front surface  151  side (see  FIG. 3 ), a first arrangement area  150   a  where the engine  110  and the engine starter  140  are arranged is provided on the right side or on the left side in the right-and-left direction viewed from the front surface (the right side in the example), and a second arrangement area  150   b  where the compressor  120  and the first refrigerant circuit  310  are arranged is provided at the central portion in the right-and-left direction, and a third arrangement area  150   c  where electrical components  10  such as a control unit and a power supply circuit are arranged is provided on the right side or on the left side in the right-and-left direction viewed from the front surface (the left side in the example). Also, in the engine driven heat pump  100 , on the lower side and on the back surface  152  side (see  FIG. 4 ), a fourth arrangement area  150   d  where the generator  130  is arranged is provided on the right side or on the left side in the right-and-left direction viewed from the front surface (the right side in the example), and a fifth arrangement area  150   e  where the first refrigerant circuit  310 , a receiver  370 , and a waste heat recovery device  380  are arranged is provided on the right side or on the left side in the right-and-left direction viewed from the front surface (the left side in the example). Also, on the upper portion of the main body package  150 , a plurality of outdoor fans  211  (cooling fans) (two fans in the example) are arranged side by side in the right-and-left direction, and the first heat exchanger  340  is provided between the outdoor fans  211  and the central portion in the up-and-down direction. 
     Incidentally, it is conceivable that the main body package  150  and the separate body package  170  are independently provided in a separate manner, and if so, installation work is required when the engine driven heat pump  100  is installed, and wiring work is required for the generator  130  and the engine starter  140  that starts the engine  110 , which deteriorates the operability of installation work. Also, when the separate body package  170  is provided on the side surface far from the generator  130 , out of the right-side surface  153  and the left-side surface  154  of the main body package  150 , it is likely that a wiring distance from the generator  130  and the engine starter  140  to the self-sustaining power supply device  160  becomes longer. 
     In this regard, according to the engine driven heat pump  100  of the present embodiment, the separate body package  170 , which stores the engine actuation battery  161  that actuates the engine  110 , the battery charger  162  that acts as a battery charging circuit for charging the engine actuation battery  161 , and the inverter  163  (a member constituting the self-sustaining power supply device  160 ) that converts the output power from the generator  130  into a predetermined voltage and a predetermined frequency, is supported by the main body package  150 , so that the separate body package  170  can integrally be formed with the main body package  150 , and accordingly, the installation work for the separate body package  170  at the time of installation of the engine driven heat pump  100  can be omitted, and the wiring work for the generator  130  and the engine starter  140  can be omitted, which makes it possible to improve the operability of the installation work as much. Also, the separate body package  170  is provided on the side surface near to the generator  130 , out of the right-side surface  153  and the left-side surface  154  of the main body package  150 , a wiring distance between the self-sustaining power supply device  160  and the generator  130  or between the self-sustaining power supply device  160  and the engine starter  140  can be shortened as much as possible. 
     Incidentally, when lines from the separate body package  170  to the generator  130  and the engine starter  140  are passed through the arrangement space of the first refrigerant circuit  310 , there is an apprehension that the dew condensation water of the first refrigerant circuit  310  is attached to the lines. 
     In this regard, regarding the constitution in which the separate body package  170  is provided on the side surface near to the generator  130 , out of the right-side surface  153  and the left-side surface  154  of the main body package  150 , the engine  110  and the generator  130 , and the first refrigerant circuit  310  that acts as a refrigerant circuit are separately arranged right and left, so that the separate body package  170  can be wired to engine starter  140  and the generator  130  while avoiding the arrangement space of the first refrigerant circuit  310 , which makes it possible to prevent the dew condensation water of the first refrigerant circuit  310  from being attached to the lines. 
     The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments, but can be executed in various forms. Accordingly, the embodiments disclosed above are mere exemplification in all the aspects, but shall not be regarded as the basis of limitative interpretation. The scope of the present invention shall be defined based on Claims, not restricted by the main paragraph of Description. Furthermore, all the modifications and changes, which are included within the scope of the equivalents to Claims, are included in the scope of the present invention.