Patent Description:
In general, a heat pump is a device that that transfer heat from a low temperature source to a high temperature source and vice versa and may include an outdoor unit including a compressor and an outdoor heat exchanger, and an indoor unit including an expansion valve and an indoor heat exchanger.

The heat pump can be used for a heating function that increases an indoor temperature or a hot water supply function that provides hot water to a user by heating water through heat exchange of a refrigerant, so that the use of fossil fuels can be replaced.

In the case of using the heat pump as a heat source for heating or hot water supply, when an outdoor temperature is lowered by a certain level or more, the efficiency is rapidly deteriorated, and the heating function or the hot water supply function may be insufficiently provided with only the heat pump. Therefore, in the related art, when the outdoor temperature is lowered by a certain level or more, the heat pump and the boiler interlock, and the boiler instead of the heat pump provides the heating function or the hot water supply function.

On the other hand, in general, in consideration of the user's expectation that high-temperature hot water is provided quickly rather than rapidly increasing indoor temperature, both the heat pump and the boiler provide the hot water supply function prior to the heating function. In this case, while the outdoor temperature is lowered by more than a certain level and the boiler instead of the heat pump provides the heating function, if the boiler provides the hot water supply function due to the demand for hot water supply, there is a problem that the heating function is temporarily stopped and the indoor temperature is lowered. In addition, there is also a problem in that it is difficult for the heat pump to determine whether the boiler stops providing the heating function and provides the hot water supply function because heat pumps and boilers are mostly products of different manufacturers, and the operation status of one side is not monitored by the other.

Conventionally, in order to solve this problem, a hot water tank is provided for storing water used for hot water supply, and water stored in the hot water tank is heated through the heat pump. Through this, the boiler continues to provide the heating function, and water stored in the hot water tank is used for hot water supply.

However, even according to the conventional method, since the hot water tank must be separately provided to supply hot water, there is a problem in that price competitiveness is lowered due to an increase in installation cost. In addition, since it is necessary to provide the hot water supply function through the heat pump whose efficiency is reduced due to a low outdoor temperature, there is a problem that the efficiency of the heat pump is further reduced.

<CIT> presents a controller for use with a heating system that has two heat sources in the form of a boiler and a heat pump which heat water for the transfer of heat to a load. The controller is coupled to a temperature sensor for sensing a return temperature of the water and to a temperature sensor for sensing a supply temperature of the water, and to the boiler and heat pump. The controller disables one or both heat sources according to the return and supply temperatures. A heating system comprising the controller and a method of controlling such a heating system are also provided.

It is an object of the present disclosure to solve the above and other problems.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a heat pump that determines whether the boiler provides a hot water supply function without communication with the boiler and provide a heating function while the boiler provides the hot water supply function, and method thereof.

A heat pump in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention for accomplishing the above and other objects includes a compressor configured to compress a refrigerant, a first temperature sensor disposed in heating pipes connected to a heating device for performing indoor heating and configured to sense a temperature of water flowing through the heating pipes, and a controller, wherein the controller is configured to determine whether a boiler provides a heating function based on a sensing value of the first temperature sensor.

Preferably, the controller is configured to control to operate the compressor when the boiler does not provide the heating function.

In some or more embodiments, the heat pump may further comprise a second temperature sensor configured to sense an outdoor temperature.

The controller is configured to determine whether the boiler provides the heating function based on the sensing value of the first temperature sensor.

Preferably, the controller may be configured to determine whether the boiler provides the heating function based on the sensing value of the first temperature sensor when a sensing value of the second temperature sensor is less than a reference temperature.

In some or more embodiments, the controller may be configured to control the compressor to stop the operation when the sensing value of the second temperature sensor is less than the reference temperature, and/or may control the compressor to operate when the sensing value of the second temperature sensor is higher than the reference temperature.

According to the invention the controller is configured to calculate a rate of change of the temperature of the water flowing through the heating pipes based on the sensing value of the first temperature sensor and to determine whether the boiler provides a heating function based on the calculated rate of change of the temperature of the water.

Preferably, the controller may be configured to calculate a rate of change of the temperature of the water flowing through the heating pipes based on the sensing value of the first temperature sensor when the sensing value of the second temperature sensor is less than the reference temperature.

In some or more embodiments, the controller may be configured to determine that the boiler does not provide the heating function when the calculated rate of change of the temperature of the water is less than a first reference rate, and/or may determine that the boiler provides the heating function when the calculated rate of change of the temperature of the water exceeds a second reference rate greater than the first reference rate.

In some or more embodiments, the heat pump may further comprise a water refrigerant heat exchanger configured to exchange heat with water and the refrigerant compressed by the compressor.

In some or more embodiments, the heat pump may further comprise a first valve disposed between the heating pipes and a hot-water pipe through which water discharged from the water refrigerant heat exchanger flows.

In some or more embodiments, the controller may be configured to control the first valve to be turned off so that water does not flow from the hot-water pipe to the heating pipes.

In some or more embodiments, the heat pump may further comprise a bypass pipe connecting the first valve and a cold-water pipe through which water supplied to the water refrigerant heat exchanger flows.

Preferably, the heating pipes may be respectively connected to the first valve and the boiler.

Preferably, the water discharged from the water refrigerant heat exchanger and flowing through the hot-water pipe may flow through the bypass pipe when the first valve is turned off.

Preferably, the heat pump may further comprise a second valve disposed in a boiler recovery pipe through which water supplied to the boiler flows.

Preferably, the controller may be configured to control the second valve to be turned off so that water is not supplied to the boiler when the sensing value of the second temperature sensor is higher than the reference temperature, or when the sensing value of the second temperature sensor is less than the reference temperature and the boiler does not provide the heating function.

Preferably, the cold-water pipe may be connected to the heating device so that water discharged from the heating device may flow through the cold-water pipe.

Preferably, the boiler recovery pipe may be connected to the cold-water pipe.

A method of operating a heat pump in accordance with the invention for accomplishing the above and other objects comprises calculating a rate of change of a temperature of water flowing through heating pipes based on a sensing value of a first temperature sensor, and determining whether a boiler provides a heating function based on the calculated rate of change of the temperature of the water, and operating a compressor compressing a refrigerant when the boiler does not provide the heating function, wherein the first temperature sensor is disposed in heating pipes connected to a heating device for performing indoor heating and configured to sense a temperature of water flowing through the heating pipes.

In some or more embodiments, the determining whether the boiler provides the heating function may comprise determining whether the boiler provides the heating function based on the sensing value of the first temperature sensor when a sensing value of a second temperature sensor configured to sense an outdoor temperature is less than a reference temperature.

In some or more embodiments, the method may further comprise stopping the operation of the compressor when the sensing value of the second temperature sensor is less than the reference temperature; and/ or operating the compressor when the sensing value of the second temperature sensor is higher than the reference temperature.

In some or more embodiments, the determining whether the boiler provides the heating function may further comprise calculating rate of change of the temperature of the water flowing through the heating pipes based on the sensing value of the first temperature sensor when the sensing value of the second temperature sensor is less than the reference temperature; and/or determining whether the boiler provides the heating function based on the calculated rate of change of the temperature of the water.

In some or more embodiments, the determining whether the boiler provides the heating function based on the calculated rate of change of the temperature of the water may comprise determining that the boiler does not provide the heating function when the calculated rate of change of the temperature of the water is less than a first reference rate; and/or determining that the boiler provides the heating function when the calculated rate of change of the temperature of the water exceeds a second reference rate greater than the first reference rate.

The additional range of applicability of the present disclosure will become apparent from the following detailed description. However, because various changes and modifications will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art within the scope of the present disclosure, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific embodiments such as preferred embodiments of the present disclosure are merely given by way of example.

In order to clearly and briefly describe the present disclosure, components that are irrelevant to the description will be omitted in the drawings. The same reference numerals are used throughout the drawings to designate the same or similar components.

Terms "module" and "part" for elements used in the following description are given simply in view of the ease of the description, and do not carry any important meaning or role. Therefore, the "module" and the "part" may be used interchangeably.

It should be understood that the terms "comprise", "include", "have", etc. when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, or combinations of them but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, or combinations thereof.

It will be understood that, although the terms "first", "second", etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another element.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms including technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which the present disclosure belongs. Further, terms defined in a common dictionary will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.

In the drawings, the thicknesses or the sizes of elements and graphs may be exaggerated, omitted or simplified to more clearly and conveniently illustrate the present disclosure.

<FIG> is a view schematically illustrating a heat pump, and <FIG> is a block diagram of a system including the heat pump according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to <FIG>, the heat pump <NUM> may include an outdoor unit <NUM>, an indoor unit <NUM>, and/or a heat exchange device <NUM> for exchanging heat between compressed refrigerant and water.

The heat pump system including the heat pump <NUM> may further include a heating device <NUM> and/or a boiler <NUM> for performing indoor heating.

The outdoor unit <NUM> may include a compressor <NUM> compressing a refrigerant, an accumulator <NUM> disposed in a suction passage <NUM> of the compressor <NUM> to prevent the liquid refrigerant from flowing into the compressor <NUM>, an oil separator <NUM> disposed in a discharge passage <NUM> of the compressor <NUM> to separate the oil from the refrigerant and oil discharged from the compressor <NUM> and recover it to the compressor <NUM> and/or a switching valve <NUM> for selecting a refrigerant flow path for heating/cooling operation.

The outdoor unit <NUM> may further include a plurality of sensors, valves, and the like.

The outdoor unit <NUM> and the indoor unit <NUM> may include heat exchangers <NUM> and <NUM>, fans <NUM> and <NUM>, and/or expansion mechanisms <NUM> and <NUM>, respectively, and perform cooling air conditioning for cooling indoor air or heating air conditioning for heating indoor air according to a flow direction of a refrigerant. For example, the indoor unit <NUM> may receive compressed refrigerant from the outdoor unit <NUM> and discharge hot air or cold air into the room.

The outdoor heat exchanger <NUM> may condense or evaporate a refrigerant. The outdoor heat exchanger <NUM> may be configured as a heat exchanger for performing heat exchange between outdoor air and a refrigerant, or be configured as a heat exchanger for performing heat exchange between cooling water and a refrigerant.

For example, when the outdoor heat exchanger <NUM> is configured as a heat exchanger in which heat exchange between outdoor air and refrigerant is performed, the outdoor fan <NUM> may be disposed on one side of the outdoor heat exchanger <NUM> and blow outdoor air to the outdoor heat exchanger <NUM> to promote heat dissipation of the refrigerant. Hereinafter, a case where the outdoor heat exchanger <NUM> is configured as an air refrigerant heat exchanger in which outdoor air and refrigerant heat exchange with each other is described as an example.

The outdoor heat exchanger <NUM> may be connected to the indoor heat exchanger <NUM> and the heat exchanger connection pipe <NUM>, and the expansion mechanisms <NUM> and <NUM> may be installed in the heat exchanger connection pipe <NUM>.

The heat exchanger connection pipe <NUM> may include an expansion device connection pipe <NUM> to which the outdoor expansion device <NUM> and the indoor expansion device <NUM> are connected, an Outdoor heat exchanger-outdoor expansion device connection pipe (<NUM>) to which the outdoor heat exchanger <NUM> and the outdoor expansion device <NUM> are connected, and an Indoor expansion device-indoor heat exchanger connection pipe (<NUM>) to which the indoor heat exchanger <NUM> and the indoor expansion device <NUM> are connected.

The indoor heat exchanger <NUM> may be a heat exchanger that cools or heats a room through heat exchange between indoor air and a refrigerant. The indoor fan <NUM> may be disposed on one side of the indoor heat exchanger <NUM> to blow indoor air to the indoor heat exchanger <NUM>.

In the case of a cooling mode in which the heat pump <NUM> cools the room through the indoor unit <NUM>, the heat exchanger <NUM> may function as an evaporator since the refrigerant compressed by the compressor <NUM> of the outdoor unit <NUM> sequentially passes through the outdoor heat exchanger <NUM>, the expansion mechanisms <NUM> and <NUM>, the indoor heat exchanger <NUM>, and the compressor <NUM>.

On the other hand, in the case of the heating mode in which the heat pump <NUM> heats the room through the indoor unit <NUM>, the heat exchanger <NUM> may function as a condenser since the refrigerant compressed by the compressor <NUM> of the outdoor unit <NUM> sequentially passes through the indoor heat exchanger <NUM>, the expansion mechanisms <NUM> and <NUM>, the outdoor heat exchanger <NUM>, and the compressor <NUM>.

The switching valve <NUM> may change the flow direction of the refrigerant so that the refrigerant flows in the order of the compressor <NUM>, the outdoor heat exchanger <NUM>, and the indoor heat exchanger <NUM>, or in the order of the compressor <NUM>, the indoor heat exchanger <NUM>, and the outdoor heat exchanger <NUM>.

The switching valve <NUM> may be connected to the compressor <NUM> through the compressor suction passage <NUM> and the compressor discharge passage <NUM>. The switching valve <NUM> may be connected to the indoor heat exchanger <NUM> through the indoor heat exchanger connection pipe <NUM>. The switching valve <NUM> may be connected to the outdoor heat exchanger <NUM> through the outdoor heat exchanger connection pipe <NUM>.

The outdoor unit <NUM> may include a refrigerant control valve <NUM> capable of selectively supplying the refrigerant supplied from the compressor discharge passage <NUM> to the heat exchange device <NUM> or the switching valve <NUM>. When the refrigerant control valve <NUM> is configured as a three-way valve, the refrigerant control valve <NUM> may be disposed on the compressor discharge passage <NUM>, a heat exchange device supply passage <NUM> for supplying the refrigerant to the heat exchange device <NUM> may be branched from the refrigerant control valve <NUM>.

The outdoor unit <NUM> may further include an auxiliary refrigerant control valve <NUM>. The auxiliary refrigerant control valve <NUM> may operate so that the refrigerant transferred from the heat exchange device <NUM> to the outdoor unit <NUM> is supplied to the heat exchanger bypass passage <NUM> or to the switching valve <NUM>. The refrigerant control valve <NUM> may be configured as a three-way valve.

The outdoor unit <NUM> may further include a heat exchanger bypass valve <NUM> disposed in the heat exchanger bypass passage <NUM> to regulate the flow of refrigerant, and a liquid refrigerant valve <NUM> disposed between the heat exchanger bypass passage <NUM> and the indoor expansion mechanism <NUM> to regulate the flow of the refrigerant.

The heat exchanger bypass valve <NUM> may be turned on when the heat pump <NUM> provides a heating function, and be turned off when the heat pump <NUM> performs an air conditioning function or simultaneous operation of the air conditioning function and the heating function.

The liquid refrigerant valve <NUM> may be turned on when the heat pump <NUM> performs the air conditioning function or simultaneous operation of the air conditioning function and the heating function, and be turned off when providing the heating function.

The heat exchange device <NUM> may receive compressed refrigerant from the outdoor unit <NUM> through the heat exchange device supply passage <NUM>, and deliver the refrigerant to the outdoor unit <NUM> through the heat exchange device recovery passage <NUM>.

The heat exchange device <NUM> may include a water refrigerant heat exchanger <NUM> for exchanging heat with water and refrigerant supplied from the outdoor unit <NUM>. The water refrigerant heat exchanger <NUM> may be composed of a double tube heat exchanger in which the refrigerant passage <NUM> and the water passage <NUM> are formed inside/outside with a heat transfer member interposed therebetween. The water refrigerant heat exchanger <NUM> may also be composed of a plate-type heat exchanger in which the refrigerant passage <NUM> and the water passage <NUM> are alternately formed with a heat transfer member therebetween. Hereinafter, a case where the water refrigerant heat exchanger <NUM> is configured as a plate heat exchanger will be described as an example.

The refrigerant passage <NUM> of the water refrigerant heat exchanger <NUM> may be connected to the heat exchange device supply passage <NUM> and the heat exchange device recovery passage <NUM>.

The refrigerant supplied to the water refrigerant heat exchanger <NUM> through the heat exchanger supply passage <NUM> may be heat-exchanged while flowing through the refrigerant passage <NUM> and be transferred to the outdoor unit <NUM> through the heat exchanger recovery passage <NUM>.

The water passage <NUM> of the water refrigerant heat exchanger <NUM> may be connected to a hot-water pipe <NUM> through which water is discharged from the water refrigerant heat exchanger <NUM> and a cold-water pipe <NUM> through which water is supplied to the water refrigerant heat exchanger <NUM>.

A recovery pump <NUM> for pumping water circulating through the water refrigerant heat exchanger <NUM> may be disposed in the cold-water pipe <NUM>. The recovery pump <NUM> may operate to circulate water through the water refrigerant heat exchanger <NUM> even when the refrigerant is not supplied from the outdoor unit <NUM> to the heat exchanger <NUM> to prevent freezing.

The heating device <NUM> may include a heat dissipation tube <NUM>, and heat the indoor floor using hot water flowing along the heat dissipation tube <NUM>. The heating device <NUM> may be connected to the heating supply pipe <NUM> and the heating recovery pipe <NUM>.

Water supplied through the heating supply pipe <NUM> may be heat-exchanged while flowing through the heat dissipation pipe <NUM>, and be discharged through the heating recovery pipe <NUM>. The heating supply pipe <NUM>, the heat dissipation pipe <NUM>, and the heating recovery pipe <NUM> may be referred to as heating pipes.

The heating supply pipe <NUM> may be connected to the hot-water pipe <NUM>, and the heating recovery pipe <NUM> may be connected to the cold-water pipe <NUM>.

The heat pump <NUM> may further include a temperature sensor <NUM> disposed in the heating pipes and detect a temperature of water flowing through the heating pipes. For example, the temperature sensor <NUM> may be disposed in the heating supply pipe <NUM> among the heating pipes to detect the temperature of water supplied to the heating device <NUM>.

A hot water supply control valve <NUM> may be disposed between the heating supply pipe <NUM> and the hot-water pipe <NUM>. For example, when the hot water supply control valve <NUM> is turned on, water may flow from the hot-water pipe <NUM> to the heating supply pipe <NUM>. For example, when the hot water supply control valve <NUM> is turned off, the flow of water between the hot-water pipe <NUM> and the heating supply pipe <NUM> may be blocked, so that water may not flow from the hot-water pipe <NUM> to the heating supply pipe <NUM>.

When the hot water supply control valve <NUM> is configured as a three-way valve, the hot water supply control valve <NUM> may be connected to the bypass pipe <NUM> connected to the cold-water pipe <NUM>. Water may flow from the hot-water pipe <NUM> to the cold-water pipe <NUM> when the hot water supply control valve <NUM> is turned off.

The boiler <NUM> may include a combustion heating unit <NUM> that heats water by burning fossil fuels, and boiler heat exchange unit <NUM> for heat exchange between water heated by the combustion heating unit <NUM> and water supplied from the water supply (CW). For example, when the boiler <NUM> provides a hot water supply function, the boiler <NUM> may heat water through the combustion heating unit <NUM> and transfer it to the boiler heat exchange unit <NUM>, and water supplied from the water supply (CW) may be heated through heat exchange with water heated by the combustion heating unit <NUM> and then supplied to the hot water supply unit <NUM>.

The boiler <NUM> may further include a boiler pump <NUM> that pumps water circulating through the boiler <NUM>.

The boiler <NUM> may further include a boiler bypass valve <NUM>. The boiler bypass valve <NUM> may be configured as a three-way valve. For example, when the boiler <NUM> provides the heating function, the boiler bypass valve <NUM> may be controlled so that water heated by the combustion heating unit <NUM> flows through the boiler supply pipe <NUM>. For example, when the boiler <NUM> provides the hot water supply function, the boiler bypass valve <NUM> may operate to transfer water heated by the combustion heating unit <NUM> to the boiler heat exchange unit <NUM>.

The boiler <NUM> may be connected to the heating supply pipe <NUM> and the heating recovery pipe <NUM> through the boiler supply pipe <NUM> and a boiler recovery pipe <NUM>. For example, water heated in the boiler <NUM> may flow to the heating supply pipe <NUM> through the boiler supply pipe <NUM>, and water discharged from the heating device <NUM> to the heating recovery pipe <NUM> may flow to the boiler <NUM> through the boiler recovery pipe <NUM>.

The heat pump <NUM> may further include a boiler valve <NUM> disposed in the boiler recovery pipe <NUM> to regulate the flow of water. For example, when the boiler <NUM> does not operate as the heat pump <NUM> provides the heating function, the flow of water flowing from the heating recovery pipe <NUM> to the boiler <NUM> may be blocked because of the boiler valve <NUM> turned off. For example, when the boiler <NUM> provides the heating function, the boiler valve <NUM> may be turned on, and water discharged from the heating device <NUM> to the heating recovery pipe <NUM> may be transferred to the boiler <NUM>.

The heat pump <NUM> may control the boiler <NUM> to be turned on or turned off.

The heat pump <NUM> may turn on/off the power of the boiler <NUM> without performing communication with the boiler <NUM>. For example, the heat pump <NUM> may transmit a signal to a component (e.g. a switch) that transmits a power signal to the boiler <NUM> to turn on/off the power of the boiler <NUM>.

Even when the power of the boiler <NUM> is turned off by the heat pump <NUM>, the power of the boiler <NUM> may be turned on when the user requests the use of hot water, and the boiler <NUM> may supply hot water to the hot water supply unit <NUM> by using the water heated through the combustion heating unit <NUM>.

<FIG> is a block diagram of a heat pump according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to <FIG>, the heat pump <NUM> may include a fan driving unit <NUM>, a compressor driving unit <NUM>, a valve unit <NUM>, a sensor unit <NUM> and/or a controller <NUM>.

The fan driving unit <NUM> may drive at least one fan included in the heat pump <NUM>. For example, the fan driving unit <NUM> may drive the outdoor fan <NUM> and/or the indoor fan <NUM>.

The fan driving unit <NUM> may include a rectifier that rectifies and outputs AC power to DC power, a dc capacitor that stores the pulsating voltage from the rectifier, an inverter that includes a plurality of switching elements and converts DC power to <NUM>-phase AC power at a predetermined frequency, and/or a motor that drives the fans <NUM> and <NUM> according to the <NUM>-phase AC power output from the inverter.

The fan driving unit <NUM> may include components for driving the outdoor fan <NUM> and the indoor fan <NUM>, respectively.

The compressor driving unit <NUM> may drive the compressor <NUM>.

The compressor driving unit <NUM> may include a rectifier that rectifies and outputs AC power to DC power, a dc capacitor that stores the pulsating voltage from the rectifier, an inverter that includes a plurality of switching elements and converts DC power to <NUM>-phase AC power at a predetermined frequency, and/or a compressor motor that drives the compressor <NUM> according to the three-phase AC power output from the inverter.

The valve unit <NUM> may include at least one valve. At least one valve included in the valve unit <NUM> may operate under the control of the controller <NUM>. For example, the valve unit <NUM> may include the switching valve <NUM>, the auxiliary refrigerant control valve <NUM>, the heat exchanger bypass valve <NUM>, the liquid refrigerant valve <NUM>, the hot water supply control valve <NUM>, and/or the boiler valve <NUM>.

The sensor unit <NUM> may include at least one sensor, and transmit data on a sensing value sensed through at least one sensor to the controller <NUM>. At least one sensor included in the sensor unit <NUM> may be disposed inside the outdoor unit <NUM> and/or the indoor unit <NUM>. For example, the sensor unit <NUM> may include a heat exchanger temperature sensor disposed inside the outdoor heat exchanger <NUM> to detect condensation temperature or evaporation temperature, a pressure sensor to detect the pressure of gaseous refrigerant flowing through each pipe, and/or a pipe temperature sensor to detect a temperature of a fluid flowing through each pipe.

The sensor unit <NUM> may include an indoor temperature sensor to detect an indoor temperature and/or an outdoor temperature sensor to detect an outdoor temperature. For example, the outdoor temperature sensor may be disposed in the outdoor unit <NUM>, and the indoor temperature sensor may be disposed in the indoor unit <NUM>.

The sensor unit <NUM> may include a temperature sensor <NUM> disposed in the heating pipes connected to the heating device <NUM> to detect a temperature of water flowing through the heating pipes.

The controller <NUM> may be connected to each component included in the heat pump <NUM> and control the overall operation of each component. The controller <NUM> may transmit and receive data between components included in the heat pump <NUM>.

The controller <NUM> may be disposed in at least one of the indoor unit <NUM> and/or the heat exchange device <NUM> as well as the outdoor unit <NUM>.

The controller <NUM> may include at least one processor and control the overall operation of the heat pump <NUM> using the processor. The processor may be a general processor such as a central processing unit (CPU). Of course, the processor may be a dedicated device such as an ASIC or another hardware-based processor.

The controller <NUM> may control the operation of the fan driving unit <NUM>. For example, the controller <NUM> may change the rotation speed of the fans <NUM> and <NUM> by changing the frequency of the three-phase AC power output to the outdoor fan motor through operation control of the fan driving unit <NUM>.

The controller <NUM> may control the operation of the compressor driving unit <NUM>. For example, the controller <NUM> may change the operating frequency of the compressor <NUM> by changing the frequency of the three-phase AC power output to the compressor motor through operation control of the compressor driving unit <NUM>.

The controller <NUM> may control an operation of at least one valve included in the valve unit <NUM> according to a function provided by the heat pump <NUM>. For example, when the heat pump <NUM> provides the heating function, the controller <NUM> may control the heat exchanger bypass valve <NUM> to be turned on and control the liquid refrigerant valve <NUM> to be turned off. For example, when the heat pump <NUM> does not provide the heating function, the controller <NUM> may control the hot water supply control valve <NUM> to be turned off so that water does not flow from the hot-water pipe <NUM> to the heating supply pipe <NUM>.

The controller <NUM> may control each component included in the heat pump <NUM> based on a sensing value of at least one sensor included in the sensor unit <NUM>.

The controller <NUM> may determine a function provided by the heat pump <NUM> based on a sensing value of the outdoor temperature sensor. For example, when the sensing value of the outdoor temperature sensor is less than the reference temperature, the controller <NUM> may stop the operation of the compressor <NUM> so that the heat pump <NUM> does not provide the heating function. Here, the reference temperature may be a temperature of outdoor air (e.g. -<NUM>) at which the efficiency of the heat pump <NUM> is lowered.

The controller <NUM> may determine an operating state of the boiler <NUM> based on the sensing value of the temperature sensor <NUM>. For example, the controller <NUM> may calculate a rate of change of water temperature based on the sensing value of the temperature sensor <NUM>, and determine whether the boiler <NUM> provides the heating function according to the calculated rate of change of the water temperature. In this case, the controller <NUM> may determine whether the boiler <NUM> provides the heating function when the sensing value of the outdoor temperature sensor is less than the reference temperature.

The controller <NUM> may control power on/off of the boiler <NUM>. For example, the heat pump <NUM> may further include a component (e.g. a switch) for transmitting a power signal to the boiler <NUM>, and the controller <NUM> may transmit a signal to the component (e.g. a switch) to turn on/off the power of the boiler <NUM>.

<FIG> is a flowchart illustrating a method of operating a heat pump according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, and <FIG> are views referred to for explanation of a method of operating a heat pump.

Referring to <FIG>, in operation S410, the heat pump <NUM> may determine whether an outdoor temperature is less than a reference temperature. For example, the heat pump <NUM> may determine whether the sensing value of the outdoor temperature sensor is less than a reference temperature (e.g. -<NUM>) at which the efficiency of the heat pump <NUM> is lowered.

In operation S420, the heat pump <NUM> may control the power of the boiler <NUM> to be turned off when the outdoor temperature is higher than the reference temperature, and control each component included in the heat pump <NUM> to provide the heating function.

Referring to <FIG>, when the outdoor temperature is higher than the reference temperature, the heat pump <NUM> may control the boiler <NUM> to be turned off so that the boiler <NUM> does not provide the heating function.

In addition, the heat pump <NUM> may drive the compressor <NUM> to compress the refrigerant to provide the heating function, and control the refrigerant control valve <NUM> so that the refrigerant compressed by the compressor <NUM> is supplied to the water refrigerant heat exchanger <NUM> of the heat exchange device <NUM>,.

In this case, due to heat exchange with the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant passage <NUM> of the water refrigerant heat exchanger <NUM>, water flowing through the water passage <NUM> of the water refrigerant heat exchanger <NUM> may be heated. In addition, the heated water flowing through the water passage <NUM> may flow to the heating device <NUM> through the hot water-pipe <NUM> and the heating supply pipe <NUM>. To this end, the heat pump <NUM> may control the hot water supply control valve <NUM> to be turned on so that water flows from the hot-water pipe <NUM> to the heating supply pipe <NUM>.

The heat pump <NUM> may control the boiler valve <NUM> to be turned off so that water discharged from the heating device <NUM> to the heating recovery pipe <NUM> is not supplied to the boiler <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, in operation S430, when the outdoor temperature is less than the reference temperature, the heat pump <NUM> may control power of the boiler <NUM> to be turned on, and control each component included in the heat pump <NUM> to stop providing the heating function through the heat pump <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, when the outdoor temperature is less than the reference temperature, the heat pump <NUM> may control the power of the boiler <NUM> to be turned on so that the heating function may be provided through the boiler <NUM>.

In addition, the heat pump <NUM> may stop the operation of the compressor <NUM> and may control the refrigerant control valve <NUM> so that the refrigerant compressed by the compressor <NUM> is not supplied to the water refrigerant heat exchanger <NUM> of the heat exchange device <NUM>.

In addition, the heat pump <NUM> may control the hot water supply control valve <NUM> to be turned off so that water does not flow from the hot-water pipe <NUM> to the heating supply pipe <NUM>, and the water flows to the cold-water pipe <NUM> through the bypass pipe <NUM>.

In addition, the heat pump <NUM> may control the boiler valve <NUM> to be turned on so that water discharged from the heating device <NUM> to the heating recovery pipe <NUM> is supplied to the boiler <NUM>.

The recovery pump <NUM> may operate so that water circulates through the water refrigerant heat exchanger <NUM> to prevent freezing even when the heating function through the heat pump <NUM> is stopped.

Referring to <FIG>, in operation S440, the heat pump <NUM> may calculate a rate of change of water temperature based on the sensing value of the temperature sensor <NUM>.

For example, the heat pump <NUM> may calculate the rate of change of the water temperature for a predetermined time (e.g. <NUM> minutes) after the heating function is stopped. In this case, the heat pump <NUM> may monitor the rate of change of the water temperature by repeatedly calculating and updating the rate of change of the water temperature.

In operation S450, the heat pump <NUM> may determine whether the rate of change of the water temperature is less than a first reference rate of change. The first reference rate of change may mean a minimum degree at which the temperature of water flowing through the heating pipes changes when the boiler <NUM> provides the heating function. For example, the first reference rate of change may be <NUM>/min in which the temperature of water flowing through the heating pipe is constant for a predetermined time (e.g. <NUM> minutes).

The heat pump <NUM> may determine that the boiler <NUM> provides the heating function when the rate of change of the water temperature is greater than or equal to the first reference rate of change (e.g. <NUM>/min), and operate the operation S410. For example, even after the heating function by the heat pump <NUM> is stopped, the heat pump <NUM> may determine that the boiler <NUM> provides the heating function when the temperature of water flowing through the heating pipes is increased or maintained constant.

In operation S460, the heat pump <NUM> may determine that the boiler <NUM> does not provide the heating function when the rate of change of the water temperature is less than the first reference rate of change (e.g. <NUM>/min), and control the each component included in the heat pump <NUM> to provide the heating function.

Referring to <FIG>, when the boiler <NUM> stops providing the heating function in order to provide the hot water supply function according to the demand for hot water supply, the temperature of the water flowing through the heating pipes may continue to decrease because the boiler <NUM> does not supply hot water to the heating device <NUM>. In this case, when the rate of change of the water temperature is less than the first reference rate of change (e.g. <NUM>/min), the heat pump <NUM> may determine that the boiler <NUM> has stopped providing the heating function in order to provide the hot water supply function according to the demand for hot water supply.

In addition, the heat pump <NUM> may drive the compressor <NUM> to compress the refrigerant, control the refrigerant control valve <NUM> so that the refrigerant compressed by the compressor <NUM> is supplied to the water refrigerant heat exchanger <NUM> of the heat exchange device <NUM>.

In addition, the heat pump <NUM> may control the hot water supply control valve <NUM> to be turned on so that water flows from the hot-water pipe <NUM> to the heating supply pipe <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, in operation S470, the heat pump <NUM> may calculate the rate of change of the water temperature based on the sensing value of the temperature sensor <NUM>. For example, the heat pump <NUM> may calculate the rate of change of the water temperature for a predetermined time (e.g. <NUM> minutes) after the provision of the heating function is started. In this case, the heat pump <NUM> may monitor the rate of change of the water temperature by repeatedly calculating and updating the rate of change of the water temperature flowing through the heating pipes.

In operation S480, the heat pump <NUM> may determine whether the rate of change of the water temperature exceeds a second reference rate of change greater than the first reference rate of change. The second reference rate of change may mean a maximum degree at which the temperature of water flowing through the heating pipes changes when the heat pump <NUM> provides the heating function.

When the rate of change of the water temperature while the heat pump <NUM> provides the heating function is less than or equal to the second reference rate of change (e.g. <NUM>/min), the heat pump <NUM> may determine that only the heat pump <NUM> provides the heating function, and operate the operation S470.

For example, while the heat pump <NUM> provides the heating function, when the temperature of water changes larger than the maximum temperature increase rate according to the operation of the heat pump <NUM>, the heat pump <NUM> may determine that the boiler <NUM> provides the heating function again, and stop providing the heating function of the heat pump <NUM>.

<FIG> is a diagram showing a graph <NUM> of the temperature of water flowing through the hot-water pipe <NUM> and a graph <NUM> of the temperature of water flowing through the cold-water pipe <NUM>. <FIG> is a diagram showing a graph <NUM> of heating capacity according to the operation of the heat pump <NUM>. <FIG> is a diagram showing a graph <NUM> of the temperature of water flowing through the boiler supply pipe <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, while the outdoor temperature is less than the reference temperature (e.g. -<NUM>) and only the boiler <NUM> provides the heating function, the temperature of the water flowing through the hot-water pipe <NUM> and the cold-water pipe <NUM> is kept constant at <NUM>° C. or less, and the heating capacity of the heat pump <NUM> is also maintained close to <NUM> kW.

In addition, hot water of about <NUM>° C. may flow through the boiler supply pipe <NUM> due to the heating function provided by the boiler <NUM>.

From t1 when the user requests hot water, hot water is not discharged from the boiler <NUM> to the boiler supply pipe <NUM>, and it can be confirmed that the temperature of the water flowing through the boiler supply pipe <NUM> continues to decrease from t1.

In this case, when hot water does not flow through the boiler supply pipe <NUM>, the temperature of the water flowing through the heating pipe continues to decrease so that the rate of change of the water temperature is calculated to be less than the first reference rate of change (e.g. <NUM>/min), and the heat pump <NUM> may control each component included in the heat pump <NUM> to provide the heating function.

When the heat pump <NUM> controls each component included in the heat pump <NUM> to provide the heating function, the temperature of the water flowing through the hot-water pipe <NUM> and the cold-water pipe <NUM> temporarily increases rapidly at t2 because the water flowing in the heating pipes is supplied to the heat exchange device <NUM>.

From t1, due to the heating function of the heat pump <NUM>, the heating capacity of the heat pump <NUM> is maintained at a certain level, and the temperature of water flowing through the hot-water pipe <NUM> and the cold-water pipe <NUM> increases. In addition, due to heat exchange in the heating device <NUM>, there is a difference between the temperature of water flowing through the hot-water pipe <NUM> and the temperature of water flowing through the cold-water pipe <NUM>.

On the other hand, from t3 when the user's request for hot water supply ends, the boiler <NUM> provides the heating function again, and the temperature of the water flowing through the boiler supply pipe <NUM> increases again due to the hot water supplied from the boiler <NUM>.

In this case, hot water supplied from the boiler <NUM> and hot water supplied from the heat pump <NUM> may flow through the heating pipes, and the temperature of the water flowing through the heating pipes rapidly increases. Accordingly, it may be calculated that the rate of change of the water temperature exceeds the second reference rate of change (e.g. <NUM>/min), and the heat pump <NUM> stops providing the heating function.

When the heating function of the heat pump <NUM> is stopped after t3, the temperature of the water flowing through the hot-water pipe <NUM> and the cold-water pipe <NUM> decreases again, and the heating capacity of the heat pump <NUM> is maintained close to <NUM> kW again.

According to the embodiments of the present disclosure, the heat pump <NUM> may determine whether the boiler <NUM> provides the hot water supply function through the temperature sensor <NUM> arranged in the heating pipes and may provide the heating function through the heat pump <NUM> when the boiler <NUM> provides the hot water supply function, so that temporary interruption of the heating function can be prevented even if a separate hot water tank is not provided.

In addition, according to the embodiments of the present disclosure, the heat pump <NUM> can be interlocked with boilers of various manufacturer because the heat pump <NUM> may determine whether the boiler <NUM> provides the hot water supply function even if the heat pump <NUM> does not use a separate communication function.

In addition, according to the embodiments of the present disclosure, by temporarily using the heat pump <NUM> while the boiler <NUM> provides the hot water supply function, it is possible to minimize a decrease in efficiency of the boiler <NUM> and the heat pump <NUM> while continuously providing the heating function desired by a user.

Since the accompanying drawings are merely for easily understanding embodiments disclosed herein, it should be understood that the technical idea disclosed herein is not limited by the accompanying drawings, and all changes, equivalents or substitutions are included in the technical scope of the present disclosure.

Likewise, although operations are shown in a specific order in the drawings, it should not be understood that the operations are performed in the specific order shown in the drawings or in a sequential order so as to obtain desirable results, or all operations shown in the drawings are performed. In certain cases, multitasking and parallel processing may be advantageous.

Claim 1:
A heat pump comprising:
a compressor (<NUM>) configured to compress a refrigerant;
a first temperature sensor (<NUM>) disposable in heating pipes (<NUM>) connected to a heating device (<NUM>) for performing indoor heating and configured to sense a temperature of water flowing through the heating pipes (<NUM>); and
a controller (<NUM>) configured to control the compressor (<NUM>) to operate depending on an operation of a boiler (<NUM>);
characterized in that:
the controller (<NUM>) is configured to:
calculate a rate of change of the temperature of the water flowing through the heating pipes (<NUM>) based on a sensing value of the first temperature sensor (<NUM>), and
determine whether the boiler (<NUM>) provides a heating function based on the calculated rate of change of the temperature of the water.