Patent Description:
Referring to <FIG>, in a heating system including a gas boiler, a heat source heated by a gas boiler <NUM> is supplied to a load unit <NUM>, such as floor heating and a hot water tank, through a pipe. Such a pipe connecting a gas boiler and a load unit may be installed in a buried manner in a building.

Meanwhile, in countries such as Europe, there is a growing trend of replacing gas boilers with heat supply apparatuses using water-refrigerant to reduce carbon emission and minimize the use of refrigerant.

<CIT> discloses a configuration for supplying water, which is heat-exchanged with refrigerant, to a load unit. However, since refrigerant is supplied to an indoor unit, the amount of refrigerant used is more than a certain level. This is problematic in countries, such as Europe, where a limit on the amount of refrigerant is imposed.

Referring to <FIG>, in a heat supply apparatus using water-refrigerant (hereinafter, 'water-refrigerant heat supply apparatus'), water may be supplied to a load unit <NUM> via an indoor unit <NUM> through which water that is heat-exchanged in an outdoor unit <NUM> is replaced in a boiler. However, in the water-refrigerant heat supply apparatus, water discharged from the load unit <NUM> is directly supplied to the outdoor unit <NUM>. In such a structure, a separate pipe connecting a load unit and an outdoor unit should be newly installed, thereby requiring much time and cost for a buried installation of the new pipe in a building.

Further, in this structure, a pump, which is disposed in an indoor unit, is disposed at a part or portion where water discharged from an outdoor unit is supplied to a load unit, so as to allow water heated by the pump to be supplied, thereby reducing the lifespan of the pump.

<CIT> provides an indoor unit for a heat pump use apparatus, the indoor unit being a part of the heat pump use apparatus including a refrigerant circuit configured to circulate refrigerant, a heat medium circuit configured to allow a heat medium to flow through the heat medium circuit, and a heat exchanger configured to exchange heat between the refrigerant and the heat medium. The indoor unit is connectable to an outdoor unit accommodating the refrigerant circuit and the heat exchanger. The indoor unit accommodates a part of the heat medium circuit. The indoor unit includes a pressure protection device connected to the heat medium circuit, and an on-off device provided to be interposed between the heat medium circuit and the pressure protection device.

<CIT> presents a water heat exchanger accommodation unit. The cold/hot water supply unit includes: a water heat exchanger through which a flammable refrigerant flows; a casing accommodating the water heat exchanger; and an inner cover member disposed in the casing and configured to cover at least a refrigerant pipe connection portion of a refrigerant circuit and to guide a leaking flammable refrigerant to an outside of the casing.

<CIT> presents a heat pump hot water supply device. A heat source unit includes a compressor, an electronic expansion valve, a heat-source-side heat exchanger, an outdoor blower, and a controller for electric devices. A hydrothermal exchange unit accommodates water heat exchangers, water pipes, pumps and a controller, and is connected to the heat source unit via refrigerating pipes and electric wiring. A tank unit has tanks for storing hot water obtained as a result of heat exchange by the water heat exchangers. The hydrothermal exchange unit has a housing. The front, rear, upper, left and right sides of the housing are covered with panels. A bottom plate for the housing is disposed predetermined distance above the lower end of the housing. The housing accommodates the hydrothermal exchange unit, and a space below the bottom plate of the housing accommodates connectors for the water pipes and refrigerant pipes.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a heat supply apparatus that can replace a water-refrigerant heat supply apparatus while using piping of the existing or conventional boiler system.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a heat supply apparatus that can secure the lifespan of a pump that causes a circulation of water in a water pipe.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a heat supply apparatus that can increase the efficiency of heat transfer to a load unit.

The objects of the present invention are not limited to the problems mentioned above, and other problems not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the following description.

According to an aspect of the subject matter described in this application, a heat supply apparatus includes an outdoor unit including a heat exchanger configured to exchange heat between refrigerant and water, a load unit using heat of heat-exchanged water as a load, and an indoor unit configured to supply water discharged from the outdoor unit to the load unit and configured to supply water discharged from the load unit to the outdoor unit, wherein the indoor unit includes a case defining an outer shape, a first connection pipe disposed in the case and configured to transfer water introduced from the outdoor unit to the load unit, a second connection pipe disposed in the case and configured to transfer water introduced from the load unit to the outdoor unit, and a pump disposed at the second connection pipe and configured to pump water of the load unit to the outdoor unit.

Accordingly, water discharged from the outdoor unit may be transferred to the load unit through the indoor unit, and water discharged from the load unit may be transferred to the outdoor unit through the indoor unit.

Further, the pump may supply water transferred from the load unit to the outdoor unit, allowing water to be circulated entirely.

The first connection pipe may include a <NUM>-<NUM> connection pipe extending from a lower plate of the case and defining a flow path through which water flows upward, and a <NUM>-<NUM> connection pipe connected to a circumferential surface of the <NUM>-<NUM> connection pipe at a position spaced downward from an upper end of the <NUM>-<NUM> connection pipe.

An air band configured to discharge vapor produced from flowing water may be disposed at the upper end of the <NUM>-<NUM> connection pipe, allowing vapor generated from heated water that is supplied from the outdoor unit to be discharged.

A length of the <NUM>-<NUM> connection pipe extending upward from the lower plate may be greater than a height of the second connection pipe protruding upward from the lower plate.

Accordingly, vapor produced from water that is supplied from the outdoor unit through the <NUM>-<NUM> connection pipe may be collected as much as possible to be transferred to the air band.

The <NUM>-<NUM> connection pipe may include a lower pipe connected to the first connector, an upper pipe disposed above the lower pipe and having the air band disposed at an upper end thereof, and a middle pipe connecting the lower pipe and the upper pipe.

The middle pipe may be made of a different material from the lower pipe and the upper pipe, thereby achieving a long length of the <NUM>-<NUM> connection pipe configured as a plurality of pipes.

The middle pipe may be made of a material having a higher melting point than the lower pipe and the upper pipe.

Accordingly, the middle pipe may be coupled to the lower pipe and the upper pipe through welding or the like.

The <NUM>-<NUM> connection pipe may include a horizontal pipe connected to the <NUM>-<NUM> connection pipe, and a vertical pipe extending from an end portion of the horizontal pipe in a downward direction in which the lower plate is disposed.

The vertical pipe may be provided with a heater configured to heat water flowing therethrough. Thus, water supplied to the load unit may be additionally heated.

According to the invention, the second connection pipe includes a pump inlet pipe disposed at an upstream side of the pump, and a pump outlet pipe disposed at a downstream side of the pump. The pump inlet pipe is provided with a strainer configured to filter foreign substances contained in water introduced from the load unit to thereby filter out foreign substances from the water supplied from the load unit.

The pump inlet pipe may have a shape bending at the upstream side where the strainer is disposed.

According to the invention, the pump inlet pipe includes a first pump inlet pipe extending upward from a lower plate of the case and including a bending portion that changes a flow direction, and a second pump inlet pipe connecting one side of the first pump inlet pipe and the pump.

According to the invention, the strainer is disposed at an end portion of the first pump inlet pipe, allowing foreign substances to be easily collected.

The second pump inlet pipe may be disposed to be connected to a circumference of the first pump inlet pipe at a position spaced upward from the end portion of the first pump inlet pipe, thereby preventing foreign substances from flowing into the pump.

The pump inlet pipe may include an upward flow forming pipe extending upward from a lower plate of the case and defining an upward flow path, a bending portion connected to the upward flow forming pipe and changing a flow direction, and a downward flow forming pipe connected to the bending portion and defining a downward flow path.

The strainer may be disposed at a lower end portion of the downward flow forming pipe, thereby preventing foreign substances from flowing into the pump.

A length of the first connection pipe may be greater than a length of the second connection pipe.

Accordingly, vapor generated from heated water that is supplied from the outdoor unit may be collected and discharged to the outside. In other words, the transfer of vapor to the load unit may be minimized.

The case may include a lower plate covering a lower portion thereof.

The lower plate may be provided with a plurality of connectors connecting the first connection pipe or the second connection pipe and a pipe connected to the outdoor unit or the load unit.

Accordingly, pipes connected to the outdoor unit and the load unit, and connection pipes disposed in the indoor unit may be easily connected to one another.

The plurality of connectors may include a first connector to which an upstream end of the first connection pipe is connected, a second connector to which a downstream end of the first connection pipe is connected, a third connector to which an upstream end of the second connection pipe is connected, and a fourth connector to which a downstream end of the second connection pipe is connected.

A distance between the third connector and the fourth connector that are disposed at the lower plate may be less than a distance between the first connector and the second connector that are disposed at the lower plate, allowing the first connection pipe to have a longer length than the second connection pipe.

The details of other embodiments are included in the detailed description and drawings.

A heat supply apparatus according to the present invention has one or more of the following effects.

First, as water discharged from an outdoor unit is transferred to a load unit through an indoor unit and water discharged from the load unit is transferred to the outdoor unit through the indoor unit, a heat supply apparatus of a boiler may be easily replaced with a heat supply apparatus including an indoor unit that uses a heat pump to heat water and an outdoor unit without a separate indoor pipe installation.

Second, as water discharged from a load unit is pumped by a pump, the temperature of water supplied to the pump may be kept below a set temperature, thereby increasing the lifespan of the pump.

In addition, a structure of a second connection pipe may prevent foreign substances from entering the pump to thereby increase the service life of the pump.

Third, vapor produced from heated water that is supplied from an outdoor unit may be removed in an indoor unit to thereby minimize the flow of vapor to a load unit.

As water from which vapor has been removed is supplied to the load unit, the thermal efficiency of water transferred to the load unit may be increased.

The effects of the present invention are not limited to the effects described above, and other effects not stated in the above will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the claims.

The above and other aspects, features and other advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Exemplary embodiments will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings; however, they may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this invention, which is defined by the appended claims, will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the exemplary embodiments to those skilled in the art. The same reference numerals are used throughout the drawings to designate the same or similar components.

The directions "U (Up)", "D (Down)", "Le (Left)", "Ri (Right)", "F (Front)", and "R (Rear)" shown in <FIG> are for explaining a configuration of a heat supply apparatus. Therefore, depending on a reference or basis, corresponding directions may be described differently.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings for explaining a heat supply apparatus according to embodiments of the present invention.

Referring to <FIG>, a heat supply apparatus of the present invention includes an outdoor unit <NUM> including a heat exchanger (not shown) configured to exchange heat between refrigerant discharged from a compressor (not shown) and water, a load unit <NUM> using a heat source of water that is heat-exchanged in the outdoor unit <NUM>, and an indoor unit <NUM> disposed between the outdoor unit <NUM> and the load unit <NUM>, and including a pump configured to move water flowing to the indoor unit <NUM> and the load unit <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, the heat supply apparatus includes a first pipe <NUM> and a second pipe <NUM>. The first pipe <NUM> connects the outdoor unit <NUM> and the indoor unit <NUM>. The second pipe <NUM> connects the indoor unit <NUM> and the load unit <NUM>. The first pipe <NUM> includes a first supply pipe <NUM> through which water is supplied to the indoor unit <NUM> and a first discharge pipe <NUM> through which water is discharged from the indoor unit <NUM>. The second pipe <NUM> includes a second supply pipe <NUM> through which water is supplied to the indoor unit <NUM> and a second discharge pipe <NUM> through which water is discharged from the indoor unit <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, the outdoor unit <NUM> includes a compressor <NUM>, a first heat exchanger <NUM>, a second heat exchanger <NUM>, an expansion valve <NUM> disposed between the first heat exchanger <NUM> and the second heat exchanger <NUM>, and a switching valve <NUM>.

The compressor <NUM> is configured to compress refrigerant. The first heat exchanger <NUM> exchanges heat between refrigerant flowing from the compressor <NUM> and water. The second heat exchanger <NUM> exchanges heat between refrigerant flowing from the compressor <NUM> and air. The expansion valve <NUM> expands flowing refrigerant. The switching valve <NUM> transfers refrigerant discharged from the compressor <NUM> to the first heat exchanger <NUM> or the second heat exchanger <NUM>.

As the outdoor unit <NUM> of the present invention includes both the first heat exchanger <NUM> and the second heat exchanger <NUM> therein, the amount of refrigerant used may be minimized or reduced. In addition, as water flows into an indoor space, refrigerant leakage to the indoor space may be prevented.

The first heat exchanger <NUM> may exchange heat between compressed refrigerant discharged from the compressor <NUM> and water. That is, refrigerant may transfer heat, which is generated while being compressed by the compressor <NUM>, to water through the first heat exchanger <NUM>. The first heat exchanger <NUM> may use a plate heat exchanger that exchanges heat between water and refrigerant.

Referring to <FIG>, the indoor unit <NUM> is connected to the outdoor unit <NUM> through the first pipe <NUM>. The indoor unit <NUM> may transfer water discharged from the outdoor unit <NUM> to the load unit <NUM>.

The indoor unit <NUM> includes a first connection pipe <NUM> that connects the first supply pipe <NUM> and the second discharge pipe <NUM>, and a second connection pipe <NUM> that connects the second supply pipe <NUM> and the first discharge pipe <NUM>. The second connection pipe <NUM> is provided with a pump <NUM> that causes a flow of water in the entire pipe. The first connection pipe <NUM> is provided with a heater <NUM> configured to heat water supplied to the load unit <NUM>.

Hereinafter, a detailed configuration of the indoor unit <NUM> will be described with reference to <FIG>.

Referring to <FIG>, the indoor unit <NUM> includes a case <NUM> defining an outer shape. The first connection pipe <NUM> is disposed in the case <NUM> and transfers water introduced from the outdoor unit <NUM> to the load unit <NUM>. The second connection pipe <NUM> is disposed in the case <NUM> and transfers water introduced from the load unit <NUM> to the outdoor unit <NUM>. The pump <NUM> is included in the indoor unit <NUM> and is disposed at the second connection pipe <NUM> and supplies water of the load unit <NUM> to the outdoor unit <NUM>.

The pump <NUM> is disposed on the second connection pipe <NUM>. The temperature of water flowing through the second connection pipe <NUM> is lower than the temperature of water flowing through the first connection pipe <NUM>. As water introduced into the pump <NUM>, which is water flowing in the second connection pipe <NUM> after being discharged from the load unit <NUM>, flows at a temperature less than or equal to a set temperature, the reliability of the pump <NUM> may be increased.

The case <NUM> may have a substantially cuboid shape. The case <NUM> defines a space in which the first connection pipe <NUM> and the second connection pipe <NUM> are disposed.

The case <NUM> includes a mounting plate (not shown) mounted on a wall surface, a lower plate <NUM> vertically disposed at a lower end of the mounting plate, an upper plate (not shown) vertically disposed at an upper end of the mounting plate, and a peripheral plate <NUM> disposed to extend from a side surface of the mounting plate along edges of the lower plate <NUM> and the upper plate. So, when being installed the lower plate <NUM> face the bottom and the peripheral plate <NUM> forms the housing of the case <NUM> forming the two side walls and the front wall.

At one side of the case <NUM>, there is a first connector <NUM> to which an upstream end of the first connection pipe <NUM> is connected, a second connector <NUM> to which a downstream end of the first connection pipe <NUM> is connected, a third connector <NUM> to which an upstream end of the second connection pipe <NUM> is connected, and a fourth connector <NUM> to which a downstream end of the second connection pipe <NUM> is connected. The first connector <NUM>, the second connector <NUM>, the third connector <NUM>, and the fourth connector <NUM> are preferably disposed at the lower plate <NUM> of the case <NUM>.

The first supply pipe <NUM> is connected to the first connector <NUM>. The second discharge pipe <NUM> is connected to the second connector <NUM>. The second supply pipe <NUM> is connected to the third connector <NUM>. The first discharge pipe <NUM> is connected to the fourth connector <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, a distance D2 between the third connector <NUM> and the fourth connector <NUM> that are connected to the second connection pipe <NUM> is less than a distance D1 between the first connector <NUM> and the second connector <NUM> that are connected to the first connection pipe <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, the first connection pipe <NUM> and the second connection pipe <NUM> are disposed in the case <NUM>. A length of the first connection pipe <NUM> is greater than a length of the second connection pipe <NUM>.

The first connection pipe <NUM> is provided with an air band <NUM> that removes water vapor produced from water flowing therein. The first connection pipe <NUM> includes a <NUM>-<NUM> connection pipe <NUM> that is connected to the first connector <NUM> and forms a flow path through which water flows upward, and a <NUM>-<NUM> connection pipe <NUM> that is connected to a circumferential surface of the <NUM>-<NUM> connection pipe <NUM> at a position spaced downward from an upper end of the <NUM>-<NUM> connection pipe <NUM>. The air band <NUM> configured to discharge vapor formed from flowing water is disposed at the upper end of the <NUM>-<NUM> connection pipe <NUM>. Vapor generated from water flowing in the first connection pipe <NUM> may be removed through the air band <NUM>.

A length L1 of the <NUM>-<NUM> connection pipe <NUM> extending upward from the lower plate <NUM> is greater than a height L2 of the second connection pipe <NUM> protruding upward from the lower plate <NUM> of the case <NUM>. Accordingly, vapor generated from water flowing along the first connection pipe <NUM> may be effectively collected in the air band <NUM>.

As the <NUM>-<NUM> connection pipe <NUM> is formed long in an up-and-down direction, the <NUM>-<NUM> connection pipe <NUM> may be configured as a plurality of pipes.

The <NUM>-<NUM> connection pipe <NUM> may include a lower pipe <NUM> that is connected to the first connector <NUM>, an upper pipe <NUM> that is disposed above the lower pipe <NUM> and has the air band <NUM> disposed at an upper end thereof, and a middle pipe <NUM> that connects the lower pipe <NUM> and the upper pipe <NUM>.

The middle pipe <NUM> may be made of a different material from the lower pipe <NUM> and/or the upper pipe <NUM>. The middle pipe <NUM> may be made of a material having a higher melting point than the lower pipe <NUM> and/or the upper pipe <NUM>. The lower pipe <NUM> and the upper pipe <NUM> may be made of a copper material, and the middle pipe <NUM> may be made of a stainless steel material. The lower pipe <NUM> and the middle pipe <NUM> may be joined by welding, and the upper pipe <NUM> and the middle pipe <NUM> may be joined by welding.

As the middle pipe <NUM> is made of a material having a higher melting point than the lower pipe <NUM> and/or the upper pipe <NUM>, it is possible to prevent a leak hole from forming at a joined portion or joint when joined by welding or the like.

The <NUM>-<NUM> connection pipe <NUM> is connected to the <NUM>-<NUM> connection pipe <NUM> at a position spaced downward from the upper end of the <NUM>-<NUM> connection pipe <NUM>. Accordingly, a space for collecting vapor discharged to the air band <NUM> may be formed at the upper end of the <NUM>-<NUM> connection pipe <NUM>.

The <NUM>-<NUM> connection pipe <NUM> may include a horizontal pipe <NUM> that is connected to the <NUM>-<NUM> connection pipe <NUM>, and a vertical pipe <NUM> that extends downward from an end portion of the horizontal pipe <NUM> and is connected to the second connector <NUM>.

The vertical pipe <NUM> may define a flow path through which water flows downward. Although not shown in <FIG>, a heater (not shown), which is electrically operated, may be disposed at the vertical pipe <NUM>. The heater <NUM> (see <FIG>) may additionally heat water supplied to the load unit <NUM>.

The second connection pipe <NUM> includes a pump inlet pipe <NUM> disposed at an upstream side of the pump <NUM> and a pump outlet pipe <NUM> disposed at a downstream side of the pump <NUM>.

The pump inlet pipe <NUM> is provided with a strainer <NUM> that filters foreign substances or particles contained in water introduced from the load unit <NUM>. The pump inlet pipe <NUM> includes a first pump inlet pipe <NUM> including a bending portion 134b that is connected to the third connector <NUM> and changes a flow direction, and a second pump inlet pipe <NUM> connected to one side of the first pump inlet pipe <NUM> and the pump <NUM>.

The first pump inlet pipe <NUM> includes an upward flow forming pipe 134a that is connected to the third connector <NUM> and defines an upward (or ascending) flow path, the bending portion 134b that is connected to the upward flow forming pipe 134a and changes the flow direction, and a downward flow forming pipe 134c that is connected to the bending portion 134b and defines a downward (or descending) flow path. The strainer <NUM> is disposed at a lower end portion of the downward flow forming pipe 134c.

The second pump inlet pipe <NUM> is connected to the circumference of the first pump inlet pipe <NUM> at a position spaced upward from an end portion of the first pump inlet pipe <NUM>. Accordingly, foreign substances contained in water flowing from the load unit <NUM> may be collected in a lower end portion of the first pump inlet pipe <NUM> where the strainer <NUM> is disposed.

The pump outlet pipe <NUM> has a bent shape to thereby connect the pump <NUM> and the fourth connector <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A heat supply apparatus, comprising:
an outdoor unit (<NUM>) including a heat exchanger (<NUM>) configured to exchange heat between refrigerant and water;
a load unit (<NUM>) using heat of heat-exchanged water as a load; and
an indoor unit (<NUM>) configured to supply water discharged from the outdoor unit (<NUM>) to the load unit (<NUM>), and configured to supply water discharged from the load unit (<NUM>) to the outdoor unit (<NUM>), wherein the indoor unit (<NUM>) comprises:
a case (<NUM>) defining an outer shape;
a first connection pipe (<NUM>) disposed in the case (<NUM>) and configured to transfer water introduced from the outdoor unit (<NUM>) to the load unit (<NUM>);
a second connection pipe (<NUM>) disposed in the case (<NUM>) and configured to transfer water introduced from the load unit (<NUM>) to the outdoor unit (<NUM>); and
a pump (<NUM>) disposed at the second connection pipe (<NUM>) and configured to pump water of the load unit (<NUM>) to the outdoor unit (<NUM>); and
wherein the second connection pipe (<NUM>) comprises:
a pump inlet pipe (<NUM>) disposed at an upstream side of the pump (<NUM>), and
a pump outlet pipe (<NUM>) disposed at a downstream side of the pump (<NUM>), and
wherein the pump inlet pipe (<NUM>) is provided with a strainer (<NUM>) configured to filter foreign substances contained in water introduced from the load unit (<NUM>); and
wherein the pump inlet pipe (<NUM>) comprises:
a first pump inlet pipe (<NUM>) extending upward from a lower plate (<NUM>) of the case (<NUM>) and including a bending portion (134b) that changes a flow direction; and
a second pump inlet pipe (<NUM>) connecting one side of the first pump inlet pipe (<NUM>) and the pump (<NUM>), and
wherein the strainer (<NUM>) is disposed at an end portion of the first pump inlet pipe (<NUM>).