It is an object of the present invention to provide a fluid stirring and liquefaction promoting apparatus which enables uniform mixture of refrigerator oil with refrigerant, thereby improving the heat exchange efficiency of heat pump systems and reducing the energy consumption.

There is provided a liquefaction promoting apparatus to be disposed on a pipeline of a heat pump system for the purpose of stirring and uniformly mixing the fluid containing refrigerant and refrigerator oil circulating therein. The apparatus comprises a cylindrical casing, one or more channelizing units each composed of a pair of large-diameter disks on its outer side and a pair of small-diameter disks on its inner side disposed in axial alignment inside the cylindrical casing. Each of the large-diameter disks is on its inner surface with a honeycomb panel having polygonal cells and each of the small-diameter disks is formed on its outer surface with a honeycomb panel having polygonal cells such that the honeycomb panels of the large-diameter disks and of the small-diameter disks are arranged to face each other and each polygonal cell communicates with more than one opposing polygonal cells. The fluid containing refrigerant and refrigerator oil is circulated in the heat pump system with a pressure of 0.2 to 10 MPa.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a fluid stirring and liquefaction promoting apparatus which enables uniform mixture of refrigerator oil with refrigerant, thereby improving the heat exchange efficiency of heat pump systems and reducing the energy consumption.

There is provided a liquefaction promoting apparatus to be disposed on a pipeline of a heat pump system for the purpose of stirring and uniformly mixing the fluid containing refrigerant and refrigerator oil circulating therein. The apparatus comprises a cylindrical casing, one or more channelizing units each composed of a pair of large-diameter disks on its outer side and a pair of small-diameter disks on its inner side disposed in axial alignment inside the cylindrical casing. Each of the large-diameter disks is on its inner surface with a honeycomb panel having polygonal cells and each of the small-diameter disks is formed on its outer surface with a honeycomb panel having polygonal cells such that the honeycomb panels of the large-diameter disks and of the small-diameter disks are arranged to face each other and each polygonal cell communicates with more than one opposing polygonal cells. The fluid containing refrigerant and refrigerator oil is circulated in the heat pump system with a pressure of 0.2 to 10 MPa.

A system includes a pressure exchanger (PX). The PX is coupled to a motor that controls an operating speed of the PX. The system further includes a first pressure gauge configured to generate first pressure data indicative of a pressure of a fluid of a condenser. A first controller is to generate a first control signal based on the first pressure data. The motor of the PX is configured to adjust the operating speed of the PX based on the first control signal. The system further includes a pump. The system further includes a fluid density sensor for generating fluid density data associated with a first output fluid of the PX. A second controller is to generate a second control signal based on at least the fluid density data. The pump is to adjust an operating speed of the pump based on the second control signal.

A system includes a pressure exchanger (PX). The PX is coupled to a motor that controls an operating speed of the PX. The system further includes a first pressure gauge configured to generate first pressure data indicative of a pressure of a fluid of a condenser. A first controller is to generate a first control signal based on the first pressure data. The motor of the PX is configured to adjust the operating speed of the PX based on the first control signal. The system further includes a pump. The system further includes a fluid density sensor for generating fluid density data associated with a first output fluid of the PX. A second controller is to generate a second control signal based on at least the fluid density data. The pump is to adjust an operating speed of the pump based on the second control signal.

A heat pump system includes a refrigerant circuit comprising a compressor, a reversing valve, a first heat exchanger, a second heat exchanger, a reheat heat exchanger, and a three-way valve. The reversing valve is configured to receive refrigerant from the compressor and adjust between a first configuration to direct the refrigerant toward the three-way valve and a second configuration to direct the refrigerant toward the first heat exchanger. The three-way valve is configured to adjust between a first position to direct the refrigerant between the reversing valve and the second heat exchanger and a second position to direct the refrigerant from the reversing valve to the reheat heat exchanger.

A heat pump system includes a refrigerant circuit comprising a compressor, a reversing valve, a first heat exchanger, a second heat exchanger, a reheat heat exchanger, and a three-way valve. The reversing valve is configured to receive refrigerant from the compressor and adjust between a first configuration to direct the refrigerant toward the three-way valve and a second configuration to direct the refrigerant toward the first heat exchanger. The three-way valve is configured to adjust between a first position to direct the refrigerant between the reversing valve and the second heat exchanger and a second position to direct the refrigerant from the reversing valve to the reheat heat exchanger.

A heat pump system includes a refrigerant circuit that has a compressor, a first heat exchanger, a second heat exchanger, a reheat heat exchanger, a modulating valve, and a reversing valve. The reversing valve is configured to transition between a first configuration to direct refrigerant from the compressor toward the modulating valve and a second configuration to direct the refrigerant from the compressor toward the first heat exchanger. The heat pump system also includes control circuitry configured to concurrently maintain the reversing valve in the first configuration and adjust a position of the modulating valve to direct a first portion of the refrigerant from the modulating valve to the second heat exchanger and a second portion of the refrigerant from the modulating valve to the reheat heat exchanger based on an operating mode of the heat pump system.

A heat pump system includes a refrigerant circuit that has a compressor, a first heat exchanger, a second heat exchanger, a reheat heat exchanger, a modulating valve, and a reversing valve. The reversing valve is configured to transition between a first configuration to direct refrigerant from the compressor toward the modulating valve and a second configuration to direct the refrigerant from the compressor toward the first heat exchanger. The heat pump system also includes control circuitry configured to concurrently maintain the reversing valve in the first configuration and adjust a position of the modulating valve to direct a first portion of the refrigerant from the modulating valve to the second heat exchanger and a second portion of the refrigerant from the modulating valve to the reheat heat exchanger based on an operating mode of the heat pump system.

A heat pump device having a refrigerant circuit includes: a valve configured to maintain an opening degree during non-energization; a valve drive circuit configured to cause operation of the valve; a valve controller configured to control the valve drive circuit; and a power source circuit configured to supply a power source to the valve drive circuit. The power source circuit includes: a first power source circuit unit configured to receive power source supply from outside to generate a DC: voltage; and a second power source circuit unit for backup. The second power source circuit unit receives power source supply from the outside to store power in a capacitor, and connects the capacitor in parallel to a first output electric path of the first power source circuit unit.

A heat pump device having a refrigerant circuit includes: a valve configured to maintain an opening degree during non-energization; a valve drive circuit configured to cause operation of the valve; a valve controller configured to control the valve drive circuit; and a power source circuit configured to supply a power source to the valve drive circuit. The power source circuit includes: a first power source circuit unit configured to receive power source supply from outside to generate a DC: voltage; and a second power source circuit unit for backup. The second power source circuit unit receives power source supply from the outside to store power in a capacitor, and connects the capacitor in parallel to a first output electric path of the first power source circuit unit.