A heat pump system and a method for operating this system type includes a heat pump circuit for a heat pump circuit medium flowing through a primary side of a heat exchanger, and a heating circuit for a heating circuit medium flowing through the heat exchanger secondary side. A heat circuit pump is connected upstream of the exchanger secondary side when viewed in the heating circuit medium operating flow direction. When viewed in the heating circuit medium operating flow direction, a check valve connected downstream of the heating circuit pump and upstream of the secondary side closes when a heating circuit medium flows opposite the operating flow direction, and a degassing unit connected downstream of the secondary side when viewed in the operating flow direction prevents a flow of the heating circuit medium in the operating flow direction from a predefined gas amount in the heating circuit medium.

A heat pump system and a method for operating this system type includes a heat pump circuit for a heat pump circuit medium flowing through a primary side of a heat exchanger, and a heating circuit for a heating circuit medium flowing through the heat exchanger secondary side. A heat circuit pump is connected upstream of the exchanger secondary side when viewed in the heating circuit medium operating flow direction. When viewed in the heating circuit medium operating flow direction, a check valve connected downstream of the heating circuit pump and upstream of the secondary side closes when a heating circuit medium flows opposite the operating flow direction, and a degassing unit connected downstream of the secondary side when viewed in the operating flow direction prevents a flow of the heating circuit medium in the operating flow direction from a predefined gas amount in the heating circuit medium.

A heat pump includes an evaporator with an evaporator inlet and an evaporator outlet; a compressor for compressing operating liquid evaporated in the evaporator; and a condenser for condensing evaporated operating liquid compressed in the compressor, wherein the condenser includes a condenser inlet and a condenser outlet, wherein the evaporator inlet is connected to a return from a region to be heated, and wherein the condenser inlet is connected to a return from a region to be cooled.

A heat pump includes an evaporator with an evaporator inlet and an evaporator outlet; a compressor for compressing operating liquid evaporated in the evaporator; and a condenser for condensing evaporated operating liquid compressed in the compressor, wherein the condenser includes a condenser inlet and a condenser outlet, wherein the evaporator inlet is connected to a return from a region to be heated, and wherein the condenser inlet is connected to a return from a region to be cooled.

A solar water source heat pump air conditioning system includes an air-water heat exchange system, an aqueous solution heat exchange system, a heat pump main engine, a concentration system, an energy recovery system and a condensate water recovery system. According to the present invention, solar energy in air is absorbed by utilizing the air-water heat exchange system and is provided for a heat pump. Cold-heat transfer is performed between the air-water heat exchange system and the heat pump main engine by adopting the aqueous solution heat exchange system, thereby avoiding frosting and pipeline pollution. Cold energy of air-conditioning condensate water is collected by utilizing the condensate water recovery system and then is used, thereby increasing efficiency of the heat pump main engine. Air flowing through the air-water heat exchange system is purified by adopting a haze purification system, thereby improving air quality.

A solar water source heat pump air conditioning system includes an air-water heat exchange system, an aqueous solution heat exchange system, a heat pump main engine, a concentration system, an energy recovery system and a condensate water recovery system. According to the present invention, solar energy in air is absorbed by utilizing the air-water heat exchange system and is provided for a heat pump. Cold-heat transfer is performed between the air-water heat exchange system and the heat pump main engine by adopting the aqueous solution heat exchange system, thereby avoiding frosting and pipeline pollution. Cold energy of air-conditioning condensate water is collected by utilizing the condensate water recovery system and then is used, thereby increasing efficiency of the heat pump main engine. Air flowing through the air-water heat exchange system is purified by adopting a haze purification system, thereby improving air quality.

An apparatus for heating water has a tank for storing water and an air conditioning system that defines a refrigerant flow path through which refrigerant flows. The refrigerant flow path passes through a heat exchanger so that refrigerant heat is contributed to the tank. The heat exchanger houses a phase change material. A controller controls operation of the water heating apparatus.

An embodiment of the instant disclosure comprises a reversible heat pump and water heating system for conditioning a space and heating water. The system comprises a refrigerant circuit that includes a compressor, a source heat exchanger, a space heat exchanger, and an expansion device. A 4-way reversing valve alternates between heating and cooling modes of operation. The system includes a heat exchanger for heating water in the water heating loop, and a 3-way valve that either actuates the refrigerant flow through the water heater heat exchanger or bypasses at least a portion of the refrigerant flow around the water heater heat exchanger. The heat pump system is operable in at least five modes—space heating only, space cooling only, water heating only, and either space heating or space cooling combined with water heating. Use of a modulating 3-way valve allows the amount of the refrigerant flow through the water heating heat exchanger to be adjusted to precisely match space conditioning and water heating demands and stable operation of the heat pump system. Either of the space and source heat exchangers may be bypassed and deactivated to reduce the heat pump system power consumption.

An embodiment of the instant disclosure comprises a reversible heat pump and water heating system for conditioning a space and heating water. The system comprises a refrigerant circuit that includes a compressor, a source heat exchanger, a space heat exchanger, and an expansion device. A 4-way reversing valve alternates between heating and cooling modes of operation. The system includes a heat exchanger for heating water in the water heating loop, and a 3-way valve that either actuates the refrigerant flow through the water heater heat exchanger or bypasses at least a portion of the refrigerant flow around the water heater heat exchanger. The heat pump system is operable in at least five modes—space heating only, space cooling only, water heating only, and either space heating or space cooling combined with water heating. Use of a modulating 3-way valve allows the amount of the refrigerant flow through the water heating heat exchanger to be adjusted to precisely match space conditioning and water heating demands and stable operation of the heat pump system. Either of the space and source heat exchangers may be bypassed and deactivated to reduce the heat pump system power consumption.

A method of defrosting a heat pump device including a water tank, a heat exchanger, an electrical heating element, an evaporator, a fan for the evaporator, and a control unit. In a first operating mode, the heat pump device is controlled to heat water inside the water tank. In a second operating mode, the electrical heating element is manually activated to additionally heat the water inside the water tank. In a third operating mode, the electrical heating element is automatically activating to heat the water in the storage tank if: the power supplied by the heat pump device to heat the water inside the water tank is not sufficient; if a time limit after activation of a deicing operation has lapsed; and/or if the number of times the deicing operation has been activated during a predetermined time interval exceeds a threshold value.