HEAT SOURCE UNIT FOR A HEAT PUMP

Abstract

A heat source unit for a heat pump having a refrigerant circuit, the heat source unit having: an outer casing including a bottom plate; and a compressor assembly accommodated in the outer casing, the compressor assembly including a compressor of the refrigerant circuit of the heat pump including a compressor housing, a support plate supporting the compressor, the support plate being mounted via dampers to the bottom plate, and a compressor casing enclosing the compressor and the compressor housing. A damping mechanism is arranged between the compressor and the support plate, and the compressor casing is fixed to the support plate out of contact with the compressor housing.

Claims

1. A heat source unit for a heat pump having a refrigerant circuit, the heat source unit comprising: an outer casing comprising a bottom plate; and a compressor assembly accommodated in the outer casing (13), the compressor assembly comprising a compressor of the refrigerant circuit of the heat pump including a compressor housing, a support plate supporting the compressor, the support plate being mounted via dampers to the bottom plate, and a compressor casing enclosing the compressor housing, wherein a damping mechanism is arranged between the compressor and the support plate, and the compressor casing is fixed to the support plate out of contact with the compressor housing.

2. A heat source unit according to claim 1, wherein at least one refrigerant component of the refrigerant circuit of the heat pump is mounted to the support plate.

3. A heat source unit according to claim 2, wherein the at least one refrigerant component of the refrigerant circuit of the heat pump is mounted to the support plate outside the compressor casing.

4. A heat source unit according to claim 2, wherein the support plate comprises a plurality of mounting preparations so that a plurality of the refrigerant components is mountable on the support plate.

5. A heat source unit according to claim 1, wherein the compressor casing is made of a rigid material and has a fixing structure to fix at least one component of the refrigerant circuit of the heat pump to the compressor casing.

6. A heat source unit according to claim 1, wherein the compressor casing is at least two layered comprising an outer layer and an inner layer.

7. A heat source unit according to claim 6, wherein the outer layer is made of a first material configured to absorb sounds in a first frequency range and the inner layer is made of a second material configured to absorb sounds in a second frequency range.

8. A heat source unit according to claim 6, wherein the inner layer is less rigid than the outer layer.

9. A heat source unit according to claim 1, wherein the compressor casing comprises a front part, a rear part and a top part, wherein the front part is detachable from the support plate separately from the rear part.

10. A heat source unit according to claim 9, wherein the rear part has a maintenance opening closed by a cover, the maintenance opening being arranged for giving access to the compressor or a part attached to or related to the compressor.

11. A heat source unit according to claim 10, wherein at least part of a side plate of the outer casing is removable allowing access to and opening and/or removing of the cover.

12. A heat source unit according to claim 9, wherein the compressor is fixed to the support plate via the damping mechanism only at a side of the compressor, which faces the front part of the compressor casing.

13. A heat source unit according to claim 12, wherein the compressor is supported on the support plate via the damping mechanism at least three discrete locations and fixed at only two of the locations.

14. A heat source unit according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of compressor mounting preparations are provided on the support plate and being configured to allow mounting of at least two different types of compressors on the support plate.

15. A heat source unit according to claim 3, wherein the support plate comprises a plurality of mounting preparations so that a plurality of the refrigerant components is mountable on the support plate.

16. A heat source unit according to claim 7, wherein the inner layer is less rigid than the outer layer.

17. A heat source unit according to claim 10, wherein the compressor is fixed to the support plate via the damping mechanism only at a side of the compressor, which faces the front part of the compressor casing.

18. A heat source unit according to claim 11, wherein the compressor is fixed to the support plate via the damping mechanism only at a side of the compressor, which faces the front part of the compressor casing.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0039] A more complete appreciation of the present disclosure and many of the attendant advantages thereof will be readily obtained as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings.

[0040] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a heat source unit (outdoor unit) in accordance with the present disclosure;

[0041] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the heat source unit of FIG. 1 with parts being removed to show an interior of a machine chamber of the heat source unit;

[0042] FIG. 3A shows an enlarged perspective of FIG. 2 with the compressor casing being shown in transparent;

[0043] FIG. 3B shows an enlarged perspective of FIG. 2 with the compressor casing being removed;

[0044] FIG. 4 shows a bottom view of FIG. 2 with the bottom plate being removed;

[0045] FIG. 5 shows a perspective front view of FIG. 3A with further components of the refrigerant circuit being removed, wherein the compressor casing is shown in transparent;

[0046] FIG. 6 shows a perspective back view of FIG. 5, wherein the compressor casing is shown in transparent; and

[0047] FIG. 7 shows a perspective left view of FIG. 5, wherein the compressor casing is shown in transparent.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0048] An embodiment will now be explained with reference to the drawings. It will be apparent to those skilled in the field of heat pumps from this disclosure that the following description of the embodiment is provided for illustration only and not for the purpose of limiting the invention as defined by the appended claims.

[0049] In the drawings, the compressor casing has been shown in transparent in some figures to make the parts housed in the compressor casing visible. The parts within the compressor casing have been referenced by using dotted lines.

[0050] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of heat source unit 10 (in the shown embodiment an outdoor unit) of a split type heat pump. The heat pump comprises a refrigerant circuit, at least comprising a heat source heat exchanger 11, a compressor 12, a heat consumer heat exchanger (not shown), such as an indoor heat exchanger, and an expansion valve (not visible) connected by refrigerant pipes.

[0051] The shown outdoor unit 10 comprises an outer casing 13. The outer casing 13 has a bottom plate 14. Feet (not shown) for mounting the outdoor unit on a horizontal surface or via brackets to a vertical wall are fixed to the bottom plate 14.

[0052] Further, the outer casing 13 has a top plate 16 and a side plate 17. In the shown embodiment, the side plate 17 extends around a rearward corner of the outdoor unit 10 being connected to (integrally formed with/forming a one piece structure with) a back plate 18 of the outer casing 13.

[0053] As will be best visible from FIGS. 2 and 4, the heat source heat exchanger 11 occupies a part of the rear side of the outer casing 13 and the side of the outer casing 13 opposite to the side plate 17. The heat source heat exchanger 11 is “L”-shaped in a top view.

[0054] The front side of the outer casing 13 is closed by a front panel including a grille 19.

[0055] A compressor assembly 20 is accommodated in the outer casing 13 of the heat source unit 10 as shown in FIG. 2. The present disclosure mainly relates to mounting of the compressor assembly 20 within the heat source unit 10. In this context, reference is made to FIGS. 2 to 7.

[0056] The compressor assembly 20 (see FIGS. 5 to 7) comprises the compressor 12 of the refrigerant circuit of the heat pump. The compressor 12 comprises a compressor housing 21 containing the compression mechanism. The compressor housing 21 comprises at is lower end a fixation plate 24 for mounting the compressor 12.

[0057] Refrigerant pipes 22a-c of the refrigerant circuit are connected to the compressor housing 21 in order to feed refrigerant to the compressor 12 and discharge compressed refrigerant from the compressor 12.

[0058] Moreover, the compressor assembly comprises a support plate 23 for supporting the compressor 12 including the compressor housing 21. A set of three dampers 25 (damping mechanism), such as rubber dampers, is fixed at three locations 26a-c of the fixation plate 24 to the fixation plate 24. At two of said locations 26a and 26b, the dampers 25 are affixed to the support plate 23, whereby the fixation plate 24 and, hence, the compressor 12 including the compressor housing 21, are fixed to the support plate 23 via the dampers 25. At the third location 26c, the damper 25 is not fixed to (loose from) the support plate 25. The fixation of the dampers 25 to the fixation plate 24 and/or the support plate 23 is preferably obtained by using screws so that the dampers 25 are replaceable.

[0059] Due to the provision of the dampers 25, the compressor 12 including the compressor housing 21 and the fixation plate 24 are vibrationally decoupled from the support plate 23.

[0060] As may be taken from FIGS. 4 and 5 the support plate 23 comprises a plurality of compressor mounting preparations 28a-c. These mounting preparations 28a-c configured to allow mounting of different types of compressors 12, particularly compressors 12 having a different capacity.

[0061] For this purpose in the present example the mounting preparation 28b at the location 26b provides for one screw hole only. To the contrary, the mounting preparations 28a and 28c respectively at the locations 26a and 26c provide for two screw holes (an inner screw hole 29a and an outer screw hole 29b), respectively. Thus, the larger capacity compressor 12 may as shown be mounted using the outer screw holes 29b, whereas a not shown smaller capacity compressor may be mounted using the inner screw holes 29a.

[0062] The compressor assembly 20 further comprises a compressor casing 30. The compressor casing 30 encloses the compressor 12 including the compressor housing 21, the fixation plate 24 and the dampers 25. In an example, the compressor casing 30 is entirely closed except for the refrigerant pipes 22a to c entering and exiting the compressor casing 30. Yet, elastic sealings are provided between the refrigerant pipes 22a to c and the compressor casing 30 to avoid any openings at these locations. Thus, one may consider the compressor casing 30 to be “hermetic” to some extent.

[0063] The compressor casing 30 is fixed at its lower end to the support plate 23. In addition, the compressor casing 30 is sized so as to not contact with the compressor housing 21. To put it differently, there is always air in between the compressor housing 21 and an inner side surface of the compressor casing 30 facing the compressor housing 21.

[0064] The compressor casing comprises in the depicted embodiment three parts. The three parts consist of a front part 31, a rear part 32 and a top part 33. The top part 33 may comprise two parts, 33a and 33b. The front part 31 and the rear part 32 respectively independently connected to the support plate 23. In addition, the front part 31 is connected to the rear part 32 and the top part 33 and the rear part 32 is connected to the top part 33 and supports the top part. As a consequence, the front part 31 may be disconnected from the rear part 32 and the top part 33 as well as the support plate 23 without having to detach the rear part 32 and the top part 33 from the support plate 23 and each other.

[0065] When detaching the front part 31 of the compressor casing 30, one obtains access to the compressor 12 without the need to remove other parts of the compressor casing 30. Thus, the compressor 12 is easily accessible for inspection during maintenance. In addition and because the fixation plate 24 is only fixed via the dampers 25 to the support plate 23 at the locations 26a and 26b, the compressor 12 may even be easily removed from the compressor casing 30 through the front (if the front part 31 is removed). In particular, by loosening the fixation at the locations 26a and 26b and because the compressor 12 is not fixed at the location 26c, one may easily remove the compressor 12 if required. Yet, because the damper 25 is not omitted at the location 26c and the fixation plate 24 is still supported on the damper 25 at said location 26c, the damping characteristics are not deteriorated even though the damper is not fixed to the support plate 23.

[0066] Moreover, in many applications sensors or other parts are connected or related to the compressor 12 and/or attached to the compressor housing 21. In the present example a thermistor 34 (FIG. 7) is mounted to the compressor 12. Because sensors such as the thermistor 34 tend to require more frequent maintenance or replacement, the compressor casing 30 is additionally provided with a maintenance opening 35 closed by a cover 36. The cover 36 which is best visible in FIGS. 6 and 7 is at one end hinged to the rear part 32 of the compressor casing 13. A fastening structure 37 is provided at the opposite end to fix the cover 36 in the closed position. Accordingly, if maintenance, such as replacement of the thermistor 34, is required, one may operate the fastening structure 37 to loosen the cover 36 at the opposite end so that the cover 36 may be opened or even be detached. Subsequently, the thermistor 34 may for example be replaced and the cover 36 again closed and fastened to the rear part 32 by the fastening structure 37. Hence, neither one of the parts 31 to 33 of the compressor casing 30 needs to be removed for replacing the thermistor 34.

[0067] Even further and as explained earlier, the back plate 18 and the side plate 17 are integrally formed and may be removed for giving access to a machine chamber accommodating the compressor assembly 20 and other components of the refrigerant circuit. As will be apparent from FIG. 2, a plurality of refrigerant pipes is located between the rear part 32 of the compressor casing 30 and the rear plate 18. Thus, even when the rear plate 18 is removed, it is difficult to reach the rear part 32 of the compressor casing 30 and hence the cover 36. Accordingly, the cover 36 is arranged on the rear part 32 so as to be accessible via the side of the outer casing 13 corresponding to the side plate 17. Hence, removing the side plate 17 allows access to the cover 36. Referring to FIG. 6, a user may access the cover 36 from the left side.

[0068] Further, the fastening structure 37 is configured so as to allow opening and/or removing of the cover 36 without the need of a tool. In one example, the cover may be slid into a guide and held in a direction towards the rear plate 18 by the guide. To put it differently the cover 36 is slid towards the right in FIG. 6 into the closed position engaging with the guide so that a form fit in a direction perpendicular to the sliding direction is obtained. Subsequent, a clamping lever may be used to fix the cover 36 in that position. As it may be difficult to reach the cover 36 by a tool it is preferred that the clamping lever may be operated without the use of tools and preferably by using one hand only.

[0069] Moreover, the compressor casing 30 comprises two layers, an inner layer 38 and an outer layer 39 (see partial broken view in FIG. 5). In the present example, the outer layer 39 is more rigid than the inner layer 38. In particular, the outer layer 39 is made of sheet-metal and therefore rigid. As one example, a sheet-metal having a thickness between 0.6 millimeter and 1 millimeter may be used as outer layer 39. The inner layer 38 is made of an elastic material, such as needle felt.

[0070] As a consequence, the sound insulation properties of the compressor casing 30 are improved. In particular, the more rigid outer layer 39 (sheet-metal layer) is able to absorb frequencies in a relatively high frequency range (first frequency range). To the contrary, the less rigid inner layer 38 (needle felt layer) which is soft and elastic, is able to absorb frequencies in a relatively low frequency range (second frequency range). Even though the first and second frequency ranges may overlap, the second frequency range comprises frequencies which are lower than the frequencies in the first frequency range and vice versa. Accordingly, the compressor casing 30 of the present disclosure is able to absorb noises in a broader frequency range.

[0071] Moreover, by configuring the outer layer 39 of a relatively rigid material such as sheet-metal, the outer layer 39 becomes multifunctional. On the one hand, it serves to absorb the high-frequency noises and, on the other hand, it may be used to support the less rigid in a layer, enables fixation of the compressor casing 30 to the support plate 23 and loves to even attach other components of the refrigerant circuit of the heat pump to the compressor casing 30. Yet, the latter is only possible, because the compressor casing 30, i.e. the outer layer 39 is vibrationally decoupled from the compressor 12 via the dampers 25 and configured to be out of contact with the compressor 12 including the compressor housing 21 and the fixation plate 24. Accordingly, the compressor casing 30 does itself not vibrate or at least not in to the same extent as the compressor 12.

[0072] As particularly shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the compressor casing 30 (in the example the rear part 32) has at least one engagement member 40 (in the present example two such engagement members 40 are provided) fixed to the compressor casing 30, particularly the outer layer 39 thereof. The component of the refrigerant circuit of the heat pump which in the present example is fixed to the compressor casing 30 is a refrigerant pipe 42. The refrigerant pipe 42 has a least one engaging member 41 (in the present example 2 such engaging members 41 are provided) fixed to the refrigerant pipe 42. The engagement member 40 and the engaging member 41 represent the fixing structure. The engaging member 41 is engaged with the engaging member 41 to fix the refrigerant pipe 42 to the compressor casing 30.

[0073] In one particular example, the engagement member 40 may be shaped like a T-guide in cross section and the engaging member 41 may have a C-shaped cross section catching behind the horizontal legs of the “T”. The engaging member 41 may further have a stop at an upper end. Thus, the engaging members 41 of the refrigerant pipe 42 may, together with the refrigerant pipe 42, be slid from the top onto the engagement members 40 at the compressor casing 30, wherein the movement is limited by the stop. Thus, the refrigerant pipe 24 is held in a horizontal direction by the cross-section engaging behind the horizontal legs of the “T” and in the vertical direction by the stop. A similar fastening structure 37 may as well be implemented in which the engagement member 40 forms a hole and the engaging member 41 is formed like a hook hooking into the whole of the engagement member 40. The mounting process would then be the same as explained above.

[0074] Due to the secure fixation of the refrigerant pipe 42 to the compressor casing 30 and because the compressor casing 30 is vibrationally decoupled from the compressor 12 as explained above, the refrigerant pipe 42 may be relatively long and straight without the risk of becoming damaged.

[0075] Furthermore, the support plate 23 is fixed to the bottom plate 14 of the heat source unit 10. In particular, the support plate 23 is mounted to the bottom plate 14 via a second set of dampers 43 (five dampers 43 are provided in the present embodiment (FIG. 4)). In an example, the dampers 43 are screwed to both the support plate 23 or more particularly a lower side of the support plate 23 and an upper side of the bottom plate 14. Thus, the dampers 43 may even be replaced if it becomes necessary over the lifetime of the heat source unit 10.

[0076] In addition, other components than the compressor 12 including the compressor housing 21 and the fixation plate 24 as well as the compressor casing 30 may be mounted to the support plate 23. Examples of those components are components of the refrigerant circuit of the heat pump such as an accumulator 44 or a water plate heat exchanger. Yet, also other components may be mounted on the support plate 23. It is particularly beneficial to mount those components on the support plate 23 which also tend to produce or propagate vibrations and, therefore, noises. Because the support plate 23 is vibrationally decoupled from the bottom plate 14 via the dampers 43 those vibrations and noises are hence not transferred to the bottom plate 14 and hence the outer casing 13 of the heat source unit 10.

[0077] In the different type of the heat source units 10, is a different type of those components or different number of the components may be mounted to the support plate 23. In order to enable the use of the same support plate 23 for plurality of different types of heat source units 10, the support plate 23 comprises a plurality of mounting preparations 27a,b. The mounting preparations 27a are used for mounting the accumulator 44.

[0078] In the present example, the mounting preparations 27b are provided for mounting a water plate heat exchanger (not shown) which is required for some types of heat source units 10. If as in the present example the water plate heat exchanger is not part of the respective heat source unit 10, the mounting preparations 27b are not used but still present.

[0079] In addition and as will be apparent from particularly FIGS. 5 and 6, the accumulator 44 is mounted to the support plate 23 outside the compressor casing 30. Accordingly, the size of the compressor casing 30 may be minimized so as to accommodate a minimum space within the heat source unit 10.

[0080] It is to be understood that the present description of an embodiment is not considered to be limiting. Rather several modifications may be realized by the skilled person. For example, a different number of dampers 25 or dampers 43 may be provided. In addition, other components than the accumulator 44 may as well be supported on the support plate 23. The same also applies with respect to the refrigerant component fixed to the compressor casing 30, which in the example is the refrigerant pipe 42. However, also other components may be fixed to the compressor casing 30.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

[0081] 10 heat source unit (outdoor unit) [0082] 11 heat source heat exchanger [0083] 12 compressor [0084] 13 outer casing [0085] 14 bottom plate [0086] 16 top plate [0087] 17 side plate [0088] 18 back plate [0089] 19 grille [0090] 20 compressor assembly [0091] 21 compressor housing [0092] 22a-c refrigerant pipes [0093] 23 support plate [0094] 24 fixation plate [0095] 25 damper [0096] 26a-c locations [0097] 27a-b mounting preparations [0098] 28a-c compressor mounting preparations [0099] 29a-b inner and outer screw hole [0100] 30 compressor casing [0101] 31 front part [0102] 32 rear part [0103] 33 top part [0104] 34 thermistor [0105] 35 maintenance opening [0106] 36 cover [0107] 37 fastening structure [0108] 38 inner layer [0109] 39 outer layer [0110] 40 engagement member [0111] 41 engaging member [0112] 42 refrigerant pipe [0113] 43 damper [0114] 44 accumulator

CITATION LIST

Patent Literature

[0115] [PATENT LITERATURE 1] EP 3 290 697 A1 [0116] [PATENT LITERATURE 2] EP 2 159 497 B1