LUBRICANT RESERVOIR, COMPRESSOR SYSTEM AND HEAT PUMP

Abstract

A lubricant reservoir for a compressor, which can be part of a system of a heat pump, in particular, a high-temperature heat pump, having a holding chamber for lubricants with at least one holding-chamber cladding element at least partially outwardly limiting the holding chamber, and a temperature controller is integrated into the holding-chamber cladding element and/or arranged on it, wherein a heating and/or cooling medium can flow through the temperature controller, which may achieve an improved life cycle assessment in such a lubricant reservoir compared to the known systems, reduce the production or assembly effort, and enable lubricant cooling and lubricant heating.

Claims

1. A lubricant reservoir for a compressor system of a heat pump comprising: at least one holding-chamber cladding at least partially defining a holding chamber configured to contain lubricant therein; and at least one temperature controller integrated into at least one of the at least one holding-chamber cladding and/or arranged thereon, wherein the at least one temperature controller is configured to receive and flow therethrough heating and/or cooling medium.

2. A lubricant reservoir according to claim 1, wherein the at least one holding-chamber cladding defines a holding-chamber floor, a holding-chamber wall, a holding-chamber shell, and/or a holding-chamber cover.

3. A lubricant reservoir according to claim 1, wherein the at least one temperature controller defines at least one cavity chamber formed in the at least one holding-chamber cladding.

4. A lubricant reservoir according to claim 1, wherein the at least one temperature controller defines a plurality of cavity chambers within the at least one holding-chamber cladding, wherein the plurality of cavity chambers are (i) flow-connected to one another or (ii) are separated from each other with regard to flow.

5. A lubricant reservoir according to claim 1, wherein the at least one temperature controller is at least partially located on the at least one holding-chamber cladding and defines at least one channel at least partially projecting into the holding chamber and separated from the holding chamber by a channel wall, wherein the at least one channel is configured to receive and flow therethrough the heating and/or cooling medium.

6. A lubricant reservoir according to claim 5, wherein the at least one channel defines at least one rib at least partially projecting into said one holding chamber.

7. A lubricant reservoir according to claim 5, wherein the at least one channel comprises a plurality of channels, wherein each of the plurality of channels projects at least partially into the holding chamber, and wherein the plurality of channels are (i) flow-connected to one another or (ii) are separated from each other with regard to flow.

8. A lubricant reservoir according to claim 1, wherein the holding chamber defines a plurality of holding sub-chambers defining a first holding chamber and a second holding chamber directly adjacent to the first holding chamber and separated therefrom by an adjacent-area cladding, wherein at least one of the at least one temperature controller is integrated into the adjacent-area cladding and/or is arranged thereon.

9. A lubricant reservoir according to claim 1, wherein the at least one temperature controller is configured to be fed heating and/or cooling medium by at least one external media circuit.

10. A lubricant reservoir according to claim 1, wherein the at least one temperature controller is configured to be fed heating and/or cooling medium via a supply and discharge of the heat pump.

11. A lubricant reservoir according to claim 1, wherein said heating or cooling medium consists essentially of water.

12. A lubricant reservoir according to claim 1, wherein the holding chamber is defined by, located in or configured to be attached to a housing part of a compressor-system housing accommodating a compressor of the compressor system.

13. A lubricant reservoir according to claim 12, wherein the housing part is a single-piece component of the compressor-system housing.

14. A lubricant reservoir according to claim 1, wherein the at least one chamber cladding is defined by a housing that is configured to be connected to a compressor-system housing accommodating the compressor.

15. A lubricant reservoir according to claim 12, wherein the housing part defines a tub, wherein the tub is defined by a tub floor and tub walls defined by the at least one holding-chamber cladding.

16. A compressor system for a heat pump, the compressor system comprising a lubricant reservoir comprising at least one holding-chamber cladding at least partially defining a holding chamber configured to contain lubricant therein; and at least one temperature controller integrated into at least one of the at least one holding-chamber cladding and/or arranged thereon, wherein the at least one temperature controller is configured to receive and flow therethrough a heating and/or cooling medium.

17. A heat pump comprising: a compressor system for a heat pump including a lubricant reservoir comprising at least one holding-chamber cladding at least partially defining a holding chamber configured to contain lubricant therein; and at least one temperature controller integrated into at least one of the at least one holding-chamber cladding and/or arranged thereon, wherein the at least one temperature controller is configured to receive and flow therethrough a heating and/or cooling medium; and at least one supply and discharge flow-connected or flow-connectable to the at least one temperature controller and configured to supply the at least one temperature controller with (i) a heating or cooling medium supplied to or discharged from the heat pump or (ii) an external heating or cooling medium.

18. A heat pump according to claim 17, wherein the heat pump comprises a high-temperature heat pump.

19. A lubricant reservoir according to claim 1, wherein the heat pump comprises a high-temperature heat pump.

20. A compressor system according to claim 16, wherein the heat pump comprises a high-temperature heat pump.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] FIG. 1 is sectional view of a lubricant reservoir;

[0025] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of another lubricant reservoir, and

[0026] FIG. 3 is a sectional view of another lubricant reservoir.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] FIG. 1 shows a schematic sectional illustration of a lubricant reservoir that may be used for a compressor system of a heat pump, such as, for example, a high-temperature heat pump. It can be seen that the lubricant reservoir comprises a holding chamber 1 for lubricant 2. The holding chamber 1 is outwardly limited by holding-chamber cladding elements 3, 4. Here, the holding-chamber cladding element 3 is a holding-chamber floor; the holding-chamber cladding element 4 is a holding-chamber wall or a holding-chamber shell. Temperature controllers or temperature-control elements 5 are integrated with the holding-chamber cladding elements 3, 4. In this embodiment, the temperature controllers constitute cavity chambers or channels, though they may take other forms as those skilled in the art should appreciate. The temperature-control element 5 has a corresponding supply and discharge line (or lines) for flow of a heating or cooling medium through it. As shown in FIG. 1, the temperature-control element 5 is integrated on a cover 7 that closes a part of the lubricant reservoir or the holding chamber 1. In practice, the lubricant reservoir can comprise one or a plurality of temperature controllers 5, which can be arranged at different positions than those shown in FIG. 1.

[0028] In FIG. 2, another lubricant reservoir is shown in a perspective view. In this embodiment, parts, portions or elements having the same reference numeral as parts, portions or elements in FIG. 1 constitute the same or a similar structure as in FIG. 1, except as may be specified. In this embodiment, the tub 15 comprises a tub floor 16 and tub walls or wall elements 17, which form the holding-chamber cladding elements 3, 4. Furthermore, the tub 15 forms the holding chamber 1. On the tub floor 16, a plurality of ribs 6 are arranged, which are designed in the form of channels. The heating or cooling medium can flow through these channels. Furthermore, a plurality of reinforcement structures 8, which in this embodiment are in the form of plates, are arranged in the tub 15 between the tub wall elements 17 and the tub floor 16, which increase the mechanical stability of the tub 15. The tub 15 also comprises a mounting flange 9, via which the tub can be connected to another part, such as a housing part of a compressor of a compressor system.

[0029] FIG. 3 shows a schematic sectional illustration of another lubricant reservoir. In this embodiment, parts, portions or elements having the same reference numeral as parts, portions or elements in FIG. 1 and/or FIG. 1 constitute the same or a similar structure as therein, except as may be specified. In this embodiment, the lubricant reservoir comprises a plurality of holding chambers or sub-chambers 11, 12 for holding lubricant 2. A first holding chamber 11 is directly adjacent to a second holding chamber 12. The first and second holding chambers 11, 12 are separated by an adjacent-area cladding 13, wherein a temperature controller 5 is integrated into the adjacent-area cladding 13. One of ordinary skill should appreciate that, while FIG. 3 shows only one temperature controller 5, the lubricant reservoir may have multiple temperature controllers or temperature-control elements.

[0030] Further non-limiting embodiments are described below.

[0031] According to at least some embodiments, it can be provided in a lubricant reservoir that the holding-chamber cladding element is a holding-chamber floor, a holding-chamber wall, a holding-chamber shell or a holding-chamber cover. This can vary depending on the geometry of the holding chamber. In a tub shape of the holding chamber, for example, a plurality of holding-chamber cladding elements can limit the holding chamber, for example, a holding-chamber floor and a plurality of adjacent holding chamber subwalls, wherein the holding chamber subwalls form a common holding-chamber wall. In a cylindrical basic shape of the holding chamber, for example, the holding-chamber cladding element can also be formed by a holding-chamber shell. Accordingly, the temperature-control element can be arranged at different positions of the lubricant reservoir, for example, in a holding-chamber floor, a holding-chamber wall, a holding-chamber shell or a holding-chamber cover. Also, a plurality of temperature-control elements can be arranged in a holding-chamber cladding element or a plurality of holding-chamber cladding elements, for example, in the holding-chamber floor and a holding-chamber wall (or a plurality of holding chamber subwalls).

[0032] According to at least one further embodiment, the temperature-control element is a cavity chamber formed in the holding-chamber cladding. The heating and/or cooling medium can then flow through such a cavity chamber. The cavity chamber connects or is connectable to one or a plurality of suitable supply line(s) and discharge line(s) for the heating medium or cooling medium. The geometry of the cavity chamber is not fixed as long as the heating or cooling medium can flow through it. The cavity chamber can comprise a corrosion-inhibiting inner coating.

[0033] According to at least one further embodiment, the temperature-control element is designed as an arrangement integrated into the holding-chamber cladding element, said arrangement comprising a plurality of cavity chambers that are flow-connected to each other or separated from each other with regard to flow. By means of flow-connected cavity chambers, the temperature distribution during cooling or heating of the lubricant over the surface of a cladding can be optimized. In the case of separately formed (separated from each other with regard to flow) cavity chambers, a surface-optimized cooling of the lubricant can also take place. Furthermore, a selective flow through individual chambers of a cladding element is possible, which can lead to an even more flexible temperature setting in the holding chamber. It can therefore be flexibly adjusted with regard to a holding-chamber cladding element whether a cooling or heating medium should flow through a certain cavity chamber (provided there) or not.

[0034] According to at least one further embodiment, the temperature controller defines a channel formed on the holding-chamber cladding element and the cooling or heating medium can flow through it. The channel at least partially projects into the holding chamber and is separated from the holding chamber by a channel wall. By projecting such a channel into the holding chamber, an improved heat transfer (be it heat input during heating or heat dissipation during cooling) can take place between the lubricant and the temperature-control element.

[0035] According to at least one further embodiment, the channel is designed in the form of a rib that at least partially projects into the holding chamber. A rib-like formation can further increase heat transfer, and, where applicable, increase the mechanical stability of the holding chamber or the holding-chamber cladding elements. A holding-chamber cladding element can comprise a plurality of such ribs. Also, a plurality of holding-chamber cladding elements that limit the holding chamber can comprise one or a plurality of ribs. It should be understood that a combined arrangement of one or a plurality of ribs provided in a holding-chamber cladding element and a cavity chamber arranged in a further holding-chamber cladding element or at another position of the holding-chamber cladding element is also possible.

[0036] According to at least one further embodiment, the temperature-control element is designed as an arrangement formed on the cladding element, said arrangement comprising a plurality of channels, each of which projects at least partially into the holding chamber, wherein the channels are flow-connected to each other or separated from each other with regard to flow. The channels can each be designed as a rib. Via flow-connected channels, the temperature distribution during cooling or heating of the lubricant over the surface of a cladding element can be increased. In the case of separately formed chambers (separated from each other with regard to flow), a surface-optimized cooling of the lubricant can also take place. Furthermore, a selective flow through individual channels of a cladding element is possible, which can lead to an even more flexible temperature setting in the holding chamber. It can therefore be flexibly adjusted with regard to a holding-chamber cladding element whether a cooling or heating medium should flow through a certain channel (provided there) or not.

[0037] According to at least one further embodiment, a plurality of holding chambers for the lubricant can be provided in the lubricant reservoir, wherein at least one first holding chamber is directly adjacent to a second holding chamber, and the first and second holding chamber in the adjacent region are separated from each other by an adjacent-area cladding, wherein the temperature-control element in the adjacent-area cladding element is integrated and/or arranged on it. Thus, a temperature controller can be arranged between different holding chambers and heat the lubricants arranged therein at the same time or dissipate heat from them (cool). Similar or different lubricants can be accommodated in different holding chambers.

[0038] According to at least one further embodiment, the temperature-control element can be fed via an external media circuit or via a plurality of external media circuits with the heating or cooling medium. An “external media circuit” can be understood as a supply of the temperature-control element with heating medium or cooling medium, which originates from an externally arranged source (i.e., outside the compressor or the heat pump). The temperature-control element can have a suitable supply and discharge lines for this purpose.

[0039] According to at least one further embodiment, the temperature-control element is designed to be fed via a supply and discharge unit of the compressor system including lubricant reservoir comprising heat pump with the heating or cooling medium. In this variant as well, the temperature-control element comprises suitable supply and discharge lines. In such an embodiment, a heating medium fed into the heat pump and having a certain temperature (this transfers heat to the working medium of the heat pump in the evaporator) can also be fed to the temperature-control element(s) and used to heat the lubricant. The same also applies to a medium that absorbs heat in the condenser of the heat pump. This medium can also serve as a heating medium and be fed to the temperature-control element(s). This means that media already used in the heat pump can also be used to heat the lubricant simultaneously, which has a positive effect on the life cycle assessment of the overall system.

[0040] Also, a combined (demand-oriented) approach from a supply of the temperature-control element or the temperature-control elements from one or a plurality of external media circuits and the supply via a medium introduced into the heat pump (e.g., the evaporator or the condenser) can be provided. A supply or discharge system to the temperature-control element(s) can comprise corresponding branches to make such an embodiment possible.

[0041] According to at least one further embodiment, the heating or cooling medium is water. Water can be handled in a particularly simple and harmless way and is particularly cost-effective. The temperature of water can be precisely set quickly and precisely.

[0042] According to at least one further embodiment, the holding chamber is formed in a housing part of a compressor-system housing accommodating a compressor of the compressor system. In this case, the compressor housing simultaneously forms the holding chamber or separates it from the outside. Accordingly, a housing wall provided in the area of the holding chamber, a housing floor or a housing shell of the compressor housing forms a holding-chamber cladding element, in which a temperature-control element can be integrated or on which a temperature-control element can be arranged.

[0043] According to at least one further embodiment, the housing part is a single-piece component of the compressor-system housing.

[0044] According to at least one further embodiment, the holding chamber is formed by a separate housing, which can be connected to the compressor-system housing accommodating the compressor. Such a connection can be implemented, for example, via screw connections, riveted connections or the like. Such a (detachable) attachment allows the ability to replace, maintain or repair the housing forming the holding chamber in the event of damage or maintenance.

[0045] According to at least one further embodiment, the housing part or the housing is a tub, wherein the tub is outwardly limited by a tub floor and wall elements as holding-chamber elements. In some such embodiments, in the area of the tub floor, a plurality of channel-like ribs is arranged as temperature-control elements. The tub can be connected to a housing (part) of the compressor system, e.g., via suitable screw connections. For this purpose, the tub can comprise a mounting flange.

[0046] As should be understood to those of ordinary skill in the art, the description herein is not intended to disclose all possible embodiments of the invention and combinations of features thereof, and this description should not be interpreted to apply only to the specific exemplary apparatuses described herein or the exemplary methods described herein, or exemplary combination of features. That is, the inventors expressly contemplate that the invention includes any combination or sub-combination of features described herein, regardless of whether such are explicitly described or shown herein.

[0047] As may be recognized by those of ordinary skill in the pertinent art based on the teachings herein, numerous changes and modifications may be made to the above-described and other embodiments in the present disclosure without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the claims. Accordingly, this detailed description of embodiments is to be taken in an illustrative, as opposed to a limiting sense.