Heat pump device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12467670-B2
Application number	US-202017761700-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 8, 2020
Priority date	Sep 19, 2019
Publication date	Nov 11, 2025
Grant date	Nov 11, 2025

Abstract

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.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1 . A heat pump device including a refrigerant circuit, the heat pump device comprising:
a valve provided on the refrigerant circuit and 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, wherein the power source circuit includes: a first power source circuit unit including a first output electric path and configured to receive power source supply from outside to generate a direct current voltage; and a second power source circuit unit for backup configured to receive power source supply from the outside to store power in a capacitor, and connect the capacitor in parallel to the first output electric path, wherein the refrigerant circuit includes a gas-side refrigerant pipe and a liquid-side refrigerant pipe, the valve includes a valve on a gas side provided in the gas-side refrigerant pipe and a valve on a liquid side provided in the liquid-side refrigerant pipe, the capacitor has a capacity to store an amount of electricity required to fully close each of the valves from fully open, and the valve controller causes each of the valves to perform a close operation in order from any one of the valves.

2 . The heat pump device according to claim 1 , further comprising a refrigerant sensor configured to detect refrigerant leakage, wherein
when the refrigerant sensor detects refrigerant leakage, the valve controller causes operation of the valve drive circuit to close the valve in a state where the capacitor is charged.

3 . The heat pump device according to claim 1 , wherein
the first power source circuit unit and the valve drive circuit are mounted on a first board, and the second power source circuit unit is mounted on a second board different from the first board.

4 . The heat pump device according to claim 3 , wherein
the first board is provided with: a power failure detection circuit configured to detect a voltage input to the first power source circuit unit or a voltage of a second output electric path, the voltage of the second output electric path being insulated from the first output electric path and output from the first power source circuit unit; and the valve controller, and the valve controller outputs a command to close the valve in accordance with power failure detection by the power failure detection circuit.

5 . The heat pump device according to claim 1 , wherein
the second power source circuit unit includes: a rectification unit for a direct current from an alternating current; a switching power source unit configured to step down an output voltage of the rectification unit to a predetermined direct current voltage; a charge circuit unit configured to perform from constant current charging to constant voltage charging based on an output of the switching power source unit; the capacitor that is an electric double-layer capacitor connected to the charge circuit unit; a boost circuit unit configured to boost an output voltage of the capacitor to a predetermined direct current voltage; and a diode provided on a positive-side electric path at an output end of the boost circuit unit and having a forward direction in a direction connecting from the positive-side electric path to the first power source circuit unit.

6 . The heat pump device according to claim 1 , further comprising a remote controller configured to perform an operation manipulation, wherein
the remote controller includes a display unit configured to display information related to an open or closed state of the valve.

7 . The heat pump device according to claim 1 , further comprising a main controller configured to control a refrigeration cycle operation, wherein
the main controller performs the refrigeration cycle operation only when the valve controller can communicate with the main controller.

8 . The heat pump device according to claim 1 , further comprising a discharge circuit configured to discharge an electric charge stored in the capacitor.

9 . The heat pump device according to claim 8 , wherein the discharge circuit includes a discharge switch, and discharges an electric charge stored in the capacitor by closing the discharge switch.

10 . The heat pump device according to claim 9 , wherein the discharge switch is of an automatic return type.

11 . The heat pump device according to claim 9 , wherein
the power source circuit has an interlock function that enables operation of the heat pump device only when the discharge switch is in an open state.

12 . The heat pump device according to claim 8 , further comprising a detection circuit configured to detect a power failure of an AC power source, wherein
the detection circuit having detected a power failure causes discharging by the discharge circuit to be performed.

13 . The heat pump device according to claim 8 , further comprising a notification device configured to notify of completion of discharging of the capacitor by the discharge circuit.

14 . The heat pump device according to claim 13 , wherein the notification device is to be in mutually different notification states before a start of discharging and at the completion of discharging.

15 . The heat pump device according to claim 9 , wherein the discharge switch is provided at a position to be exposed when a cover that is a part of a housing accommodating the power source circuit is removed.

Assignees

• Daikin Ind Ltd
• Daikin Europe Nv

Inventors

• Fujimoto Yuusuke
• Toyota Ryuuichi
• Taoka Kentaroh
• Ohtani Atsushi
• Cornelis Kevin
• Steen David

Classifications

• F25B2700/15

  Power, e.g. by voltage or current · CPC title

• F25B2600/2521

  On-off valves controlled by pulse signals · CPC title

• F25B2500/222

  Detecting refrigerant leaks · CPC title

• F25B30/02

  of the compression type · CPC title

• F25B41/37

  Capillary tubes · CPC title