Heat pump

Abstract

A heat pump includes an evaporator 10 evaporating water; a steam compressor 1 compressing the vapor generated by the evaporator 10; a vapor supply duct 31 adapted to supply the vapor 30 compressed by the compressor 1 to steam-utilizing facility 2; a measuring device 91 for measuring a state of vapor between the evaporator 10 and the compressor 1; and a valve 81 adjusting an amount of vapor flowing in the compressor 1 based on information from the measuring device 91.

1 . A heat pump comprising: 
 an evaporator evaporating water;    a compressor compressing the vapor generated by said evaporator;    a vapor supply duct adapted to supply the vapor compressed by said compressor to a steam-utilizing facility; and    means for adjusting an amount of vapor flowing in said compressor.    
     
     
         2 . A heat pump comprising: 
 an evaporator evaporating water with heat from a heat source;    a compressor compressing the vapor generated by said evaporator;    a vapor supply duct adapted to supply the vapor compressed by said compressor to a steam-utilizing facility; and    a bleed duct adapted to bleed vapor from said compressor or from said vapor supply duct and lead the vapor to said evaporator.    
     
     
         3 . A heat pump comprising: 
 an evaporator evaporating water through heat exchange with exhaust heat;    a compressor compressing the vapor generated by said evaporator;    a vapor supply duct adapted to supply the vapor compressed by said compressor to a steam-utilizing facility;    a measuring device measuring a flow rate of vapor between said evaporator and said compressor;    a bleed duct adapted to bleed vapor from said compressor or from said steam supply duct and lead the vapor to said evaporator;    a valve adjusting an amount of vapor led to said evaporator through said bleed duct; and    a controller controlling said valve based on information from said measuring device.    
     
     
         4 . The heat pump according to  claim 2 , wherein said evaporator internally includes a gas phase area and a liquid phase area, and allows the vapor from said bleed duct to flow in said gas phase area.  
     
     
         5 . A heat pump comprising: 
 an evaporator evaporating water through heat exchange with exhaust heat;    a compressor compressing the vapor generated by said evaporator, said compressor including an inlet guide vane;    a vapor supply duct adapted to supply the vapor compressed by said compressor to a steam-utilizing facility;    measuring means for measuring a state of vapor between said evaporator and said compressor; and    a controller controlling said inlet guide vane based on information from said measuring means.    
     
     
         6 . The heat pump according to  claim 1 , further comprising means for adjusting pressure and a flow rate of vapor after the compression by said compressor and before the supply to said steam-utilizing facility.  
     
     
         7 . The heat pump according to  claim 1 , further comprising a storage tank storing vapor after the compression by said compressor and before the supply to said steam-utilizing facility.  
     
     
         8 . A method of controlling a heat pump in which water is evaporated in an evaporator through heat exchange with exhaust heat to generate vapor, the vapor generated is increased in temperature and in pressure by a compressor and the vapor increased in temperature and in pressure is supplied to a steam-utilizing facility, the method comprising the steps of: 
 measuring a state quantity of the vapor generated by said evaporator;    bleeding the vapor during or after the increase in pressure in said compressor in response to the measuring result; and    introducing to said evaporator the vapor thus bled.    
     
     
         9 . A method of controlling the heat pump of  claim 5 , wherein said inlet guide vane provided for said compressor is controlled based on the information from said measuring means.  
     
     
         10 . A controller for a heat pump in which vapor generated by an evaporator is compressed by a compressor and supplied to a heat-utilizing facility, comprising: 
 adjusting means for adjusting a flow rate of vapor flowing in said compressor;    wherein said adjusting means is controlled based on the flow rate information of the vapor flowing in said compressor.    
     
     
         11 . A method of modifying a heat pump including an evaporator evaporating water, a compressor compressing the vapor generated by said evaporator, and a duct adapted to supply the vapor compressed by said compressor to a steam-utilizing facility, the method comprising the step of: additionally providing a bleed duct adapted to bleed vapor from said compressor or the vapor supply duct and lead the vapor to said evaporator, and a valve adapted to adjust an amount of vapor led from said compressor or the vapor supply duct to said evaporator.