Water supply apparatus

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a water supply apparatus which may include an outdoor unit installed outdoors, and a cascade unit to receive refrigerant from the outdoor unit and generate hot water of a first temperature and/or hot water of a second temperature higher than the first temperature. The water supply apparatus may generate hot water of the first temperature, hot water of the second temperature higher than the first temperature and/or cold water.

1 . A water supply apparatus comprising:
 an outdoor unit installed outdoors; and   a cascade unit to receive refrigerant from the outdoor unit and to generate at least one of hot water of a first temperature and hot water of a second temperature, which is higher than the first temperature.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the outdoor unit includes a first compressor to compress first refrigerant and a first heat exchanger to enable the first refrigerant to exchange heat with outdoor air; and   the cascade unit includes a second compressor to compress second refrigerant, a second heat exchanger to enable water supplied from an external water supply source to exchange heat with the first refrigerant transferred from the outdoor unit, a third heat exchanger to enable the second refrigerant to be suctioned into the second compressor to be heated by the first refrigerant transferred from the outdoor unit, and a fourth heat exchanger to enable water supplied from the external water supply source to exchange heat with the second refrigerant discharged from the second compressor.   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a 4-way valve disposed at a discharge side of the first compressor;   a first refrigerant pipe having one end connected to the first compressor;   a second refrigerant pipe having one end connected to the first heat exchanger;   a first connection refrigerant pipe having one end connected to the 4-way valve and the other end connected to the first heat exchanger;   a first branched refrigerant pipe branched from the other end of the first refrigerant pipe and connected to the second heat exchanger;   a second branched refrigerant pipe branched from the other end of the first refrigerant pipe and connected to the third heat exchanger;   a third branched refrigerant pipe branched from the other end of the second refrigerant pipe and connected to the second heat exchanger;   a fourth branched refrigerant pipe branched from the other end of the second refrigerant pipe and connected to the third heat exchanger;   a first 3-way valve to enable the first refrigerant pipe to communicate with any one of the first branched refrigerant pipe and the second branched refrigerant pipe;   a first expansion valve disposed at the third branched refrigerant pipe; and   a second expansion valve disposed at the fourth branched refrigerant pipe.   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a second discharged refrigerant pipe to guide the second refrigerant discharged from the second compressor to the fourth heat exchanger;   a second suctioned refrigerant pipe to guide the second refrigerant from the third heat exchanger to be suctioned into the second compressor;   a second connection refrigerant pipe to connect the third heat exchanger and the fourth heat exchanger to each other; and   a third expansion valve disposed at the second connection refrigerant pipe.   
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a first water pipe supplied with water from the external water supply source;   a second water pipe branched from the first water pipe to guide water to the second heat exchanger;   a third water pipe branched from the first water pipe to guide water to the fourth heat exchanger;   a fourth water pipe to connect to a water consumption apparatus;   a fifth water pipe to guide water passing through the second heat exchanger to the fourth water pipe;   a sixth water pipe to guide water passing through the fourth heat exchanger to the fourth water pipe; and   a second 3-way valve disposed between the first water pipe, the second water pipe and the third water pipe so as to enable water from the first water pipe to be supplied to any one of the second and third water pipes.   
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to  claim 5 , further comprising a pump disposed at the fourth water pipe to enable water to be suctioned from the external water supply source and be discharged to the water consumption apparatus. 
     
     
         7 . A water supply apparatus comprising:
 a first compressor to compress first refrigerant;   a first heat exchanger to enable the first refrigerant to exchange heat with outdoor air;   a second compressor to compress second refrigerant;   a second heat exchanger to enable water supplied from an external water supply source to exchange heat with the first refrigerant;   a third heat exchanger to enable the second refrigerant to be suctioned into the second compressor to be heated by the first refrigerant; and   a fourth heat exchanger to enable water supplied from the external water supply source to exchange heat with the second refrigerant discharged from the second compressor.   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus according to  claim 7 , comprising: an outdoor unit disposed outdoors which includes the first compressor and first heat exchanger; and
 a cascade unit including the second compressor and the second, third and fourth heat exchangers.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein the outdoor unit and the cascade unit are formed as individual units and are connected to each other via a refrigerant pipe. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein the outdoor unit comprises the cascade unit. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus according to  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a 4-way valve disposed at a discharge side of the first compressor;   a first refrigerant pipe having one end connected to the first compressor;   a second refrigerant pipe having one end connected to the first heat exchanger;   a first connection refrigerant pipe having one end connected to the 4-way valve and the other end connected to the first heat exchanger;   a first branched refrigerant pipe branched from the other end of the first refrigerant pipe and connected to the second heat exchanger;   a second branched refrigerant pipe branched from the other end of the first refrigerant pipe and connected to the third heat exchanger,   a third branched refrigerant pipe branched from the other end of the second refrigerant pipe and connected to the second heat exchanger,   a fourth branched refrigerant pipe branched from the other end of the second refrigerant pipe and connected to the third heat exchanger;   a first 3-way valve to enable the first refrigerant pipe to communicate with any one of the first branched refrigerant pipe and the second branched refrigerant pipe;   a second discharged refrigerant pipe to guide the second refrigerant discharged from the second compressor to the fourth heat exchanger;   a second suctioned refrigerant pipe to guide the second refrigerant from the third heat exchanger to be suctioned into the second compressor;   a second connection refrigerant pipe to connect the third heat exchanger and the fourth heat exchanger to each other;   a first expansion valve disposed at the third branched refrigerant pipe;   a second expansion valve disposed at the fourth branched refrigerant pipe; and   a third expansion valve disposed at the second connection refrigerant pipe.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus according to  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a first water pipe supplied with water from the external water supply source;   a second water pipe branched from the first water pipe to guide water to the second heat exchanger;   a third water pipe branched from the first water pipe to guide water to the fourth heat exchanger;   a fourth water pipe to connect to a water consumption apparatus;   a fifth water pipe to guide water passing through the second heat exchanger to the fourth water pipe;   a sixth water pipe to guide water passing through the fourth heat exchanger to the fourth water pipe; and   a second 3-way valve disposed between the first water pipe and the second water pipe and the third water pipe so as to enable water from the first water pipe to be supplied to any one of the second and third water pipes.   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus according to  claim 12 , further comprising a pump disposed at the fourth water pipe to enable water to be suctioned from the external water supply source and be discharged to the water consumption apparatus. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the outdoor unit comprises the cascade unit. 
     
     
         15 . The water supply apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the cascade unit generates cold water, hot water of a first temperature and hot water of a second temperature, the second temperature being higher than the first temperature.