Method of Defrosting a Heat Pump Device as Well as a Heat Pump Device

Abstract

A method of defrosting a heat pump device including a water tank, a heat exchanger, an electrical heating element, an evaporator, a fan for the evaporator, and a control unit. In a first operating mode, the heat pump device is controlled to heat water inside the water tank. In a second operating mode, the electrical heating element is manually activated to additionally heat the water inside the water tank. In a third operating mode, the electrical heating element is automatically activating to heat the water in the storage tank if: a) the power supplied by the heat pump device to heat the water inside the water tank is not sufficient; b) if a time limit after activation of a deicing operation has lapsed; and/or c) if the number of times the deicing operation has been activated during a predetermined time interval exceeds a threshold value.

1 . A method of defrosting a heat pump device which comprises a water tank, a heat exchanger coupled to the water tank, an electrical heating element inside the water tank, an evaporator, a fan for the evaporator and a control unit adapted to control an operation of the heat pump device and the electrical heating element, comprising the steps of:
 in a first operating mode, controlling the heat pump device to heat water inside the water tank;   in a second operating mode, manually activating the electrical heating element to additionally heat the water inside the water tank; and   in a third operating mode, automatically activating the electrical heating element to heat the water in the storage tank if:
 a) the power supplied by the heat pump device to heat the water inside the water tank is not sufficient; 
 b) if a time limit after activation of a deicing operation has lapsed; and/or 
 c) if the number of times the deicing operation has been activated during a predetermined time interval exceeds a threshold value. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:
 in a fourth operating mode, if the air temperature is below 2° C. and if a defrosting requirement has been detected, deactivating the fan of the evaporator and activating the operation of the electrical heating element; and   deactivating the operation of the heat pump device for a predetermined time interval.   
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 2 ;
 wherein a time period of deactivating the heat pump device is reduced if the temperature of the air flowing through the evaporator is above 6° C.   
     
     
         4 . A heat pump device comprising:
 a water tank;   a heat exchanger coupled to the water tank;   an electrical heating element inside the water tank;   an evaporator;   a fan for the evaporator; and   a control unit adapted to control an operation of the heat pump device and the electrical heating element;   wherein said control unit configured to:
 in a first operating mode, control the heat pump device to heat water inside the water tank; 
 in a second operating mode, manually activate the electrical heating element to additionally heat the water inside the water tank; and 
 in a third operating mode, automatically activate the electrical heating element to heat the water in the storage tank if:
 a) the power supplied by the heat pump device to heat the water inside the water tank is not sufficient; 
 b) if a time limit after activation of a deicing operation has lapsed; and/or 
 c) if the number of times the deicing operation has been activated during a predetermined time interval exceeds a threshold value.