Heat supply apparatus

Abstract

A heat supply apparatus comprises: a compressor compressing refrigerant; a first heat exchanger being connected to the compressor through a refrigerant pipe and exchanging heat between refrigerant and water; and a second heat exchanger being connected to the compressor through a refrigerant pipe and exchanging heat between refrigerant and outdoor air, wherein the second heat exchanger includes a plurality of pipes through which refrigerant flows; and a valve adjusting the flow of refrigerant through the lowermost pipe of the plurality of pipes, and the valve allows refrigerant to flow only in a first direction that sequentially passes the compressor, the second heat exchanger, and the indoor heat exchanger.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus comprising:
 a compressor that compresses a refrigerant;   a first heat exchanger that is connected to the compressor through a refrigerant pipe and in which heat is exchanged between the refrigerant and water; and   a second heat exchanger connected to the compressor through the refrigerant pipe and in which heat is exchanged between the refrigerant and outdoor air,   wherein the second heat exchanger includes:
 a plurality of pipes through which the refrigerant flows; and 
 a valve adjusting a flow of the refrigerant through a first pipe located at a lowest position among the plurality of pipes, and 
   wherein the valve allows the refrigerant to flow in a first direction in which the refrigerant sequentially passes through the compressor, the second heat exchanger, and the first heat exchanger.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the valve is a check valve that allows the refrigerant to flow through the check valve in the first direction and blocks the refrigerant from flowing through the check valve in a second direction, which is opposite to the first direction. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the second heat exchanger includes:
 a plurality of distribution pipes connected to the plurality of pipes; and 
 a distributor coupled to the plurality of distribution pipes, and 
   wherein the valve is disposed at a first distribution pipe that is fluidly connected to the first pipe.   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the second heat exchanger includes:
 a plurality of distribution pipes connected to first ends of the plurality of pipes; 
 a distributor coupled to the plurality of distribution pipes; 
 a plurality of connection pipes connected to second ends of the plurality of pipes; and 
 a header coupled to the plurality of connection pipes, and 
   wherein the valve is disposed at a first connection pipe that is fluidly connected to the first pipe.   
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the valve is a solenoid valve that opens to allow a flow of the refrigerant through the solenoid valve or closes to prevent a flow of the refrigerant through the solenoid valve. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the solenoid valve closes during a heating operation and opens during a cooling operation or a defrosting operation. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the first pipe includes:
 a first pipe inlet tube through which the refrigerant flows into the first pipe after being discharged from the compressor; and 
 a first pipe outlet tube through which the refrigerant flows out of the first pipe after flowing into the first pipe via the first pipe inlet tube, and 
   wherein the first pipe inlet tube is separated outward from the first pipe outlet tube.   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the first pipe inlet tube is located on an outermost side of the plurality of pipes. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the first pipe outlet tube is located on an innermost side of the plurality of pipes. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the first pipe inlet tube is located below the first pipe outlet tube. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the first pipe outlet tube is coupled to a bottom of the first pipe, and the first pipe inlet tube is coupled to a top of the first pipe. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 7 ,
 wherein the plurality of pipes includes a plurality of second pipes that differ from the first pipe,   wherein one of the plurality of second pipes includes:
 a second pipe inlet tube through which the refrigerant flows after being discharged from the compressor; and 
 a second pipe outlet tube through which the refrigerant flows out of the one of the plurality of second pipes and toward the first heat exchanger, and 
   wherein the second pipe inlet tube is spaced inwardly from the second pipe outlet tube.   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the plurality of pipes includes a plurality of second pipes that differ from the first pipe, and   wherein a length of a refrigerant flow path of the first pipe is shorter than a length of a refrigerant flow path of one of the plurality of second pipes.   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 ,
 wherein the plurality of pipes includes tubes arranged into at least two rows, and   wherein a first quantity of the tubes included in the first pipe is less than a second quantity of the tubes included in the one of the plurality of second pipes.   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the first distribution pipe is located at a lowest position among the plurality of distribution pipes. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the first connection pipe is located at a lowest position among the plurality of connection pipes. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising an expansion device disposed between the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger,
 wherein the refrigerant sequentially flows through the second heat exchanger, the expansion device, and the first heat exchanger when flowing in the first direction.   
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the refrigerant flows in the first direction when the apparatus is operating to heat the water, and the refrigerant flows in a second direction opposite to the first direction when the apparatus is operating to cool the water or to defrost the second heat exchanger. 
     
     
         19 . An apparatus comprising:
 a first heat exchanger configured to allow heat to be exchanged between refrigerant and water flowing through the first heat exchanger;   a second heat exchanger that is fluidly connected to the first heat exchanger such that the refrigerant flows between the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger, the second heat exchanger including a plurality of pipes through which the refrigerant flows within the second heat exchanger to exchange heat with outside air; and   a valve regulating a flow of the refrigerant through one of the pipes,   wherein the valve blocks the refrigerant from flowing through the one of the pipes when the apparatus is operating to heat the water, and allows the refrigerant to flow through the one of the pipes when the apparatus is operating to cool the water or to defrost the second heat exchanger.   
     
     
         20 . An apparatus comprising:
 a first heat exchanger in which heat is exchanged between a refrigerant and water;   a second heat exchanger in which heat is exchanged between the refrigerant and outdoor air,   a compressor that compresses the refrigerant; and   a first valve that directs the compressed refrigerant to one of the first heat exchanger or the second heat exchanger;   wherein the second heat exchanger includes:
 a plurality of pipes through the which the refrigerant flows to exchange heat with the outside air, 
 a plurality of distribution pipes connected to first ends of the plurality of pipes; 
 a plurality of connection pipes connected to second ends of the plurality of pipes; and 
 a second valve provided at one of a lowest one of the plurality of distribution pipes or a lowest one of the plurality of connection pipes, 
   wherein the second the valve blocks the refrigerant from flowing through the one of the lowest one of the plurality of distribution pipes or the lowest one of the plurality of connection pipes when the first valve directs the compressed refrigerant to the first heat exchanger.