Heat pump and method for controlling the same

Abstract

A heat pump and a control method are provided. The heat pump includes a compressor, a heat exchanger configured to receive a refrigerant from the compressor, a heat exchange pipe provided adjacent to the heat exchanger, wherein water exchanging heat with the refrigerant of the heat exchanger flows through the heat exchange pipe, a storage tank configured to store water supplied through an outlet of the heat exchange pipe and supply the stored water to a plurality of air temperature control devices, a mixing valve connected to at least one air temperature control device of the plurality of air temperature control devices and configured to mix water supplied from the storage tank with water discharged from the at least one air temperature control device and supply the mixed water to the at least one air temperature control device, and a circulation pump configured to pump the water stored in the storage tank and transfer the pumped water to the heat exchanger, wherein a part of the plurality of air temperature control devices includes a floor heating device, wherein a remaining part of the plurality of air temperature control devices includes a radiating device, and wherein the mixing valve is connected to the floor heating device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A heat pump comprising:
 a compressor;   a heat exchanger configured to receive a refrigerant from the compressor;   a heat exchange pipe provided adjacent to the heat exchanger, wherein water exchanging heat with the refrigerant of the heat exchanger flows through the heat exchange pipe;   a storage tank configured to store water supplied through an outlet of the heat exchange pipe and supply the stored water to a plurality of air temperature control devices;   a mixing valve connected to at least one air temperature control device of the plurality of air temperature control devices and configured to mix water supplied from the storage tank with water discharged from the at least one air temperature control device and supply the mixed water to the at least one air temperature control device; and   a circulation pump configured to pump the water stored in the storage tank and transfer the pumped water to the heat exchanger,   wherein a part of the plurality of air temperature control devices includes a floor heating device,   wherein a remaining part of the plurality of air temperature control devices includes a radiating device, and   wherein the mixing valve is connected to the floor heating device.   
     
     
         2 . The heat pump of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a plurality of pumps respectively connected to the plurality of air temperature control devices and configured to pump the water of the storage tank and supply the pumped water to the plurality of air temperature control devices;   a first temperature sensor configured to detect a temperature of outflow water discharged through the outlet of the heat exchange pipe;   a second temperature sensor configured to detect a temperature of inflow water flowing into the radiating device;   memory storing one or more computer programs; and   one or more processors communicatively coupled to the plurality of pumps, the first temperature sensor, and the second temperature sensor to control on/off of the compressor based on the detected temperature of inflow water, the detected temperature of outflow water, a target temperature of outflow water, and a target temperature of inflow water, and maintain operations of the plurality of pumps during the on/off control of the compressor.   
     
     
         3 . The heat pump of  claim 2 , wherein the one or more computer programs further include computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors individually or collectively, cause the heat pump to:
 recognize a first difference value between the detected temperature of outflow water and the detected temperature of inflow water and a second difference value between the target temperature of inflow water and the detected temperature of inflow water,   recognize a compensated target temperature of outflow water based on the first difference value, the second difference value, and the target temperature of inflow water,   recognize a first target compensation temperature based on the target temperature of outflow water and a first compensation temperature, turn off the compressor based on the compensated target temperature of outflow water being identical to the target temperature of outflow water and the detected temperature of outflow water being higher than or equal to the first target compensation temperature, and   recognize a second target compensation temperature based on the target temperature of outflow water and a second compensation temperature, and turn on the compressor according to the detected temperature of outflow water being lower than the second target temperature during off control of the compressor.   
     
     
         4 . The heat pump of  claim 2 , wherein the one or more computer programs further include computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors individually or collectively, cause the heat pump to:
 recognize a first difference value between the detected temperature of outflow water and the detected temperature of inflow water and a second difference value between the target temperature of inflow water and the detected temperature of inflow water,   recognize a compensated target temperature of outflow water based on the first difference value, the second difference value, and the target temperature of inflow water, and   recognize a third target compensation temperature based on the compensated target temperature of outflow water and a third compensation temperature, and turn off the compressor based on the detected temperature of outflow water being higher than or equal to the third target compensation temperature.   
     
     
         5 . The heat pump of  claim 4 , wherein the one or more computer programs further include computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors individually or collectively, cause the heat pump to:
 recognize a temperature of outflow water detected by the first temperature sensor at a time at which the compressor is turned off,   recognize a fourth target compensation temperature based on a fourth compensation temperature and the temperature of outflow water recognized at the time at which the compressor is turned off, and   according to the temperature of outflow water being lower than the target temperature during off control of the compressor, switch the compressor to a turned-on state based on the temperature of outflow water and the fourth target compensation temperature.   
     
     
         6 . The heat pump of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a plurality of pumps respectively connected to the plurality of air temperature control devices and configured to pump the water of the storage tank and supply the pumped water to the plurality of air temperature control devices;   a first temperature sensor configured to detect a temperature of outflow water discharged through the outlet of the heat exchange pipe;   a second temperature sensor configured to detect a temperature of first inflow water flowing into the radiating device;   a third temperature sensor configured to detect a temperature of second inflow water flowing into the floor heating device among the air temperature control devices; and   one or more processors communicatively coupled to the plurality of pumps, the first temperature sensor, the second temperature sensor, and the third temperature sensor to control on/off of the compressor based on a target temperature of an air temperature control device operating while the radiating device or the floor heating device operates, a temperature of inflow water detected by a temperature sensor connected to the air temperature control device operating, the detected temperature of outflow water, and the target temperature of outflow water, and maintain operations of the plurality of pumps during the on/off control of the compressor.   
     
     
         7 . The heat pump of  claim 6 , wherein the one or more computer programs further include computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors individually or collectively, cause the heat pump to:
 recognize a difference value between the temperature of outflow water and the temperature of inflow water detected by the temperature sensor connected to the air temperature control device operating,   recognize a compensated target temperature of outflow water based on the recognized difference value and the target temperature of the air temperature control device operating, turn off the compressor based on the compensated target temperature of outflow water being identical to the target temperature of outflow water and the detected temperature of outflow water being higher than or equal to the first target compensation temperature, and   recognize a second target compensation temperature based on the target temperature of outflow water and a second compensation temperature, and turn on the compressor according to the detected temperature of outflow water being lower than the second target temperature during off control of the compressor.   
     
     
         8 . The heat pump of  claim 6 , wherein the one or more computer programs further include computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors individually or collectively, cause the heat pump to:
 recognize a difference value between the temperature of outflow water and the temperature of inflow water detected by the temperature sensor connected to the air temperature control device operating,   recognize a compensated target temperature of outflow water based on the recognized difference value and the target temperature of the air temperature control device operating, and   recognize a third target compensation temperature based on the compensated target temperature of outflow water and a third compensation temperature, and turn off the compressor based on the detected temperature of outflow water being higher than or equal to the third target compensation temperature.   
     
     
         9 . The heat pump of  claim 8 , wherein the one or more computer programs further include computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors individually or collectively, cause the heat pump to:
 recognize a temperature of outflow water detected by the first temperature sensor at a time at which the compressor is turned off,   recognize a fourth target compensation temperature based on the temperature of outflow water recognized at the time at which the compressor is turned off and a fourth compensation temperature, and   switch the compressor to a turned-on state based on the temperature of outflow water and the fourth target compensation temperature according to the temperature of outflow water being lower than the target temperature during off control of the compressor.   
     
     
         10 . The heat pump of  claim 8 , wherein the one or more computer programs further include computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors individually or collectively, cause the heat pump to:
 adjust a frequency of the compressor from a first frequency to a second frequency or lower according to the temperature of outflow water being higher than or equal to the compensated target temperature of outflow water,   wherein the first frequency is higher than the second frequency.   
     
     
         11 . The heat pump of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a third temperature sensor configured to detect a temperature of inflow water flowing into the at least one air temperature control device through the mixing valve; and   one or more processors communicatively coupled to the compressor, the heat exchanger, the heat exchange pipe, the storage tank, the mixing valve, and the circulation pump to configured to open or close the mixing valve based on the temperature of inflow water detected by the third temperature sensor and a target temperature of the at least one air temperature control device.   
     
     
         12 . A method of controlling a heat pump including a compressor and a heat exchanger through which a refrigerant circulates and a storage tank configured to store water heat-exchanged in the heat exchanger and supply the stored water to first and second air temperature control devices, the method comprising:
 detecting a temperature of outflow water discharged through an outlet of a heat exchange pipe provided in the heat exchanger during on control of the compressor;   turning off the compressor based on the detected temperature of outflow water and a target temperature of outflow water;   maintaining operations of first and second pumps connected to the first and second air temperature control devices during off control of the compressor;   turning on the compressor based on the target temperature of outflow water and the detected temperature of outflow water during the off control of the compressor, and maintaining operations of the first and second pumps; and   controlling a mixing valve provided between any one air temperature control device of the first and second air temperature control devices and the storage tank to adjust a temperature of water flowing from the storage tank to the any one air temperature control device.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the turning off of the compressor comprises:
 detecting a temperature of inflow water flowing into an air temperature control device having a highest target temperature between the first and second air temperature control devices; and   according to a difference value between the temperature of outflow water and the temperature of inflow water being less than or equal to a reference value and the temperature of outflow water being higher than or equal to the target temperature, turning off the compressor.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the turning off of the compressor comprises:
 recognizing a first difference value between the detected temperature of outflow water and the detected temperature of inflow water and a second difference value between the target temperature of inflow water and the detected temperature of inflow water;   recognizing a compensated target temperature of outflow water based on the first difference value, the second difference value, and the target temperature of inflow water;   recognizing a first target compensation temperature based on the target temperature of outflow water and the first compensation temperature;   turning off the compressor based on the compensated target temperature of outflow water being identical to the target temperature of outflow water and the detected temperature of outflow water being higher than or equal to the first target compensation temperature;   recognizing a second target compensation temperature based on the target temperature of outflow water and a second compensation temperature; and   turning on the compressor according to the detected temperature of outflow water during the off control of the compressor being lower than the second target compensation temperature.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the turning off of the compressor comprises:
 recognizing a first difference value between the detected temperature of outflow water and the detected temperature of inflow water and a second difference value between the target temperature of inflow water and the detected temperature of inflow water;   recognizing a compensated target temperature of outflow water based on the first difference value, the second difference value, and the target temperature of inflow water;   recognizing a third target compensation temperature based on the compensated target temperature of outflow water and a third compensation temperature;   turning off the compressor according to the detected temperature of outflow water being higher than or equal to the third target compensation temperature;   recognizing a temperature of outflow water detected by a first temperature sensor at a time at which the compressor is turned off, and recognizing a fourth target compensation temperature based on the recognized temperature of outflow water at the time at which the compressor is turned off and a fourth compensation temperature; and   according to a temperature of outflow water during the off control of the compressor being lower than the target temperature, switching the compressor to a turned-on state based on the temperature of outflow water and the fourth target compensation temperature.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the recognizing of the first target compensation temperature is performed upon recognizing that the recognized difference value is less than a reference value and a counted on time of the compressor has reached a reference time. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 recognizing a temperature difference value between temperature of second inflow water and second target temperature based on third temperature information and second target temperature information; and   controlling an opening degree of a second mixing valve based on the recognized temperature difference value.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 adjusting a frequency of the compressor from a first frequency to a second frequency or lower according to the temperature of outflow water being higher than or equal to the compensated target temperature of outflow water,   wherein the first frequency is higher than the second frequency.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the second frequency ranges from 50 Hz to 35 Hz. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the second frequency is 35 Hz or less.