# US 11,079,143 B2 · Heat pump

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- Number: US 11,079,143 B2
- Document ID: US11079143B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/770,559
- Filed: 2016-10-19
- Published: 2019-02-21
- Granted: 2021-08-03
- Earliest claimed: 2015-10-28
- Assignees: Kobe Steel, Ltd.
- Applicants: Kobe Steel, Ltd.
- Inventors: Masaki Matsukuma; Takao Ohama
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11079143B2

## CPC

- F25B 9/004: {the refrigerant being air}
- F02C 1/04: the working fluid being heated indirectly {(in a fluidised-bed combustor F02C3/205)}
- F02C 6/00: Plural gas-turbine plants; Combinations of gas-turbine plants with other apparatus; Adaptations of gas-turbine plants for special use
- F02C 6/04: Gas-turbine plants providing heated or pressurised working fluid for other apparatus, e.g. without mechanical power output (F02C6/18 takes precedence {; for a fluidised-bed combustor F02C3/205})
- F02C 6/16: for storing compressed air
- F24D 3/00: Hot-water central heating systems (district heating systems F24D10/00; central heating systems using heat accumulated in storage masses F24D11/00)
- F24D 3/18: using heat pumps
- F25B 1/00: Compression machines, plants or systems with non-reversible cycle (F25B3/00, F25B5/00, F25B6/00, F25B7/00, F25B9/00 take precedence)
- F25B 9/00: Compression machines, plants or systems, in which the refrigerant is air or other gas of low boiling point
- F25B 30/02: of the compression type
- F25B 2300/00: Special arrangements or features for refrigeration machines, plants or systems, combined heating and refrigeration systems or heat-pump systems
- F25B 2339/047: Water-cooled condensers
- F25B 2400/14: Power generation using energy from the expansion of the refrigerant
- F25B 2500/18: Optimization, e.g. high integration of refrigeration components
- Y02B 30/52: Heat recovery pumps, i.e. heat pump based systems or units able to transfer the thermal energy from one area of the premises or part of the facilities to a different one, improving the overall efficiency
- Y02E 60/16: Mechanical energy storage, e.g. flywheels or pressurised fluids
- F25B: REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
- F02C: GAS-TURBINE PLANTS; AIR INTAKES FOR JET-PROPULSION PLANTS; CONTROLLING FUEL SUPPLY IN AIR-BREATHING JET-PROPULSION PLANTS (construction of turbines F01D; jet-propulsion plants F02K; construction of compressors or fans F04; generating combustion products of high pressure or high velocity F23R; using gas turbines in compression refrigeration plants F25B11/00)
- F24D: DOMESTIC- OR SPACE-HEATING SYSTEMS, e.g. CENTRAL HEATING SYSTEMS; DOMESTIC HOT-WATER SUPPLY SYSTEMS; ELEMENTS OR COMPONENTS THEREFOR (using steam or condensate extracted or exhausted from steam engine plants for heating purposes F01K17/02)
- Y02B: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

## Abstract

A heat pump includes an electric motor driven by input electric power, a first compressor mechanically connected to the electric motor and compresses air, a first heat exchanger performing heat exchange between compressed air produced by the first compressor and water, and a first hot water outlet through which the water heated by heat exchange in the first heat exchanger is taken out. Thus, in the air refrigerant heat pump, it is possible to use only air and water to supply heating by applying part of compressed air energy storage technology to the heat pump.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A heat pump comprising:
an electric motor driven by input electric power;
a first compressor mechanically connected to the electric motor and compresses air;
a water supply pipe configured to supply water;
a first heat exchanger performing heat exchange between compressed air produced by the first compressor and the water supplied from the water supply pipe;
a first hot water outlet through which the water heated by heat exchange in the first heat exchanger is taken out;
an expander driven by the compressed air produced by the first compressor;
a power generator mechanically connected to the expander;
a second heat exchanger performing heat exchange between air expanded by the expander and the water from the water supply pipe;
a cold water outlet through which the water cooled to ordinary temperature or lower by the heat exchange in the second heat exchanger and supplied from the water supply pipe is taken out; and
a first accumulator storing the compressed air produced by the first compressor, wherein
the expander is driven by the compressed air supplied from the first accumulator,
the power generator is driven by the expander to generate electric power,
a switch configured to switch a supply destination of the electric power generated by the power generator between the electric motor and a demander.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The heat pump according to claim 1, wherein the air expanded by the expander and supplied to the second heat exchanger has a temperature of −50° C. to −110° C.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The heat pump according to claim 1, further comprising:
a second accumulator that fluidly connected to at least one of the expander and the first accumulator; and
a second compressor compressing air to a pressure higher than that of the compressed air produced by the first compressor and supplies the compressed air to the second accumulator.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The heat pump according to claim 1, comprising a heat recovery mechanism recovering heat generated by the electric motor and the power generator and increases a temperature of water with a use of the recovered heat, wherein
the heat recovery mechanism comprises:
a third heat exchanger performing heat exchange between a thermal medium circulating through the electric motor and water;
a fourth heat exchanger performing heat exchange between a thermal medium circulating through the power generator and the water; and
a second hot water outlet through which the water heated by the heat exchange in the third and fourth heat exchanger is taken out.