Method for managing a heat pump operating with a low environmental impact operating fluid

A system for management and control of a heat pump based on a compression/expansion thermodynamic cycle of an operating fluid, the system comprising:

• a first heat exchanger adapted to allow the operating fluid to absorb heat energy from a cold well at a constant pressure;
• a second heat exchanger adapted to allow the operating fluid to yield part of the heat energy to a hot well at a constant pressure;
• an expansion valve positioned between said first heat exchanger and said second heat exchanger, said expansion valve adapted to carry out constant enthalpy expansion and cooling of the operating fluid;
• a compressor adapted to compress the operating fluid between a minimum pressure and a maximum pressure, the minimum pressure being at an outlet of said first heat exchanger, the maximum pressure being at an inlet of said second heat exchanger, said compressor adapted to suck in and compress the operating fluid, said compressor having a lubricating oil therein;
• at least one first temperature sensor cooperative with said compressor and adapted to detect a delivery temperature of the operating fluid from of said compressor;
• at least one second temperature sensor cooperative with said first heat exchanger and adapted to detect an evaporation temperature in said first heat exchanger;
• and
• at least one third temperature sensor cooperative with said second heat exchanger and adapted to detect a condensation temperature in said second heat exchanger;
• a controller cooperative with said at least one first temperature sensor and with said at least one second temperature sensor and with said at least one third temperature sensor, said controller cooperative with said expansion valve so as to open or close said expansion valve, wherein the opening of said expansion valve corresponds to values at different and consecutive time instants, wherein the values are based on measurements of the delivery temperature by said at least one first temperature sensor and the condensing temperature by said at least one second temperature sensor and the evaporation temperature by said at least one third temperature sensor, wherein a target delivery temperature is determined at an instant following a previous time interval,
• wherein said controller opens or closes said expansion valve relative to a difference between the delivery temperature sensed by said at least one first temperature sensor and the target delivery temperature.

A system for management and control of a heat pump based on a compression/expansion thermodynamic cycle of an operating fluid, the system comprising:

• a first heat exchanger adapted to allow the operating fluid to absorb heat energy from a cold well at a constant pressure;
• a second heat exchanger adapted to allow the operating fluid to yield part of the heat energy to a hot well at a constant pressure;
• an expansion valve positioned between said first heat exchanger and said second heat exchanger, said expansion valve adapted to carry out constant enthalpy expansion and cooling of the operating fluid;
• a compressor adapted to compress the operating fluid between a minimum pressure and a maximum pressure, the minimum pressure being at an outlet of said first heat exchanger, the maximum pressure being at an inlet of said second heat exchanger, said compressor adapted to suck in and compress the operating fluid and a lubricating oil temperature sensor, said compressor having a lubricating oil therein, wherein the lubricating oil temperature sensor is adapted to sense a temperature of the lubricating oil in said compressor;
• at least one first temperature sensor cooperative with said compressor and adapted to detect a delivery temperature of the operating fluid of said compressor;
• at least one second temperature sensor cooperative with said first heat exchanger and adapted to detect an evaporation temperature in said first heat exchanger;
• at least one third temperature sensor cooperative with said second heat exchanger and adapted to detect a condensation temperature in said second heat exchanger;
• and
• a controller cooperative with said at least one first temperature sensor and with said at least one second temperature sensor and with said at least one third temperature sensor and with the lubricating oil temperature sensor, said controller cooperative with said expansion valve so as to open or close said expansion valve, wherein said controller opens or closes said expansion valve so as to regulate the delivery temperature of the operating fluid of said compressor, wherein a temperature difference between a temperature of the lubricating oil sensed by the lubricating oil temperature sensor in the compressor and the delivery temperature sensed by the at least one first temperature sensor is equal to or greater than a safety threshold value such that the operating fluid does not condense into the lubricating oil, wherein the operating fluid is a refrigerant, wherein the opening of said expansion valve corresponds to values at different and consecutive time instants, wherein the values are based on measurements of the delivery temperature by said at least one first temperature sensor and the condensing temperature by said at least one second temperature sensor and the evaporation temperature by said at least one third temperature sensor, wherein the target delivery temperature is determined at an instant following a previous item interval.