Lg Electronics Inc.

Jihyeong Ryu

Eunjun Cho

Youngmin Lee

Minsoo Kim

Hojin Seo

Yejin Kim

Pilhyun Yoon

Junseong Park

Woojoo Choi

An air conditioner, including a first compressor that compresses refrigerant; a second compressor that compresses the refrigerant; an indoor heat exchanger that performs heat exchange between the refrigerant and air; a first four-way valve connected to the first compressor; a first outdoor heat exchanger connected to the first four-way valve; a first valve connected to the first four-way valve; a second four-way valve connected to the second compressor; a second outdoor heat exchanger connected to the second four-way valve; a second valve connected to the second four-way valve; a first valve pipe that connects the first four-way valve and the second four-way valve; a second valve pipe that connects the first valve and the second valve; and a third four-way valve connected to the first valve pipe, the second valve pipe, the first compressor and the second compressor, and the indoor heat exchanger.

Air conditioner

A heat pump is provided that includes a first pipe in which a first refrigerant flows; a second pipe disposed at a side of the first pipe and in which a second refrigerant flows; a first heat exchanger connected with the first pipe and the second pipe and in which the first refrigerant exchanges heat with the second refrigerant; a boiler connected with the first pipe and in which the first refrigerant flows; a compressor connected with the second pipe and that compresses the second refrigerant; a second heat exchanger connected with the second pipe and in which the second refrigerant exchanges heat with outdoor air; a bypass pipe branched from first pipe and configured to exchange heat with the second heat exchanger; and a three-way valve that directs the first refrigerant to pass through the bypass pipe. When the outdoor heat exchanger operates as an evaporator, frost formation thereon may be prevented.

Heat pump

An air conditioner and a method for controlling an air conditioner. The method may include detecting an outlet temperature of a compressor; detecting a change in temperature of a hot water supply pipe; determining a system error based on the outlet temperature of the compressor; and determining an abnormality in an adjustment valve based on the temperature of the hot water supply pipe when a system error is determined.

A heat pump and a control method thereof are provided. The heat pump includes an outdoor unit includes a compressor that compresses a first refrigerant, a first outdoor heat exchanger that exchanges heat between the first refrigerant and outdoor air, an expansion mechanism that expands the first refrigerant, and a second outdoor heat exchanger that exchanges heat between the first refrigerant and a second refrigerant; a first refrigerant pipe that connects the compressor, the first outdoor heat exchanger, and the expansion mechanism, and through which the first refrigerant flows; a pressure sensor disposed in the first refrigerant pipe; a second refrigerant pipe connected to the second outdoor heat exchanger, and through which the second refrigerant flows; an indoor heat exchanger that is disposed in the second refrigerant pipe, and exchanges heat between indoor air and the second refrigerant; and a controller that determines a supply of the second refrigerant by determining a flow rate of the second refrigerant based on surging occurring in a pressure of the first refrigerant measured by the pressure sensor, so that the flow rate of the second refrigerant flowing through the second refrigerant pipe is determined only by the pressure value of the first refrigerant measured by the pressure sensor disposed in the first pipe, thereby determining the flow rate of the second refrigerant without a separate flow sensor.

Heat pump and control method therefor

A hybrid multi-air conditioning system with no receiver is provided for optimal valve control. The hybrid multi-air conditioning system includes: a hot-water unit for exchanging heat between refrigerant and water; at least one indoor unit installed indoors and comprising an indoor heat exchanger and an indoor unit expansion valve; and an outdoor unit connected to the indoor unit and the hot-water unit via a refrigerant pipeline and comprising an outdoor heat exchanger, a compressor, and an outdoor unit expansion valve, wherein, when an abnormal refrigerant enters either the at least one indoor unit or the outdoor unit according to an operation mode, the abnormal refrigerant is shut off from the hot-water unit and the at least one indoor unit or the outdoor unit which operates as a condenser. Accordingly, the hybrid multi-air conditioning system improves heat exchange efficiency via direct heat transfer between refrigerant and water by having a coil wound on the water tank to transfer heat between refrigerant and water.

Hybrid multi-air conditioning system

A heat pump may include a compressor configured to compress a refrigerant, a first temperature sensor configured to detect an outdoor temperature, a second temperature sensor provided in heating pipes connected to a heating device, and a controller. Based on a first sensing value of the first temperature sensor, the controller may be configured to control a compressor, control power to a boiler, and/or calculate an expected efficiency of the heat pump. Based on the expected efficiency and/or a second sensing value of a second temperature sensor, the controller may be configured to control power to the boiler.

Heat pump and method of operating heat pump to control power to boiler based on expected efficiency of heat pump

A heat pump boiler is disclosed. The heat pump boiler includes a compressor. The heat pump boiler further includes an exterior heat exchanger that is configured to transfer heat between refrigerant and exterior air. The heat pump boiler further includes an interior heat exchanger that is configured to transfer heat between refrigerant and water. The heat pump boiler further includes a channel change valve that is configured to provide refrigerant compressed by the compressor to the exterior heat exchanger or the interior heat exchanger. The heat pump boiler further includes a first boiler heat exchanger that is configured to heat water that has passed through the interior heat exchanger from heat generated through combustion. The heat pump boiler further includes a second boiler heat exchanger that is configured to transfer heat between refrigerant and gas discharged from the first boiler heat exchanger.

Heat pump boiler

A heat pump may include a compressor configured to compress a refrigerant, a first temperature sensor configured to detect an outdoor temperature, a second temperature sensor provided in heating pipes connected to a heating device that performs indoor heating and configured to detect a temperature of fluid flowing through the heating pipes, an outdoor heat exchanger configured to perform heat exchange between outdoor air and a refrigerant, a third temperature sensor configured to detect a temperature of the outdoor heat exchanger, and a controller. The controller may be configured to: control power to a boiler and/or to the compressor based on sensing values of the first, second, and third temperature sensors, calculate an expected efficiency of the heat pump based on the sensing value of the first temperature sensor and an initial target temperature, and control power to the boiler based on the expected efficiency.

Heat pump and method for controlling operation of boiler based on temperature of fluid

A heat pump may include a compressor configured to compress a refrigerant, a first temperature sensor provided in heating pipes connected to a heating device that heats an indoor space to sense a temperature of fluid flowing through the heating pipes, and a controller. The controller may be configured to determine whether a boiler is operating to heat an indoor space or is operating to supply hot water based on a sensing value of the first temperature sensor. The compressor may operate when the controller determines that the boiler is not operating to heat the indoor space and/or determines that the boiler is operating to supply hot water.

Heat pump and method for controlling compressor based on operation of boiler

A hybrid heating system is disclosed. The hybrid heating system includes a compressor that is configured to compress refrigerant. The hybrid heating system further includes a first heat exchanger that is configured to adjust a temperature of water by exchanging heat between the water and refrigerant compressed by the compressor. The hybrid heating system further includes a second heat exchanger that is configured to evaporate refrigerant by exchanging heat exchange with exterior air. The hybrid heating system further includes a first boiler heat exchanger that is configured to increase a temperature of water using heat generated by combustion. The hybrid heating system further includes a second boiler heat exchanger that is configured to exchange heat between exhaust gas discharged from the first boiler heat exchanger and refrigerant flowing into the second heat exchanger.

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Seoul, South Korea

Jihyeong Ryu