HEAT PUMP DEVICE

Abstract

 A heat pump apparatus that is capable of suppressing an increase in the installation area therefor and volume thereof is provided. A heat pump apparatus (1) includes a compressor (5) that compresses refrigerant, a condenser (2) that liquefies the compressed refrigerant, and an evaporator (4) that evaporates the liquefied refrigerant, wherein the condenser (2) and the evaporator (4) are plate-type heat exchangers formed in rectangular cuboid shapes, and the condenser (2), which is a plate-type heat exchanger, and the evaporator (4), which is a plate-type heat exchanger, are disposed next each other.

Description

{Technical Field}

[0001] The present invention relates to a heat pump apparatus, in particular, to a heat pump apparatus employing a centrifugal chiller.

{Background Art}

[0002] A shell-and-tube heat exchanger, for example, has been employed as a heat exchanger for a centrifugal chiller employed in a heat pump apparatus. In addition, a compressor is typically disposed at a top portion of the heat exchanger or at a side surface thereof (for example, see Patent Literature 1).

[0003] On the other hand, a shell-and-tube heat exchanger typically is a cylindrical container, which is known to be an advantageous shape for reducing the wall thickness thereof, as a container for storing a high-pressure refrigerant.

{Citation List}

{Patent Literature}

[0004] 

{PTL 1} Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, Publication No. 2000-292011.

{Summary of Invention}

{Technical Problem}

[0005] When considering an arrangement of components of a heat pump apparatus, however, an unusable space, that is, a gap, tends to form in the periphery of the cylindrical container. Because of this, there has been a problem in that the installation area required for and the volume of a heat pump apparatus tend to increase.

[0006] The present invention has been conceived in light of the above-described circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a heat pump apparatus that is capable of suppressing an increase in the installation area therefor and the volume thereof.

{Solution to Problem}

[0007] In order to achieve the above-described object, the present invention employs the following solutions.
A heat-pump apparatus of the present invention is a heat pump provided with a compressor that compresses refrigerant; a condenser that liquefies the compressed refrigerant; and an evaporator that evaporates the liquefied refrigerant, wherein the condenser and the evaporator are plate-type heat exchangers.

[0008] According to the present invention, by employing the plate-type heat exchangers that can be formed in a rectangular cuboid shape, it becomes less likely that a gap is formed between the condenser and the evaporator and other components, when arranging the other components of the heat pump apparatus. Because of this, it is possible to suppress an increase in the installation area for and volume of the heat pump apparatus.

[0009] In the above-described invention, it is desirable to provide a controller that controls driving of the centrifugal compressor; an oil separator that separates refrigerant discharged from the centrifugal compressor from lubricating oil; and a gas-liquid separator into which the refrigerant that has flowed out from the evaporator flows, that separates gas refrigerant and liquid refrigerant, and that supplies the evaporator only with the gas refrigerant, wherein the condenser and the evaporator are disposed next to each other, and the oil separator is disposed on the same plane as the condenser and the evaporator; the controller is disposed above one of the condenser and the evaporator; the gas-liquid separator is disposed above the other one of the condenser and the evaporator; and the centrifugal compressor is disposed above the oil separator.

[0010] With this configuration, by placing the condenser and the evaporator, which have larger volumes compared with the other components, next to each other, it is possible to prevent an increase in the installation area for the heat pump apparatus.

[0011] On the other hand, by disposing the controller above one of the condenser and the evaporator, it becomes easy to secure a flow path for air that cools the controller.

[0012] Furthermore, by disposing the gas-liquid separator above the other one of the condenser and the evaporator, the refrigerant inside the gas-liquid separator flows into the evaporator when the heat pump apparatus is stopped; therefore, it is possible to prevent the refrigerant from accumulating in the gas-liquid separator.

[0013] By disposing the centrifugal compressor above the oil separator, in other words, by disposing the oil separator below the centrifugal compressor, the refrigerant inside the centrifugal compressor flows into the oil separator when the heat pump apparatus is stopped; therefore, it is possible to prevent the refrigerant from accumulating in the centrifugal compressor.

{Advantageous Effects of Invention}

[0014] With the heat pump apparatus of the present invention, by employing plate-type heat exchangers that can be formed in rectangular cuboid shapes, an advantage is afforded in that it is possible to suppress an increase in an installation area therefor and volume thereof.

{Brief Description of Drawings}

[0015] 

{Fig. 1} Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram for explaining the circuit configuration in a heat pump apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

{Fig. 2} Fig. 2 is a front view for explaining the internal arrangement of the heat pump apparatus in Fig. 1.

{Fig. 3} Fig. 3 is a right side view for explaining the internal arrangement of the heat pump apparatus in Fig. 2.

{Fig. 4} Fig. 4 is a left side view for explaining the internal arrangement of the heat pump apparatus in Fig. 2.

{Fig. 5} Fig. 5 is a top view for explaining the internal arrangement of the heat pump apparatus in Fig. 2.

{Fig. 6} Fig. 6 is a back view for explaining the internal arrangement of the heat pump apparatus in Fig. 2.

{Fig. 7} Fig. 7 is a front view for explaining the external appearance of the heat pump apparatus in Fig. 1.

{Fig. 8} Fig. 8 is a right side view for explaining the external appearance of the heat pump apparatus in Fig. 7.

{Fig. 9} Fig. 9 is a left side view for explaining the external appearance of the heat pump apparatus in Fig. 7.

{Fig. 10} Fig. 10 is a top view for explaining the external appearance of the heat pump apparatus in Fig. 7.

{Description of Embodiments}

[0016] A heat pump apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figs. 1 to 10.
Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram for explaining the circuit configuration in a heat pump apparatus according to this embodiment.
A heat pump apparatus 1 is formed in a substantially rectangular cuboid shape and provides hot water by receiving a heat-source water supply.
As shown in Fig. 1, the heat pump 1 is mainly provided with a condenser 2, an expansion valve 3, an evaporator 4, a centrifugal compressor 5, an inverter (controller) 6, an oil-mist separating tank (oil separator) 7, and an oil tank 8.

[0017] Fig. 2 is a front view for explaining the internal arrangement of the heat pump apparatus in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a right side view for explaining the internal arrangement of the heat pump apparatus in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a left side view for explaining the internal arrangement of the heat pump apparatus in Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a top view for explaining the internal arrangement of the heat pump apparatus in Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a back view for explaining the internal arrangement of the heat pump apparatus in Fig. 2.

[0018] The condenser 2 is a plate-type heat exchanger formed in a substantially rectangular cuboid shape and condenses a high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant discharged from the centrifugal compressor 5. In other words, the condenser 2 performs heat exchange between the refrigerant and hot water to liquefy the refrigerant as well as to heat the hot water. One end portion of the condenser 2 is connected to a discharge port of the centrifugal compressor 5 via the oil-mist separating tank 7 in a manner that allows the refrigerant to flow in communication therewith, and the other end portion thereof is connected to the expansion valve 3 via an economizer 9 in a manner that allows the refrigerant to flow in communication therewith.

[0019] As shown in Figs. 3 and 6, the condenser 2 is disposed at an end portion on the back side (right side in Fig. 3) at one end side (left end portion in Fig. 6) of a rectangularly formed base portion F1 in a longitudinal direction (left-right direction in Fig. 6) and is disposed next to the evaporator 4.

[0020]  In other words, the condenser 2 is disposed at a position that is above the base portion F1, below the accumulator 10, and next to the oil-mist separating tank 7 in the longitudinal direction described above and is disposed at a position that is next to the evaporator 4 in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.

[0021] At a side surface at one end portion of the condenser 2, a hot-water inlet 21 into which hot water that has not yet been heated at the condenser 2 flows is provided at the bottom thereof, and a hot-water outlet 22 from which hot water that has been heated at the condenser 2 flows out is provided at the top thereof.

[0022] The economizer 9 is a heat exchanger formed in a substantially circular-columnar shape that further cools the refrigerant that has flowed out from the condenser 2. One end portion of the economizer 9 is connected to the condenser 2 in a manner that allows the refrigerant to flow in communication therewith, and the other end portion thereof is connected to the expansion valve 3 in a manner that allows the refrigerant to flow in communication therewith.

[0023] This embodiment will be described as applied to an example in which the economizer 9 performs heat exchange between the refrigerant to be supplied to the expansion valve 3 and a low-temperature, low-pressure refrigerant obtained by adiabatically expanding part of the refrigerant that has flowed out from the condenser 2. In this case, the refrigerant used to cool the expansion valve 3 flows into the centrifugal compressor 5.
Note that a known configuration may be employed for the configuration of the economizer 9; it is not particularly limited.

[0024] As shown in Figs. 2 to 5, the economizer 9 is disposed at an end portion on the front side (left side in Fig. 3) at one end portion (right end portion in Fig. 2) of the heat pump apparatus 1 at its middle section.

[0025] In other words, the economizer 9 is disposed at a position that is above the evaporator 4, below the inverter 6, next to an oil tank 8 in a longitudinal direction, and next to the accumulator 10 in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.

[0026] With such an arrangement, by disposing the economizer 9 above the evaporator 4, the refrigerant inside the economizer 9 flows into the evaporator 4 when the heat pump apparatus 1 is stopped; therefore, it is possible to prevent the refrigerant from accumulating in the economizer 9.

[0027] The expansion valve 3 is a valve that causes the refrigerant supplied from the condenser 2 via the economizer 9 to adiabatically expand, thereby lowering the pressure thereof. One end portion of the expansion valve 3 is connected to the economizer 9 in a manner that allows the refrigerant to flow in communication therewith, and the other end portion thereof is connected to the evaporator 4 in a manner that allows the refrigerant to flow in communication therewith.
Note that a known unit may be employed as the expansion valve 3; it is not particularly limited.

[0028] The evaporator 4 is a plate-type heat exchanger formed in a substantially rectangular cuboid shape and evaporates the refrigerant that has been adiabatically expanded by the expansion valve 3. In other words, by performing heat exchange between the refrigerant and heat-source water, the evaporator 4 gasifies the refrigerant by giving the heat of the heat-source water to the refrigerant. One end portion of the evaporator 4 is connected to the expansion valve 3 in a manner that allows the refrigerant to flow in communication therewith, and the other end portion thereof is connected to an intake port of the centrifugal compressor 5 via the accumulator (gas-liquid separator) 10.

[0029] As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the evaporator 4 is disposed on an end portion on the front side (left side in Fig. 3) at one end side (right end portion in Fig. 2) of the rectangularly formed base portion F1 in a longitudinal direction (left-right direction in Fig. 2) and is disposed next to the condenser 2. Furthermore, the evaporator 4 is disposed closer to the center of the heat pump apparatus 1 (closer to left end in Fig. 2) as compared with the condenser 2.

[0030] In other words, the evaporator 2 is disposed at a position that is above the base portion F1, below the economizer 9, next to an control panel 11 in the longitudinal direction, and next to the condenser 2 and the oil-mist separating tank 7 in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.

[0031] At a side surface at one end portion of the evaporator 4, a heat-source-water inlet 41 into which heat-source water whose heat has not yet been absorbed at the evaporator 4 flows is provided at the top thereof, and a heat-source-water outlet 42 from which heat-source water whose heat has been absorbed at the evaporator 4 flows out is provided at the bottom thereof.

[0032] The control panel 11 is where control devices for controlling various devices in the heat pump apparatus 1 are integrated and has a substantially rectangular cuboid housing in which the control devices, etc. are accommodated.
As shown in Figs. 2, 4, and 6, the control panel 11 is disposed at the other end portion (left end portion in Fig. 2) of the rectangularly formed base portion F1 in the longitudinal direction.

[0033] In other words, the control panel 11 is disposed at a position that is above the base portion F1, below the oil tank 8, and next to the evaporator 4 and the oil-mist separating tank 7 in the longitudinal direction.
With such an arrangement, it is possible to dispose the control panel 11 at a position where hot air in the heat pump apparatus 1 does not accumulate.

[0034] The accumulator 10 is formed in a substantially circular-columnar shape and separates liquid refrigerant and gas refrigerant contained in the refrigerant that has flowed out from the evaporator 4 to supply the centrifugal compressor 5 only with the gas refrigerant. One end portion of the accumulator 10 is connected to the evaporator 4 in a manner that allows the refrigerant to flow in communication therewith, and the other end portion thereof is connected to the centrifugal compressor 5 in a manner that allows the refrigerant to flow in communication therewith.

[0035] As shown in Figs. 3, 5, and 6, the accumulator 10 is disposed at one end portion (left end portion in Fig. 6) of a position extending over the top portion (top portion in Fig. 6) and the middle portion of the heat pump apparatus 1 on the back side (top side in Fig. 5) thereof.

[0036] In other words, the accumulator 10 is disposed at a position that is above the condenser 2, next to the centrifugal compressor 5 in the longitudinal direction, and next to the economizer 9 and the inverter 6 in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.
Note that a known unit may be used as the accumulator 10; it is not particularly limited.

[0037] The centrifugal compressor 5 takes in the refrigerant that has been gasified at the evaporator 4 via the accumulator 10 and discharges it into the condenser 2 via the oil-mist separating tank 7 after compressing it. In the centrifugal compressor 5, the intake port thereof into which the refrigerant flows is connected to the evaporator 4 via the accumulator 10, and the discharge port thereof from which the refrigerant flows out is connected to the condenser 2 via the oil-mist separating tank 7.

[0038] The centrifugal compressor 5 is integrally configured with an electric motor 51 that supplies a rotational driving force, and power supplied from the inverter 6 rotationally drives the electric motor 51 and controls the rotational speed thereof.

[0039] As shown in Figs. 4 to 6, the centrifugal compressor 5 and the electric motor 51 are disposed at the other end portion (right end portion in Fig. 6) at the top portion (top portion in Fig. 6) of the heat pump apparatus 1 on the back side (top side in Fig. 5) thereof.

[0040] In other words, the centrifugal compressor 5 and the electric motor 51 are disposed at positions that are above the oil-mist separating tank 7 and the oil tank 8 and that are next to the inverter 6 in the longitudinal direction.
Note that known units may be employed as the centrifugal compressor 5 and the electric motor 51; they are not particularly limited.

[0041] The invert 6 supplies power to the electric motor 51, controls the rotational speed of the electric motor 51, and has a housing formed in a substantially rectangular cuboid shape.
As shown in Figs. 2 to 5, the inverter 6 is disposed at one end portion (right side portion in Fig. 2) at the top portion (top portion in Fig. 2) of the heat pump apparatus 1 on the front side (bottom side in Fig. 5) thereof.

[0042] In other words, the inverter 6 is disposed at a position that is above the economizer 9 and next to the accumulator 10, the centrifugal compressor 5, and the electric motor 51 in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.
Note that a known unit may be employed as the inverter 6; it is not particularly limited.

[0043] The oil-mist separating tank 7 is formed in a substantially circular-columnar shape and separates lubricating oil and lubricating oil mist contained in the refrigerant discharged from the centrifugal compressor 5 from the refrigerant. One end portion of the oil-mist separating tank 7 is connected to the discharge port of the centrifugal compressor 5 in a manner that allows the refrigerant to flow in communication therewith, and the other end portion thereof is connected to the condenser 2.
Furthermore, the oil-mist separating tank 7 supplies the lubricating oil separated from the refrigerant to the oil tank 8.

[0044] As shown in Fig. 6, the oil-mist separating tank 7 is disposed at an end portion on the back side at the other end portion (right end portion in Fig. 6) of the base portion F1.

[0045] In other words, the oil-mist separating tank 7 is disposed at a position that is above the base portion F1, below the centrifugal compressor 5 and the electric motor 51, and next to the evaporator 4 in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.
Note that a known unit may be used as the oil-mist separating tank 7; it is not particularly limited.

[0046] The oil tank 8 is formed in a substantially circular-columnar shape, stores the lubricating oil used to lubricate the centrifugal compressor 5, supplies the lubricating oil to the centrifugal compressor 5, and is where the lubricating oil discharged from the centrifugal compressor 5 flows into. The oil tank 8 is connected to the centrifugal compressor 5 so that the lubricating oil can be supplied thereto and received therefrom and is connected the oil-mist separating tank 7 so that the lubricating oil is supplied therefrom.

[0047]  As shown in Fig. 2 and Figs. 4 to 6, the oil tank 8 is disposed at the other end portion (left end portion in Fig. 2) at the middle section of the heat pump apparatus 1.
In other words, the oil tank 8 is disposed at a position that is above the control panel 11, below the electric motor 51, and next to the economizer 9 in the longitudinal direction.
With such an arrangement, it is possible to make it easy for the lubricating oil to return to the oil tank 8 from the centrifugal compressor 5.

[0048] Furthermore, as shown in Figs. 2 to 6, the heat pump apparatus 1 is provided with the base portion F1, vertical main frames F2, horizontal main frames F3, vertical sub-frames F4, and horizontal sub-frames F5 for supporting the condenser 2, the evaporator 4, the centrifugal compressor 5, the inverter 6, and so on.

[0049] The base portion F1 is a member that supports all other components that constitute the heat pump apparatus 1 in which rod-like members formed of metal are combined into a substantially rectangular shape.
As shown in Figs. 2 to 6, the condenser 2, the evaporator 4, the oil-mist separating tank 7, and the control panel 11 are disposed at a top surface of the base portion F1, and a plurality of the vertical main frames F2 and the vertical sub-frames F4 are mounted thereto.

[0050] The vertical main frames F2 are rod-like members that extend from the base portion F1 to the top end of the heat pump apparatus 1 and that support other components together with the horizontal main frames F3 and the base portion F1, when the heat pump apparatus 1 is hoisted.
As shown in Figs. 2 to 6, two vertical main frames F2 each are disposed at pair of long sides at positions separated from the center of each long side by a predetermined distance.
In addition, each of the four vertical main frames F2 is provided with a hoisting lug 12 at the top end thereof.

[0051] The horizontal main frames F3 are rod-like members that extend between the vertical main frames F2 along short sides of the base portion F1 and that connect the vertical main frames F2 disposed at one long side and the vertical main frames F2 disposed at the other long side. In other words, the horizontal main frames F3 constitute ladder-like structures together with the vertical main frames F2.
Furthermore, the horizontal main frames F3, together with the vertical main frames F2, support the inverter 6, the centrifugal compressor 5, the electric motor 51, and the oil tank 8.

[0052] More specifically, two horizontal main frames F3 are disposed between the vertical main frames F2 disposed at one long side and the vertical main frames F2 disposed at the other long side. That is, four horizontal main frames F3 are provided in the heat pump apparatus 1 as a whole.

[0053] The upper horizontal main frames F3 are disposed below the inverter 6, the centrifugal compressor 5, and the electric motor 51, and above the economizer 9. The lower horizontal main frames F3 are disposed below the economizer 9 and above the evaporator 4 and the condenser 2.

[0054] The vertical sub-frames F4, together with the horizontal sub-frames F5, support the accumulator 10, the economizer 9, and so on. The vertical sub-frames F4 are rod-like members that extend upward from the base portion F1 and that extend up to a space above the condenser 2 and the evaporator 4 and below the accumulator 10 and the economizer 9.

[0055] The horizontal sub-frames F5, together with the vertical sub-frames F4, support the accumulator 10, the economizer 9, and so on. The vertical sub-frames F4 are rod-like members that extend in a direction substantially perpendicular to the vertical sub-frames F4 and that are disposed at a space above the condenser 2 and the evaporator 4 and below the accumulator 10 and the economizer 9.

[0056] Fig. 7 is a front view for explaining the external appearance of the heat pump apparatus in Fig. 1. Fig. 8 is a right side view for explaining the external appearance of the heat pump apparatus in Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is a left side view for explaining the external appearance of the heat pump apparatus in Fig. 7. Fig. 10 is a top view for explaining the external appearance of the heat pump apparatus in Fig. 7.

[0057] Furthermore, as shown in Figs. 7 to 10, the heat pump apparatus 1 is provided with outer plates 13 that internally accommodate the condenser 2, the evaporator 4, the centrifugal compressor 5, the vertical main frames F2, the horizontal main frames F3, the vertical sub-frames F4, the horizontal sub-frames F5, and so on.

[0058] As shown in Figs. 7 to 9, the hoisting lugs 12 used when transporting the heat pump apparatus 1 are externally exposed at the top portion of the heat pump apparatus 1. The hoisting lugs 12 are members that are fixed to the top ends of the vertical main frames F2, and the force that acts on the hoisting lugs 12 when the heat pump apparatus 1 is hoisted is transmitted to the horizontal main frames F3 and the base portion F1 via the vertical main frames F2.

[0059] On the other hand, as shown in Figs. 7, 8, and 10, the heat-source-water inlet 41, the heat-source-water outlet 42, the hot-water inlet 21, and the hot-water outlet 22 externally protrude at the bottom of one end portion (right end portion in Fig. 7) of the heat pump apparatus 1.

[0060] Furthermore, a power unit 14 to which power is externally supplied is disposed at the top of the one end portion. The power supplied to the power unit 14 is used to operate the heat pump apparatus 1 and is supplied, in particular, to the electric motor 51 via the inverter 6.

[0061] On the other hand, as shown in Fig. 9, the control panel 11 is externally exposed at the bottom of the other end portion (left end portion in Fig. 7) of the heat pump apparatus 1.

[0062] Next, supplying of hot water with a heat pump apparatus having the above-described configuration will be described with reference to Fig. 1 and so on.
When supplying hot water from the heat pump apparatus 1, power is externally supplied to the inverter 6, and the electric motor 51 is rotationally driven by the inverter 6, thereby causing the centrifugal compressor 5 to compress refrigerant.

[0063] A high-temperature, high-pressure gas refrigerant compressed at the centrifugal compressor 5 is discharged from the discharge port of the centrifugal compressor 5 and flows into the oil-mist separating tank 7. At the oil-mist separating tank 7, lubricating oil mist contained in the refrigerant is separated from the refrigerant. The refrigerant from which the lubricating oil mist has been separated flows into the condenser 2 from the oil-mist separating tank 7.

[0064] At the condenser 2, heat exchange is performed between the high-temperature refrigerant and externally supplied hot water of, for example, about 75 °C. By releasing heat to the hot water, the high-temperature refrigerant is condensed, thus being liquefied. On the other hand, the hot water turns into hot water of, for example, about 80 °C upon absorbing heat from the high-temperature refrigerant and flows out from the condenser 2 to the outside.

[0065] The refrigerant liquefied at the condenser 2 flows out from the condenser 2 to flow into the economizer 9. At the economizer 9, part of the refrigerant that has flowed thereinto is diverted and adiabatically expanded to generate low-temperature, low-pressure refrigerant. Then, heat exchange is performed between the diverted low-temperature refrigerant and the rest of the refrigerant to further cool the rest of the refrigerant.
After being used for cooling the rest of the refrigerant, the diverted refrigerant flows into the intake port of the centrifugal compressor 5.

[0066] The refrigerant cooled at the economizer 9 flows toward the expansion valve 3, is adiabatically expanded when passing through the expansion valve 3, and turns into a low-temperature, low-pressure liquid refrigerant. The adiabatically expanded refrigerant flows into the evaporator 4.

[0067] At the evaporator 4, heat exchange is performed between the low-temperature refrigerant and externally supplied heat-source water of, for example, about 45 °C. By absorbing heat from the heat-source water, the low-temperature refrigerant evaporates, thus being gasified. On the other hand, the heat-source water turns into heat-source water of, for example, about 40 °C upon releasing heat to the low-temperature refrigerant and flows out from the evaporator 4 to the outside.

[0068] The evaporated gas refrigerant flows into the accumulator 10 from the evaporator 4. At the accumulator 10, liquid refrigerant that has flowed out from the evaporator 4 together with the gas refrigerant is separated from the gas refrigerant, and only the gas refrigerant flows out from the accumulator 10.

[0069] The gas refrigerant from which the liquid refrigerant has been separated at the accumulator 10 flows into the intake port of the centrifugal compressor 5, is compressed by the centrifugal compressor 5, and is discharged again from the discharge port thereof as a high-pressure refrigerant, and thus the above-described cycle is repeated.

[0070] On the other hand, the lubricating oil is supplied to the centrifugal compressor 5 from the oil tank 8, and the lubricating oil is used for lubricating sliding parts in the centrifugal compressor 5. The lubricating oil that has been used for lubrication is returned to the oil tank 8 from the centrifugal compressor 5 and is supplied again to the centrifugal compressor 5 from the oil tank 8.

[0071] Here, part of the lubricating oil that has been used in the centrifugal compressor 5 for lubrication flows toward the oil-mist separating tank 7 together with the refrigerant. The lubricating oil that has flowed out is separated from the refrigerant at the oil-mist separating tank 7. The lubricating oil separated from the refrigerant is returned to the oil tank 8 from the oil-mist separating tank 7.

[0072] With the above-described configuration, by employing plate-type heat exchangers that can be formed in rectangular cuboid shapes as the condenser 2 and the evaporator 4, it becomes less likely that a gap forms between the condenser 2 and the evaporator 4 and other components, when arranging other components of the heat pump apparatus 1. Because of this, it is possible to suppress an increase in the installation area for and volume of the heat pump apparatus 1.
More specifically, by placing the condenser 2 and the evaporator 4, whose volumes are larger as compared with other components, next to each other, it becomes easier to prevent an increase in the installation area for the heat pump apparatus 1.

[0073] On the other hand, by disposing the inverter 6 above the evaporator 4, it becomes easy to secure a flow path for the air that cools the inverter 6.

[0074] Furthermore, by disposing the accumulator 10 above the condenser 2, the refrigerant that has accumulated inside the accumulator 10 flows into the evaporator 4 when the heat pump apparatus 1 is stopped; therefore, it is possible to prevent the refrigerant from accumulating in the accumulator 10.

[0075] By disposing the centrifugal compressor 5 above the oil-mist separating tank 7, in other words, by disposing the oil-mist separating tank 7 below the centrifugal compressor 5, the refrigerant inside the centrifugal compressor 5 flows into the oil-mist separating tank 7 when the heat pump apparatus 1 is stopped; therefore, it is possible to prevent the refrigerant from accumulating in the centrifugal compressor 5.

{Reference Signs List}

[0076] 

1

heat pump apparatus

2

condenser

4

evaporator

5

centrifugal compressor

6

inverter (controller)

7

oil-mist separating tank (oil separator)

10

accumulator (gas-liquid separator)

Claims

1. A heat pump apparatus comprising:

a compressor that compresses refrigerant;

a condenser that liquefies the compressed refrigerant; and

an evaporator that evaporates the liquefied refrigerant, wherein the condenser and the evaporator are plate-type heat exchangers.

2. A heat pump apparatus according to Claim 1, further comprising:

a controller that controls driving of the centrifugal compressor;

an oil separator that separates refrigerant discharged from the centrifugal compressor from lubricating oil; and

a gas-liquid separator into which the refrigerant that has flowed out from the evaporator flows, that separates gas refrigerant and liquid refrigerant, and that supplies the evaporator only with the gas refrigerant,

wherein the condenser and the evaporator are disposed next to each other, and the oil separator is disposed on the same plane as the condenser and the evaporator;

the controller is disposed above one of the condenser and the evaporator;

the gas-liquid separator is disposed above the other one of the condenser and the evaporator; and

the centrifugal compressor is disposed above the oil separator.

Drawing