WO 2015/ Al OM, PA, PE, PG, PH, PL, PT, QA, RO, RS, RU, RW, SA, SC, SD, SE, SG, SK, SL, SM, ST, SV, SY, TH, TJ, TM,

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1 (12) INTERNATIONAL APPLICATION PUBLISHED UNDER THE PATENT COOPERATION TREATY (PCT) (19) World Intellectual Property Organization International Bureau (10) International Publication Number (43) International Publication Date 5 March 2015 ( ) P O P C T WO 2015/ Al (51) International Patent Classification: KZ, LA, LC, LK, LR, LS, LT, LU, LY, MA, MD, ME, F25B 13/00 ( ) F25B 6/04 ( ) MG, MK, MN, MW, MX, MY, MZ, ΝΑ, NG, NI, NO, NZ, F25B 27/00 ( ) OM, PA, PE, PG, PH, PL, PT, QA, RO, RS, RU, RW, SA, SC, SD, SE, SG, SK, SL, SM, ST, SV, SY, TH, TJ, TM, (21) International Application Number: TN, TR, TT, TZ, UA, UG, US, UZ, VC, VN, ΖΑ, ZM, PCT/NO20 14/ ZW. (22) International Filing Date: (84) Designated States (unless otherwise indicated, for every 24 August 2014 ( ) kind of regional protection available): ARIPO (BW, GH, (25) Filing Language: English GM, KE, LR, LS, MW, MZ, ΝΑ, RW, SD, SL, ST, SZ, TZ, UG, ZM, ZW), Eurasian (AM, ΑΖ, BY, KG, KZ, RU, (26) Publication Language: English TJ, TM), European (AL, AT, BE, BG, CH, CY, CZ, DE, (30) Priority Data: DK, EE, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, HR, HU, IE, IS, IT, LT, LU, August 2013 ( ) NO LV, MC, MK, MT, NL, NO, PL, PT, RO, RS, SE, SI, SK, SM, TR), ΟΑΡΙ (BF, BJ, CF, CG, CI, CM, GA, GN, GQ, (72) Inventor; and GW, KM, ML, MR, NE, SN, TD, TG). (71) Applicant : LANGAKER, John Magne [NO/NO]; Hornelandsvagen 18, N-5412 Stord (NO). Published: (81) Designated States (unless otherwise indicated, for every with international search report (Art. 21(3)) kind of national protection available): ΑΕ, AG, AL, AM, before the expiration of the time limit for amending the AO, AT, AU, ΑΖ, ΒΑ, BB, BG, BH, BN, BR, BW, BY, claims and to be republished in the event of receipt of BZ, CA, CH, CL, CN, CO, CR, CU, CZ, DE, DK, DM, amendments (Rule 48.2(h)) DO, DZ, EC, EE, EG, ES, FI, GB, GD, GE, GH, GM, GT, HN, HR, HU, ID, IL, IN, IR, IS, JP, KE, KG, KN, KP, KR, (54) Title: MULTI FUNCTION HEAT PUMP (57) Abstract: This invention is a heat pump based on an existing air-to-air heat pump design with an external component consisting of a refrigerant cir cuit with a compressor and an evaporator/condenser, and an internal compon ent (room unit) with a con^ denser/evaporator. Less energy is required to heat modern homes. It is therefore challenging to find good solutions that can maintain sufficient indoor heating and hot water while using renewable en ergy at a cost low enough to make it economically prudent. New technical re quirements also demand that a minimum proportion of energy is provided by renewable energy sources. Traditional air-to-air heat pumps are affordable, reasonably easy to install and are very efficient. However, they can only provide indoor heating. Air-to-water and water-to-water heat pumps can be used to heat both rooms and water, but these solutions are expensive to pur chase and install. There are a few ventilation heat pumps with a hot water storage tanks, but these are inefficient and do not provide a sufficiently com fortable environment. It has been discovered that a hot water storage tank can be connected to an air-to- air heat pump, with minor alterations, creating an air-to-water-to-air heat pump. The hot water storage tank must have a specific design, but the solution would be inexpensive to produce, easy to install and very efficient. Thus the demand for both room heating (or cooling), as well as hot water, would be fulfilled.

2 Descri ption This invention is a heat pump based on an existi ng air-to-a ir heat pum p desig n with an externa l component consisting of a refrigera nt circuit with a com pressor and an eva porator/condenser, and an interna l component (room unit) with a condenser/eva porator. Less energy is req uired to heat modern homes. It is therefore cha lleng ing to find good sol utions that ca n mainta in sufficient indoor heati ng and hot water while using renewa ble energy at a cost low enoug h to make it economica lly prudent. New tech nica l req uirements also dema nd that a m inimum proportion of energy is provided by renewa ble energy sources. Trad itiona l air-to-a ir heat pumps are afforda ble, reasona bly easy to insta ll and are very efficient. However, they ca n only provide indoor heati ng. Air-to-water and w a ter-to-water heat pumps can be used t o heat both rooms and water, but these so lutions are expensive t o purchase and insta ll. There are a few ventilation heat pum ps with a hot water storage t anks, but these are inefficient and do not provide a sufficiently comforta ble envi ronment. It has been discovered that a hot water storage tank can be connected t o an air-toair heat pump, with m inor alterations, creating an air-to-water-to-a ir heat pump. The hot water storage t ank must have a specific desig n, but the sol ution would be inexpensive t o prod uce, easy t o insta ll and very efficient. Thus the dema nd for both room heati ng (or cooling), as well as hot water, would be f ulfil led. The fol lowing documents are t o be briefly referenced as known tech nology in t his field : DE Al, DE Al, GB A, WO A2 and DE Al. The invention provides a heat pump incl ud ing the features listed in the introd uction of req uirement 1, w hich are the cha racteristic featu res of req uirement 1. More specifica lly this enta ils that the externa l com ponent has a connector for an extra heat excha nger element mounted t o a hot water storage t ank, since the extra heat excha nger element is positioned between the outlet of the com pressor and a 4-way valve. I n this embod iment, the heat pum p of the present invention is divided into three main components. This embod iment is ill ustrated in the draw ing provided. A techn i-

3 cian will understand that the drawing is a principle diagram and does not necessar ily depict the components on an accurate scale. It is thus only intended t o display the most important features of one embodiment of the invention. Furthermore, a technician will understand that additional components beyond what is displayed in the principle diagram may be required. The illustration shows an external component including a compressor module 1 consisting of a compressor 4, a heat exchanger element 5, a 4-way (reversing) valve 6, two expansion valves 7 and two one-way valves 8. The internal component 2 consists of a heat exchanger element 20 and a fan 21. The hot water storage tank 3 is a container with at least one intake 17 and one o ut let 19, and a preferred model will also contain a mixing valve 18. Furthermore the tank will contain at least one heat exchanger element 9 and 10, or optionally sev eral heat exchange elements 9 and 10 connected in a daisy chain as illustrated by the drawing. The latter heat exchange elements 9 and 10 are connected t o the heat pump's compressor component between the compressor 4 and the 4-way valve 6, and will transmit heat t o the tank 3 when the compressor 4 is in operation regard less of the position of the 4-way valve 6. The tank 3 also contains a heat exchanger element 11 that when aided by a circulator pump allows the tank to be used as a heat source for an external heat distribution system 14, such as underfloor heating or radiators. At the bottom of the tank there is an additional heat exchanger element 12 that can transmit heat t o the tank from an alternate energy source, such as a solar panel 16, when aided by a circulator pump. The flow of the refrigerant will be clarified in the following section. Kompressormodulens 1 kompressor 4 pumper kuldemediet inn til v re varmevekslerelement 9 i tanken 3, videre til neste varmevekslerelement 10 som er lavere ned i tanken 3, videre til 4-veisventilen 6 som ved varmebehov pa innedelen 2 leder kuldemediet til varmevekslerelementet 20 i innedelen 2 og sa videre til en ekspansjonsventil 7 og en enveisventil 8 og videre til varmevekslerelementet 5 som da fungerer som fordamper for det gar gjennom 4-veisventilen 6 enda en gang og blir ledet tilbake inn i kompressoren 4.

4 The compressor module's 1 compressor 4 pumps the refrigerant t o the upper heat exchanger element 9 in tank 3, on t o the next heat exchanger element 10, which is located further down in tank 3, t o the 4-way valve 6, which when heat is needed on the internal component 2 will lead the refrigerant t o the heat exchanger element 20 in the inner component 2, and on t o an expansion valve 7 and a one-way valve 8, then on t o the heat exchanger element 5 which will then function as an evaporator before going through the 4-way valve 6 again before finally being led back into the compressor 4. When cooling is required for the internal component 2, the refrigerant coming from the heat exchanger elements 9 and 10 in the tank 3 will be led by the 4-way valve 6 t o the heat exchanger element 5 before continuing through the expansion valve 7 and the one-way valve 8, before then continuing t o the heat exchanger element 20 in the internal component 2, which will then function as an evaporator. I n addition t o what is indicated above, a few comments t o the functional specifications of the heat pump of the invention follow below. By making minor alterations t o a traditional heat pump, at least one extra heat ex changer element can be connected in a daisy chain between the compressor's o ut let and the 4-way valve. This heat exchanger element will then always function as an evaporator/hot gas heat exchanger, while the heat exchangers on the other side of the 4-way valve will alternate between heating and cooling. For example, the extra heat exchanger element connected the compressor and the 4-way valve can transmit heat t o a tank filled with water, and will transmit heat regardless of whether the rest of the heat pump is cooling or heating. A traditional heat pump with a reversing valve/4-way valve will normally have two heat exchanger elements where the 4-way valve will make them alternate between being condensers (heat) and evaporators (cooling). There are also heat pumps with several internal components, but in this case all of the heat exchanger elements will either be evaporators (cooling) or condensers (heat). The tank contains at least one heat exchanger element connected t o the compressor module, and a preferred model will possess two heat exchanger elements co n nected in a daisy chain. Heated refrigeration from the compressor will first enter the upper heat exchanger element and heat the upper part of the tank. Gradually as the heat rises in the upper part of the tank, the heat output will decrease, and

5 more and more heat will be produced in the lower part of the tank. Should the in ternal component require heat, a fan in the internal component will start as soon as the condenser temperature has been sufficiently raised. The remaining heat in the refrigeration will be transferred as room heating through the internal component. When cooling is required, the internal component will cool, with heat initially being emitted in the tank. When the water in the tank is hot enough for the condenser temperature t o become critically high, the remaining heat will be dumped into the compressor module. Thus, when cooling is required for the internal component, a maximum of the excess heat will always be stored in the tank, and excess heat will only be dumped when the tank has reached its maximum temperature. The tank also contains a heat exchanger element that allows for the transfer of heat from the tank t o a heat distribution system. Examples of heat distribution sy s tems include radiators and underfloor heating systems. At the bottom of the tank is an additional heat exchanger element that can be used to allow an alternate heat source to heat the contents of the tank, such as a solar panel. The state of the art as described above does not indicate the extra heat exchanger element that is mounted in the cooling circuit between the outlet of the compressor and the 4-way valve.

6 Patent claims 1. Heat pump of a familiar reversible air-to-air design, with an external component (I) encompassing a cooling circuit with a compressor (4) with an evapora tor/condenser, and with an internal component (2) with a condenser/evaporator, featured by the external component (1) having a connector for an extra heat ex changer element (9 and 10) positioned in connection with a hot water storage tank (3), given that the extra heat exchanger element (9 and 10) is positioned between the outlet of the compressor (4) and a 4-way valve (6). 2. Heat pump of claim 1, featured by an additional heat exchanger element (12) positioned in the lower end of the tank (3) for use with an alternate energy source (16) in order to heat the tank (3). 3. Heat pump of claim 1 or 2, featured by an additional heat exchanger element (II) is positioned in the tank (3) for transfer of water t o a heating system (14), such as underfloor heating systems or radiators. 4. Heat pump of claim 1 featured by the assembly of a 3-way valve (22) between the outlet of the compressor (4) and a heat exchanger element (9 and 10).

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9 A. CLASSIFICATION OF SUBJECT MATTER INV. F25B13/00 F25B27/0O F25B25/00 F25B6/04 ADD. International application No PCT/NO2014/0OQ039 According to International Patent Classification (IPC) or to both national classification and IPC B. FIELDS SEARCHED Minimum documentation searched F25B (classification system followed by classification symbols) Documentation searched other than minimum documentation to the extent that such documents are included in the fields searched Electronic data base consulted during the international search (name of data base and, where practicable, search terms used) EPO-Internal, WPI Data C. DOCUMENTS CONSIDERED TO BE RELEVANT Category* Citation of document, with indication, where appropriate, of the relevant passages Relevant to claim No. EP A2 (PHENIX HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS 1-4 INC [US] ] 7 October 1987 ( ) the whole document EP A2 (MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORP 1-4 [JP] ) 14 August 1985 ( ) f i gures 1,24 WO 2009/ Al (FENG ZHENGYI [CN] ) 1, 4 13 August 2009 ( ) f i gures 2, 3 EP Al (MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORP 1, 4 [ P] ) 13 February 2013 ( ) the whole document 2, 3 / - X Further documents are listed in the continuation of Box C. See patent family annex. * Special categories of cited documents : "A" document defining the general state of the art which is not considered to be of particular relevance "E" earlier application or patent but published on or after the international filing date "L" document which may throw doubts on priority claim(s) orwhich is cited to establish the publication date of another citation or other special reason (as specified) "O" document referring to an oral disclosure, use, exhibition or other means "P" document published prior to the international filing date but later than the priority date claimed Date of the actual completion of the international search "T" later document published after the international filing date or priority date and not in conflict with the application but cited to understand the principle or theory underlying the invention "X" document of particular relevance; the claimed invention cannot be considered novel or cannot be considered to involve an inventive step when the document is taken alone " document of particular relevance; the claimed invention cannot be considered to involve an inventive step when the document is combined with one or more other such documents, such combination being obvious to a person skilled in the art "&" document member of the same patent family Date of mailing of the international search report 12 December /12/2014 Name and mailing address of the ISA/ Authorized officer European Patent Office, P.B Patentlaan 2 NL HV Rijswijk Tel. (+31-70) , Fax: (+31-70) Ri t t e Chri stoph

10 International application No PCT/NO2014/0OQ039 C(Continuation). DOCUMENTS CONSIDERED TO BE RELEVANT Category * Citation of document, with indication, where appropriate, of the relevant passages Relevant to claim No. J P A (MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC IND CO LTD) 30 August 2007 ( ) abstract; figures DE U l (DIETZ ERWIN [DE]) 2,3 9 September 2004 ( ) the whole document EP A2 (LG ELECTRONICS INC [KR]) 2,3 15 June 2011 ( ) the whole document J P A (SANYO ELECTRIC CO) February 2006 ( ) abstract; figures

11 Information on patent family members International application No PCT/NO2014/0OQ039 Patent document Publication Patent family Publication cited in search report date member(s) date EP A AU B AU A EP A P S A US A EP A DE Dl EP A US A O Al CN A O Al EP Al CN A EP Al US Al WO Al P A NON E DE Ul NON E EP A CN A EP A KR ; A US Al P A P B J P A