A heat pump comprising an electronic control system, evaporator, condenser and heat exchanger. The evaporator is connected on one side to the lower heat source, and that branch includes the first membrane vessel, the first safety valve, the first vent and the first filter. The circulation of working medium in that branch is provided by the first circulation pump, and on the other side the evaporator is connected to the condenser via an evaporator compressor at the outlet and an expansion valve at the inlet, and the second circulation pump of heating medium and a switch valve for switching the central heating and/or domestic hot water system are installed at the condenser outlet, and the switch valve is connected to the central heating system inlet on one side and to the heat exchanger inlet on the other side. The heat exchanger outlet is connected to the inlet of the storage tank for domestic hot water system, and the outlet of the storage tank is connected to the heat exchanger inlet via the third circulation pump. The circulation pumps, compressor and switch valve are controlled by a control system. The heat pump solution according to the invention can be used mainly in compact household low-capacity heat pumps.

In typical commercially available heat pump designs, all peripheries, such as membrane vessels, safety valves, vents, or filters, are parts of an external machine room and are installed separately by heat pump installers. There are solutions known in prior art wherein some of typical machine room components are an integral part of the heat pump.

From European patent application EP 2336669 A2, we know an air heat pump used for preparing (preheating) domestic hot water, integrated with a domestic hot water tank that is located together with the heat pump in the same casing. The heat pump according to the invention can be installed in an environment with a small installation space, such as a singlefamily house or urban flat.

From Japanese application description JP 2014114983 A, we know a “monoblock” air heat pump used for preheating the medium in central heating system, wherein some elements of the machine room (circulation pump and membrane vessel) are integrated inside the pump casing.

From Chinese utility model CN 210569336 U, we know an “all-in-one” heat pump used for preparing domestic hot water. The device consists of a water storage tank and a heat pump unit located in the upper section of the water storage tank, which heat pump unit consists of a compressor, the first heat exchanger, the second heat exchanger, a four-way valve and an air separator. With the heat pump according to that utility model, installers do not need to be adapted to installing a pipe linking the refrigerant. The cost of installing the heat pump unit is saved for the user; it is enough to connect a domestic water inlet pipe and a domestic water outlet pipe to the water tank to save installation space.

From British patent application GB 2466075 A, we know a hydraulic cabinet suited to be connected to a solar collector system, which provides water heating in central heating and/or domestic hot water systems and comprises a boiler having at least one electric heating element, a water storage tank, at least one immersion heater and at least one (temperature, pressure) sensor communicating with a controller, wherein the controller is designed for controlling the electric heating element and the tank heater.

The heat pumps known from prior art lack solutions that would be universal, compact, and quick and easy to install. In addition, the known solutions always concern particular types of heat pump (that is usually the air heat pump). A full machine room for the heat pumps known in prior art requires the lower source systems, central heating and domestic hot water systems, pressure vessels and safety' valves to be connected and protected against thermal expansion. In addition, strainers or magnetic filters, vents, heaters or circulation pumps are installed separately. Most overhauls or installations with heaters require a central heating buffer to install the system. All these components must be selected and mounted by an installer, which considerably extends the installation time.

The heat pump comprising an electronic control system, evaporator, condenser and heat exchanger, wherein the evaporator is connected on one side to the lower heat source, and that branch includes the first membrane vessel, first safety valve, first vent and first filter, and the circulation of working medium in that branch is provided by the first circulation pump, and on the other side the evaporator is connected to the condenser via a compressor at the outlet of the evaporator and via an expansion valve at the inlet, and the second circulation pump of heating medium and a switch valve for switching the central heating and/or domestic hot water system are installed at the condenser outlet, and the switch valve is connected to the central heating system inlet on one side and to the heat exchanger inlet on the other side, wherein the heat exchanger outlet is connected to the inlet of the domestic hot water storage tank, and the storage tank outlet is connected to the heat exchanger inlet via the third circulation pump, wherein the circulation pumps, compressor and switch valve are controlled by a control system, according to the invention, is characterised in that the control system, evaporator, condenser, first membrane vessel, first safety' valve, first vent, first filter, circulation pumps, compressor, expansion valve and switch valve are located in one casing, wherein the casing has hydraulic connections for central heating and/or domestic hot water system and for the lower heat source, and an electrical connection.

Preferably, the heat exchanger outlet is connected to the inlet of the storage tank for domestic hot water system, and the outlet of the storage tank is connected to the heat exchanger inlet via the third circulation pump, wherein the operation of the third circulation pump is controlled by a control system, and the third circulation pump is located in the casing.

Preferably, the heat exchanger is located inside the casing.

Other benefits are gained if the heat exchanger has the form of a coil and is located inside the storage tank from which it has an outlet for domestic hot water system.

Preferably, the heat pump has a four-way valve located inside the casing, in the branch between the evaporator and condenser, which switches the flow direction of heating medium through the compressor.

Other benefits are gained if the heat pump has an electric heater located inside the casing.

Further benefits are gained if the heat pump in the working or heating medium cycle has a pressure gauge located inside the casing.

Preferably, the heat pump in the working or heating medium cycle has a thermometer located inside the casing.

Other benefits are gained if the heat pump in the heating medium cycle has a sediment filter located inside the casing.

Further benefits are gained if the heat pump in the heating medium cycle has a contaminant separator located inside the casing.

Preferably, the heat pump in the heating medium cycle has an air separator located inside the casing.

Other benefits are gained if the heat pump has the first filling system for domestic hot water system located inside the casing.

Further benefits are gained if the heat pump has the second filling system for central heating system located inside the casing. Other benefits are gained if the heat pump has the third filling system for the lower heat source located inside the casing.

Preferably, the storage tank of domestic hot water system is located inside the casing, and the storage tank branch at the cold water connection includes the second membrane vessel, second safety valve, second vent and second filter, wherein the second membrane vessel, second safety valve, second vent and second filter are located inside the casing.

Other benefits are gained if the buffer tank of central heating system is located inside the casing, and the buffer tank branch includes the third membrane vessel, third safety valve and third vent, and the inlet of the central heating system includes the third filter and the fourth circulation pump, wherein the third membrane vessel, third safety valve, third vent, third filter and fourth circulation pump are located inside the casing, and the operation of the fourth circulation pump is controlled by a control system.

Further benefits are gained if the storage tank of domestic hot water system and the buffer tank of central heating system are located inside an autonomous tank casing, and the storage tank branch at the cold water connection includes the second membrane vessel, second safety valve, second vent and second filter, and the buffer tank branch includes the third membrane vessel, third safety' valve and third vent, and the inlet of the central heating system includes the third filter and the fourth circulation pump, wherein the second membrane vessel, second safety valve, second vent, second filter, third membrane vessel, third safety valve, third vent, third filter and fourth circulation pump are located inside the tank casing, and the operation of the fourth circulation pump is controlled by a control system.

Preferably, the heat pump has a passive cooling module located inside the casing, in the branch between the evaporator and the lower source, upstream of the first membrane vessel, wherein the passive cooling module is connected to a refrigeration system.

Other benefits are gained if the buffer tank of central heating system is connected in series between the switch valve and the inlet of the central heating system.

Further benefits are gained if the buffer tank of central heating system is connected in parallel between the switch valve and the inlet of the central heating system.

The heat pump according to the invention has a compact design and is quick and easy to install. It only requires connecting the electrical connection and the connections for central heating system, domestic hot water system and lower source. Since the membrane vessels, safety' valves, vents, filters and, additionally, thermometers, pressure gauges, sediment filter and contaminant separator are located inside a single casing of the heat pump, we obtain a compact device that is quick to install. Since the heat pump compressor is located inside the same casing, the sensible operating noise is reduced, which improves the acoustic comfort of operation of the heat pump. Since the storage tank of domestic hot water system and the buffer tank of central heating system are located inside a single casing, the device is more compact. Since the storage tank of domestic hot water system and the buffer tank of central heating system are located inside an autonomous tank casing, the heat pump together with the tank casing can be installed in a smaller installation space, for example if the available vertical space is limited. The use of the buffer tank of central heating system enables increasing the system volume and optimising its operation. With the four-way valve switching the flow direction of the heating medium through the compressor, it is possible to use the active cooling function in the heat pump or, for air heat pumps, to defrost the system.

The heat pump according to the invention has been presented in two embodiments in the drawing where Fig. 1 shows the heat pump in the first embodiment with one casing comprising all the elements, and Fig. 2 shows the heat pump in the second embodiment comprising the casing and tank casing separated from each other.

The heat pump according to the invention in the first embodiment, presented in Fig. 1, comprises an electronic control system 1, evaporator 2, condenser 3 and heat exchanger 4. The evaporator 2 is connected on one side to the lower heat source 5, and that branch includes the first membrane vessel 6, first safety valve 7, first vent 8 and first filter 9, and the working medium circulation in that branch is provided by the first circulation pump 10, and on the other side the evaporator 2 is connected to the condenser 3 via the evaporator 2 compressor 11 at the outlet and the expansion valve 12 at the inlet. At the outlet of the condenser 3, there is the second heating medium circulation pump 13 and a switch valve 14 for central heating system 15 and domestic hot water system 16. The switch valve 14 is connected to the inlet of the central heating system 15 on one side and to the heat exchanger 4 inlet on the other side. The heat exchanger 4 outlet is connected to the inlet of the storage tank 17 for domestic hot water system 16, and the outlet of the storage tank 17 is connected to the heat exchanger 4 inlet via the third circulation pump 18. The circulation pumps 10, 13, 18, compressor 11 and switch valve 14 are controlled by a control system 1. The control system 1, evaporator 2, condenser 3, heat exchanger 4, first membrane vessel 6, first safety valve 7, first vent 8, first filter 9, circulation pumps 10, 13, 18, compressor 11, expansion valve 12 and switch valve 14 are located in a single casing 19, wherein the casing has hydraulic connections 20 for central heating system 15, domestic hot water system 16 and lower heat source 5, and an electrical connection 21 . The heat pump in the first embodiment has a four-way valve 22 located inside the casing 19, in the branch between the evaporator 2 and condenser 3, which switches the flow direction of heating medium through the compressor 11 . The heat pump in the first embodiment has an electric heater 23, and its heating medium cycle is fitted with a pressure gauge 24, thermometer 25, sediment filter 26, contaminant separator 27 and air separator 28, wherein the electric heater 23, pressure gauge 24, thermometer 25, sediment filter 26, contaminant separator 1 and air separator 28 are located inside the casing 19. The heat pump in the first embodiment has the first filling system 29 for domestic hot water system 16, the second filling system 30 for central heating system 15 and the third filling system 31 for the lower heat source 5 located inside the casing 19. The storage tank 17 for domestic hot water system 16 is located inside the casing 19, and the branch of the storage tank 17 at the cold water connection is fitted with the second membrane vessel 32, second safety valve 33, second vent 34 and second filter 35. The buffer tank 36 for central heating system 15 is located inside the casing 19, and the branch of the buffer tank 36 includes the third membrane vessel 37, third safety valve 38 and third vent 39, and the inlet of central heating system is fitted with the third filter 40 and the fourth circulation pump 41. The second membrane vessel 32, second safety valve 33, second vent 34, second filter 35, third membrane vessel 37, third safety valve 38, third vent 39, third filter 40 and fourth circulation pump 41 are located inside the casing 19. The operation of the fourth circulation pump 41 is controlled by a control system 1. The buffer tank 36 of central heating system 15 is connected in series between the switch valve 14 and the inlet of central heating system 15.

The heat pump according to the invention in the second embodiment, presented in Fig. 2, comprises an electronic control system 1, evaporator 2, condenser 3 and heat exchanger 4. The evaporator 2 is connected on one side to the lower heat source 5, and that branch includes the first membrane vessel 6, first safety valve 7, first vent 8 and first filter 9, and the working medium circulation in that branch is provided by the first circulation pump 10, and on the other side the evaporator 2 is connected to the condenser 3 via the compressor 11 at the outlet of the evaporator 2 and via the expansion valve 12 at the inlet. At the outlet of the condenser 3, there is the second heating medium circulation pump 13 and a switch valve 14 for central heating system 15 and domestic hot water system 16. The switch valve 14 is connected to the inlet of the central heating system 15 on one side and to the heat exchanger 4 inlet on the other side. The exchanger 4 has the form of a coil and is located inside the storage tank 17 from which it has an outlet for domestic hot water system 16. The circulation pumps 10, 13, compressor 11 and switch valve 14 are controlled by a control system 1. The control system 1, evaporator 2, condenser 3, heat exchanger 4, first membrane vessel 6, first safety valve 7, first vent 8, first filter 9, circulation pumps 10, 13, compressor 11, expansion valve 12 and switch valve 14 are located in a single casing 19, wherein the casing has hydraulic connections 20 for central heating system 15, domestic hot water system 16 and lower heat source 5, and an electrical connection 21 . The storage tank 17 for domestic hot water system 16 and the buffer tank 36 for central heating system 15 are located inside an autonomous tank casing 42, and the storage tank 17 branch at the cold water connection includes the second membrane vessel 32, second safety valve 33, second vent 34 and second filter 35, and the buffer tank 36 branch includes the third membrane vessel 37, third safety valve 38 and third vent 39, and the inlet of central heating system 15 includes the third filter 40 and the fourth circulation pump 41. The second membrane vessel 32, second safety valve 33, second vent 34, second filter 35, third membrane vessel 37, third safety valve 38, third vent 39, third filter 40, fourth circulation pump 41 and first filling system 29 are located inside the tank casing 42. The heat pump in the second embodiment has a passive cooling module 43 located inside the casing 19, in the branch between the evaporator 2 and the lower source 5, upstream of the first membrane vessel 6, wherein the passive cooling module 43 is connected to a refrigeration system 44. The operation of the fourth circulation pump 41 is controlled by a control system 1. The buffer tank 36 of central heating system 15 is connected in parallel between the switch valve 14 and the inlet of central heating system 15.

Designations - control system 23 - electric heater - evaporator 24 - pressure gauge - condenser 25 - thermometer - heat exchanger 26 — sediment filter — lower heat source 27 - contaminant separator - first membrane vessel 28 — air separator - first safety valve 29 - first filling system - first vent 30 - second filling system - first filter 31 - third filling system - first circulation pump 32 - second membrane vessel 1 - compressor 33 - second safety valve - expansion valve 34 - second vent 3 - second circulation pump 35 - second filter - switch valve 36 - buffer tank 5 - cental heating system 37 - third membrane vessel 6 - domestic hot water system 38 - third safety valve 7 - storage tank 39 - third vent 8 - third circulation pump 40 - third filter 9 - casing 41 - fourth circulation pump0 - hydraulic connections 42 - tank casing 1 - electrical connection 43 - passive cooling module2 - four-way valve 22 44 - refrigeration system