US 10,823,471 B2 · Refrigerant transfer control in multi mode air conditioner with hot water generator

Abstract

A method for controlling an operating discharge pressure in a multi-purpose HVAC system including an outdoor unit, and an indoor unit, the HVAC system including a plurality of flow control valves configured to isolate the indoor unit from the multi-purpose HVAC system, a compressor and a controller, operably coupled to a water heater module, the water heater module including at least one valve, the controller executing a method including operating the multi-purpose HVAC system in a water heating mode, monitoring the operating discharge pressure from the compressor; and generating a signal commanding at least one of the plurality of control valves to isolate the indoor unit from the outdoor unit and water heating module and direct high pressure refrigerant to the indoor unit when the operating discharge pressure is greater than or equal to a predetermined pressure value.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A method for controlling an operating discharge pressure in a multi-purpose HVAC system including an outdoor unit assembly and an indoor unit assembly, the HVAC system including a plurality of control valves, a compressor and a controller operably coupled to a water heating module, the controller executing the method comprising:

operating the multi-purpose HVAC system in a water heating mode;
operating the controller to monitor at least an operating discharge pressure from the compressor;
and
operating the controller to produce a signal commanding at least one of the plurality of control valves to isolate the indoor unit assembly from a heat exchanger of the outdoor unit assembly and the water heating module and direct high pressure refrigerant to the indoor unit assembly when the operating discharge pressure is greater than or equal to a predetermined pressure value.

1 more element

A multi-purpose HVAC system comprising:

an outdoor unit assembly including a compressor, a four-way valve, an expansion valve and a heat exchanger;
an indoor unit assembly;
a water heating module including a heat exchanger;
a controller operably connected to the outdoor unit assembly, indoor unit assembly and the water heating module;
and
a plurality of conduits operatively coupling the water heating module to the outdoor unit assembly and the indoor unit assembly;
wherein the controller is configured to:
operate the multi-purpose HVAC system in a water heating mode;
monitor the operating discharge pressure from the compressor;
and
produce a signal commanding at least one control valve to isolate the indoor unit assembly from a heat exchanger of the outdoor unit assembly and the water heating module and direct high pressure refrigerant to the indoor unit assembly when the operating discharge pressure is greater than or equal to a predetermined pressure value.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Refrigerant transfer control in multi mode air conditioner with hot water generator

Life of this patent

Refrigerant transfer control in multi mode air conditioner with hot water generator

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18