# US 11,906,213 B2 · Heat pump refrigerant loop arrangements > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,906,213 B2 - Document ID: US11906213B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/357,137 - Filed: 2021-06-24 - Published: 2022-12-29 - Granted: 2024-02-20 - Earliest claimed: 2021-06-24 - Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Applicants: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Inventors: Jeffrey Paul Brown; Manfred Koberstein; Loren John Lohmeyer; Rachael Shey - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11906213B2 ## CPC - F25B 30/02: of the compression type - F25B 5/02: arranged in parallel - F25B 5/04: arranged in series - F25B 6/02: arranged in parallel - F25B 25/005: {using primary and secondary systems} - F25B 41/20: Disposition of valves, e.g. of on-off valves or flow control valves (expansion valves F25B41/31) - F25B 41/22: between evaporator and compressor - F25B 41/26: of fluid flow reversing valves - F25B 41/325: having two or more valve members - F25B 43/00: Arrangements for separating or purifying gases or liquids (in analysers or rectifiers F25B33/00); Arrangements for vaporising the residuum of liquid refrigerant, e.g. by heat (F25B40/00 takes precedence) - F25B 49/022: {Compressor control arrangements} - F25B 43/006: {Accumulators} - F25B 2400/01: Heaters - F25B 2400/04: Refrigeration circuit bypassing means - F25B 2400/0425: for internal heat exchangers - F25B 2400/13: Economisers - F25B 2500/18: Optimization, e.g. high integration of refrigeration components - F25B 2600/2501: Bypass valves - F25B: REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS ## Abstract A heat pump includes a refrigerant loop. The refrigerant loop includes a compressor, a first condenser, a vapor generator having a first region and a second region, a first expansion valve, a second expansion valve, and a first evaporator. A branching point is positioned between the first condenser and the vapor generator. The branching point diverts a portion of a first heat exchange fluid circulating through the refrigerant loop to the vapor generator. The first expansion valve is positioned between the branching point and the vapor generator. An outlet vapor generator is coupled to a mid-pressure inlet port of the compressor. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A heat pump, comprising: a refrigerant loop, wherein the refrigerant loop comprises: a compressor; a first condenser downstream of the compressor and coupled to an outlet port of the compressor; a vapor generator downstream of the first condenser; a branching point positioned between the first condenser and the vapor generator, wherein the branching point diverts a portion of a first heat exchange fluid circulating through the refrigerant loop to a first inlet of the vapor generator; a first expansion valve positioned between the branching point and the vapor generator, wherein a first outlet of the vapor generator is coupled to a mid-pressure inlet port of the compressor; a second expansion valve positioned downstream of the vapor generator and coupled to a second outlet of the vapor generator, wherein a second inlet of the vapor generator is coupled to the first condenser; and a first evaporator downstream of the second expansion valve and coupled to the second expansion valve, wherein the first evaporator is upstream of the compressor and is coupled to a low-pressure inlet port of the compressor. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The heat pump of claim 1, wherein the vapor generator is a plate-style heat exchanger that comprises a first region and a second region, wherein the first region receives the diverted portion of the first heat exchange fluid from the branching point, wherein the first expansion valve is positioned between the branching point and the first region, wherein the first outlet is an outlet of the first region, wherein the second outlet is an outlet of the second region, wherein the first inlet is an inlet of the first region, and wherein the second inlet is an inlet of the second region. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The heat pump of claim 1, wherein the vapor generator is a liquid-vapor separator valve. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The heat pump of claim 1, further comprising: a first receiver-dryer positioned between the first condenser and the vapor generator. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The heat pump of claim 4, further comprising: a second condenser positioned downstream of the compressor and upstream of the vapor generator, wherein the second condenser is plumbed in parallel to the first condenser. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The heat pump of claim 5, further comprising: a first shutoff valve positioned upstream of the first condenser and downstream of the compressor. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The heat pump of claim 6, further comprising: a second shutoff valve positioned upstream of the second condenser and downstream of the compressor. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The heat pump of claim 7, further comprising: a second receiver-dryer positioned downstream of the second condenser and upstream of the vapor generator. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The heat pump of claim 1, further comprising: an accumulator positioned between the first evaporator and the compressor. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The heat pump of claim 9, further comprising: a heater directly coupled to the accumulator. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The heat pump of claim 10, further comprising: a third expansion valve positioned downstream of the vapor generator and upstream of the accumulator; and a second evaporator positioned downstream of the third expansion valve and upstream of the accumulator, wherein the third expansion valve and the second evaporator are plumbed in parallel to the second expansion valve and the first evaporator. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The heat pump of claim 11, further comprising: a second condenser positioned downstream of the compressor and upstream of the vapor generator, wherein the second condenser is plumbed in parallel to the first condenser. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The heat pump of claim 12, further comprising: a first shutoff valve positioned upstream of the first condenser and downstream of the compressor. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The heat pump of claim 12, further comprising: a second shutoff valve positioned upstream of the second condenser and downstream of the compressor. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The heat pump of claim 1, wherein the vapor generator increases a vapor percentage and a temperature of the first heat exchange fluid that is provided to the mid-pressure inlet port of the compressor. ### Claim 16 A heat pump, comprising: a refrigerant loop, wherein the refrigerant loop comprises: a compressor; a first condenser downstream of the compressor and coupled to an outlet port of the compressor; a vapor generator downstream of the first condenser, wherein the vapor generator comprises a first region and a second region; a branching point positioned between the first condenser and the vapor generator, wherein the branching point diverts a portion of a first heat exchange fluid circulating through the refrigerant loop to the first region of the vapor generator; a first expansion valve positioned between the branching point and the second region of the vapor generator, wherein an outlet of the second region of the vapor generator is coupled to a mid-pressure inlet port of the compressor, wherein the vapor generator transfers heat from the first region of the vapor generator to the second region of the vapor generator such that a vapor percentage and a temperature of the first heat exchange fluid flowing through the second region of the vapor generator increases, and wherein the higher temperature, higher vapor percentage first heat exchange fluid is provided to the mid-pressure inlet port of the compressor; a second expansion valve positioned downstream of the vapor generator and coupled to an outlet of the second region of the vapor generator, wherein an inlet of the second region of the vapor generator is coupled to the first condenser; and a first evaporator downstream of the second expansion valve and coupled to the second expansion valve, wherein the first evaporator is upstream of the compressor and is coupled to a low-pressure inlet port of the compressor. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The heat pump of claim 16, further comprising: a first receiver-dryer positioned between the first condenser and the vapor generator. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The heat pump of claim 17, further comprising: a second condenser positioned downstream of the compressor and upstream of the vapor generator, wherein the second condenser is plumbed in parallel to the first condenser; a first shutoff valve positioned upstream of the first condenser and downstream of the compressor; a second shutoff valve positioned upstream of the second condenser and downstream of the compressor; and a second receiver-dryer positioned downstream of the second condenser and upstream of the vapor generator. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The heat pump of claim 16, further comprising: an accumulator positioned between the first evaporator and the compressor. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The heat pump of claim 19, further comprising: a third expansion valve positioned downstream of the vapor generator and upstream of the accumulator; a second evaporator positioned downstream of the third expansion valve and upstream of the accumulator, wherein the third expansion valve and the second evaporator are plumbed in parallel to the second expansion valve and the first evaporator a second condenser positioned downstream of the compressor and upstream of the vapor generator, wherein the second condenser is plumbed in parallel to the first condenser; a first shutoff valve positioned upstream of the first condenser and downstream of the compressor; and a second shutoff valve positioned upstream of the second condenser and downstream of the compressor.