Heat pump with multiple vapor generators
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsRachael Shey, Jeffrey Paul Brown
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A heat pump includes a refrigerant loop. The refrigerant loop includes a compressor, a first vapor generator, a second vapor generator, and a third vapor generator. The compressor includes a low-pressure inlet, a mid-pressure inlet, and an outlet. The first vapor generator, the second vapor generator, and the third vapor generator are each positioned downstream of the outlet of the compressor. The first vapor generator, the second vapor generator, and the third vapor generator are each positioned upstream of the mid-pressure inlet of the compressor.
Claims17
A heat pump, comprising:
- a refrigerant loop comprising:
- a compressor having a low-pressure inlet, a mid-pressure inlet, and an outlet;
- a first vapor generator;
- a second vapor generator;
- a third vapor generator, wherein the first vapor generator, the second vapor generator, and the third vapor generator are each positioned downstream of the outlet of the compressor, and wherein the first vapor generator, the second vapor generator, and the third vapor generator are each positioned upstream of the mid-pressure inlet of the compressor;
- a first heat exchanger positioned downstream of the first vapor generator;
- a second heat exchanger positioned downstream of the second vapor generator;
- a third heat exchanger positioned downstream of the third vapor generator;
- a first expansion valve positioned immediately upstream of the first vapor generator;
- a second expansion valve positioned immediately upstream of the second vapor generator;
- and
- a third expansion valve positioned immediately upstream of the third vapor generator.
A heat pump comprising:
- a refrigerant loop comprising:
- a compressor having a low-pressure inlet, a mid-pressure inlet, and an outlet;
- a first vapor generator;
- a second vapor generator;
- a third vapor generator, wherein the first vapor generator, the second vapor generator, and the third vapor generator are each positioned downstream of the outlet of the compressor, and wherein the first vapor generator, the second vapor generator, and the third vapor generator are each positioned upstream of the mid-pressure inlet of the compressor;
- a first heat exchanger positioned downstream of the first vapor generator;
- a second heat exchanger positioned downstream of the second vapor generator;
- a third heat exchanger positioned downstream of the third vapor generator;
- a first shutoff valve positioned immediately downstream of an outlet of the first heat exchanger;
- a second shutoff valve positioned immediately downstream of the first shutoff valve;
- and
- a third shutoff valve positioned immediately downstream of the second shutoff valve.
A heat pump, comprising:
- a refrigerant loop comprising:
- a compressor having a low-pressure inlet, a mid-pressure inlet, and an outlet;
- a first vapor generator;
- a first heat exchanger positioned downstream of the first vapor generator;
- a second vapor generator;
- a second heat exchanger positioned downstream of the second vapor generator;
- a third vapor generator;
- a third heat exchanger positioned downstream of the third vapor generator, wherein the first vapor generator, the second vapor generator, and the third vapor generator are each positioned downstream of the outlet of the compressor, and wherein the first vapor generator, the second vapor generator, and the third vapor generator are each positioned upstream of the mid-pressure inlet of the compressor;
- a first check valve positioned immediately downstream of the second heat exchanger;
- and
- a second check valve positioned immediately downstream of the third heat exchanger.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.