US 12,624,872 B2 · Heat pump system and components thereof

Abstract

A heat pump system is provided. The heat pump system includes a refrigerant circuit through which a refrigerant is caused to flow and an antifreeze circuit through which an antifreeze solution is caused to flow having an antifreeze accumulator tank. The refrigerant circuit includes a first refrigerant coil arranged within a first heat exchanger and a second refrigerant coil arranged within a second heat exchanger. The antifreeze accumulator tank heats an antifreeze solution. The antifreeze circuit includes an antifreeze coil arranged within the first heat exchanger and proximate to the first refrigerant coil such that the antifreeze coil heats the first refrigerant coil. In some examples, the antifreeze accumulator tank includes a controllable heater arranged to heat the antifreeze solution. In other examples, the refrigerant circuit further includes a third refrigerant coil arranged within the antifreeze accumulator tank such that the third refrigerant coil heats the antifreeze solution.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A heat pump system, comprising:

a refrigerant circuit through which a refrigerant is caused to flow, wherein the refrigerant circuit comprises:
a first refrigerant coil arranged within a first heat exchanger;
and
a second refrigerant coil arranged within a second heat exchanger;
an antifreeze circuit through which an antifreeze solution is caused to flow, comprising:
an antifreeze accumulator tank configured to heat the antifreeze solution;
and
an antifreeze coil arranged within the first heat exchanger and proximate to the first refrigerant coil such that the antifreeze coil regulates a temperature of the first refrigerant coil,
wherein the first heat exchanger comprises an external coil layer and at least one internal coil layer, wherein the antifreeze coil is arranged within the external coil layer, and wherein the first refrigerant coil is arranged within the at least one internal coil layer,
wherein the first refrigerant coil and the antifreeze coil are eccentric to each other,
whereby the heat pump system is configured to operate continuously without entering a defrost cycle, without compressor stall, and/or without refrigerant lock-up at an outdoor ambient temperature below about −5° F.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Heat pump system and components thereof

Life of this patent

Heat pump system and components thereof

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims19