Heat pump with drainage for low ambient temperature conditions

Abstract

Heat pumps are often desired to be used over other types of HVAC units given their efficiency. In some cases, this efficiency may be further improved by using condensate that is naturally produced by an indoor coil of the heat pump when in a cooling mode. For example, any accumulate condensate may be “thrown” onto any components of the heat pump using a “slinger ring” attached to a fan inside the unit. However, this condensate accumulation may be problematic in a heating mode of the heat pump because the water may freeze and prevent the fan and/or corresponding motor from properly functioning. Thus, the systems and methods provided herein present a heat pump including a multi-layered basepan including an outdoor coil tray that allows condensate to be routed to the drain platform underneath the unit while limiting the ability of condensate to reach the slinger ring in the heating mode.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.