# US 2018/0023848 A1 · Reversible Heat Pump with Cycle Enhancements

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- Number: US 2018/0023848 A1
- Document ID: US20180023848A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 15/722,190
- Filed: 2017-10-02
- Published: 2018-01-25
- Earliest claimed: 2014-04-01
- Assignees: Lennox Industries Inc.
- Applicants: Lennox Industries Inc.
- Inventors: Robert B. Uselton
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180023848A1

## CPC

- F25B 1/06: with compressor of jet type, e.g. using liquid under pressure ({F25B1/005,} F25B1/10 take precedence)
- F25B 13/00: Compression machines, plants or systems, with reversible cycle (defrosting cycles F25B47/02)
- F25B 21/02: using Peltier effect; using Nernst-Ettinghausen effect
- F25B 40/00: Subcoolers, desuperheaters or superheaters
- F25B 40/02: Subcoolers
- F25B 9/04: using vortex effect
- F25B 41/39: Dispositions with two or more expansion means arranged in series, i.e. multi-stage expansion, on a refrigerant line leading to the same evaporator
- F25B 2313/0272: using bridge circuits of one-way valves
- F25B 2313/02741: using one four-way valve
- F25B 2400/13: Economisers
- F25B 2400/14: Power generation using energy from the expansion of the refrigerant
- F25B: REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS

## Abstract

A cycle enhancement apparatus is provided. The apparatus has a first side entrance line and exit line, both connected to a first side of a refrigerant line, and a second side entrance line and exit line, both connected to a second side of the refrigerant line. One-way valves prevent flow through the first side entrance line toward the first side, through the first side exit line away from the first side, through the second side entrance line toward the second side, and through the second side exit line away from the second side. The apparatus has a cycle enhancement line. The cycle enhancement line has an entrance portion, connected to the first side entrance line and the second side entrance line, an exit portion, connected to the first side exit line and the second side exit line, and a cycle enhancement between the entrance portion and the exit portion.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of enhancing a vapor compression cycle, the method comprising:
receiving refrigerant from a first heat exchanger;
preventing the refrigerant from flowing from the first heat exchanger through a first side exit line;
moving the refrigerant from the first heat exchanger through a first side entrance line;
preventing the refrigerant from flowing from the first side entrance line through a second side entrance line;
moving the refrigerant from the first side entrance line through a cycle enhancement line, the cycle enhancement line comprising a one-way cycle enhancement;
moving the refrigerant from the cycle enhancement line through a second side exit line.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the refrigerant comprises carbon dioxide.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the refrigerant is received from a heat exchanger.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising moving the refrigerant from the second side exit line to a heat exchanger.

### Claim 5

A cycle enhancement apparatus, the apparatus comprising:
a cycle enhancement;
a first side expansion device connected to:
a first side of a refrigerant line; and
the cycle enhancement; and
a second side expansion device connected to:
a second side of the refrigerant line; and
the cycle enhancement.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The cycle enhancement apparatus of claim 5, wherein:
the first side of the refrigerant line is connected to a first heat exchanger; and
the second side of the refrigerant line is connected to a second heat exchanger.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The cycle enhancement apparatus of claim 5, wherein the cycle enhancement comprises:
a flash tank; and
an injection line.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The cycle enhancement apparatus of claim 7, wherein the injection line is connected to an injection port of a compressor.