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US 2023/0109595 A1Published application
Heat pump refrigerant loop arrangements
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsJeffrey Paul Brown, Manfred Koberstein, Loren John Lohmeyer, Rachael Shey
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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 of the vapor generator is coupled to a mid-pressure inlet port of the compressor.
Claims20
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 having a first inlet and a first outlet and a second region having a second inlet and a second outlet, and wherein the vapor generator receives a first heat exchange fluid;
- a first receiver-dryer positioned between the first condenser and the vapor generator;
- a first branching point positioned between the first condenser and the vapor generator, wherein the first branching point diverts a portion of the first heat exchange fluid circulating through the refrigerant loop to the first inlet of the vapor generator;
- a first expansion valve positioned between the first branching point and the first inlet of the vapor generator, wherein the first outlet of the vapor generator is coupled to a mid-pressure inlet port of the compressor;
- a first evaporator downstream of the vapor generator and coupled to the second outlet of the vapor generator;
- a second expansion valve positioned between the first evaporator and the vapor generator, wherein the first evaporator is upstream of the compressor and is coupled to a low-pressure inlet port of the compressor;
- and
- a heat exchanger having a first region and a second region, wherein the first region of the heat exchanger is positioned between the second outlet of the vapor generator and the second expansion valve, wherein the first region of the heat exchanger is plumbed in series with the second region of the vapor generator such that an inlet of the first region of the heat exchanger is directly coupled to an outlet of the second region of the vapor generator.
8 more elements
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 having a first inlet and a first outlet and a second region having a second inlet and a second outlet, and wherein the vapor generator receives a first heat exchange fluid;
- a first receiver-dryer positioned between the first condenser and the vapor generator;
- a first branching point positioned between the first condenser and the vapor generator, wherein the first branching point diverts a portion of the first heat exchange fluid circulating through the refrigerant loop to the first inlet of the vapor generator;
- a first expansion valve positioned between the first branching point and the first inlet of the vapor generator, wherein the first outlet of the vapor generator is coupled to a mid-pressure inlet port of the compressor;
- a first evaporator downstream of the vapor generator and coupled to the second outlet of the vapor generator;
- a second expansion valve positioned between the first evaporator and the vapor generator, wherein the first evaporator is upstream of the compressor and is coupled to a low-pressure inlet port of the compressor;
- a heat exchanger having a first region and a second region, wherein the first region of the heat exchanger is positioned between the second outlet of the vapor generator and the second expansion valve, wherein the first region of the heat exchanger is plumbed in series with the second region of the vapor generator such that an inlet of the first region of the heat exchanger is directly coupled to an outlet of the second region of the vapor generator, wherein an inlet of the second region of the heat exchanger is positioned downstream of the first evaporator, wherein an outlet of the second region of the heat exchanger is positioned upstream of the low-pressure inlet port of the compressor;
- a second evaporator downstream of the vapor generator and coupled to the second outlet of the vapor generator, wherein the second evaporator is plumbed in parallel to the first evaporator, and wherein an inlet of the second region of the heat exchanger is positioned downstream of the second evaporator;
- and
- a third expansion valve positioned between the second evaporator and the vapor generator, wherein the third expansion valve is plumbed in parallel to the second expansion valve.
10 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.