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US 2023/0113018 A1Published application
Thermoelectric enhanced hybrid heat pump systems
AssigneeDTP Thermoelectrics LLC
InventorsDouglas Crane, Lon Bell
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AssigneeDTP Thermoelectrics LLC
InventorsDouglas Crane, Lon Bell
Estimating the term…
Thermoelectric enhanced hybrid heat pump systems are provided herein. A compressor increases the pressure of refrigerant within tubing. A first heat exchanger is downstream of the compressor and changes enthalpy of first fluid flow through heat exchange with refrigerant. A second heat exchanger changes enthalpy of second fluid flow through heat exchange with refrigerant. A thermoelectric device is downstream of the first heat exchanger and reduces refrigerant temperature. Expansion valves are downstream of the thermoelectric device and first heat exchanger, respectively located on first and second sides of the thermoelectric device, and expand refrigerant and reduce refrigerant pressure while conserving refrigerant enthalpy. At least one valve reverses refrigerant flow within the tubing without changing compressor operation. A control system controls the thermoelectric device and at least one valve to switch the heat pump system from heating mode to cooling mode and from cooling mode to heating mode.
A heat pump system that can be used in a cooling mode and in a heating mode, the heat pump system comprising:
A heat pump system that can be used in a cooling mode and in a heating mode, the heat pump system comprising:
A heat pump system that can be used for temperature control, the heat pump system comprising:
A heat pump system that can be used in a cooling mode and in a heating mode, the heat pump system comprising:
A heat pump system that can be used in a cooling mode, the heat pump system comprising:
A heat pump system that can be used in a heating mode, the heat pump system comprising:
The heat pump system of any one of the preceding claims wherein the thermoelectric device is integrated into the first heat exchanger or the second heat exchanger.
The heat pump system of any one of the preceding claims, wherein a temperature of the refrigerant in the second heat exchanger is based, at least in part, on operation of the second heat exchanger, a temperature of the refrigerant at an inlet to the second heat exchanger, an ambient temperature, and how many parts of the thermoelectric device are turned on.
The heat pump system of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the heat pump system is configured to minimize and control operating pressure and inhibit over-pressure conditions.
The heat pump system of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the heat pump system is configured to operate subcritically for all ambient temperatures.
The heat pump system of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the control system is configured to switch the heat pump system between operating subcritically and operating transcritically depending on the conditions.
The heat pump system of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the heat pump system is configured to operate transcritically for all ambient temperatures.
The heat pump system of any one of the preceding claims, being configured to provide heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) to a passenger vehicle.
The heat pump system of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the control system is configured to operate different sections of the thermoelectric device at different currents and voltages, respectively, at the same time.
The heat pump system of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the control system is configured to operate the thermoelectric device at greater than a current for optimum coefficient of performance (COP) in order to increase heat pumping.
The heat pump system of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the control system is configured to operate the thermoelectric device at close to maximum heat pumping current.
The heat pump system of any one of the preceding claims, further comprising at least one secondary liquid loop connected to at least one of the first and second heat exchangers.
The heat pump system any one of the preceding claims, wherein the control system is configured to switchably operate each of the first and second heat exchangers as either a condenser/gas cooler or evaporator depending on the direction of refrigerant flow.
The heat pump system of any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a secondary liquid loop connected to the thermoelectric device.
The heat pump system of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the refrigerant comprises CO2.
The heat pump system of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the refrigerant comprises R1234yf.
The heat pump system of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the thermoelectric device includes a Distributed Transport Property (DTP) material structure.
The heat pump system of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the thermoelectric device comprises a refrigerant-to-air device.
The heat pump system of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the thermoelectric device comprises a refrigerant-to-liquid device.
The heat pump system of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the thermoelectric element is configured to reject heat to fluid separately from heat rejection by the second heat exchanger.
The heat pump system of any one of the preceding claims, wherein heating is supplied by the thermoelectric device only.
The heat pump system of any one of the preceding claims, further comprising an air handler configured to separate heated air from the first heat exchanger and heated air from the thermoelectric device.
The heat pump system of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second heat exchanger comprises a refrigerant-to-liquid heat exchanger.
The heat pump system of any one of the preceding claims, wherein heat rejection from the thermoelectric device to fluid is in parallel to heat rejection from the second heat exchanger.
The heat pump system of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the thermoelectric device is in a cross-flow configuration.
The heat pump system of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the thermoelectric device is in a counter-flow configuration.
The heat pump system of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the thermoelectric device is in a parallel flow configuration.
The heat pump system of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the control system is configured to operate the refrigerant loop as a coolant loop only for the thermoelectric device with at least one of the first and second expansion valves fully open and the compressor bypassed.
The heat pump system of at any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a fan configured to provide flow in either direction across one of the first and second heat exchangers.
The heat pump system of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the thermoelectric device operates as an intermediate stage.
The heat pump system of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the thermoelectric device comprises a plurality of thermoelectric devices.
The heat pump system of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the thermoelectric device functions as a second stage, and wherein the first heat exchanger operates as either an evaporator or condenser depending on whether the system is in cooling or heating mode.
The heat pump system of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first heat exchanger operates indoors and the second heat exchanger operates outdoors.
The heat pump system of any one of the preceding claims, further comprising one or more sensors operably coupled to the control system for use by the control system to determine one or more of:
The heat pump system of any one of the preceding claims, further comprising an accumulator.
The heat pump system of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the control system is configured to control the thermoelectric device to control maximum operating pressure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.