Method of and system for compressor cooling to enhance an operating envelope and improve performance
AssigneeLennox Industries Inc.
InventorSuyambu Lingam ARUMUGAM
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A heat pump system includes an evaporator coil, a condenser coil coupled to the evaporator coil to permit a refrigerant to cycle between the evaporator coil and the condenser coil via a first valve and a compressor coupled between the evaporator coil and the condenser coil. The heat pump system further includes a reversing valve configured to reverse a direction of flow of the refrigerant through the heat pump system and a refrigerant redirection circuit configured to redirect a portion of the refrigerant around the compressor to absorb heat and lower a compressor discharge temperature.
Claims20
A heat pump system comprising:
- an evaporator coil;
- a condenser coil coupled to the evaporator coil to permit a refrigerant to cycle between the evaporator coil and the condenser coil via a first valve;
- a compressor coupled between the evaporator coil and the condenser coil;
- a reversing valve configured to reverse a direction of flow of the refrigerant through the heat pump system;
- and
- a refrigerant redirection circuit configured to redirect a portion of the refrigerant around the compressor to absorb heat and lower a compressor discharge temperature.
A heat pump system comprising:
- an evaporator coil;
- a condenser coil coupled to the evaporator coil to permit a refrigerant to cycle between the evaporator coil and the condenser coil via a first valve;
- a compressor coupled between the evaporator coil and the condenser coil;
- a reversing valve configured to reverse a direction of flow of the refrigerant through the heat pump system;
- and
- a refrigerant redirection circuit comprising:
- a second valve;
- a third valve;
- a plurality of coils wrapped around the compressor;
- and
- wherein the second valve is configured to regulate a portion of the refrigerant to the plurality of coils wrapped around the compressor via the third valve to absorb heat and lower a compressor discharge temperature.
A method of lowering a discharge temperature of a compressor for a heat pump system, the method comprising:
- operating the heat pump system in a heating mode;
- circulating refrigerant to cycle between an evaporator coil and a condenser coil via a first valve;
- reversing, using a reversing valve, a direction of flow of the refrigerant through the heat pump system;
- and
- redirecting, using a refrigerant redirection circuit, a portion of the refrigerant around the compressor to absorb heat and lower the discharge temperature.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.