Multi-source heat pump HVAC system

A multi-source heat pump air-conditioning system, comprising:

• compressor means having a discharge outlet and a suction inlet;
• first air-to-refrigerant heat exchange means having first and second refrigerant connection means and being adapted to be subjected to air to be conditioned;
• second air-to-refrigerant heat exchange means having first and second refrigerant connection means and being arranged to be subjected to ambient air;
• a liquid-to-refrigerant heat exchange means having first and second refrigerant connection means and arranged to be connected to a liquid source;
• means for connecting the compressor discharge outlet to the first refrigerant connection means of said first air-to-refrigerant heat exchange means and the compressor suction inlet to the first refrigerant connection means of the second air-to-refrigerant heat exchange means in a first mode of operation and for connecting the compressor discharge outlet to the first refrigerant connection means of said second air-to-refrigerant heat exchange means and the compressor suction inlet to the first refrigerant connection means of the first air-to-refrigerant heat exchange means in a second mode of operation;
• means for connecting the second refrigerant connection means of the first air-to-refrigerant heat exchange means to the second refrigerant connection means of the second air-to-refrigerant heat exchange means in the first mode of operation and to the second refrigerant connection means of the liquid-to-refrigerant heat exchange means in the second mode of operation;
• and
• means for connecting the first refrigerant connection means of the liquid-to-refrigerant heat exchange means to the suction inlet of the compressor, whereby said multi-source heat pump may be selectively operated as an air-to-air heat pump for cooling the air to be conditioned or as a liquid-to-air heat pump for heating the air to be conditioned.

In an air-conditioning system of the type adapted to provide fresh uncooled air to a zone to be conditioned and including means for removing warm zone air from the conditioned zone and exhausting at least a portion of the removed warm zone air to the atmosphere, the improvement comprising:

• a waste heat recovery means disposed in the path of the exhausted warm zone air for recovering heat therefrom;
• heat pump means for chilling a liquid and extracting usable heat therefrom;
• and
• liquid circulating means interconnecting said waste heat recovery means and said heat pump means for circulating a liquid through said heat recovery means and said heat pump means so that the chilled liquid from the heat pump means may absorb heat from the warm exhausted zone air passing through the waste heat recovery means and the heat pump means may extract the heat from said circulating liquid.

In an air-conditioning system of the type adapted to provide cool, fressh, outdoor air to a room when the heat content of the outdoor air is sufficiently low to provide cooling for said room without the need for cooling the outdoor air and including means for removing warm room air and exhausting at least a portion of the warm room air to the atmosphere, the improvement comprising:

• a waste heat recovery means disposed in the path of the warm exhausted room air for recovering heat therefrom;
• heat pump means for chilling a liquid and extracting usable heat therefrom;
• and
• liquid circulating means interconnecting said waste heat recovery means and said heat pump means for circulating a liquid through said heat recovery means and said heat pump means so that the chilled liquid from the heat pump means may absorb heat from the warm exhausted room air passing through the waste heat recovery means and the heat pump means may extract the heat from said circulating liquid.