Dual-purpose cooling/heating air conditioner and control method thereof
AssigneeSamsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
InventorJong-Youb Kim
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In a dual-purpose cooling/heating air conditioner, refrigerant is conducted from an evaporator to an accumulator and then into a compressor. The accumulator includes an electric heater for heating the refrigerant to a desired minimum superheat level in order to promote the evaporation of liquid refrigerant.
Claims20
A dual-purpose cooling/heating air conditioner comprising a compression and an evaporator located upstream of said compressor for heating refrigerant conducted from said evaporator to said compressor, supplemental heating means for heating the refrigerant after the refrigerant leaves said evaporator and before the refrigerant enters said compressor, and control means for said supplemental heating means for maintaining the refrigerant at least at a predetermined minimum superheat level before entering said compressor.
A method of controlling a dual-purpose cooling/heating air conditioner comprising the steps of:
- A) determining a superheat level of refrigerant upstream of a compressor to which the refrigerant is being conducted, and
- B) heating the refrigerant in accordance with the determined superheat level to maintain the refrigerant at least at a predetermined minimum superheat level before entering said compressor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.