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AssigneeShape Corp.
InventorsAlexander P. Rafalovich, David B. Phillips, Joseph A. Gustin
Estimating the term…
A heat pump and air conditioning system is provided with a thermal storage device, a variety of distribution devices for blocking or allowing flow of the system working fluid, and a controller for manipulating the distribution devices to control flow of the working fluid through the thermal storage device to allow thermal energy storage or thermal energy discharged depending upon sensed conditions. In addition, a thermal storage device is provided which is suitable for use in a heat pump and air conditioning system. The thermal storage device includes a container through which refrigerant coils pass. The container is filled with an unencapsulated phase change material having a first melt temperature and an encapsulated phase change material having a second melt temperature higher than the first melt temperature. Further disclosed is a method for conditioning a space by use of heat pump and air conditioning systems incorporating thermal storage. The methods involve controlling refrigerant flow through connected heat exchangers such that depending upon the operating mode, a given heat exchanger may operate as condenser or as an evaporator.
A heat pump and air conditioning system operable in at least one of a heating mode and a cooling mode, both modes including a thermal charging cycle and a thermal discharging cycle, the system comprising
A method for conditioning a space using a heat pump and air conditioning system the system including a refrigerant circuit and a thermal storage device, the refrigerant circuit including a compressor, a four-way reversing valve, and, in serial connection, a first heat exchanger, an expansion device, and a second heat exchanger, the thermal storage device being connected in parallel with both the first and second heat exchangers, the method comprising
A method for conditioning a space using a heat pump and air conditioning system, the system including a refrigerant circuit and a thermal storage device, the refrigerant circuit including in serial connection a compressor, a first heat exchanger, an expansion device, and a second heat exchanger, the thermal storage device being connected in parallel with both the first and second heat exchangers, the method comprising the steps of
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.