Heat pump having improved defrost system
AssigneeLockheed Martin Energy Research Corporation
InventorsFang C. Chen, Viung C. Mei, Richard W. Murphy
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A heat pump system includes, in an operable relationship for transferring heat between an exterior atmosphere and an interior atmosphere via a fluid refrigerant: a compressor; an interior heat exchanger; an exterior heat exchanger; an accumulator; and means for heating the accumulator in order to defrost the exterior heat exchanger.
Claims16
A heat pump system comprising, in an operable relationship for transferring heat between an exterior atmosphere and an interior atmosphere via a fluid refrigerant:
- a compressor;
- an interior heat exchanger;
- an exterior heat exchanger;
- an accumulator;
- a heat pump reversing valve;
- and a discrete heating means disposed in heat transferable contact with at least one of said accumulator, a section of plumbing line between said accumulator and said heat pump reversing valve, and a section of plumbing line between said heat pump reversing valve and said exterior heat exchanger for heating said fluid refrigerant to raise suction pressure in order to defrost said exterior heat exchanger during a defrosting cycle wherein said heat pump continues to operate in a heating mode.
A method of heating an enclosure comprising the steps of:
- a. providing a heat pump system comprising, in an operable relationship for transferring heat between an exterior atmosphere and an interior atmosphere via a fluid refrigerant:
- a compressor;
- an interior heat exchanger;
- an exterior heat exchanger;
- an accumulator;
- a heat pump reversing valve;
- and a discrete heating means disposed in heat transferable contact with at least one of said accumulator, a section of plumbing line between said accumulator and said heat pump reversing valve, and a section of plumbing line between said heat pump reversing valve and said exterior heat exchanger for heating the fluid refrigerant;
- b. operating said heat pump in said heating mode;
- c. intermittently operating a defrost cycle comprising maintaining said heat pump in heating mode while energizing said discrete heating means to raise suction pressure in order to defrost said exterior heat exchanger.
A method of heating an enclosure comprising the steps of:
- a. providing a heat pump system comprising, in an operable relationship for transferring heat between an exterior atmosphere and an interior atmosphere via a fluid refrigerant:
- a compressor;
- an interior heat exchanger;
- an exterior heat exchanger;
- an accumulator;
- a heat pump reversing valve;
- and a discrete heating means disposed in heat transferable contact with at least one of said accumulator, a section of plumbing line between said accumulator and said heat pump reversing valve, and a section of plumbing line between said heat pump reversing valve and said interior heat exchanger;
- b. operating said heat pump in a heating mode;
- c. intermittently operating a defrost cycle comprising reversing said reversing valve and energizing said discrete heating means to raise suction pressure in order to defrost said exterior heat exchanger when exterior ambient temperature is below a preselected temperature.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.