Heat pump system and method for air-conditioning

A heat pump system, comprising:

• two, substantially similar units in fluid communication with each other, each unit including
• a housing, brine inlet means at the top portion thereof, a first air/brine heat exchanger located adjacent said brine inlet means, a brine reservoir at the lower part of said housing and means for introducing forced air into brine-dripping space delimited between said first heat exchanger and said reservoir to produce a counter-flow air/brine heat exchanger, and
• a second heat exchanger in liquid communication with said brine inlet means and said reservoir;
• the reservoir of each unit being in liquid communication with each other;
• said second heat exchangers being in closed loop fluid communication with each other and having compressor means for circulating a refrigerant therethrough in a selected direction, and for reversing the sense of circulation of the refrigerant inside said closed loop, and
• means for circulating brine between said reservoir and said second heat exchanger of each unit.

A heat pump system, comprising:

• two substantially similar or identical units in fluid communication with each other, each unit including
• a housing, an air/brine heat exchanger, a brine refrigerant heat exchanger, brine inlet means for applying brine into at least one of said heat exchangers, a brine reservoir and means for circulating said brine from the reservoir to said inlet means,
• said brine/refrigerant heat exchangers being in closed loop fluid communication with each other and having compressor means for circulating a refrigerant therethrough in a selected direction, and for reversing the sense of circulation of the refrigerant inside said close loop, and
• ambient air heating means for heating the ambient air prior to the introduction thereof into said housing.

A heat pump system, comprising:

• two substantially similar or identical units in fluid communication with each other, each unit including
• a housing, an air/brine heat exchanger, a brine refrigerant heat exchanger, brine inlet means for applying brine into at least one of said heat exchangers, a brine reservoir and means for circulating said brine from the reservoir to said inlet means,
• said brine/refrigerant heat exchangers being in closed loop fluid communication with each other and having compressor means for circulating a refrigerant therethrough in a selected direction, and for reversing the sense of circulation of the refrigerant inside said closed loop, and
• an external humidity source for adding humidity to ambient air introducible into said housing.

A method for air conditioning, comprising:

• providing a heat pump system having two substantially similar or identical units in fluid communication with each other, each unit including
• a housing, an air/brine heat exchanger, a brine refrigerant heat exchanger, brine inlet means for applying brine into at least one of said heat exchangers, a brine reservoir and means for circulating said brine from the reservoir to said inlet means,
• said brine/refrigerant heat exchangers being in closed loop fluid communication with each other and having compressor means for circulating a refrigerant therethrough in a selected direction, and for reversing the sense of circulation of the refrigerant inside said closed loop,
• wherein the refrigerant's evaporator and the refrigerant's condenser exchange heat with brine solution, whereby the temperature of condensation of said refrigerant is reduced while the temperature of said evaporator is raised, thereby increasing the efficiency of the system, and
• wherein said means for circulating the brine is adapted to circulate brine at a higher rate than the rate of circulation of the brine between said two reservoirs.

A heat pump, comprising:

• two substantially similar or identical units in fluid communication with each other, each unit including
• a housing, an air/brine heat exchanger, a brine refrigerant heat exchanger, brine inlet means for applying brine into at least one of said heat exchangers, a brine reservoir and means for circulating said brine from the reservoir to said inlet means;
• said brine/refrigerant heat exchangers being in closed loop fluid communication with each other and having compressor means for circulating a refrigerant therethrough in a selected direction and for reversing the sense of circulation of the refrigerant inside said closed loop;
• and
• means for circulating brine between said reservoirs adapted to circulate brine at a lower rate than the rate of circulation of brine between the reservoirs and said inlet means.

A heat pump system, comprising:

• two substantially similar units in fluid communication with each other, each unit including
• a housing, brine inlet means at the top portion thereof, a first heat exchanger located adjacent said brine inlet means, a brine reservoir at the lower part of said housing and means for introducing air into brine-dripping space delimited between said first heat exchanger and said reservoir, and
• a second heat exchanger in liquid communication with said brine inlet means and said reservoir;
• the reservoirs of said units being in liquid communication with each other;
• said second heat exchangers being in closed loop fluid communication with each other and having compressor means for circulating a refrigerant therethrough in a selected direction and for reversing the sense of circulation of the refrigerant inside said closed loop;
• means for circulating brine between said reservoir and said second heat exchanger of each unit, and
• ambient air heating means for heating the ambient air prior to the introduction thereof into said housing.

A heat pump system, comprising:

• two substantially similar units in fluid communication with each other, each unit including
• a housing, brine inlet means at the top portion thereof, a first heat exchanger located adjacent said brine inlet means, a brine reservoir at the lower part of said housing and means for introducing air into brine-dripping space delimited between said first heat exchanger and said reservoir, and
• a second heat exchanger in liquid communication with said brine inlet means and said reservoir;
• the reservoirs of said units being in liquid communication with each other;
• said second heat exchangers being in closed loop fluid communication with each other and having compressor means for circulating a refrigerant therethrough in a selected direction and for reversing the sense of circulation of the refrigerant inside said closed loop;
• means for circulating brine between said reservoir and said second heat exchanger of each unit, and
• an external humidity source for adding humidity to ambient air introducible into said housing.

A method for air conditioning, comprising:

• providing a heat pump system having two substantially similar units in fluid communication with each other, each unit including
• a housing, brine inlet means at the top portion thereof, a first heat exchanger located adjacent said brine inlet means, a brine reservoir at the lower part of said housing and means for introducing air into brine-dripping space delimited between said first heat exchanger and said reservoir, and
• a second heat exchanger in liquid communication with said brine inlet means and said reservoir;
• the reservoirs of said units being in liquid communication with each other;
• said second heat exchangers being in closed loop fluid communication with each other and having compressor means for circulating a refrigerant therethrough in a selected direction and for reversing the sense of circulation of the refrigerant inside said closed loop;
• means for circulating brine between said reservoir and said second heat exchanger of each unit;
• wherein the refrigerant's evaporator and the refrigerant's condenser exchange heat with brine solution, whereby the temperature of condensation of said refrigerant is reduced while the temperature of said evaporator is raised, thereby increasing the efficiency of the system, and
• wherein said means for circulating the brine is adapted to circulate brine at a higher rate than the rate of circulation of the brine between said two reservoirs.

A heat pump system, comprising:

• two substantially similar units in fluid communication with each other, each unit including
• a housing, brine inlet means at the top portion thereof, a first heat exchanger located adjacent said brine inlet means, a brine reservoir at the lower part of said housing and means for introducing air into brine-dripping space delimited between said first heat exchanger and said reservoir, and
• a second heat exchanger in liquid communication with said brine inlet means and said reservoir;
• the reservoirs of said units being in liquid communication with each other;
• said second heat exchangers being in closed loop fluid communication with each other and having compressor means for circulating a refrigerant therethrough in a selected direction and for reversing the sense of circulation of the refrigerant inside said closed loop, and
• means for circulating brine between said reservoir and said second heat exchanger of each unit,
• wherein said means for circulating brine are adapted to circulate brine at a lower rate than the rate of circulation of brine between the reservoirs and the second heat exchanger of each unit.