Heat pump energy management system

Abstract

An energy management system is disclosed that includes first, second and third heat exchangers, a compressor to provide compressed refrigerant for selective delivery to the heat exchangers, an expansion valve for the first and second heat exchangers for selectively delivering expanding refrigerant thereto, and a control valve communicating with the heat exchangers, expansion valves and compressor. The control valve coordinates circulation of the refrigerant so that compressed refrigerant may be delivered to the third heat exchanger, and expanding refrigerant delivered to the first or second heat exchangers; or compressed refrigerant may be delivered to the first or third heat exchangers, and expanding refrigerant delivered to the second heat exchanger; or compressed refrigerant may be delivered to the second heat exchanger, and expanding refrigerant delivered to the first heat exchanger; or expanding refrigerant may be delivered to the third heat exchanger, and compressed refrigerant delivered to the first or second heat exchangers. The control valve is also configured to drain refrigerant from any one of the heat exchangers, when inoperative, to the compressor.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.