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US 6,276,148 B1Granted
Boosted air source heat pump
OwnerDavid N. Shawinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A boosted source heat pump (BSHP) is presented having a primary compressor, a booster compressor, an economizer, and a lubricant management system. At least the primary compressor is a twin-single compressor. The lubricant management system includes traps to prevent migration of lubricant to a non-operating compressor, and aspiration tubes from the sump to the low pressure intake zone to each compressor.
Claims36
A compression module for a heating or air conditioning system, said module including:
- a primary compressor;
- a booster compressor;
- at least said primary compressor being an unloadable positive displacement compressor;
- a sensor for sensing the temperature of outdoor ambient air;
- and
- a controller, said controller being responsive to signals from said sensor commensurate with the temperature of outdoor ambient air to operate said primary compressor and said booster compressor in a predetermined operating sequence.
3 more elements
A method of operating in sequence a heating system having a primary compressor and a booster compressor, the method including the steps of:
- (a) sensing the outdoor ambient temperature;
- (b) allowing partial capacity operation of said primary compressor when the outdoor ambient temperature is in the range of about 50°-75° F.;
- (c) allowing full capacity operation of said primary compressor when the outdoor ambient temperature is in the range of about 43° F.-50° F.;
- (d) allowing full capacity operation of said booster compressor and partial capacity operation of said primary compressor when the outdoor ambient temperature is in the range of about 33° F.-43° F.;
- (e) allowing full capacity operation of said booster compressor, and full capacity operation of said primary compressor when the outdoor ambient temperature is in the range of about 15° F.-33° F.
2 more elements
A compression module for a heat pump system, said module including:
- a primary compressor;
- a booster compressor;
- at least said primary compressor being a multi-cylinder unloadable compressor;
- each of said compressors having an inlet and a supply line connected to said inlet;
- a sensor for sensing the temperature of outdoor ambient air;
- a thermostat for sensing the temperature of a volume of air to be healed;
- and
- a controller, said controller being responsive to signals from said sensor commensurate with the temperature of outdoor ambient air, and to signals from said thermostat commensurate with the temperature of the air to be heated to operate said primary compressor, said booster compressor and said economizer in a predetermined operating sequence.
5 more elements
A compression module for a heat pump system, said module including:
- a primary compressor;
- a booster compressor;
- at least said primary compressor being a multi-cylinder unloadable compressor;
- a sensor for sensing the temperature of outdoor ambient air;
- a thermostat for sensing the temperature of a volume of air to be heated;
- and
- a controller, said controller being responsive to signals from said sensor commensurate with the temperature of outdoor ambient air, and to signals from said thermostat commensurate with the temperature of the air to be heated to operate said primary compressor and said booster compressor in a predetermined heating operating sequence including the following:
- (a) allow partial capacity operation of said multi-cylinder primary compressor when the outdoor ambient temperature is in the range of about 50°-75° F.;
- (b) allow full capacity operation of said multi-cylinder primary compressor when the outdoor ambient temperature is in the range of about 43° F.-50° F.;
- (c) allow full capacity operation of said booster compressor and partial capacity operation of said multi-cylinder primary compressor when the outdoor ambient temperature is in the range of about 33° F.-43° F.;
- (d) allow full capacity operation of said booster compressor, and full capacity operation of said multi-cylinder primary compressor when the outdoor ambient temperature is in the range of about 15° F.-30° F.;
- (e) allow operation of back-up resistance heating when the outdoor ambient temperature is about 15° F. or lower.
9 more elements
A method of operating in heating sequence a heat pump system having a multi-cylinder unloadable primary compressor and a booster compressor, the method including the steps of:
- (a) sensing the outdoor ambient temperature;
- (b) allowing partial capacity operation of said multi-cylinder primary compressor when the outdoor ambient temperature is in the range of about 50°-75° F.;
- (c) allowing full capacity operation of said multi-capacity primary compressor when the outdoor ambient temperature is in the range of about 43° F.-50° F.;
- (d) allowing full capacity operation of said booster compressor and partial capacity operation of said multi-cylinder primary compressor when the outdoor ambient temperature is in the range of about 33° F.-43° F.;
- (e) allowing full capacity operation of said booster compressor, and full capacity operation of said multi-cylinder primary compressor, when the outdoor ambient temperature is in the range of about 15° F.-33° F.;
- (f) allowing operation of back-up resistance heating when the outdoor ambient temperature is about 15° F. or lower.
3 more elements
A method of operating in cooling sequence a heat pump system having a multi-cylinder unloadable primary compressor, and a booster compressor, that method including the steps of:
- (a) sensing the outdoor ambient temperature;
- (b) allowing partial capacity operation of said primary compressor when the outdoor ambient temperature is in the range of about 60° F.-85° F.;
- (c) allowing full capacity operation of said primary compressor when the outdoor ambient temperature is in the range of above about 85° F.;
- (d) allowing full capacity operation of said primary compressor and full capacity operation of said booster compressor when the outdoor ambient temperature is in the range of about 105° F. or higher.
1 more element
A compression module for a heat pump system, said module including:
- a primary compressor;
- a booster compressor
- at least said primary compressor being a multi-cylinder unloadable compressor;
- each of said compressors having an inlet and a supply line connected to said inlet;
- a supply line from the discharge from said booster compressor to the inlet to said primary compressor;
- an economizer;
- a sensor for sensing the temperature of outdoor ambient air;
- a thermostat for sensing the temperature of a volume of air to be healed;
- and
- a controller, said controller being responsive to signals from said sensor commensurate with the temperature of outdoor ambient air, and to signals from said thermostat commensurate with the temperature of the air to be heated to operate said primary compressor, said booster compressor and said economizer in the following heating sequence:
- (a) allow partial capacity operation of said multi-cylinder primary compressor when the outdoor ambient temperature is in the range of about 50°-75° F.;
- (b) allow full capacity operation of said multi-cylinder primary compressor when the outdoor ambient temperature is in the range of about 43° F.-50° F.;
- (c) allow full capacity operation of said booster compressor and partial capacity operation of said multi-cylinder primary compressor when the outdoor ambient temperature is in the range of about 33° F.-43° F.;
- (d) allow full capacity operation of said booster compressor, and partial capacity operation of said multi-cylinder primary compressor, and said economizer when the outdoor ambient temperature is in the range of about 25° F.-33° F.;
- (e) allow full capacity operation of said booster compressor, and full capacity operation of said multi-cylinder primary compressor, and said economizer when the outdoor ambient temperature is in the range of about 15° F.-25° F.;
- (f) allow operation of back-up resistance heating when the outdoor ambient temperature is about 15° F. or lower.
13 more elements
A compression module for a heat pump system, said module including:
- a primary compressor;
- a booster compressor
- at least said primary compressor being a multi-cylinder unloadable compressor;
- each of said compressors having an inlet and a supply line connected to said inlet;
- a supply line from the discharge from said booster compressor to the inlet to said primary compressor;
- an economizer;
- a sensor for sensing the temperature of outdoor ambient air;
- a thermostat for sensing the temperature of a volume of air to be cooled;
- and
- a controller, said controller being responsive to signals from said sensor commensurate with the temperature of outdoor ambient air, and to signals from said thermostat commensurate with the temperature of the air to be heated to operate said primary compressor, said booster compressor and said economizer in the following cooling sequence:
- (a) allow partial capacity operation of said multi-cylinder primary compressor when the outdoor ambient temperature is in the range of about 60° F.-85° F.;
- (b) allow full capacity operation of said multi-cylinder primary compressor when the outdoor ambient temperature is in the range of above about 85° F.;
- (c) allow full capacity operation of said multi-cylinder primary compressors and full capacity operation of said booster compressor when outdoor ambient temperature is in the range of about 105° F.
10 more elements
A method of operating in heating sequence a heat pump system having a primary multi-cylinder unloadable compressor, a booster compressor and an economizer, the method including the steps of:
- (a) sensing the outdoor ambient temperature;
- (b) allowing partial capacity operation of said multi-cylinder primary compressor when the outdoor ambient temperature is in the range of about 50°-75° F.;
- (c) allowing full capacity operation of said multi-cylinder primary compressor when the outdoor ambient temperature is in the range of about 43° F.-50° F.;
- (d) allowing full capacity operation of said booster compressor and partial capacity operation of said multi-cylinder primary compressor when the outdoor ambient temperature is in the range of about 33° F.-43° F.;
- (e) allowing full capacity operation of said booster compressor, and partial capacity operation of said multi-cylinder primary compressor, and said economizer when the outdoor ambient temperature is in the range of about 25° F.-33° F.;
- (f) allowing full capacity operation of said booster compressor, and full capacity operation of said multi-cylinder compressor, and said economizer when the outdoor ambient temperature is in the range of about 15° F.-25° F.;
- (g) allowing operation of back-up resistance heating when the outdoor ambient temperature is about 15° F. or lower.
4 more elements
A method of operating in cooling sequence a heat pump system having a multi-cylinder unloadable primary compressor, a booster compressor and an economizer, the method including the steps of:
- (a) sensing the outdoor ambient temperature;
- (b) allowing partial capacity operation of said multi-cylinder primary compressor when the outdoor ambient temperature is in the range of about 60° F.-85° F.;
- (c) allowing full capacity operation of said multi-cylinder primary compressor when the outdoor ambient temperature is in the range of above about 85° F.;
- and
- (d) allowing full capacity operation of said multi-cylinder primary compressor and full capacity operation of said booster compressor when the outdoor ambient temperature is in the range of about 105° F.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.