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US 7,340,910 B2Granted
System and method of increasing efficiency of heat pumps
OwnerThomas W. Thompsoninventor
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OwnerThomas W. Thompsoninventor
Estimating the term…
The system and method for increasing efficiency of heat pumps employs temperature sensors to measure the indoor refrigerant coil (indoor heat exchanger) and supply duct air temperature in a heat pump system to vary the indoor air flow rate based on the amount of heat being supplied by the heat pump. By monitoring the indoor refrigerant coil temperature, and the supply duct air temperature near the unit, the airflow can be adjusted to match the BTU (heat) output of the heat pump system. Less air flow over a cooler indoor refrigerant coil temperature allows increased, more efficient, heat transfer, allowing the cooler indoor refrigerant coil temperature to more effectively warm the air. Additionally, with airflow reduced when the indoor refrigerant coil is operating at lower than optimal temperatures or during a defrost cycle, the reduced airflow into living spaces presents a less drafty and more comfortable condition.
A control system for increasing efficiency in a heat pump having an outdoor condensing unit supplying a heated refrigerant to an indoor coil disposed proximately to a blower fan driven by a blower motor within a duct system having supply and return ducts, the control system comprising:
A method for increasing efficiency in a heat pump having an outdoor condensing unit supplying a heated refrigerant to an indoor coil disposed proximally to a motor driven blower fan and within a duct system having supply and return ducts, the method comprising the steps of:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.