Heat pump with reheat circuit
US7275384B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 16, 2004 |
| Grant date | Oct 2, 2007 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 20, 2025 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF25B2500/02
- WIPO fieldThermal processes and apparatus
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A refrigerant heat pump system is operable in both heating and cooling modes. A reheat circuit is integrated into the system schematic to provide improved control over temperature and humidity and to cover a wide spectrum of sensible and latent capacity demands. In the heating mode, the reheat coil is utilized to act as a portion of the enlarged indoor heat exchanger (a condenser in this case), in order to enhance system efficiency without the capacity loss. In some cases, where the designer can choose between the efficiency and capacity augmentation, selective operation of the reheat coil may offer an additional step of capacity modulation, in the heating mode. System reliability is improved through a reduction of start/stop cycles. Although various reheat coil arrangements in relation to the indoor and outdoor heat exchangers are offered and reheat concepts are considered, the benefits of the invention are independent from and transparent to such system design features.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.