Refrigerant charge management in a heat pump water heater
US9383126B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 15, 2014 |
| Grant date | Jul 5, 2016 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 15, 2034 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF25B2600/2507
- WIPO fieldThermal processes and apparatus
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
Heat pumps that heat or cool a space and that also heat water, refrigerant management systems for such heat pumps, and methods of managing refrigerant charge. Various embodiments remove idle refrigerant from a heat exchanger that is not needed for transferring heat by opening a refrigerant recovery valve and delivering the idle refrigerant from the heat exchanger to an inlet port on the compressor. The heat exchanger can be isolated by closing an electronic expansion valve, actuating a refrigerant management valve, or both. Refrigerant charge can be controlled by controlling how much refrigerant is drawn from the heat exchanger, by letting some refrigerant back into the heat exchanger, or both. Heat pumps can be operated in different modes of operation, and various components can be interconnected with refrigerant conduit. Some embodiments deliver refrigerant gas to the heat exchanger and drive liquid refrigerant out prior to isolating the heat exchanger.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.