REFRIGERATION SYSTEM HAVING HEAT PUMP AND MULTIPLE MODES OF OPERATION
First Claim
1. A refrigeration system having both a heating mode for providing heat to a load space and a cooling mode for removing heat from the load space, the system comprising:
- a first refrigerant circuit including a first heat exchanger for transferring heat from refrigerant of the first refrigerant circuit to air;
a second refrigerant circuit including a second heat exchanger for transferring heat from air to refrigerant of the second refrigerant circuit; and
a third refrigerant circuit including;
a compressor for increasing pressure of refrigerant of the third refrigerant circuit;
a third heat exchanger connected to the compressor for receiving refrigerant from the compressor, and connected to the first refrigerant circuit such that heat exchange can occur between the refrigerant traveling through the first refrigerant circuit and the refrigerant traveling through the third refrigerant circuit;
an expansion device for reducing the pressure of the refrigerant of the third refrigerant circuit; and
an evaporator connected to the expansion device, and connected to the second refrigerant circuit such that heat exchange can occur between the refrigerant traveling through the second refrigerant circuit and the refrigerant traveling through the third refrigerant circuit, the refrigerant traveling along the third refrigerant circuit in a common direction during operation in both the heating mode and the cooling mode;
wherein refrigerant is prevented from moving between the first refrigerant circuit, the second refrigerant circuit, and the third refrigerant circuit during operation in the heating and cooling modes.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides a refrigeration system including a first refrigerant circuit including a first heat exchanger for transferring heat from refrigerant, a second refrigerant circuit including a second heat exchanger for transferring heat to refrigerant, and a third refrigerant circuit. The third refrigerant circuit includes a compressor, a condenser connected to the first refrigerant circuit such that heat exchange can occur between the refrigerants of the first and refrigerant circuits, an expansion device, and an evaporator connected to the second refrigerant circuit such that heat exchange can occur between the refrigerant of the second and third refrigerant circuits. The refrigerant can travel along the third refrigerant circuit in a common direction during operation in both heating and cooling modes. Refrigerant can be prevented from moving between first, second, and third refrigerant circuits during operation in heating and cooling modes.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A refrigeration system having both a heating mode for providing heat to a load space and a cooling mode for removing heat from the load space, the system comprising:
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a first refrigerant circuit including a first heat exchanger for transferring heat from refrigerant of the first refrigerant circuit to air; a second refrigerant circuit including a second heat exchanger for transferring heat from air to refrigerant of the second refrigerant circuit; and a third refrigerant circuit including; a compressor for increasing pressure of refrigerant of the third refrigerant circuit; a third heat exchanger connected to the compressor for receiving refrigerant from the compressor, and connected to the first refrigerant circuit such that heat exchange can occur between the refrigerant traveling through the first refrigerant circuit and the refrigerant traveling through the third refrigerant circuit; an expansion device for reducing the pressure of the refrigerant of the third refrigerant circuit; and an evaporator connected to the expansion device, and connected to the second refrigerant circuit such that heat exchange can occur between the refrigerant traveling through the second refrigerant circuit and the refrigerant traveling through the third refrigerant circuit, the refrigerant traveling along the third refrigerant circuit in a common direction during operation in both the heating mode and the cooling mode; wherein refrigerant is prevented from moving between the first refrigerant circuit, the second refrigerant circuit, and the third refrigerant circuit during operation in the heating and cooling modes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A refrigeration system having both a heating mode for providing heat to a load space and a cooling mode for removing heat from the load space, the refrigeration system comprising:
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a first refrigerant circuit extending between a compressor, an evaporator, an expansion device, and a first heat exchanger, the first refrigerant circuit defining a flow path for a refrigerant traveling in a direction along the refrigerant circuit during operation of the refrigeration system in the heating mode and the cooling mode; a second refrigerant circuit extending between the condenser and a second heat exchanger, the second refrigerant circuit including a first refrigerant pump; and a third refrigerant circuit extending between the evaporator and the second heat exchanger, the third refrigerant circuit including a second refrigerant pump, the second refrigerant pump being operational during operation in the heating mode and being idle during operation in the cooling mode. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of operating a refrigeration system, the method comprising the acts of:
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directing a refrigerant along a refrigerant circuit in a direction between a compressor, an evaporator, an expansion device, and a first heat exchanger during operation of the refrigeration system in a cooling mode; operating a first pump when the refrigeration system is operating in the cooling mode to circulate refrigerant through a second heat exchanger; transferring heat from a load space to the refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit when the refrigeration system is operating in the cooling mode; stopping the first pump when the refrigeration system is operating in a heating mode; directing the refrigerant along the refrigerant circuit in the direction during operation of the refrigeration system in the heating mode; operating a second pump when the refrigeration system is operating in the heating mode to circulate refrigerant through the second heat exchanger in heat exchange relation with the refrigerant of the refrigerant circuit; and transferring heat to the load space from the refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit when the refrigeration system is operating in the heating mode. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification