HIGH-EFFICIENCY HEAT PUMPS

• US 20100326099A1
• Filed: 10/28/2009
• Published: 12/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Trak International, LLC
• Original Assignee: Trak International, LLC
• Inventors: Maxwell, Jeffrey H.
• Application Number:
  US12/607,535
• Publication Number:
  US 20100326099A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 62/115
• CPC Class Codes: F24D 12/02 having more than one heat source using heat pumps, in water central heating systems F24D3/18; in air central heating systems F24D5/12; in systems using heat storage masses F24D11/02
• CPC Class Codes: F24D 15/00 Other domestic- or space-heating systems
• CPC Class Codes: F24D 19/1009 for central heating
• CPC Class Codes: F24D 19/1024 a multiple way valve
• CPC Class Codes: F24D 19/1045 the system uses a heat pump and solar energy
• CPC Class Codes: F24D 2200/11 Geothermal energy
• CPC Class Codes: F24D 2200/12 Heat pump
• CPC Class Codes: F24D 2200/14 Solar energy
• CPC Class Codes: F24D 2200/20 Sewage water
• CPC Class Codes: F24D 2200/22 Ventilation air
• CPC Class Codes: F24D 3/10 Feed-line arrangements, e.g. providing for heat-accumulator tanks, expansion tanks ; Hydraulic components of a central heating system
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 3/08 with separate supply and return lines for hot and cold heat-exchange fluids i.e. so-called "4-conduit" system
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 5/0003 Exclusively-fluid systems
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 9/14 Arrangements for connecting different sections, e.g. in water heaters arrangements for connecting heaters to circulation pipes F24H9/12
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 9/142 Connecting hydraulic components
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 2025/011 Arrangements for mounting elements inside solar collectors; Spacers inside solar collectors
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 2080/05 Flow guiding means; Inserts inside conduits
• CPC Class Codes: F24T 10/17 using tubes closed at one end, i.e. return-type tubes
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2400/06 Several compression cycles arranged in parallel
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/20 Solar thermal
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/40 : Geothermal heat-pumps
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/70 : Hybrid systems, e.g. uninterruptible or back-up power supplies integrating renewable energies
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 30/00 : Energy efficient heating, ventilation or air conditioning [HVAC]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 30/52 : Heat recovery pumps, i.e. heat pump based systems or units able to transfer the thermal energy from one area of the premises or part of the facilities to a different one, improving the overall efficiency
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/10 : Geothermal energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 : Assembling or joining

Abstract

As discussed herein, a first aspect of the present invention provides a high-efficiency heat pump that includes a frame, as well as a first circuit, a first compressor, a condenser heat exchanger, a first electronic expansion valve, an evaporator heat exchanger, and a controller. The first circuit, the first compressor, the condenser heat exchanger, the first electronic expansion valve, and the evaporator heat exchanger can be supported by the frame. The first compressor, the condenser heat exchanger, the first electronic expansion valve, and the evaporator heat exchanger can be connected to the first circuit. The controller can be in electronic communication with the first electronic expansion valve, and the controller can be configured to control operation of the first electronic expansion valve and/or the second electronic expansion valve.

Claims

1. A high-efficiency heat pump, comprising:

(a) a frame;

(b) a first circuit supported by the frame and configured to circulate a first refrigerant;

(c) a first compressor supported by the frame and connected to the first circuit, the first compressor being configured to (i) receive the first refrigerant from the first circuit, (ii) increase pressure of the first refrigerant, and (iii) provide the higher-pressure first refrigerant back to the first circuit;

(d) a condenser heat exchanger supported by the frame and connected to the first circuit, the condenser heat exchanger being configured to (i) receive the higher-pressure first refrigerant from the first circuit, (ii) transfer energy from the higher-pressure first refrigerant to a first HVAC fluid passing through the condenser heat exchanger, and (iii) provide the first refrigerant back to the first circuit;

(e) a first electronic expansion valve supported by the frame and connected to the first circuit, the first electronic expansion valve being configured to (i) receive the first refrigerant from the first circuit, (ii) decrease pressure of the first refrigerant, and (iii) provide the lower-pressure first refrigerant back to the first circuit;

(f) an evaporator heat exchanger supported by the frame and connected to the first circuit, the evaporator heat exchanger being configured to (i) receive the lower-pressure first refrigerant from the first circuit, (ii) transfer energy from a second HVAC fluid passing through the evaporator heat exchanger to the lower-pressure first refrigerant, and (iii) provide the first refrigerant back to the first circuit; and

(g) a controller in electronic communication with the first electronic expansion valve, the controller being configured to control operation of the first electronic expansion valve.

2. The high-efficiency heat pump of claim 1, further comprising:

(h) a second circuit supported by the frame and configured to circulate a second refrigerant;

(i) a second compressor supported by the frame and connected to the second circuit; and

(j) a second electronic expansion valve supported by the frame and connected to the second circuit,

wherein the second compressor is configured to (i) receive the second refrigerant from the second circuit, (ii) increase pressure of the second refrigerant, and (iii) provide the higher-pressure second refrigerant back to the second circuit,

wherein the condenser heat exchanger is further configured to (i) receive the higher-pressure second refrigerant from the second circuit, (ii) transfer energy from the higher-pressure second refrigerant to HVAC fluid passing through the condenser heat exchanger, and (iii) provide the second refrigerant back to the second circuit,

wherein the second electronic expansion valve is configured to (i) receive the second refrigerant from the second circuit, (ii) decrease pressure of the second refrigerant, and (iii) provide the lower-pressure second refrigerant back to the second circuit,

wherein the evaporator heat exchanger is further configured to (i) receive the lower-pressure second refrigerant from the second circuit, (ii) transfer energy from HVAC fluid passing through the evaporator heat exchanger to the lower-pressure second refrigerant, and (iii) provide the second refrigerant back to the second circuit, and

wherein the controller is in electronic communication with the first electronic expansion valve and/or the second electronic expansion valve, the controller being configured to control operation of the first electronic expansion valve and/or the second electronic expansion valve.

3. The high-efficiency heat pump of claim 2, wherein the controller is configured to modulate the first and second compressors.

6. The high-efficiency heat pump of claim 1, wherein the first electronic expansion valve is configured to communicate electronically with an operator and/or a remote controller through a network.

8. The high-efficiency heat pump of claim 1, wherein the first expansion valve is controllable to (A) simultaneously heat the first HVAC fluid to a temperature above 100F and cool the second HVAC fluid to a temperature below 10F in a first season and (B) simultaneously heat the first HVAC fluid to a temperature above 160F and cool the second HVAC fluid to a temperature below 40F in a second season.

4-5. -5. (canceled)

7. (canceled)

9. A method of efficiently heating and/or cooling HVAC fluid, comprising:

(a) providing a high-efficiency heat pump that includes;

(i) a frame,

(ii) a first compressor, a condenser heat exchanger, a first electronic expansion valve, and an evaporator heat exchanger, each supported by the frame, and

(iii) a first circuit supported by the frame and configured to circulate a first refrigerant through the first compressor, the condenser heat exchanger, the first electronic expansion valve, and the evaporator heat exchanger;

(b) circulating a first HVAC fluid through the condenser heat exchanger or the evaporator heat exchanger;

(c) activating the first compressor to heat the first HVAC fluid if the first HVAC fluid is circulating through the condenser heat exchanger or to cool the first HVAC fluid if the first HVAC fluid is circulating through the evaporator heat exchanger; and

(d) controlling the first electronic expansion valve to control heating of the first HVAC fluid if the first HVAC fluid is circulating through the condenser heat exchanger or to control cooling of the first HVAC fluid if the first HVAC fluid is circulating through the evaporator heat exchanger.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising (e) circulating a second HVAC fluid through whichever of the heat exchangers the first HVAC fluid is not circulating through, wherein activating the first compressor simultaneously heats the HVAC fluid in the condenser heat exchanger to a temperature above 125F and cools the HVAC fluid in the evaporator heat exchanger to a temperature below 35F.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein activating the first compressor simultaneously heats the HVAC fluid in the condenser heat exchanger to a temperature above 130F and cools the HVAC fluid in the evaporator heat exchanger to a temperature below 30F.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the heat pump further includes:

(iv) a second compressor and a second electronic expansion valve, both supported by the frame, and

(v) a second circuit supported by the frame and configured to circulate a second refrigerant through the second compressor, the condenser heat exchanger, the second electronic expansion valve, and the evaporator heat exchanger.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising activating both the first compressor and the second compressor to heat the first HVAC fluid if the first HVAC fluid is circulating through the condenser heat exchanger or to cool the first HVAC fluid if the first HVAC fluid is circulating through the evaporator heat exchanger.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the first refrigerant and the second refrigerant are different refrigerants having different properties.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein controlling the first electronic expansion valve comprises remotely controlling the first electronic expansion valve.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein remotely controlling the first electronic expansion valve comprises controlling operation of the first electronic expansion valve based on input from one or more sensors of an HVAC system that incorporates the heat pump.

14. (canceled)

18-28. -28. (canceled)

29. A method of achieving a predetermined temperature difference in an HVAC fluid, comprising:

(a) providing an initial heat pump and a subsequent heat pump;

(b) connecting the initial heat pump and the subsequent heat pump in series;

(c) circulating the HVAC fluid through the initial heat pump to achieve a first temperature difference in the HVAC fluid; and

(d) circulating the HVAC fluid through the subsequent heat pump to achieve a second temperature difference, wherein the first and second temperature differences sum to be approximately equal to the predetermined temperature difference.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the initial heat pump and/or the subsequent heat pump includes a controllable electronic expansion valve configured to control performance of the initial heat pump and/or the subsequent heat pump.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the controllable electronic expansion valve is remotely controllable.

32. The method of claim 29, wherein the initial heat pump and/or the subsequent heat pump comprise two or more heat pump units.

34. The method of claim 29, wherein the predetermined temperature difference is a temperature increase of 150F.

36. The method of claim 29, wherein the predetermined temperature difference is a temperature decrease of 150F.

38. The method of claim 29, further comprising (e) circulating a first refrigerant through the initial heat pump and circulating a second refrigerant through the subsequent heat pump, wherein the first refrigerant and the second refrigerant are different refrigerants having different properties.

33. (canceled)

35. (canceled)

37. (canceled)