METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR COOLING AND WARMING

• US 20110197611A1
• Filed: 10/19/2009
• Published: 08/18/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Scania CV AB (Volkswagen AG)
• Original Assignee: Scania CV AB (Volkswagen AG)
• Inventors: Hall, Ola
• Application Number:
  US13/124,700
• Publication Number:
  US 20110197611A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 62/238.7
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00378 for tractor or load vehicle cabins
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00899 Controlling the flow of liquid in a heat pump system controlling the properties of the refrigerant liquid, e.g. pressure or temperature, B60H1/3204
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/32284 comprising two or more secondary circuits, e.g. at evaporator and condenser side
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 2001/00928 comprising a secondary circuit
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 2001/00935 comprising four way valves for controlling the fluid direction

Abstract

A method for cooling and warming: a refrigerant circuit (2) with at least a compressor (5), a liquid-cooled condenser (6), a liquid-heated evaporator (7) and two outer secondary liquid-based circuits (3,4). The first of those circuits includes (3) an element (13) situated in the space which is to be cooled or warmed, and which is operative for that purpose. The second circuit (4) includes a radiator operation to cool the liquid in the circuit. The two secondary circuits (3,4) are united, during heat pump operation, to form a common single circuit so that the condenser (6) heats liquid which is supplied to the element (13), with the result that the element (13) releases heat instead of cold, without the flows in the primary refrigerant circuit (2), in the element circuit (3) or in the radiator circuit (4) being alternated/reversed. A valve controlled bypass bypasses the radiator in that circuit.

Claims

1. A system for selectively cooling or warming of a space, the system, comprising:

a refrigerant circuit including a compressor, a liquid-cooled condenser, and a liquid-heated evaporator;

an element circuit including an element configured for heating or cooling the space and situated in the space which is to be cooled or warmed;

a first heat exchanger in the element circuit and exchanging heat with the evaporator in the refrigerant circuit;

a radiator circuit separate from the element circuit, the radiator circuit including a radiator therein;

a second heat exchanger in the radiator circuit and exchanging heat with the condenser in the refrigerant circuit;

during air conditioning operation, the circuits constitute mutually separate circuits with respective flows in the circuits separated from one another;

a flow changeover switch including a valve connected to the element circuit and to the radiator circuit and configured such that in a first position of the changeover switch, the changeover switch flow connects the element circuit and the radiator circuit together for a single flow through the element circuit and the radiator circuit for heat pump operation so that the condenser of the refrigerant circuit warms liquid which is supplied to the element, and the evaporator of the refrigerant circuit cools liquid which is released from the element;

the radiator circuit including therein a bypass past the radiator;

the flow changeover switch being so configured and the bypass being so positioned with reference to the valve that in the first position of the switch, the valve directs the flow in the radiator circuit to bypass the radiator.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein

the flow changeover switch is configured such that in the first position thereof, the changeover switch connects the element circuit and the radiator circuit together for heat pump operation so that they form a single circuit with a common flow.

3. A system according to claim 2, wherein the element circuit is configured to act as a heat pump;

and

in that the element is configured to release heat during heat pump operation, with no change in the direction of flow in the refrigerant circuit.

4. A system according to claim 2, further comprising a pump in each of the element circuit and the radiator circuit for pumping flow through the respective circuit;

and

the element is adapted configured to release heat during heat pump operation with no changes in the directions of flow through the compressor and pumps in each of the element circuit and the radiator circuit.

5. A system according to claim 2, wherein

the flow changeover switch is adapted configured such that in the first position of the changeover switch and during heat pump operation, the changeover switch connects in series the element circuit and the radiator circuit.

6. A system according to claim 1, wherein

the valve is of the two-position four-way type.

7. A system for selectively cooling or warming of a space, the system, comprising:

a refrigerant circuit including a compressor, a liquid-cooled condenser, and a liquid-heated evaporator;

an element circuit including an element configured for heating or cooling the space and situated in the space which is to be cooled or warmed;

a radiator circuit including a radiator therein;

the refrigerant circuit, the element circuit and the radiator circuit being mutually separate circuits with respective flow in each of the circuits separated from the flow in the other circuits;

the refrigerant circuit and the element circuit being positioned with respect to each other so that the temperature in one of them causes a change in the temperature in the other;

the refrigerant circuit and the radiator circuit being positioned with respect to each other so that the temperature in one of them causes a temperature change in the other;

the circuits being mutually separate from each other;

a flow changeover switch including a valve connected to the element circuit and to the radiator circuit, the valve being configured such that in a first position of the changeover switch valve, the changeover switch valve flow connects the element circuit and the radiator circuit together for providing a single flow through the element circuit and the radiator circuit for heat pump operation so that the condenser of the refrigerant circuit warms liquid which is supplied to the element and the evaporator of the refrigerant circuit cools liquid which is released from the element;

a bypass circuit for bypassing the radiator in the radiator circuit, the bypass circuit including an entry for being connected with the changeover switch valve for receiving flow through the valve, the bypass circuit including an outlet communicating into the radiator circuit at a location downstream in flow through the radiator circuit from the radiator, whereby flow through the bypass circuit bypasses the radiator and then enters the radiator circuit.

8. A system according to claim 7, wherein the circuits being separate comprises the changeover switch valve having a second position at which the valve is configured to permit flow through each of the element circuit and the radiator circuit respectively without permitting flow into the other of the element and the radiator circuit.

9. A system according to claim 7, wherein the element circuit is configured to act as a heat pump;

and the element is configured to release heat during heat pump operation, with no change in the direction of flow in the refrigerant circuit.

10. A system according to claim 8, further comprising a pump in each of the element circuit and the radiator circuit for pumping flow through the respective circuit;

and the element is configured to release heat during heat pump operation with no changes in the directions of flow through the compressor and the pumps in each of the element circuit and the radiator circuit.

11. A system according to claim 8, wherein the flow changeover switch is configured such that in the first position of the changeover switch and during heat pump operation, the changeover switch connects in series the element circuit and the radiator circuit.