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VEHICLE HEAT PUMP SYSTEM AND METHOD UTILIZING INTERMEDIATE GAS RECOMPRESSION

  • US 20140208775A1
  • Filed: 01/25/2013
  • Published: 07/31/2014
  • Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2013
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A heat pump system for use in a vehicle having a battery and a passenger compartment, the heat pump system comprising:

  • a heating circuit configured to circulate refrigerant in a first operating mode, to heat the passenger compartment and cool the battery;

    a cooling circuit configured to circulate refrigerant in a second operating mode, to condition air received by the passenger compartment and cool the battery;

    a compressor having a first inlet and a second inlet, incorporated into each of the heating circuit and the cooling circuit, the compressor configured to compress refrigerant;

    a vapor-liquid separator within each of the cooling circuit and the heating circuit configured to separate refrigerant in a gaseous state flowing therethrough from refrigerant in a liquid state flowing therethrough;

    a first expansion device within each of the heating circuit and cooling circuit upstream of the vapor-liquid separator configured to supply the vapor-liquid separator with refrigerant in a gaseous state and refrigerant in a liquid state;

    and wherein the vapor-liquid separator is configured to transmit and inject refrigerant in a gaseous state into the compressor at the second inlet to increase the mass flow rate of the refrigerant entering the compressor.

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