Hybrid Residential Ground-Coupled Heat Pump
First Claim
1. A hybrid heat pump system, comprising:
- a heat pump;
an outdoor heat exchanger;
a ground heat exchanger; and
a fluid flow path including a plurality of valves selectively configurable to circulate fluid between the heat pump, the outdoor heat exchanger, and the ground heat exchanger.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods are disclosed that include providing a hybrid heat pump system with a heat pump connected in fluid communication with an outdoor unit and a ground heat exchanger via a plurality of valves. The hybrid heat pump system also includes a system controller that selectively configures the plurality of valves to alter a fluid flow path through at least one of the outdoor unit that exchanges heat between a fluid carried by an outdoor heat exchanger of the outdoor unit and ambient outdoor air and the ground heat exchanger that exchanges heat between the fluid carried by the ground heat exchanger and the ground in order to maximize heat transfer efficiency between the fluid and the ambient outdoor air and/or the ground based on various temperatures measured by the hybrid heat pump system.
-
Citations
14 Claims
-
1. A hybrid heat pump system, comprising:
-
a heat pump; an outdoor heat exchanger; a ground heat exchanger; and a fluid flow path including a plurality of valves selectively configurable to circulate fluid between the heat pump, the outdoor heat exchanger, and the ground heat exchanger. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
-
-
7. A hybrid heat pump system, comprising:
-
a heat pump; an outdoor heat exchanger; a ground heat exchanger; and a fluid flow path including a plurality of valves selectively configurable; in a first mode to circulate fluid between the heat pump and the ground heat exchanger, in a second mode to circulate fluid between the heat pump and the outdoor heat exchanger, in a third mode to circulate fluid from the heat pump to the outdoor heat exchanger and then circulate the fluid from the outdoor heat exchanger to the ground heat exchanger, and in a fourth mode to circulate fluid from the heat pump to the ground heat exchanger and then circulate the fluid from the ground heat exchanger to enter the outdoor heat exchanger. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A method of operating hybrid heat pump system, comprising:
-
circulating fluid between a heat pump and a ground heat exchanger in a first mode; circulating fluid between the heat pump and an outdoor heat exchanger in a second mode; circulating fluid from the heat pump to the outdoor heat exchanger and then circulating the fluid from the outdoor heat exchanger to the ground heat exchanger in a third mode; and circulating fluid from the heat pump to the ground heat exchanger and then circulating the fluid from the ground heat exchanger to enter the outdoor heat exchanger in a fourth mode. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
-
Specification