Performance Boosted Refrigeration Heating System

• US 20190310000A1
• Filed: 01/25/2019
• Published: 10/10/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Denso International America Incorporated (DENSO Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Denso International America Incorporated (DENSO Corporation)
• Inventors: SHAN, Zhiwei
• Granted Patent: US 10,907,868 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2339/0242 having tubular elements
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2400/0417 for the subcooler
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2600/2501 Bypass valves
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2600/2517 Head-pressure valves
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2700/2104 of an indoor room or compartment
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 31/00 Compressor arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 39/02 Evaporators
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 39/04 Condensers
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 40/02 Subcoolers
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 41/20 Disposition of valves, e.g. of on-off valves or flow control valves expansion valves F25B41/31
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 41/24 Arrangement of shut-off valves for disconnecting a part of the refrigerant cycle, e.g. an outdoor part
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 49/02 for compression type machines, plants or systems
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 5/02 arranged in parallel
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 6/02 arranged in parallel

Abstract

A heating system including a condenser and an evaporator. A compressor is along a refrigerant line and is configured to compress refrigerant flowing to the condenser. A first valve is along the refrigerant line between the compressor and the condenser. A controller is configured to partially close the first valve when a measured temperature is below a threshold to increase discharge pressure of refrigerant compressed by the compressor and increase heat dissipation of the condenser.

Claims

1. A heating system comprising:

a condenser;

an evaporator;

a compressor along a refrigerant line, the compressor configured to compress refrigerant flowing to the condenser;

a first valve along the refrigerant line between the compressor and the condenser; and

a controller configured to partially close the first valve when a measured temperature is below a threshold to increase discharge pressure of refrigerant compressed by the compressor and increase heat dissipation of the condenser.

2. The heating system of claim 1, wherein the condenser is an air to refrigerant heat exchanger.

3. The heating system of claim 1, wherein the condenser is a water-cooled condenser.

4. The heating system of claim 1, wherein the condenser is a vehicle cabin condenser.

5. The heating system of claim 1, wherein the evaporator is a vehicle cabin evaporator for cooling the cabin.

6. The heating system of claim 1, wherein the evaporator is configured to cool a battery.

7. The heating system of claim 1, wherein the evaporator is configured to cool electronics.

8. The heating system of claim 1, wherein the evaporator is configured to absorb heat from ambient air.

9. The heating system of claim 1, further comprising a compressor discharge pressure sensor along the refrigerant line between the first valve and the compressor.

10. The heating system of claim 1, further comprising a second valve along the refrigerant line between the condenser and the evaporator, the second valve is an expansion valve.

11. The heating system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to partially close the first valve until the discharge pressure increases to 2.2 MPa Gauge.

12. The heating system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to reopen the first valve when the measured temperature is at or above the threshold.

13. The heating system of claim 1, wherein partially closing the first valve when the measured temperature is below the threshold increases performance of the heating system by at least 0.5 kW;

wherein the threshold is a passenger set threshold.

14. The heating system of claim 1, further comprising a receiver drier along the refrigerant line between the condenser and the evaporator.

15. A heating system for a vehicle passenger cabin comprising:

a compressor;

a cabin condenser in receipt of refrigerant compressed by the compressor;

an outside condenser in receipt of refrigerant compressed by the compressor;

a first valve between the compressor and the cabin condenser;

a second valve between the compressor and the outside condenser;

a cabin evaporator;

a secondary evaporator; and

a controller configured to partially close the first valve when a measured temperature is below a threshold to increase discharge pressure of refrigerant compressed by the compressor and increase heat dissipation of the condenser.

16. The heating system of claim 15, wherein the secondary evaporator is configured to cool a battery pack.

17. The heating system of claim 15, further comprising an outside subcool heat exchanger along a refrigerant line downstream of the cabin condenser and the outside condenser.

18. The heating system of claim 15, wherein the controller is configured to partially close the first valve until the discharge pressure increases to 2.2 MPa Gauge.

19. The heating system of claim 15, further comprising a compressor discharge pressure sensor along the refrigerant line between the compressor and the first valve.

20. The heating system of claim 15, wherein partially closing the first valve when the measured temperature is below the threshold increases performance of the heating system by at least 0.5 kW;

and

wherein the threshold is a passenger set threshold.