Direct expansion geothermal heat pump
First Claim
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1. A loop system for use in combination with a "DX" heat pump system comprising:
- a) three loops, a first loop including a dual purpose suction/hot gas line and a liquid line, and second and third loops, said second and third loops each including a suction line and a liquid line, each loop being adapted to be buried underground in heat exchange relationship with earth;
b) a refrigerant vapor header provided with a check valve;
c) means connecting said suction/hot gas line of said first loop to said refrigerant vapor header downstream of said check valve;
d) means connecting said suction lines of each of said two other said loops to said refrigerant vapor header upstream of said check valve;
e) a liquid line header provided with an electric solenoid valve;
(f) means connecting said liquid line of said first loop to said liquid line header upstream of said electric solenoid valve;
and g) means connecting said liquid lines of each of said other two loops to said liquid line header downstream of said electric solenoid valve.
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Abstract
A "DX" heat pump is provided herein which is based on the principle of providing optimal heat exchange in the heating mode through three parallel ground loops, two of which can be cut off from the system and evacuated of refrigerant in the cooling mode. The loops are designed in terms of volume so that the refrigerant charge is correct in the heating mode when split in three loops and also correct in the cooling mode when only one loop is used, but it contains the full system refrigerant charge.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A loop system for use in combination with a "DX" heat pump system comprising:
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a) three loops, a first loop including a dual purpose suction/hot gas line and a liquid line, and second and third loops, said second and third loops each including a suction line and a liquid line, each loop being adapted to be buried underground in heat exchange relationship with earth; b) a refrigerant vapor header provided with a check valve; c) means connecting said suction/hot gas line of said first loop to said refrigerant vapor header downstream of said check valve; d) means connecting said suction lines of each of said two other said loops to said refrigerant vapor header upstream of said check valve; e) a liquid line header provided with an electric solenoid valve; (f) means connecting said liquid line of said first loop to said liquid line header upstream of said electric solenoid valve; and g) means connecting said liquid lines of each of said other two loops to said liquid line header downstream of said electric solenoid valve. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A geothermal heating and air conditioning system, comprising:
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(i) a compressor means for compressing a refrigerant; (ii) one or more indoor coils for heat exchange between said refrigerant and inside air; (iii) at least three outdoor loops which are placed vertically or horizontally below ground for heat exchange between said refrigerant and earth surrounding said outdoor coils, said loops being so designed in terms of volume that said refrigerant charge is correct in said heating mode when split into three loops and is also correct in said cooling mode when only one loop is used; (iv) a reversing valve which controls said direction of flow of said refrigerant as it leaves said compressor so as to direct said refrigerant header to said ground coil or to said indoor coils; and (v) an internal heat pump solenoid valve, a check valve and an evacuation line header configuration which enables said manipulation of said heat exchange capabilities of earth exchange coils and reposition refrigerant charge to suit said heating or cooling mode as required using said same refrigerant charge in both modes of operation.
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6. A "DX" heat pump system comprising:
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a) three earth loops, a first earth loop including a suction line and a liquid line, and said second or third loops including a suction line and a liquid line, each loop being adapted to be buried underground in heat exchange relationship with earth; b) a refrigerant vapor header provided with a check valve; c) means connecting said suction/hot gas line of a first said loop to said refrigerant vapor header downstream of said check valve; d) means connecting said suction lines of each of said two other loops to said refrigerant vapor header upstream of said check valve; e) a liquid line header provided with an electric solenoid valve; f) means connecting said liquid line of said first loop to said liquid line header upstream of said electric solenoid valve; g) means connecting said liquid lines of each of said other two loops to said liquid line header downstream of said electric solenoid valve; h) a scavenging line connected between said refrigerant vapor header upstream of said check valve and an accumulator; i) a liquid line provided with a "TX" valve connected to said liquid line header; j) a reversing valve having two inlets and two outlets; k) a compressor having an inlet and an outlet, said outlet being connected to said hot gas inlet of said reversing valve; l) an accumulator having an inlet and an outlet, said outlet being connected to said inlet of said compressor; m) one outlet of said reversing valve being connected to said inlet of an air condenser; n) said common suction outlet of said reversing valve being connected to said inlet of said accumulator; and o) a second inlet of said reversing valve being connected to said refrigerant vapor header downstream of said check valve. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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7. A "DX" heat pump system comprising in said heating mode, said system:
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(a) three earth loops, a first earth loop including a suction line and a liquid line, and said second and third loops including a suction line and a liquid line, each loop being adapted to be buried underground in heat exchange relationship with earth; (b) a refrigerant vapor header provided with a check valve; (c) means connecting said suction line of a first said loop to said refrigerant vapor header downstream of said check valve; (d) means connecting said suction lines of each of said two other loops to said refrigerant vapor header upstream of said check valve; (e) a liquid line header provided with an electric solenoid valve; (f) means connecting said liquid line of said first loop to said liquid line header upstream of said electric solenoid valve; (g) means connecting said liquid lines of each of said other two loops to said liquid line header downstream of said electric solenoid valve; (h) a scavenging line connected between said refrigerant vapor header upstream of said check valve and an accumulator; (i) a liquid line provided with a "TX" valve connected to said liquid line header; (j) a reversing valve having two inlets and two outlets; (k) a compressor having an inlet and an outlet, said outlet being connected to said hot gas inlet of said reversing valve; (l) an accumulator having an inlet and an outlet, said outlet being connected to said inlet of said compressor; (m) said hot gas outlet of said reversing valve being connected to said inlet of an air condenser; (n) a common suction outlet of said reversing valve being connected to said inlet of said accumulator; and (o) said suction inlet of said reversing valve being connected to said refrigerant vapor header downstream of said check valve.
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8. A "DX" heat pump system comprising in said cooling mode, said "DX" heat pump system comprising:
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(a) three earth loops, a first loop including a hot gas line and a liquid line, and said second and third loops including a suction line and a liquid line, which are operationally idle during such cooling mode, each loop being adapted to be buried underground in heat exchange relationship with said earth; (b) a refrigerant vapor header provided with a check valve; (c) means connecting said hot gas line of a first loop to said refrigerant vapor header downstream of said check valve; (d) means connecting said idle suction lines of each of said two other loops to said refrigerant vapor header upstream of said check valve; (e) a liquid line header provided with an electric solenoid valve; (f) means connecting said liquid line of said first loop to said liquid line header upstream of said electric solenoid valve; (g) means connecting said liquid lines of each of said other two loops to said liquid line header downstream of said electric solenoid valve; (h) a scavenging line connected between said refrigerant vapor header upstream of said check valve and an accumulator; (i) a liquid line provided with a "TX" valve connected to said liquid line header; (j) a reversing valve having two inlets and two outlets; (k) a compressor having an inlet and an outlet, said outlet being connected to said hot gas inlet of said reversing valve; (l) an accumulator having an inlet and an outlet, said outlet being connected to said inlet of said compressor; (m) said suction inlet of said reversing valve being connected to said outlet of an air evaporator; (n) said suction outlet of said reversing valve being connected to said inlet of said accumulator; (o) said hot gas outlet of said reversing valve being connected to said refrigerant vapor header downstream of said check valve. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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Specification