Combined ambient-air and earth exchange heat pump system
First Claim
1. An apparatus comprising:
- a) a first refrigerant-based heat exchanger adapted to directly absorb thermal energy from the earth as said apparatus operates in a heating mode, and to transfer thermal energy to the earth as said apparatus operates in a cooling mode;
b) a second refrigerant-based heat exchanger adapted to directly absorb thermal energy from the ambient atmosphere as said apparatus operates in said heating mode, and to transfer thermal energy to said ambient atmosphere as said apparatus operates in said cooling mode;
c) a dynamic load heat exchanger adapted to utilize thermal energy received from said first and second heat exchangers as said apparatus operates in said heating mode, and to transfer thermal energy to said first and second heat exchangers as said apparatus operates in said cooling mode;
d) a refrigerant distribution system, with refrigerant, connecting said first and second heat exchangers and said dynamic load heat exchanger in flow communication with each other;
e) a refrigerant compression device adapted to cycle said refrigerant through said refrigerant distribution system, said first and second heat exchangers, and said dynamic load heat exchanger;
f) control means for controlling the magnitude of thermal energy transferred by said second heat exchanger relative to the magnitude of thermal energy transferred by said first heat exchanger;
g) a reversing valve for converting said apparatus from one of said heating and cooling modes to the other of said modes; and
h) a regulating assembly for regulating the flow of said refrigerant through said apparatus.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An improved combined ambient-air and earth exchange heat pump system includes a subterranean heat exchanger and an ambient-air heat exchanger, both refrigerant-based, which are adapted to be selectively operated individually, serially or in parallel for heating and cooling purposes. The system also includes a compressor, a dynamic load heat exchanger, a reversing valve for converting the system from heating to cooling and vice versa, storage for excess refrigerant including an accumulator, an optional preheat exchanger, a regulating assembly with bleed port arrangement, a bypass mechanism for repetitive start-up attempts, and a lost charge device. A control center is provided to automatically activate the ambient-air heat exchanger to assist the subterranean heat exchanger after thermal stressing about the latter, to automatically deactivate the ambient-air heat exchanger for ambient conditions below a preset temperature, to increase or decrease the number of tubes used by the subterranean heat exchanger, and to optionally maintain the flow of refrigerant through the subterranean heat exchanger in the same direction during both the heating mode and the cooling mode.
221 Citations
37 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising:
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a) a first refrigerant-based heat exchanger adapted to directly absorb thermal energy from the earth as said apparatus operates in a heating mode, and to transfer thermal energy to the earth as said apparatus operates in a cooling mode; b) a second refrigerant-based heat exchanger adapted to directly absorb thermal energy from the ambient atmosphere as said apparatus operates in said heating mode, and to transfer thermal energy to said ambient atmosphere as said apparatus operates in said cooling mode; c) a dynamic load heat exchanger adapted to utilize thermal energy received from said first and second heat exchangers as said apparatus operates in said heating mode, and to transfer thermal energy to said first and second heat exchangers as said apparatus operates in said cooling mode; d) a refrigerant distribution system, with refrigerant, connecting said first and second heat exchangers and said dynamic load heat exchanger in flow communication with each other; e) a refrigerant compression device adapted to cycle said refrigerant through said refrigerant distribution system, said first and second heat exchangers, and said dynamic load heat exchanger; f) control means for controlling the magnitude of thermal energy transferred by said second heat exchanger relative to the magnitude of thermal energy transferred by said first heat exchanger; g) a reversing valve for converting said apparatus from one of said heating and cooling modes to the other of said modes; and h) a regulating assembly for regulating the flow of said refrigerant through said apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A heating and cooling system comprising:
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a) a refrigerant-based, subterranean heat exchanger having a tube for each 12,000 B.T.U. of heat transfer capacity of said system; b) a refrigerant-based ambient-air heat exchanger, wherein said ambient-air heat exchanger is adapted to operate in concert with said subterranean heat exchanger such that both are concurrently operable either as sources of thermal energy for, or as sinks for dissipation of thermal energy from, said system; c) a dynamic load heat exchanger adapted to receive thermal energy from, and to transfer thermal energy to, said subterranean and ambient-air heat exchangers; d) a refrigerant distribution system, with refrigerant, interconnecting said subterranean and ambient-air heat exchangers, and said dynamic load heat exchanger in flow communication with each other; e) a compressor adapted to cycle said refrigerant through said refrigerant distribution system, said subterranean and ambient-air heat exchangers, and said dynamic load heat exchanger;
said compressor adapted to cycle at least 21/2 pounds of said refrigerant through each said tube per minute;
said compressor adapted to cycle said refrigerant through each said tube at a velocity of at least 25 feet per minute;f) a reversing valve adapted to convert said system from one of said heating and cooling modes to the other of said modes; g) a regulating assembly having a heating mode leg and a cooling mode leg;
each of said heating and cooling mode legs having a check valve and a regulating device such that said refrigerant flows through said heating mode leg and is prevented from flowing through said cooling mode leg as said system operates in said heating mode, and such that said refrigerant flows through said cooling mode leg and is prevented from flowing through said heating mode leg as said system operates in said cooling mode;
each of said regulating devices having a 20-25% bleed port;
said regulating assembly adapted to cause said refrigerant downstream therefrom to have a pressure of approximately 30-90 psi;h) an accumulator adapted to store excess said refrigerant;
said accumulator having sufficient capacity to contain approximate fifty percent of total said refrigerant in said system;i) a first monitoring device adapted to determine failure of said refrigerant to substantially undergo a phase change as said refrigerant transits said subterranean heat exchanger; j) a control center adapted to selectively activate said ambient-air heat exchanger in response to a signal from said first monitoring device;
said control center further adapted to deactivate said ambient-air heat exchanger as the ambient temperature about said ambient-air heat exchanger is below a preset temperature;k) a second monitoring device adapted to monitor said refrigerant exiting from said dynamic load heat exchanger as said system operates in said heating mode;
said second monitoring device, in conjunction with said control center, further adapted to control said regulating device of said cooling leg in response to condition of said refrigerant exiting from said dynamic load heat exchanger;l) a bypass mechanism adapted to alternatively conduct a plurality of start-ups and shut-downs of said compressor; and m) a lost charge device adapted to detect substantial loss of said refrigerant from said system;
said lost charge device further adapted to override said bypass mechanism and to deactivate said system.
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Specification