초록 ▼

A bi-directional flow auxiliary heat exchanger is disposed in proximity to the outdoor heat exchanger of a heat pump. The auxiliary fin and tube coil is active in both the heating and cooling modes to subcool refrigerant fluid flowing from the condenser. During operation of the heat pump system in t

A bi-directional flow auxiliary heat exchanger is disposed in proximity to the outdoor heat exchanger of a heat pump. The auxiliary fin and tube coil is active in both the heating and cooling modes to subcool refrigerant fluid flowing from the condenser. During operation of the heat pump system in the cooling mode, the entire auxiliary coil is used for subcooling; however, a portion of the subcooler is bypassed during heating mode operation to reduce the effective size of the subcooler. The bypassed portion of the auxiliary coil is used for storing excess refrigerant charge. This arrangement provides the system with the optimum amount of subcooling in each mode of operation, and adjusts the refrigerant charge for optimum performance in both the heating and cooling modes.

대표청구항 ▼

In a refrigerant heat pump system selectively operable in a heating or cooling mode, said system including a refrigerant compressor, an indoor heat exchanger, an outdoor heat exchanger, a reversing valve operable to select the heating or the cooling mode by interchanging the operating function of th

In a refrigerant heat pump system selectively operable in a heating or cooling mode, said system including a refrigerant compressor, an indoor heat exchanger, an outdoor heat exchanger, a reversing valve operable to select the heating or the cooling mode by interchanging the operating function of the indoor and the outdoor heat exchangers as an evaporator and a condenser, and first and second expansion/check valve means associated with the indoor and outdoor heat exchangers respectively, and operative to restrict refrigerant flow in one direction while allowing it in another direction, an auxiliary heat exchanger disposed with the outdoor heat exchanger, said auxiliary heat exchanger comprising: a first and a second section joined in serial flow arrangement, with one end of the first section being connected in fluid communication with the first expansion/check valve means, and the other end of the first section connected to one end of the second section, the serially joined end of the first and second section and the other end of the second section being connected separately to the second expansion/check valve means, said auxiliary heat exchanger being operative to subcool refrigerant fluid leaving the outdoor heat exchanger during operation of the system in the cooling mode using both the first and second sections, and operative to subcool refrigerant flowing through the second expansion/check valve means and into the outdoor heat exchanger using the first section while storing excess refrigerant in the second section during operation of the system in the heating mode.