초록 ▼

A heat pump refrigeration circuit utilizes an indoor heat exchange unit, an outdoor heat exchange unit and a refrigerant-liquid heat exchange unit all connected serially to accomplish space heating, space cooling, liquid heating or simultaneous space cooling and liquid heating. A refrigerant charge

A heat pump refrigeration circuit utilizes an indoor heat exchange unit, an outdoor heat exchange unit and a refrigerant-liquid heat exchange unit all connected serially to accomplish space heating, space cooling, liquid heating or simultaneous space cooling and liquid heating. A refrigerant charge reservoir is selectively incorporated into the circuit to control the refrigerant charge in the two liquid heating modes of operation by removing excess liquid refrigerant from the circuit. In the two non-liquid heating modes of operation the reservoir is isolated from all but the suction port of the compressor within the circuit. Liquid refrigerant previously deposited in the reservoir during a liquid heating mode of operation is vaporized and returned to the circuit for use in the selected non-liquid heating mode of operation. Refrigerant charge control is thereby maintained in all modes of operation without the necessity of evacuating an inactive heat exchanger.

대표청구항 ▼

A refrigeration circuit operable in a plurality of modes to accomplish space heating, space cooling, liquid heating or simultaneous space cooling and liquid heating, comprising: a refrigerant vapor compressor, said compressor having a suction port and a discharge port; first heat exchange means, for

A refrigeration circuit operable in a plurality of modes to accomplish space heating, space cooling, liquid heating or simultaneous space cooling and liquid heating, comprising: a refrigerant vapor compressor, said compressor having a suction port and a discharge port; first heat exchange means, for transferring heat between a refrigerant and air circulated within a space; second heat exchange means, for transferring heat between a refrigerant and a heat transfer medium; third heat exchange means for transferring heat between a refrigerant and a liquid, said third heat exchange means connected to said first heat exchange means by a first refrigerant flow path and to said second heat exchange means by a second refrigerant flow path; a refrigerant charge reservoir; first selectively positionable valve means, for providing a refrigerant flow path between said discharge port of said compressor and said first heat exchange means and between said second heat exchange means and said suction port of said compressor when in a first position, and a refrigerant flow path between said discharge port of said compressor and said second heat exchange means and between said first heat exchange means and said suction port of said compressor when in a second position; and second selectively positionable valve means, for providing a refrigerant flow path between said third heat exchange means and said reservoir when in a first position and a refrigerant flow path from said reservoir to said suction port of said compressor when in a second position, said second valve means blocking said flow path between said reservoir and said compressor suction port when in said first position and blocking said flow path between said third heat exchange means and said reservoir when in said second position.