초록 ▼

An air-to-air heat pump system includes a refrigerant-liquid heat exchanger for heating a liquid. The system is capable of (1) space cooling, or (2) space heating, or (3) liquid heating without affecting the condition of an indoor space, or (4) simultaneous space cooling and liquid heating, or (5) s

An air-to-air heat pump system includes a refrigerant-liquid heat exchanger for heating a liquid. The system is capable of (1) space cooling, or (2) space heating, or (3) liquid heating without affecting the condition of an indoor space, or (4) simultaneous space cooling and liquid heating, or (5) simultaneous space heating and liquid heating, or (6) defrosting the outdoor heat exchanger without affecting the condition of an indoor space by utilizing heat supplied from a stored previously-heated liquid.

대표청구항 ▼

A refrigeration circuit operable in a plurality of modes and including a plurality of heat exchange means, one of the heat exchange means operating as an evaporator in each mode of circuit operation, comprising: a refrigerant compressor having a suction port and a discharge port; means for storing l

A refrigeration circuit operable in a plurality of modes and including a plurality of heat exchange means, one of the heat exchange means operating as an evaporator in each mode of circuit operation, comprising: a refrigerant compressor having a suction port and a discharge port; means for storing liquid; first heat exchange means for transferring heat between refrigerant and an indoor space; second heat exchange means for transferring heat between refrigerant and an outdoor space; third heat exchange means for transferring heat between refrigerant and a liquid stored in said storage means; conduit means for providing a plurality of refrigerant flow paths among said first heat exchange means, said second heat exchange means, and said third heat exchange means within said refrigeration circuit; means disposed in said conduit means for selectively metering refrigerant to said one of said first, said second and said third heat exchange means operating as an evaporator in accordance with the mode in which said circuit is operating; and means for establishing direct refrigerant flow from said compressor discharge port to a selected one of said first, said second and said third heat exchange means whereby said circuit is operable at least in (i) a simultaneous indoor space heating and liquid heating mode in which refrigerant passes, in order, from said compressor to said third then said first then said second heat exchange means, said second heat exchange means operating as an evaporator; (ii) a simultaneous indoor space cooling and liquid heating mode in which refrigerant passes, in order, from said compressor to said third then said second then said first heat exchange means, said first heat exchange means operating as an evaporator; and, (iii) a primary defrost mode in which refrigerant bypasses said first heat exchange means and flows in order, from said compressor to said second heat exchange means and then to said third heat exchange means which operates as an evaporator so that defrost of said second heat exchange means is accomplished using heat extracted from a previously heated liquid stored in said storage means and without affecting the temperature of the indoor space.