IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
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출원번호 |
US-0875064
(2004-06-23)
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등록번호 |
US-7299649
(2007-11-27)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
- Healy,John J.
- Wu,Man Wai
- Wang,Simon Yiren
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출원인 / 주소 |
- Emerson Climate Technologies, Inc.
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대리인 / 주소 |
Harness, Dickey * Pierce, P.L.C.
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인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
10 인용 특허 :
44 |
초록
▼
A heat pump includes a first and second heat exchanger, a scroll compressor and a flash tank in fluid communication. The flash tank includes an inlet fluidly coupled to the heat exchangers to receive liquid refrigerant. Furthermore, the flash tank includes a first outlet fluidly coupled to the first
A heat pump includes a first and second heat exchanger, a scroll compressor and a flash tank in fluid communication. The flash tank includes an inlet fluidly coupled to the heat exchangers to receive liquid refrigerant. Furthermore, the flash tank includes a first outlet fluidly coupled to the first and second heat exchangers and a second outlet fluidly coupled to the scroll compressor. The first outlet is operable to deliver sub-cooled-liquid refrigerant to the heat exchangers while the second outlet is operable to deliver vaporized refrigerant to the scroll compressor. An expansion valve is further provided and is operable to selectively open and close the inlet by a float device. The float device is operable to control an amount of liquid refrigerant disposed within the flash tank by regulating an amount of liquid refrigerant entering the flash tank via the inlet.
대표청구항
▼
What is claimed is: 1. A heat pump system comprising: a first heat exchanger; a second heat exchanger in fluid communication with said first heat exchanger; a scroll compressor in fluid communication with each of said first and second heat exchangers; and a flash tank in fluid communication with ea
What is claimed is: 1. A heat pump system comprising: a first heat exchanger; a second heat exchanger in fluid communication with said first heat exchanger; a scroll compressor in fluid communication with each of said first and second heat exchangers; and a flash tank in fluid communication with each of said first and second heat exchangers and said scroll compressor, said flash tank including: an inlet fluidly coupled to said first and second heat exchangers and operable to receive liquid refrigerant from said first and second heat exchangers; a first outlet fluidly coupled to said first and second heat exchangers, said first outlet operable to deliver sub-cooled-liquid refrigerant to said first and second heat exchangers; a second outlet fluidly coupled to said scroll compressor, said second outlet operable to deliver vaporized refrigerant to said scroll compressor; and an expansion valve operable to selectively open and close said inlet by a float device, said float device operable to control an amount of liquid refrigerant disposed within said flash tank by regulating an amount of liquid refrigerant entering said flash tank via said inlet. 2. The heat pump of claim 1, wherein said float device includes a buoyant member fixedly attached to an outwardly extending arm, said buoyant member operable to float in said flash tank and actuate said arm in response to fluid level changes. 3. The heat pump of claim 2, wherein said float device further comprises an expansion needle, said expansion needle operably attached to said outwardly extending arm and movable between a fully open position and a fully closed position. 4. The heat pump of claim 3, wherein said needle includes a tapered surface, said tapered surface selectively received by said inlet to prohibit flow into said flash tank in said fully closed position and disengaging said inlet to define a plurality of open positions in response to movement of said outwardly extending arm. 5. The heat pump of claim 3, further comprising a needle housing, said needle housing pivotably supporting said outwardly extending arm and slidably supporting said expansion needle. 6. The heat pump of claim 1, wherein said scroll compressor includes a vapor injection port, said vapor injection port in fluid communication with said second outlet of said flash tank. 7. The heat pump of claim 1, further comprising a four-way valve disposed at an outlet of said scroll compressor, said four-way valve operable to direct refrigerant flow between said first and second heat exchangers to selectively toggle the heat pump between heating and cooling functions. 8. The heat pump of claim 7, further comprising a solenoid valve disposed proximate said inlet to selectively restrict fluid flow into said flash tank, said solenoid valve in a closed position when said four-way valve is in said heating function. 9. In a heat pump system of the type which re-circulates refrigerant through a fluid circuit between a first heat exchanger and a second heat exchanger including a scroll compressor coupled to the fluid circuit, a vapor injection system comprising: a tank fluidly coupled to the first and second heat exchangers and the scroll compressor; an inlet fluidly coupling said first and second heat exchangers and said tank, said inlet operable to receive liquid refrigerant from said first and second heat exchangers; a first outlet fluidly coupling said first and second heat exchangers and said tank, said first outlet operable to deliver sub-cooled-liquid refrigerant to said first and second heat exchangers; a second outlet fluidly coupling said scroll compressor and said tank, said second outlet operable to deliver vaporized refrigerant to said scroll compressor; and an expansion valve operable to selectively open and close said inlet by a float device, said float device operable to control an amount of liquid refrigerant disposed within said tank by regulating an amount of liquid refrigerant entering said tank via said inlet. 10. The vapor injection system of claim 9, wherein said vapor injection includes a buoyant member fixedly attached to an outwardly extending arm, said buoyant member operable to float in said tank and actuate said arm in response to fluid level changes in said tank. 11. The vapor injection system of claim 10, wherein said float device further comprises an expansion needle, said expansion needle operably attached to said outwardly extending arm and movable between a fully open position and a fully closed position in response to fluid level changes within said tank. 12. The vapor injection system of claim 11, wherein said needle includes a tapered surface, said tapered surface selectively received by said inlet to prohibit flow into said tank in said fully closed position and disengaging said inlet to define a plurality of open positions in response to movement of said outwardly extending arm. 13. The vapor injection system of claim 11, further comprising a needle housing, said needle housing pivotably supporting said outwardly extending arm and slidably supporting said expansion needle. 14. The vapor injection system of claim 9, further comprising a control valve disposed adjacent said inlet, said control valve operable to selectively restrict flow into said tank in a closed position and permit flow into said tank in an open position. 15. The vapor injection system of claim 14, wherein said control valve is a solenoid valve. 16. The vapor injection system of claim 14, further comprising a first bypass conduit, said first bypass conduit operable to allow flow between the first and second heat exchangers in a first direction when said control valve is in either of said open or closed positions. 17. The vapor injection system of claim 16, wherein said bypass conduit comprises at least one capillary tube. 18. The vapor injection system of claim 16, wherein said bypass conduit comprises at least one check valve to permit fluid flow in said first direction between the first and second heat exchangers and restrict fluid flow in a second direction between the first and second heat exchangers. 19. The vapor injection system of claim 14, further comprising a second bypass conduit, said second bypass conduit operable to allow flow between the first and second heat exchangers in a second direction when said control valve is in either of said open or closed positions. 20. The vapor injection system of claim 19, wherein said bypass conduit comprises at least one capillary tube. 21. The vapor injection system of claim 19, wherein said bypass conduit comprises at least one check valve to permit fluid flow in said second direction between the first and second heat exchangers and restrict fluid flow in a first direction between the first and second heat exchangers. 22. The vapor injection system of claim 9, further comprising a check valve disposed between the first heat exchanger and said tank, said check valve operable to permit flow from the first heat exchanger to said tank and restrict flow from the second heat exchanger to the first heat exchanger. 23. The vapor injection system of claim 9, further comprising a check valve disposed between the second heat exchanger and said tank, said check valve operable to permit flow from the second heat exchanger to said tank and restrict flow from the first heat exchanger to the second heat exchanger. 24. The vapor injection system of claim 9, further comprising a capillary tube disposed adjacent said first outlet, said capillary tube operable to vaporize said sub-cooled-liquid refrigerant from said first outlet prior to said sub-cooled-liquid refrigerant reaching said first and second heat exchangers. 25. The vapor injection system of claim 9, wherein the scroll compressor includes a vapor injection port, said vapor injection port in fluid communication with said second outlet of said tank. 26. A heat pump comprising: a first heat exchanger; a second heat exchanger in fluid communication with said first heat exchanger; a scroll compressor in fluid communication with each of said first and second heat exchangers, said scroll compressor including a vapor injection port; a flash tank in fluid communication with each of said first and second heat exchangers and said scroll compressor; a valve in fluid communication with said flash tank and operable to selectively permit and restrict flow from said first and second heat exchangers into said flash tank; and a vapor-injection valve disposed between said flash tank and said scroll compressor and operable to control an amount of vaporized refrigerant received by said vapor injection port from said flash tank. 27. The heat pump of claim 26, further comprising a first check valve operable to permit flow from said first heat exchanger into said flash tank and prevent flow from said second heat exchanger into said flash tank. 28. The heat pump of claim 26, further comprising a second check valve operable to permit flow from said second heat exchanger into said flash tank and prevent flow from said first heat exchanger into said flash tank. 29. The heat pump of claim 26, further comprising an outlet conduit in fluid communication with said flash tank, said outlet operable to transfer a sub-cooled-liquid refrigerant from said flash tank to said first and second heat exchangers. 30. The heat pump of claim 29, further comprising a third check valve, said third check valve permitting a flow from said flash tank to said first and second heat exchangers and preventing a flow from said first and second heat exchangers to said flash tank. 31. The heat pump of claim 29, wherein said outlet conduit further comprises at least one capillary tube, said at least one capillary tube operable to expand said sub-cooled-liquid refrigerant prior to said refrigerant reaching said first and second heat exchangers. 32. The heat pump of claim 26, wherein said valve is an expansion valve, said expansion valve operable to meter refrigerant flow into said expansion device. 33. The heat pump of claim 26, wherein said valve is a solenoid valve, said solenoid valve moveable between an open position allowing flow into said expansion device and a closed position restricting flow into said expansion device. 34. A heat pump operable in a heating mode and in a cooling mode, the heat pump comprising: a first heat exchanger; a second heat exchanger in fluid communication with said first heat exchanger; a scroll compressor in fluid communication with each of said first and second heat exchangers, said scroll compressor including a vapor injection port; a flash tank in fluid communication with each of said first and second heat exchangers and said scroll compressor; a check valve arrangement operable to permit flow from at least one of said first and second heat exchangers into said flash tank and prevent flow from the other of said first and second heat exchangers into said flash tank to control an amount of vaporized refrigerant received by said vapor injection port by regulating an amount of liquid refrigerant entering said flash tank. 35. The heat pump of claim 34, wherein said check valve arrangement includes a first and second check valve operable to permit flow from said second heat exchanger into said flash tank and prevent flow from said first heat exchanger into said flash tank. 36. The heat pump of claim 34, further comprising a capillary tube disposed between said first check valve and said flash tank, said capillary tube operable to expand said liquid refrigerant prior to reaching said flash tank. 37. The heat pump of claim 34, further comprising a capillary tube disposed between said second check valve and said flash tank, said capillary tube operable to expand said liquid refrigerant prior to reaching said flash tank. 38. The heat pump of claim 34, comprising an outlet conduit in fluid communication with said flash tank, said outlet operable to transfer a sub-cooled-liquid refrigerant from said flash tank to said first and second heat exchangers. 39. The heat pump of claim 38, further comprising a third check valve, said third check valve permitting a flow from said flash tank to said first and second heat exchangers and preventing a flow from said first and second heat exchangers to said flash tank. 40. The heat pump of claim 38, wherein said outlet conduit further comprises at least one capillary tube, said at least one capillary tube operable to expand said sub-cooled-liquid refrigerant prior to said refrigerant reaching said first and second heat exchangers. 41. The heat pump of claim 34, further comprising bypass conduit in fluid communication with said outlet conduit, said bypass conduit operable to permit flow from said flash tank to one of said first and second heat exchangers. 42. The heat pump of claim 41, wherein said bypass conduit includes a check valve, said check valve operable to permit flow from said flash tank to one of said first and second heat exchangers and restrict flow from one of first and second heat exchangers to said flash tank. 43. The heat pump of claim 41, wherein said bypass conduit includes a capillary tube, said capillary tube operable to expand said sub-cooled-liquid refrigerant prior to reaching one of said first and second heat exchangers. 44. The heat pump of claim 34, wherein said check valve arrangement includes a check valve, said check valve operable to permit refrigerant into said flash tank in the cooling mode and restrict refrigerant into said flash tank in the heating mode. 45. The heat pump of claim 34, wherein said check valve arrangement includes a check valve, said check valve operable to permit refrigerant into said flash tank in the heating mode and restrict refrigerant into said flash tank in the cooling mode. 46. A heat pump comprising: a first heat exchanger; a second heat exchanger in fluid communication with said first heat exchanger; a scroll compressor in fluid communication with each of said first and second heat exchangers, said scroll compressor including a vapor injection port; a plate heat exchanger in fluid communication with each of said first and second heat exchangers and said scroll compressor; and a first valve disposed adjacent an inlet of said plate heat exchanger, said first valve operable between an open position and a closed position to control a flow of refrigerant into said plate heat exchanger to control an amount of vaporized refrigerant received by said vapor injection port by regulating an amount of liquid refrigerant entering said plate heat exchanger. 47. The heat pump of claim 46, further comprising a second valve disposed between said first heat exchanger and said plate heat exchanger, said second valve operable between an open position and a closed position to control flow between said first heat exchanger and said second heat exchanger. 48. The heat pump of claim 47, further comprising a bypass conduit, said bypass conduit permitting flow between said first heat exchanger and said second heat exchanger when said second valve is in said closed position. 49. The heat pump of claim 48, further comprising a first check valve disposed on said bypass conduit, said first check valve operable to permit flow from said first heat exchanger to said second heat exchanger and restrict flow from said second heat exchanger to said first heat exchanger. 50. The heat pump of claim 46, further comprising a third valve disposed between said second heat exchanger and said plate heat exchanger, said third valve operable to control flow between said second heat exchanger and said first heat exchanger. 51. The heat pump of claim 50, further comprising a bypass conduit, said bypass conduit permitting flow between said second heat exchanger and said first heat exchanger when said third valve is in said closed position. 52. The heat pump of claim 51, further comprising a second check valve disposed on said bypass conduit, said second check valve operable to permit flow from said second heat exchanger to said first heat exchanger and restrict flow from said first heat exchanger to said second heat exchanger. 53. The heat pump of claim 46, wherein an outlet of said plate heat exchanger is in fluid communication with said vapor injection port of said scroll compressor. 54. The heat pump of claim 46, wherein said first valve is a solenoid valve. 55. The heat pump of claim 46, wherein said first valve is an expansion valve. 56. A heat pump comprising: a first heat exchanger; a second heat exchanger in fluid communication with said first heat exchanger; a scroll compressor in fluid communication with each of said first and second heat exchangers, said scroll compressor including a vapor injection port; a vapor injection apparatus in fluid communication with each of said first and second heat exchangers and said scroll compressor; and a first valve in fluid communication with said vapor injection apparatus and operable to selectively permit and restrict flow from said first and second heat exchangers into said vapor injection apparatus; a second valve disposed proximate to an outlet of said vapor injection apparatus and operable to selectively permit and restrict flow from said vapor injection apparatus to said first and second heat exchangers, said second valve cooperating with said first valve to control an amount of vaporized refrigerant received by said vapor injection port by regulating an amount of liquid refrigerant entering and exiting said vapor injection apparatus. 57. The heat pump of claim 56, wherein said vapor injection apparatus is a flash tank. 58. The heat pump of claim 56, wherein said vapor injection apparatus is a plate heat exchanger. 59. The heat pump of claim 56, wherein said valve is a solenoid valve. 60. The heat pump of claim 56, wherein said valve is an expansion valve. 61. The heat pump of claim 56, further comprising a first check valve operable to permit flow from said first heat exchanger into said vapor injection apparatus and prevent flow from said second heat exchanger into said vapor injection apparatus. 62. The heat pump of claim 56, further comprising a second check valve operable to permit flow from said second heat exchanger into said vapor injection apparatus and prevent flow from said first heat exchanger into said vapor injection apparatus. 63. The heat pump of claim 56, further comprising an outlet conduit in fluid communication with said vapor injection apparatus, said outlet operable to transfer a sub-cooled-liquid refrigerant from said vapor injection apparatus to said first and second heat exchangers. 64. The heat pump of claim 56, further comprising a third check valve, said third check valve permitting a flow from said vapor injection apparatus to said first and second heat exchangers and preventing a flow from said first and second heat exchangers to said vapor injection apparatus. 65. The heat pump of claim 64, wherein said outlet conduit further comprises at least one capillary tube, said at least one capillary tube operable to expand said sub-cooled-liquid refrigerant prior to said refrigerant reaching said first and second heat exchangers.
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