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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Thermosyphon coil arrangement for heat pump outdoor unit

Patent ·
OSTI ID:865013
For a heat pump, the outdoor unit is provided with a coil and a refrigerant flow arrangement therefor which is such that in the heating mode of operation of the heat pump they operate in a thermosyphon fashion. The coil 32 has a feed portion 30 and an exit portion 34 leading to a separator drum 36 from which liquid refrigerant is returned through downcomer line 42 for recirculation to the feed portion. The coil is tilted upwardly from entry to exit by the angle alpha to enhance the clearance of the two phases of refrigerant from each other in the heating mode of operation. There is no thermosyphon function in the cooling mode of operation.
Research Organization:
Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN
DOE Contract Number:
W-7405-ENG-26
Assignee:
Westinghouse Electric Corp. (Pittsburgh, PA)
Patent Number(s):
US 4449377
OSTI ID:
865013
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English