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Title: Refrigerant charge management in a heat pump water heater

Abstract

Heat pumps that heat or cool a space and that also heat water, refrigerant management systems for such heat pumps, methods of managing refrigerant charge, and methods for heating and cooling a space and heating water. Various embodiments deliver refrigerant gas to a heat exchanger that is not needed for transferring heat, drive liquid refrigerant out of that heat exchanger, isolate that heat exchanger against additional refrigerant flowing into it, and operate the heat pump while the heat exchanger is isolated. The heat exchanger can be isolated by closing an electronic expansion valve, actuating a refrigerant management valve, or both. Refrigerant charge can be controlled or adjusted by controlling how much liquid refrigerant is driven from the heat exchanger, by letting refrigerant back into the heat exchanger, or both. Heat pumps can be operated in different modes of operation, and segments of refrigerant conduit can be interconnected with various components.

Inventors:
;
Issue Date:
Research Org.:
Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE
OSTI Identifier:
1136400
Patent Number(s):
8756943
Application Number:
13/548,091
Assignee:
Nordyne LLC (O'Fallon, MO)
Patent Classifications (CPCs):
F - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING F25 - REFRIGERATION OR COOLING F25B - REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS
Resource Type:
Patent
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
42 ENGINEERING

Citation Formats

Chen, Jie, and Hampton, Justin W. Refrigerant charge management in a heat pump water heater. United States: N. p., 2014. Web.
Chen, Jie, & Hampton, Justin W. Refrigerant charge management in a heat pump water heater. United States.
Chen, Jie, and Hampton, Justin W. Tue . "Refrigerant charge management in a heat pump water heater". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1136400.
@article{osti_1136400,
title = {Refrigerant charge management in a heat pump water heater},
author = {Chen, Jie and Hampton, Justin W.},
abstractNote = {Heat pumps that heat or cool a space and that also heat water, refrigerant management systems for such heat pumps, methods of managing refrigerant charge, and methods for heating and cooling a space and heating water. Various embodiments deliver refrigerant gas to a heat exchanger that is not needed for transferring heat, drive liquid refrigerant out of that heat exchanger, isolate that heat exchanger against additional refrigerant flowing into it, and operate the heat pump while the heat exchanger is isolated. The heat exchanger can be isolated by closing an electronic expansion valve, actuating a refrigerant management valve, or both. Refrigerant charge can be controlled or adjusted by controlling how much liquid refrigerant is driven from the heat exchanger, by letting refrigerant back into the heat exchanger, or both. Heat pumps can be operated in different modes of operation, and segments of refrigerant conduit can be interconnected with various components.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {2014},
month = {6}
}

Works referenced in this record:

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patent, March 1961


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patent, May 1999


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patent, July 2001


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patent, September 2001


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patent, September 2003


Refrigerant charge control in a heat pump system with water heater
patent, November 2011


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patent-application, September 2004


Absorption-type air conditioner system
patent-application, January 2005


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patent-application, May 2006


Freezer apparatus
patent-application, January 2007


Thermal superconductor refrigeration system
patent-application, September 2007


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patent-application, January 2008


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patent-application, August 2008


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patent-application, August 2008


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patent-application, October 2008


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patent-application, December 2008


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patent-application, January 2009


Heat pump system having auxiliary water heating and heat exchanger bypass
patent-application, February 2009


Transport refrigeration system
patent-application, March 2010


Air Conditioning/Ventilating System
patent-application, May 2011


    Works referencing / citing this record:

    Refrigeration cycle apparatus
    patent, May 2017