Invention Grant
- Patent Title: Vapor injection heat pump and control method
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Application No.: US16444665Application Date: 2019-06-18
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Publication No.: US11254190B2Publication Date: 2022-02-22
- Inventor: Jing He , Loren John Lohmeyer, III , Manfred Koberstein , Mikiharu Kuwahara , Masafumi Nakashima
- Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
- Applicant Address: US MI Dearborn
- Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
- Current Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
- Current Assignee Address: US MI Dearborn
- Agency: Price Heneveld LLP
- Agent David Coppiellie
- Main IPC: B60H1/32
- IPC: B60H1/32 ; B60H1/00 ; B60H1/22 ; F25B30/02 ; F25B41/26

Abstract:
A refrigerant loop of a vapor injection heat pump includes a compressor, first and second expansion valves, and first and second separator valves. The separator valves allow an entire refrigerant flow to pass therethrough or operate to separate vapor and liquid components of expanded refrigerant and inject the vapor component into a suction port of the compressor. Vapor injection occurs in both heating and cooling modes of operation and may depend upon an ambient condition (e.g., high or low ambient temperatures). An accumulator receives an output refrigerant of the heat exchangers dependent upon the mode and directs a vapor component into another suction port of the compressor. A control module controls at least the first and second expansion valves and first and second separator valves dependent upon the mode of operation which include, among others, heating, cooling, and dehumidification and re-heating.
Information query