US 11,927,372 B2
Vapor injection heat pump
Rachael Shey, Clawson, MI (US); and Jeffrey Paul Brown, Farmington Hills, MI (US)
Assigned to Ford Global Technologies, LLC, Dearborn, MI (US)
Filed by Ford Global Technologies, LLC, Dearborn, MI (US)
Filed on Apr. 28, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/731,600.
Prior Publication US 2023/0349597 A1, Nov. 2, 2023
Int. Cl. F25B 13/00 (2006.01); B60H 1/00 (2006.01); F25B 25/00 (2006.01); F25B 30/02 (2006.01); F25B 41/24 (2021.01); F25B 43/00 (2006.01)
CPC F25B 13/00 (2013.01) [B60H 1/00921 (2013.01); F25B 25/005 (2013.01); F25B 30/02 (2013.01); F25B 41/24 (2021.01); F25B 43/006 (2013.01); B60H 2001/00928 (2013.01); F25B 2400/0411 (2013.01); F25B 2600/2513 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A heat pump, comprising:
a refrigerant loop comprising:
a compressor having a low-pressure inlet, a mid-pressure inlet, and an outlet;
a first region of a first heat exchanger, wherein the first heat exchanger is positioned immediately downstream of the outlet of the compressor;
a second heat exchanger downstream of the first heat exchanger;
a vapor generator positioned downstream of the first heat exchanger, wherein the vapor generator is positioned upstream of the second heat exchanger in a first mode of operation, wherein the vapor generator is positioned downstream of the second heat exchanger in a second mode of operation, wherein the vapor generator is positioned upstream of both the low-pressure inlet and the mid-pressure inlet, and wherein the vapor generator delivers at least a portion of a gaseous component of a first heat exchange fluid to the mid-pressure inlet of the compressor; and
a first branching point positioned immediately downstream of the first region of the first heat exchanger;
a first shutoff valve positioned immediately downstream of the first branching point;
a second shutoff valve positioned immediately downstream of the first branching point, wherein the second heat exchanger is positioned downstream of the second shutoff valve;
a second branching point positioned downstream of the second heat exchanger;
a third shutoff valve and a fourth shutoff valve each positioned downstream of the second branching point, respectively;
a first coupling point positioned downstream of the fourth shutoff valve; and
a third branching point positioned immediately downstream of the first coupling point.
 
11. A heat pump, comprising:
a refrigerant loop comprising:
a compressor having a low-pressure inlet, a mid-pressure inlet, and an outlet;
a first region of a first heat exchanger, wherein the first heat exchanger is positioned immediately downstream of the outlet of the compressor;
a second heat exchanger downstream of the first heat exchanger;
a vapor generator positioned downstream of the first heat exchanger, wherein the vapor generator is positioned upstream of the second heat exchanger in a first mode of operation, wherein the vapor generator is positioned downstream of the second heat exchanger in a second mode of operation, wherein the vapor generator is positioned upstream of both the low-pressure inlet and the mid-pressure inlet, and wherein the vapor generator delivers at least a portion of a gaseous component of a first heat exchange fluid to the mid-pressure inlet of the compressor;
a first branching point positioned immediately downstream of the first region of the first heat exchanger;
a first shutoff valve positioned immediately downstream of the first branching point;
a second shutoff valve positioned immediately downstream of the first branching point, wherein the second heat exchanger is positioned downstream of the second shutoff valve;
a second branching point positioned downstream of the second heat exchanger;
a third shutoff valve positioned downstream of the second branching point;
a fourth shutoff valve positioned downstream of the second branching point;
a first coupling point positioned downstream of the fourth shutoff valve;
a third branching point positioned immediately downstream of the first coupling point; and
a first expansion valve positioned downstream of the third branching point, wherein the vapor generator comprises a first region and a second region, wherein the first region of the vapor generator is positioned immediately downstream of the first expansion valve, wherein the second region of the vapor generator is positioned immediately downstream of the third branching point, and wherein the mid-pressure inlet of the compressor is immediately downstream of the first region of the vapor generator.
 
14. A heat pump, comprising:
a refrigerant loop comprising:
a compressor having a low-pressure inlet, a mid-pressure inlet, and an outlet;
a first region of a first heat exchanger, wherein the first heat exchanger is positioned immediately downstream of the outlet of the compressor;
a second heat exchanger downstream of the first heat exchanger;
a vapor generator positioned downstream of the first heat exchanger, wherein the vapor generator is positioned upstream of the second heat exchanger in a first mode of operation, wherein the vapor generator is positioned downstream of the second heat exchanger in a second mode of operation, wherein the vapor generator is positioned upstream of both the low-pressure inlet and the mid-pressure inlet, and wherein the vapor generator delivers at least a portion of a gaseous component of a first heat exchange fluid to the mid-pressure inlet of the compressor;
a first branching point positioned immediately downstream of the first region of the first heat exchanger;
a first shutoff valve and a second shutoff valve each positioned downstream of a second branching point, respectively;
a first coupling point positioned downstream of the second shutoff valve; and
the second branching point positioned immediately downstream of the first coupling point.