US 12,246,579 B2
Vapor injection module and heat pump system using same
Seong Hun Kim, Daejeon (KR); Sung Je Lee, Daejeon (KR); and Hae Jun Lee, Daejeon (KR)
Assigned to HANON SYSTEMS, Daejeon (KR)
Appl. No. 18/014,614
Filed by Hanon Systems, Daejeon (KR)
PCT Filed Aug. 9, 2021, PCT No. PCT/KR2021/010488
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jan. 5, 2023,
PCT Pub. No. WO2022/050586, PCT Pub. Date Mar. 10, 2022.
Claims priority of application No. 10-2020-0113878 (KR), filed on Sep. 7, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2023/0271477 A1, Aug. 31, 2023
Int. Cl. B60H 1/00 (2006.01); F25B 41/31 (2021.01)
CPC B60H 1/00899 (2013.01) [B60H 1/00392 (2013.01); F25B 41/31 (2021.01); F25B 2400/23 (2013.01); F25B 2500/31 (2013.01)] 10 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A vapor injection module comprising:
an expansion valve configured to allow a condensed refrigerant to pass therethrough or expand a condensed refrigerant in accordance with an air conditioning mode; and
a gas-liquid separator configured to receive the refrigerant from the expansion valve and separate the refrigerant into a gaseous refrigerant and a liquid refrigerant,
wherein the expansion valve has a plurality of expansion regions and performs operations of allowing the refrigerant to pass therethrough, performing first-stage expansion on the refrigerant, or performing second-stage expansion on the refrigerant in accordance with arrangement positions of the expansion regions,
wherein the expansion valve comprises a ball valve connected to an inlet port and configured to rotate, and the plurality of expansion regions is formed in the ball valve,
wherein the ball valve comprises:
a connection hole connected to the inlet port;
a first expansion region connected to the connection hole and configured to expand the refrigerant; and
a second expansion region disposed at one side of the ball valve,
wherein the expansion valve comprises an outlet port, and
wherein in a cooling mode and a general heating mode among the air conditioning modes, the ball valve is rotated so that the second expansion region is not directed toward the outlet port.