US 12,313,304 B2
Managing charge allocation and optimizing multi-mode performance of air-source integrated heat pumps
Jeffrey D. Munk, Oak Ridge, TN (US); Bo Shen, Oak Ridge, TN (US); and Kyle R. Gluesenkamp, Oak Ridge, TN (US)
Assigned to UT-BATTELLE, LLC, Oak Ridge, TN (US)
Filed by UT-Battelle, LLC, Oak Ridge, TN (US)
Filed on Jun. 29, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/216,060.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/358,298, filed on Jul. 5, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2024/0011674 A1, Jan. 11, 2024
Int. Cl. F25B 13/00 (2006.01)
CPC F25B 13/00 (2013.01) [F25B 2313/02743 (2013.01); F25B 2400/0411 (2013.01); F25B 2400/19 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A charge management system for a heat pump including a compressor, an indoor air-to-refrigerant heat exchanger, an outdoor air-to-refrigerant heat exchanger, and a water-to-refrigerant heat exchanger, wherein a delivery port of the compressor is fluidly coupled to a refrigerant inlet port of the water-to-refrigerant heat exchanger, the charge management system comprising:
a first four-way reversing valve fluidly coupled between a refrigerant outlet port of the water-to-refrigerant heat exchanger and an intake port of the compressor;
a first one-way check valve fluidly coupled to the first four-way reversing valve;
a second four-way reversing valve fluidly coupled to the indoor air-to-refrigerant heat exchanger, the outdoor air-to-refrigerant heat exchanger, the first one-way check valve, and the intake port of the compressor;
a third four-way reversing valve fluidly coupled to the delivery port of the compressor, the second four-way reversing valve, and the first one-way check valve, and the intake port of the compressor;
a second one-way check valve fluidly coupled to the first four-way reversing valve;
a first expansion valve fluidly coupled in line with the outdoor air-to-refrigerant heat exchanger;
a second expansion valve fluidly coupled in line with the indoor air-to-refrigerant heat exchanger; and
controller circuitry communicatively coupled with the first, second, and third four-way reversing valves and the first and second expansion valves to selectively configure the first, second, and third four-way reversing valves and the first and second expansion valves to cause the heat pump to provide a plurality of functional modes including dedicated space cooling, dedicated space heating, dedicated water heating, combined space cooling and water heating, and combined space heating and water heating.