US 12,000,639 B2
Heat pump with multiple vapor generators
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 Dec. 20, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/556,234.
Prior Publication US 2023/0194129 A1, Jun. 22, 2023
Int. Cl. F25B 41/20 (2021.01); F25B 5/02 (2006.01)
CPC F25B 5/02 (2013.01) [F25B 41/20 (2021.01)] 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 vapor generator;
a second vapor generator;
a third vapor generator, wherein the first vapor generator, the second vapor generator, and the third vapor generator are each positioned downstream of the outlet of the compressor, and wherein the first vapor generator, the second vapor generator, and the third vapor generator are each positioned upstream of the mid-pressure inlet of the compressor;
a first heat exchanger positioned downstream of the first vapor generator;
a second heat exchanger positioned downstream of the second vapor generator;
a third heat exchanger positioned downstream of the third vapor generator;
a first expansion valve positioned immediately upstream of the first vapor generator;
a second expansion valve positioned immediately upstream of the second vapor generator; and
a third expansion valve positioned immediately upstream of the third vapor generator.