US 12,435,909 B2
Systems and methods of using cascading heat pumps for improvement of coefficient of performance
Mark J. Maynard, Easthampton, MA (US)
Filed by Mark J. Maynard, Easthampton, MA (US)
Filed on Apr. 7, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/132,297.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/328,763, filed on Apr. 8, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2023/0324084 A1, Oct. 12, 2023
Int. Cl. F25B 7/00 (2006.01); F25B 39/00 (2006.01); F25B 41/22 (2021.01); F25B 49/02 (2006.01)
CPC F25B 7/00 (2013.01) [F25B 39/00 (2013.01); F25B 41/22 (2021.01); F25B 49/02 (2013.01); F25B 2500/18 (2013.01); F25B 2600/2515 (2013.01); F25B 2700/1352 (2013.01)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A cascading heat pump system, comprising:
a first heat pump circuit, the first heat pump circuit using a first refrigerant configured to raise a first cold operating temperature to a first hot operating temperature, the first heat pump circuit comprising:
a first evaporator positioned in a first exchanger (E/C) block, the first evaporator configured to transfer heat from an outside source to the first refrigerant;
a first compressor in fluid communication with the first evaporator and configured to:
receive the first refrigerant from the first evaporator;
compress the first refrigerant; and
heat the first refrigerant;
a first condenser in fluid communication with the first compressor and configured to condense the first refrigerant;
a second heat pump circuit, the second heat pump circuit using a second refrigerant configured to raise a second cold operating temperature to a second hot operating temperature, the second heat pump circuit in thermal communication with the first heat pump circuit, the thermal communication is through a second E/C block, the second heat pump comprising:
a third evaporator positioned in the second E/C block in thermal communication with the first condenser, the second refrigerant in the third evaporator configured to receive a transfer of heat from the first refrigerant in the first condenser;
a second compressor configured to:
receive the second refrigerant from the third evaporator;
compress the second refrigerant; and
heat the second refrigerant;
a second condenser configured to condense the second refrigerant; and
a system controller operatively coupled to the cascading heat pump system, the system controller configured to optimize the coefficient of performance (COP) of the cascading heat pump system as a function of output from at least one of two flow meters and/or system sensors,
wherein:
the second cold operating temperature is equal to the first hot operating temperature; and
a total operating range of the cascading heat pump system is the difference between the first cold operating temperature and the final hot operating temperature.