US 11,780,298 B2
Heat utilisation in an environmental control system
Martin Galansky, Rakovnik (CZ); Diego Cearra, Kraluv Dvur (CZ); Michal Kolda, Prague (CZ); and Pavel Houdek, Kutna Hora (CZ)
Assigned to THERMO KING LLC, Minneapolis, MN (US)
Filed by THERMO KING LLC, Minneapolis, MN (US)
Filed on Oct. 21, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/507,322.
Claims priority of application No. 20209909 (EP), filed on Nov. 25, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0161633 A1, May 26, 2022
Int. Cl. B60H 1/32 (2006.01); B60H 1/00 (2006.01)
CPC B60H 1/3227 (2013.01) [B60H 1/00371 (2013.01); B60H 1/32281 (2019.05)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An environmental control system for heating at least one enclosed space, comprising:
a heat-pump circuit that includes a compressor, a heat-output stage, an expansion device and an evaporator arranged in series along a flow path for a refrigerant;
wherein the heat-output stage comprises a primary heat exchanger and a secondary heat exchanger that are configured to transfer heat from the refrigerant to at least one external medium for heating the at least one enclosed space;
wherein the primary heat exchanger and the secondary heat exchanger are connected in series along the flow path, such that the secondary heat exchanger is configured to receive the refrigerant from the primary heat exchanger and to transfer heat remaining in the refrigerant after the primary heat exchanger to the at least one external medium;
wherein the primary heat exchanger is part of a first heat distribution loop which is in thermal communication with a first enclosed space to be heated; and
the secondary heat exchanger is part of a second heat distribution loop which is in thermal communication with a second enclosed space to be heated.