Heat Pump Device

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims priority to, and the benefit of, U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/568,022, which was filed on Mar. 21, 2024, and is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to the field of heat pump devices. More specifically, the present invention relates to an indoor dual compressor heat pump device to heat and cool buildings in any type of climate environment. Accordingly, the present disclosure makes specific reference thereto. Nonetheless, it is to be appreciated that aspects of the present invention are also equally applicable to other like applications, devices, and methods of manufacture.

BACKGROUND

By way of background, this invention relates to improvements in heat pump devices. Generally, standard heat pump devices are composed of two major components. The interior component contains a condenser coil that heats or cools the air as it circulates throughout the building. The exterior component contains an evaporator coil that uses the ambient air to heat up or cool down the refrigerant fluid as it flows back to the condenser coil.

However, one problem is in extreme outdoor temperature conditions, these outdoor components cannot heat or cool the refrigerant fluids sufficiently to maintain the desired indoor temperature setting. Some heat pump units may come with a backup system to help reach the desired indoor temperature, but they tend to be very costly to operate and may not be very environmentally friendly.

Accordingly, a need remains for a heat pump device that can heat and cool buildings in any type of climate environment. Further, a heat pump device is necessary which includes a dual compressor system that controls the temperature of the refrigerant fluids which heat and/or cool a building.

Therefore, there exists a long-felt need in the art for a heat pump device that provides users with an indoor dual compressor heat pump device to heat and cool buildings in any type of climate environment. There is also a long-felt need in the art for a heat pump device that includes residential, commercial, and industrial applications to accommodate any environment. Further, there is a long-felt need in the art for a heat pump device that uses a dual compressor system to control the temperature of the refrigerant fluids which heat and/or cool a building. Moreover, there is a long-felt need in the art for a device that features an air handling unit and two compressors housed in a single casing. Further, there is a long-felt need in the art for a heat pump device that saves considerable money on utility bills by offering a more efficient heating and cooling system. Finally, there is a long-felt need in the art for a heat pump device that allows the unit to be stored indoors.

The subject matter disclosed and claimed herein, in one embodiment thereof, comprises a heat pump device. The device is an indoor heat pump comprised of an enclosed indoor pump unit with a heat exchanger. The air source heat pump uses the outdoor ambient air to raise or lower the temperature of the heat pump refrigerant fluids in the outer coils. This device uses a second compressor to raise or lower the temperature of the heat pump refrigerant fluids, as needed. The device can be available in residential, commercial, and industrial applications.

In existing residential applications, the home may not have sufficient space to house this unit. Therefore, a version will exist where the condenser and air handling components will be housed in one casing and the compressors, and the heat exchanger are housed in a second casing. This second casing may be installed vertically, horizontally, or diagonally, depending on where available space may exist.

In comparison to standard heating and cooling units, the indoor configuration will remove the fan and evaporator coil, thus allowing the unit to be installed indoors. The work performed by the fan and coils will be done by the second compressor, containing its own reversing valve, refrigerant lines, and a heat exchanger to condition the main refrigerant line fluids. Thus, the two compressor units will allow the building owner to heat and cool their building in any type of climate and weather condition.

In this manner, the heat pump device of the present invention accomplishes all the foregoing objectives and provides users with a device that allows the unit to be installed indoors.

The device is a dual compressor system that heats and cools buildings. The device offers a more efficient heating and cooling system.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following presents a simplified summary in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the disclosed innovation. This summary is not an extensive overview, and it is not intended to identify key/critical elements or to delineate the scope thereof. Its sole purpose is to present some general concepts in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.

The subject matter disclosed and claimed herein, in one embodiment thereof, comprises a heat pump device. The device is an indoor heat pump comprised of an enclosed indoor pump unit with a heat exchanger. The air source heat pump uses the outdoor ambient air to raise or lower the temperature of the heat pump refrigerant fluids in the outer coils. This device uses a second compressor to raise or lower the temperature of the heat pump refrigerant fluids, as needed. The device can be available in residential, commercial, and industrial applications.

In existing residential applications, the home may not have sufficient space to house this unit. Therefore, a version will exist where the condenser and air handling components will be housed in one casing and the compressors, and the heat exchanger are housed in a second casing. This second casing may be installed vertically, horizontally, or diagonally, depending on where available space may exist.

In comparison to standard heating and cooling units, the indoor configuration will remove the fan and evaporator coil, thus allowing the unit to be installed indoors. The work performed by the fan and coils will be done by the second compressor containing its own reversing valve, refrigerant lines, and a heat exchanger to condition the main refrigerant line fluids. Thus, the two compressor units will allow the building owner to heat and cool their building in any type of climate and weather condition.

Generally, in the summer months, a heat pump works just like a standard air conditioner would. Standard air conditioner, use a refrigerant to absorb unwanted heat in a home and transfer it to the air outside. This happens by changing the pressure of the refrigerant fluid. At low pressures, the refrigerant will easily absorb any heat available in the air and evaporate it from a liquid to a gas. At high pressures, a gas refrigerant is higher energy than the outside air, so it passes heat to the surrounding air and the refrigerant condenses back to a liquid when it cools. By controlling the pressure of the refrigerant, an air conditioner can extract heat from your home, even on very hot days.

Specifically, warm air from inside the home is passed across a cool refrigerant coil, and the heat is absorbed by the liquid refrigerant which evaporates into a low-temperature gas, and the cooled air is ducted back through the house. The low-temperature gas refrigerant goes through a compressor which raises its temperature and pressure. The hot, high-pressure refrigerant gas is then passed through the outdoor coil. The refrigerant passes heat to the outdoor air and condenses it to a high-temperature liquid. The warm liquid refrigerant is then passed through an expansion valve, which relieves pressure. As the pressure is reduced, the temperature of the liquid is reduced. The low-temperature, low-pressure liquid refrigerant is then piped back into the house.

A heat pump uses this same cycle “run in reverse” in the winter to extract heat energy from the outside and transfer it into a home. Even when it's really cold out, there is still some amount of heat energy in the air. Because the outdoor air has higher energy than the cold, low-pressure refrigerant, the refrigerant absorbs that heat and evaporates. Like the air conditioning cycle, the gas refrigerant can be pressurized, raising the temperature. When the refrigerant is piped back into your home, it is used to warm up the air inside, until the heat is extracted, and it condenses back into a liquid and the cycle continues.

Specifically, the cold air from inside the home is passed across the high-temperature, high-pressure gas in the indoor coil, which transfers heat to the cold air. The refrigerant condenses to a liquid, and the warm air is circulated through the home. The warm liquid refrigerant is then passed through an expansion valve, which relieves pressure. As the pressure is reduced, the temperature of the liquid is reduced, and the cold refrigerant passes through the outdoor coil. Heat energy transfers from the outside air to the low-pressure, low-temperature, liquid refrigerant. Then, the low-temperature gas refrigerant goes through a compressor which raises its temperature and pressure and passes it back to the indoor coil.

Generally, air source heat pumps have an indoor unit and an outdoor unit. However, the heat pump device of the present invention replaces the outdoor unit with a fully enclosed indoor unit. The heat pump device will generally be placed as close as possible to the existing unit, to keep the refrigerant lines as short as possible. However, the heat pump device can be placed anywhere, for example, in another room, in the attic, or in the basement or crawl space. It can also be placed outdoors if needed.

In one embodiment, the heat pump device comprises a housing component comprising an air source heat pump unit (i.e., indoor pump unit) with a heat exchanger and dual compressors. The housing component can be any suitable size and shape as is known in the art. The housing component comprises a front face, rear face, top and bottom walls, and opposing side walls.

In one embodiment, the indoor pump unit comprises a condenser and an air-handling component.

In one embodiment, there may not be sufficient space to house the device, especially in one housing. Therefore, the housing component can be divided into two housing components, wherein the first housing component comprises the condenser and air handling components and the second housing component comprises the two compressors and the heat exchanger. This second housing component may be installed vertically, horizontally, or diagonally, depending on where available space may exist.

Generally, an air source heat pump uses the outdoor ambient air to raise or lower the temperature of the heat pump refrigerant fluids in the outer coils. The heat pump device embodiment uses a second compressor to raise or lower the temperature of the heat pump refrigerant fluids, as needed.

Accordingly, the air source heat pump relies upon the outside air temperature to heat or cool a building. The heat pump device uses the second compressor to raise or lower the temperature of its refrigerant fluid, resulting in a very inexpensive means to heat and/or cool a building.

In one embodiment, the second compressor's purpose is to condition the refrigerant in the main line to provide the heating or cooling being requested. The expected cost to use this second compressor should be similar to the cost of running a refrigerator or a freezer. Accordingly, this device comprises two units or housings. The first housing comprises an indoor heat exchanger and everything else is housed within the second housing (i.e., compressor housing). The second housing should be positioned as close to the heat exchanger housing (i.e., the first housing) as possible, thus keeping the refrigerant lines as short as possible. Further, the compressor housing can be placed anywhere, including outside if needed.

In one embodiment, the dual compressors are each variable-capacity compressors. For such variable capacity compressors, the relative pressure ratios may be measured at the maximum pressure ratio of each compressor. Each compressor may have its own electric motor and inverter coupled to external power. The compressors may be controlled by a controller. Although the compressors may be of the same general type as each other (i.e., centrifugal), two different types may be used.

In yet another embodiment, the heat pump device comprises a plurality of indicia.

In yet another embodiment, a method of heating and cooling a building via an indoor dual compressor heat pump. The method includes the steps of providing a heat pump device comprising an indoor heat pump unit with a heat exchanger and dual compressor units all housed within a single unit. The method also comprises installing the heat pump device within a residential or commercial building. Further, the method comprises utilizing the outdoor ambient air to raise or lower the temperature of the heat pump refrigerant fluids in the outer coils. The method also comprises utilizing a second compressor to raise or lower the temperature of the heat pump refrigerant fluids, as needed. Finally, the method comprises operating the heat pump device to heat and cool the building.

Numerous benefits and advantages of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which it pertains, upon reading and understanding the following detailed specification.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, certain illustrative aspects of the disclosed innovation are described herein in connection with the following description and the annexed drawings. These aspects are indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principles disclosed herein can be employed and are intended to include all such aspects and their equivalents. Other advantages and novel features will become apparent from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The description refers to provided drawings in which similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the different views, and in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of one embodiment of the heat pump device of the present invention showing the housing of the device installed indoors in accordance with the disclosed architecture;

FIG. 2 illustrates a side perspective view of one embodiment of the heat pump device of the present invention showing how air enters the device and is cooled before exiting in accordance with the disclosed architecture;

FIG. 3 illustrates an internal view of one embodiment of the heat pump device of the present invention showing the device and its compressor units in accordance with the disclosed architecture;

FIG. 4 illustrates an internal view of one embodiment of the heat pump device of the present invention showing how warm and cool refrigerant fluids flow through the compressors in accordance with the disclosed architecture;

FIG. 5 illustrates a front perspective view of one embodiment of the heat pump device of the present invention showing different residential configurations in accordance with the disclosed architecture; and

FIG. 6 illustrates a flowchart showing the method of heating and cooling a building via an indoor dual compressor heat pump in accordance with the disclosed architecture.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The innovation is now described with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements throughout. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding thereof. It may be evident, however, that the innovation can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to facilitate a description thereof. Various embodiments are discussed hereinafter. It should be noted that the figures are described only to facilitate the description of the embodiments. They are not intended as an exhaustive description of the invention and do not limit the scope of the invention. Additionally, an illustrated embodiment need not have all the aspects or advantages shown. Thus, in other embodiments, any of the features described herein from different embodiments may be combined.

As noted above, there is a long-felt need in the art for a heat pump device that provides users with an indoor dual compressor heat pump device to heat and cool buildings in any type of climate environment. There is also a long-felt need in the art for a heat pump device that includes residential, commercial, and industrial applications to accommodate any environment. Further, there is a long-felt need in the art for a heat pump device that uses a dual compressor system to control the temperature of the refrigerant fluids which heat and/or cool a building. Moreover, there is a long-felt need in the art for a device that features an air handling unit and two compressors housed in a single casing. Further, there is a long-felt need in the art for a heat pump device that saves considerable money on utility bills by offering a more efficient heating and cooling system. Finally, there is a long-felt need in the art for a heat pump device that allows the unit to be stored indoors.

The present invention, in one exemplary embodiment, is a novel heat pump device. The device is an indoor heat pump comprised of an enclosed indoor pump unit with a heat exchanger. The air source heat pump uses the outdoor ambient air to raise or lower the temperature of the heat pump refrigerant fluids in the outer coils. This device uses a second compressor to raise or lower the temperature of the heat pump refrigerant fluids, as needed. The second compressor comprises a reversing valve, refrigerant lines, and a heat exchanger to condition the main refrigerant line fluids. Thus, the two compressor units will allow the building owner to heat and cool their building in any type of climate and weather condition. The present invention also includes a novel method of heating and cooling a building via an indoor dual compressor heat pump. The method includes the steps of providing a heat pump device comprising an indoor heat pump unit with a heat exchanger and dual compressor units all housed within a single unit. The method also comprises installing the heat pump device within a residential or commercial building. Further, the method comprises utilizing the outdoor ambient air to raise or lower the temperature of the heat pump refrigerant fluids in the outer coils. The method also comprises utilizing a second compressor to raise or lower the temperature of the heat pump refrigerant fluids, as needed. Finally, the method comprises operating the heat pump device to heat and cool the building.

Referring initially to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of one embodiment of the heat pump device 100 of the present invention. In the present embodiment, the heat pump device 100 is an improved heat pump device 100 that provides users with an indoor dual compressor heat pump device to heat and cool buildings in any type of climate environment. Specifically, the heat pump device 100 comprises a housing component 102 with an indoor heat pump unit 104 with a heat exchanger 106 and dual compressor units 107, 108. The air source heat pump unit 104 uses the outdoor ambient air to raise or lower the temperature of the heat pump refrigerant fluids 110 in the outer coils 112. This device 100 uses a second compressor 108 to raise or lower the temperature of the heat pump refrigerant fluids 110 as needed. The device 100 can be available in residential, commercial, and industrial applications.

In comparison to standard heating and cooling units, the indoor device configuration 100 will remove the fan and evaporator coil (not shown), thus allowing the unit 100 to be installed indoors. The work performed by the fan and coils will be done by the second compressor 108, containing its own reversing valve 114, refrigerant lines 116, and a heat exchanger 118 to condition the main refrigerant line fluids 110. Thus, the two compressor units 107, 108 will allow the building owner to heat and cool their building in any type of climate and weather conditions.

Generally, in the summer months, a heat pump works just like a standard air conditioner would. Standard air conditioners use a refrigerant to absorb unwanted heat in a home and transfer it to the air outside. This happens by changing the pressure of the refrigerant fluid. At low pressures, the refrigerant will easily absorb any heat available in the air and evaporate it from a liquid to a gas. At high pressures, a gas refrigerant is higher energy than the outside air, so it passes heat to the surrounding air and the refrigerant condenses back to a liquid when it cools. By controlling the pressure of the refrigerant, an air conditioner can extract heat from your home, even on very hot days.

Specifically, warm air from inside the home is passed across a cool refrigerant coil and the heat is absorbed by the liquid refrigerant, which evaporates into a low-temperature gas, and the cooled air is ducted back through the house. The low-temperature gas refrigerant goes through a compressor, which raises its temperature and pressure. The hot, high-pressure refrigerant gas is then passed through the outdoor coil. The refrigerant passes heat to the outdoor air and condenses it to a high-temperature liquid. The warm liquid refrigerant is then passed through an expansion valve, which relieves pressure. As the pressure is reduced, the temperature of the liquid is reduced. The low-temperature, low-pressure liquid refrigerant is then piped back into the house.

Furthermore, a heat pump uses this same cycle “run in reverse” in the winter to extract heat energy from the outside and transfer it into your home. Even when it's really cold out, there is still some amount of heat energy in the air. Because the outdoor air has higher energy than the cold, low-pressure refrigerant, the refrigerant absorbs that heat and evaporates it. Like the air conditioning cycle, the gas refrigerant can be pressurized which raises the temperature. When the refrigerant is piped back into your home, it is used to warm up the air inside, until the heat is extracted and it condenses back into a liquid, and the cycle continues.

Specifically, the cold air from inside the home is passed across the high-temperature, high-pressure gas in the indoor coil, which transfers heat to the cold air. The refrigerant condenses to a liquid, and the warm air is circulated through the home. The warm liquid refrigerant is then passed through an expansion valve, which relieves pressure. As the pressure is reduced, the temperature of the liquid is reduced and the cold refrigerant passes through the outdoor coil. Heat energy transfers from the outside air to the low-pressure, low-temperature, liquid refrigerant. Then, the low-temperature gas refrigerant goes through a compressor which raises its temperature and pressure and passes it back to the indoor coil.

As shown in FIGS. 1-2, generally, air source heat pumps have an indoor unit and an outdoor unit. However, the heat pump device 100 of the present invention replaces the outdoor unit with a fully enclosed indoor unit (i.e., housing component 102). The heat pump device 100 will generally be placed as close as possible to the existing unit to keep the refrigerant lines as short as possible. However, the heat pump device 100 can be placed anywhere, for example, in another room, in the attic, or in the basement or crawl space. It can also be placed outdoors if needed.

As shown in FIG. 3, the heat pump device 100 comprises a housing component 102 comprising an air source heat pump unit 104 (i.e., indoor pump unit) with a heat exchanger 106 and dual compressors 107, 108. The housing component 102 can be any suitable size and shape as is known in the art. The housing component 102 comprises a front face 300, rear face 302, top 304 and bottom 306 walls, and opposing side walls 308. Generally, the housing component 102 is rectangular in shape but can be any suitable shape as is known in the art, as long as the housing component 102 can house and retain the device 100 components needed for heating and cooling the building.

Generally, the indoor pump unit 104 comprises a condenser 310 and an air handling component 312. However, the indoor pump unit 104 can comprise any suitable components needed for heating and cooling a building and for communicating with the compressors 107, 108.

Further, the dual compressors 107, 108 are each variable-capacity compressors. For such variable capacity compressors, the relative pressure ratios may be measured at the maximum pressure ratio of each compressor 107, 108. Further, each compressor 107, 108 may have its own electric motor 314 and inverter 316 coupled to external power 318. The compressors 107, 108 may be controlled by a controller 320. Although the compressors 107, 108 may be of the same general type as each other (i.e., centrifugal), two different types may be used, as well, depending on the needs and/or wants of a user.

As shown in FIG. 4, an air source heat pump 104 uses the outdoor ambient air to raise or lower the temperature of the heat pump refrigerant fluids 110 in the outer coils 112. The heat pump device 100 embodiment uses a second compressor 108 to raise or lower the temperature of the heat pump refrigerant fluids 110, as needed.

Accordingly, the air source heat pump 104 relies upon the outside air temperature to heat or cool a building. The heat pump device 100 uses the second compressor 108 to raise or lower the temperature of its refrigerant fluid 110, resulting in a very inexpensive means to heat and/or cool a building.

As shown in FIG. 5, there may not be sufficient space to house the device 100, especially in one housing component 102. Therefore, the housing component 102 can be divided into two housing components 502, 504, wherein the first housing component 502 comprises the condenser 310 and air handling components 312 and the second housing component 504 comprises the two compressors 107, 108, and the heat exchanger 106. This second housing component 504 may be installed vertically, horizontally, or diagonally, depending on where available space may exist.

Accordingly, the second compressor's purpose is to condition the refrigerant 110 in the main line to provide the heating or cooling being requested. The expected cost to use this second compressor 108 should be similar to the cost of running a refrigerator or a freezer. Accordingly, this device 100 comprises two units or housings 502, 504. The first housing 502 comprises an indoor heat exchanger 106 and everything else is housed within the second housing 504 (i.e., compressor housing). Further, the housings 502, 504 can house any of the components needed for heating and cooling a building, the components can be arranged in any suitable order and in either of the housings 502, 504, as long as the components can function together to heat and cool a building. Generally, the second housing 504 should be positioned as close to the heat exchanger housing 502 (i.e., the first housing) as possible, thus keeping the refrigerant lines as short as possible. Further, the compressor housing 504 can be placed anywhere, including outside, if needed.

In yet another embodiment, the heat pump device 100 comprises a plurality of indicia 500. The housing component 102 of the device 100 may include advertising, a trademark, or other letters, designs, or characters, printed, painted, stamped, or integrated into the housing component 102, or any other indicia 500 as is known in the art. Specifically, any suitable indicia 500 as is known in the art can be included, such as, but not limited to, patterns, logos, emblems, images, symbols, designs, letters, words, characters, animals, advertisements, brands, etc., that may or may not be a heat pump, compressor, or brand related.

FIG. 6 illustrates a flowchart of the method of heating and cooling a building via an indoor dual compressor heat pump. The method includes the steps of at 600, providing a heat pump device comprising an indoor heat pump unit with a heat exchanger and dual compressor units all housed within a single unit. The method also comprises at 602, installing the heat pump device within a residential or commercial building. Further, the method comprises at 604, utilizing the outdoor ambient air to raise or lower the temperature of the heat pump refrigerant fluids in the outer coils. The method also comprises at 606, utilizing a second compressor to raise or lower the temperature of the heat pump refrigerant fluids, as needed. Finally, the method comprises at 608, operating the heat pump device to heat and cool the building.

Certain terms are used throughout the following description and claim to refer to particular features or components. As one skilled in the art will appreciate, different users, may refer to the same feature or component by different names. This document does not intend to distinguish between components or features that differ in name but not structure or function. As used herein “heat pump device” and “device” are interchangeable and refer to the heat pump device 100 of the present invention.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the heat pump device 100 of the present invention can be of any suitable size and configuration as is known in the art without affecting the overall concept of the invention, provided that it accomplishes the above-stated objectives. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate the heat pump device 100 as shown in FIGS. 1-6 is for illustrative purposes only, and many other sizes and shapes of the heat pump device 100 are well within the scope of the present disclosure. Although the dimensions of the heat pump device 100 are important design parameters for user convenience, the heat pump device 100 may be of any size that ensures optimal performance during use and/or that suits the user's needs and/or preferences.

Various modifications and additions can be made to the exemplary embodiments discussed without departing from the scope of the present invention. While the embodiments described above refer to particular features, the scope of this invention also includes embodiments having different combinations of features and embodiments that do not include all of the described features. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications, and variations as fall within the scope of the claims, together with all equivalents thereof.

What has been described above includes examples of the claimed subject matter. It is, of course, not possible to describe every conceivable combination of components or methodologies for purposes of describing the claimed subject matter, but one of ordinary skill in the art may recognize that many further combinations and permutations of the claimed subject matter are possible. Accordingly, the claimed subject matter is intended to embrace all such alterations, modifications, and variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, to the extent that the term “includes” is used in either the detailed description or the claims, such term is intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising” as “comprising” is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim.