Abstract:
A heat pump according to the present invention comprises a plurality of the compression chambers, and compresses refrigerant with multistage, and injects vapor refrigerant into the space between the plurality of the compression chambers by using the first refrigerant injection flow path and the second refrigerant injection flow path. Performance and efficiency of the heat pump can be improved compared with non-injection, as flow rate of the refrigerant circulating the indoor heat exchanger is increased. Thus heating performance can be improved also in the extremely cold environmental condition such as the cold area by increasing the injection flow rate. Also, because the heat pump according to the present invention comprises the first refrigerant injection flow path and the second refrigerant injection flow path, refrigerant is injected twice. Thus, as the injection flow rate of the refrigerant is increased, heating capacity can be improved. Also, the difference between the suction pressure and the discharge pressure of the rotary compressor may be decreased, and thus the reliability and the performance of the rotary compressor can be improved.
Abstract:
Recuperation systems and methods are applied to vapor compression cycles in dehumidification, such as in air conditioning. In some embodiments, a method for dehumidification includes introducing a refrigerant from a heating unit to a cooling unit along a first path; introducing the refrigerant from the cooling unit to the heating unit along a second path different from the first path; introducing the refrigerant from the heating unit to the cooling unit along a third path different from the first path; and contacting the cooling unit and the heating unit with a first gas stream.
Abstract:
A precooler/chiller/reheater (PCR) system comprising a precooler/reheater counterflow heat exchanger and a chiller counterflow heat exchanger separated by a moisture removal section. Refrigerant is flashed through a perforated distribution manifold along the plates of the chiller. Warm, moist air is precooled in the precooler/reheater heat exchanger. A manifold conveys the precooled air to the chiller heat exchanger. Chilled air exits the chiller at a low point in the system. Moisture condensed in the precooler and chiller drains into a sump that also acts to convey air into the moisture removal section. Water droplets are stripped from the airflow and drain downwards into the sump. The chilled and dried air is conveyed to the second side of the precooler/reheater heat exchanger and passes downward in counterflow to the direction of air entering the system on the first side of the heat exchanger, then exits the system ready for use as reheated, dried air.
Abstract:
A method for removing humidity from air comprising the steps of providing an air conditioning system comprising a continuous circuit through which a refrigerant flows from a compressor, through a condenser, through a heat exchanger, through an evaporator, and returning to the compressor, providing a bypass valve through which a portion of the refrigerant flows around the heat exchanger, providing a bypass circuit through which a portion of the refrigerant flows from a point upstream of the condenser to mix with the refrigerant at a point downstream of the condenser, providing a discharge gas valve for controlling the portion of the refrigerant flowing through the bypass circuit, measuring an outdoor temperature and a relative humidity, determining a cooling stage and operating the bypass valve and the discharge gas valve to remove a portion of the humidity from the air based upon the outdoor temperature, the relative humidity, and the cooling stage.
Abstract:
An air conditioning apparatus comprising a continuous circuit through which a refrigerant flows from a compressor, through a condenser, through a heat exchanger, through an evaporator, and returning to the compressor, a bypass circuit through which a portion of the refrigerant flows from a point upstream of the condenser to mix with the refrigerant at a point downstream of the condenser, and a discharge gas valve for controlling the portion of the refrigerant flowing through the bypass circuit.
Abstract:
The invention is a device that allows the manipulation of both the temperature and the humidity of air through the temperature control of two fluid volumes, one of which must be water. Air may be pumped or forced through a volume of water to humidify it. That same air may then be passed over a collection of tubing with a high thermal conductivity containing a cold fluid to chill the air and allow condensation to occur. By this method, air will be dehumidified. Dehumidification can be augmented by the addition of a valve to effect pressurization within the device. The air is then passed through a system of pipes that run through the volume of water responsible for humidification to give the air its final temperature. The heating of the two volumes of water can be done through the same means as air is heated in the place of installation.
Abstract:
A heat exchanger for dehumidifying a stream of air including heat conducting channel walls which serve as the heat exchange surface for precooling and reheating air during the dehumidification process. Cooling conduits are positioned in a plane parallel to a plane defined by the heat conducting walls, such that cooling occurs both in the intake and exhaust airstreams, and the airflow is redirected in a small plenum chamber located at an end of the channels adjacent the cooling conduits. A system is also provided which includes a plurality of heat exchangers in series sharing a common cooling coil and a common plenum chamber.
Abstract:
An air conditioner for a vehicle has a heat pump type refrigerant circuit capable of operating at least in a heating mode. The air conditioner comprises a motor fan for supplying air heated by a heat exchanger to the interior of the vehicle during operation of the heating mode, a sensor for detecting the temperature of the air at a position downstream of the heat exchanger and a control unit for controlling the volume of the air supplied by the motor fan to a predetermined minimum volume by controlling the drive of the motor fan when the detected air temperature is lower than a predetermined temperature. Even in a condition where a sufficiently large heat radiation from the heat exchanger cannot be expected, a large volume of cold air that has been insufficiently heated can be prevented from being discharged into the interior of the vehicle. Because the motor fan is driven at a condition of minimum air volume even when the detected temperature is lower than the predetermined temperature, a rapid variation of air volume caused at the time of changing a fan-stopping condition to a fan-driving condition can be avoided and an abnormal increase in the discharge pressure of the heat pump compressor can be prevented.
Abstract:
Described are heat pump systems and methods for conditioning air, in which air is dehumidified including the steps of passage over an evaporator to cool and dehumidify the air, followed by passage over a subcooler to heat the air prior to passage into a space to be conditioned. Also described are heat pump systems and methods for conditioning air, in which air is heated by passage over a subcooler followed by passage over a condenser. The methods and systems are readily implemented and highly effective in improving system capacity.
Abstract:
A reheater is used in air-conditioning system which includes a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve, and an evaporator, interconnected by conduits in a closed loop. A first conduit coupling a flow of liquid refrigerant through the expansion valve into the evaporator. A second conduit coupling an outlet of the evaporator to an inlet of the compressor. A third conduit coupling an outlet of the compressor to an inlet of the condenser. A centrifugal pump is coupled to an outlet of the condenser for boosting a pressure of the condensed liquid refrigerant by an incremental pressure sufficient to pressure subcool the refrigerant. A reheater is positioned adjacent to the evaporator and coupled to an outlet of the centrifugal pump, for receiving pressure subcooled liquid refrigerant and cooled air from the evaporator to further subcool the liquid refrigerant to a temperature below its condensing temperature and to effect a partial reheating of the cooled flow of air thereby decreasing the relative humidity of the flow of the air. A reheater bypass conduit coupled between an inlet of the evaporator and the outlet of the pump. A bypass control valve positioned on the reheater bypass conduit for controlling the flow of liquid between the outlet of the pump and the inlet of the evaporator. A solenoid, coupled to the bypass control valve for actuating the valve. A controller, electronically coupled to the solenoid, capable of receiving humidity and temperature data and being programmed to actuate the solenoid in response to the data.