REFRIGERANT CHARGE MANAGEMENT IN A HEAT PUMP WATER HEATER

Number of patents in Portfolio can not be more than 2000

United States of America Patent

APP PUB NO 20160313033A1
SERIAL NO

15146710

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ATTORNEY / AGENT: (SPONSORED)

Importance

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Abstract

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Heat pumps that heat or cool a space and that also heat water, refrigerant management systems for such heat pumps, and methods of managing refrigerant charge. Various embodiments remove idle refrigerant from a heat exchanger that is not needed for transferring heat by opening a refrigerant recovery valve and delivering the idle refrigerant from the heat exchanger to an inlet port on the compressor. The heat exchanger can be isolated by closing an electronic expansion valve, actuating a refrigerant management valve, or both. Refrigerant charge can be controlled by controlling how much refrigerant is drawn from the heat exchanger, by letting some refrigerant back into the heat exchanger, or both. Heat pumps can be operated in different modes of operation, and various components can be interconnected with refrigerant conduit. Some embodiments deliver refrigerant gas to the heat exchanger and drive liquid refrigerant out prior to isolating the heat exchanger.

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Patent Owner(s)

Patent OwnerAddress
NORTEK GLOBAL HVAC LLC8000 PHOENIX PARKWAY O'FALLON MO 63368

International Classification(s)

Inventor(s)

Inventor Name Address # of filed Patents Total Citations
Chen, Jie Saint Charles, US 1059 5911
Hampton, Justin W Bonne Terre, US 3 73

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