Refrigerant charge management in a heat pump water heater

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United States of America Patent

PATENT NO 8756943
APP PUB NO 20130160985A1
SERIAL NO

13548091

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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, methods of managing refrigerant charge, and methods for heating and cooling a space and heating water. Various embodiments deliver refrigerant gas to a heat exchanger that is not needed for transferring heat, drive liquid refrigerant out of that heat exchanger, isolate that heat exchanger against additional refrigerant flowing into it, and operate the heat pump while the heat exchanger is isolated. The heat exchanger can be isolated by closing an electronic expansion valve, actuating a refrigerant management valve, or both. Refrigerant charge can be controlled or adjusted by controlling how much liquid refrigerant is driven from the heat exchanger, by letting refrigerant back into the heat exchanger, or both. Heat pumps can be operated in different modes of operation, and segments of refrigerant conduit can be interconnected with various components.

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Patent Owner(s)

Patent OwnerAddress
NORDYNE LLC8000 PHOENIX PARKWAY O'FALLON MO 63368

International Classification(s)

Inventor(s)

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

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