Combined heat pump and air-conditioning apparatus and method

Abstract

There is provided a combined heat pump and air-conditioning apparatus and method. There is a source of heat, a compressor having an input and an output, a heat exchanger , a condenser, an evaporator, and coolant conduits for connecting the source of heat to the evaporator. There are heat transfer medium conduits interconnecting the heat exchanger, the condenser and the evaporator. A valve is operatively connected to the medium conduits and connects the output of the compressor to the condenser and connects the heat exchanger to the input of the compressor during an air-conditioning mode where the heat exchanger operates as an evaporator. The valve operatively connects the output of the compressor to the heat exchanger and connects the input of the compressor to the evaporator during a heat pump mode where the heat exchanger acts as a condenser. In one example the heat exchanger is positioned to communicate with the interior of the vehicle and the apparatus and method alternatively cool or heat the interior of the vehicle depending upon the mode of operation thereof.

1 . A combined heat pump and air-conditioning apparatus, comprising: 
 a heat exchanger;    a condenser;    an evaporator;    an internal combustion engine;    a compressor operatively connected to the engine, the compressor having an input port and an output port;    a valve;    a first conduit connected to the output port of the compressor;    a second conduit connected to the heat exchanger;    a third conduit connected to the heat exchanger;    a fourth conduit connecting the third conduit to the evaporator;    a fifth conduit connected to the evaporator;    a sixth conduit connected to the condenser;    a seventh conduit connected to the input port of the compressor;    an eighth conduit connected to the sixth conduit and the fifth conduit;    a ninth conduit connected to the condenser and to the third conduit;    coolant conduits connecting the engine to the evaporator for supplying heated engine coolant to the evaporator; and    a valve having a first port, a second port, a third port, a fourth port and a movable valve member for interconnecting the ports, the first port being connected to the seventh conduit, the second port being connected to the second conduit, the third port being connected to the first conduit and the fourth port being connected to the eighth conduit, the apparatus having an air-conditioning mode where the valve member connects the second port to the first port and connects the third port to the fourth port, whereby a heat transfer medium compressed by the compressor flows to the condenser through the first conduit, the eighth conduit and the sixth conduit, the heat transfer medium flowing from the condenser to the heat exchanger through the ninth conduit and the third conduit and flows from the heat exchanger to the input port of the compressor through the second conduit and the seventh conduit, the apparatus having a heat pump mode where the valve member connects the third port to the second port and the fourth port to the first port, whereby the heat transfer medium compressed by the compressor flows to the heat exchanger through the first conduit and the second conduit, flows from the heat exchanger to the evaporator through the third conduit and the fourth conduit, the heat transfer medium flowing from the evaporator to the input port of the compressor through the fifth conduit, the eighth conduit and the seventh conduit.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , including a first one-way valve along the ninth conduit which prevents fluid from flowing from the third conduit into the condenser, whereby the heat transfer medium flows from the heat exchanger to the evaporator in the heat pump mode.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 2 , including a second one-way valve along the fifth conduit which prevents heat transfer medium from flowing from the eighth conduit to the evaporator during the air-conditioning mode.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the heat exchanger has a first port and a second port, the second conduit being connected to the first port of the heat exchanger and the third conduit being connected to the second port of the heat exchanger, the second port of the heat exchanger being an input port for the heat exchanger and the first port of the heat exchanger being an output port for the heat exchanger during the air-conditioning mode, the first port of the heat exchanger being an input port for the heat exchanger and the second port of the heat exchanger being an output port for the heat exchanger during the heat pump mode.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 4 , including an expansion device along the third conduit.  
     
     
         6 . A combined heat pump and air-conditioning apparatus, comprising: 
 a source of heat;    a compressor having an input and an output;    a heat exchanger;    an air-conditioning condenser;    a heat pump evaporator;    first conduits for connecting the source of heat to the heat pump evaporator;    heat transfer medium conduits interconnecting the heat exchanger, the air-conditioning condenser and the heat pump evaporator; and    a valve operatively connected to the medium conduits and connecting the output of the compressor to the air-conditioning condenser and connecting the heat exchanger to the input of the compressor during an air-conditioning mode where the heat exchanger operates as an air-conditioning evaporator, the valve operatively connecting the output of the compressor to the heat exchanger and connecting the input of the compressor to the heat pump evaporator during a heat pump mode where the heat exchanger acts as a heat pump condenser.    
     
     
         7 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the air-conditioning condenser is connected by the medium conduits to the heat exchanger during the air-conditioning mode whereby the heat transfer medium flows from the air-conditioning condenser to the heat exchanger and the heat pump evaporator is connected to the heat exchanger during the heat pump mode, whereby the heat transfer medium flows from the heat exchanger to the heat pump evaporator.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the source of heat is an engine, the first conduits carrying coolant from the engine to the heat pump evaporator, the engine being operatively connected to the compressor for powering the compressor.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 6  including one-way valves preventing the heat transfer medium from flowing through the air-conditioning condenser during the heat pump mode and preventing the medium from flowing through the heat pump evaporator during the air-conditioning mode.  
     
     
         10 . A vehicle having an interior, an internal combustion engine and a combined heat pump and air-conditioning apparatus, the apparatus having a compressor with an input and an output; a heat exchanger communicating with the interior of the vehicle; an air-conditioning condenser; a heat pump evaporator; heat transfer medium conduits for a heat transfer medium, the medium conduits interconnecting the heat exchanger, the air-conditioning condenser and the heat pump evaporator; coolant conduits interconnecting the heat pump evaporator and the engine for carrying coolant heated by the engine; a valve operatively connected to the medium conduits and connecting the output of the compressor to the air-conditioning condenser and connecting the heat exchanger to the input of the compressor during an air-conditioning mode where the heat exchanger operates as an air-conditioning evaporator, the valve operatively connecting the output of the compressor to the heat exchanger and connecting the input of the compressor to the heat pump evaporator during a heat pump mode where the heat exchanger acts as a heat pump condenser.  
     
     
         11 . The vehicle as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the engine is an auxiliary engine having a liquid coolant.  
     
     
         12 . The vehicle as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the air-conditioning condenser is connected by the heat transfer conduits to the heat exchanger during the air-conditioning mode whereby the heat transfer medium flows from the air-conditioning condenser to the heat exchanger and the heat pump evaporator is connected to the heat exchanger during the heat pump mode, whereby the heat transfer medium flows from the heat exchanger to the heat pump evaporator.  
     
     
         13 . The vehicle as claimed in  claim 10 , the engine being operatively connected to the compressor for powering the compressor.  
     
     
         14 . The vehicle as claimed in  claim 10 , including one-way valves preventing the heat transfer medium from flowing through the air-conditioning condenser during the heat pump mode and preventing the medium from flowing through the heat pump evaporator during the air-conditioning mode.  
     
     
         15 . The vehicle as claimed in  claim 10  including an expansion device between the heat exchanger and the heat pump evaporator during the heat pump mode and between the air-conditioning condenser and the heat exchanger during the air-conditioning mode.  
     
     
         16 . A method of heating and cooling a space having a heat exchanger and a fan for directing air over the heat exchanger into the space, the method comprising: 
 cooling the space during an air-conditioning mode by connecting an output of a heat transfer medium compressor to an air-conditioning condenser, connecting the air-conditioning condenser to the heat exchanger and connecting the heat exchanger to an input of the compressor, whereby the heat exchanger and fan acts as an air-conditioning evaporator for cooling the space; and    heating the space during a heat pump mode by connecting the output of the compressor to the heat exchanger, connecting the heat exchanger to a heat pump evaporator and connecting the heat pump evaporator to the input of the compressor.    
     
     
         17 . The method as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the heat pump evaporator is heated by coolant from an internal combustion engine.  
     
     
         18 . The method as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the compressor is powered by the internal combustion engine.  
     
     
         19 . The method as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein the transfer medium is prevented from flowing through the heat pump evaporator during the air-conditioning mode and is prevented from flowing through the air-conditioning condenser during the heat pump mode.  
     
     
         20 . The method as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the space is an interior of a vehicle.  
     
     
         21 . The method as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein the connections between the heat pump evaporator, the air-conditioning condenser and the heat exchanger are changed by a valve.