High-efficiency heat pumps

Abstract

As discussed herein, a first aspect of the present invention provides a high-efficiency heat pump that includes a frame, as well as a first circuit, a first compressor, a condenser heat exchanger, a first electronic expansion valve, an evaporator heat exchanger, and a controller. The first circuit, the first compressor, the condenser heat exchanger, the first electronic expansion valve, and the evaporator heat exchanger can be supported by the frame. The first compressor, the condenser heat exchanger, the first electronic expansion valve, and the evaporator heat exchanger can be connected to the first circuit. The controller can be in electronic communication with the first electronic expansion valve, and the controller can be configured to control operation of the first electronic expansion valve and/or the second electronic expansion valve.

1 . A high-efficiency heat pump, comprising:
 (a) a frame;   (b) a first circuit supported by the frame and configured to circulate a first refrigerant;   (c) a first compressor supported by the frame and connected to the first circuit, the first compressor being configured to (i) receive the first refrigerant from the first circuit, (ii) increase pressure of the first refrigerant, and (iii) provide the higher-pressure first refrigerant back to the first circuit;   (d) a condenser heat exchanger supported by the frame and connected to the first circuit, the condenser heat exchanger being configured to (i) receive the higher-pressure first refrigerant from the first circuit, (ii) transfer energy from the higher-pressure first refrigerant to a first HVAC fluid passing through the condenser heat exchanger, and (iii) provide the first refrigerant back to the first circuit;   (e) a first electronic expansion valve supported by the frame and connected to the first circuit, the first electronic expansion valve being configured to (i) receive the first refrigerant from the first circuit, (ii) decrease pressure of the first refrigerant, and (iii) provide the lower-pressure first refrigerant back to the first circuit;   (f) an evaporator heat exchanger supported by the frame and connected to the first circuit, the evaporator heat exchanger being configured to (i) receive the lower-pressure first refrigerant from the first circuit, (ii) transfer energy from a second HVAC fluid passing through the evaporator heat exchanger to the lower-pressure first refrigerant, and (iii) provide the first refrigerant back to the first circuit; and   (g) a controller in electronic communication with the first electronic expansion valve, the controller being configured to control operation of the first electronic expansion valve.   
     
     
         2 . The high-efficiency heat pump of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 (h) a second circuit supported by the frame and configured to circulate a second refrigerant;   (i) a second compressor supported by the frame and connected to the second circuit; and   (j) a second electronic expansion valve supported by the frame and connected to the second circuit,   wherein the second compressor is configured to (i) receive the second refrigerant from the second circuit, (ii) increase pressure of the second refrigerant, and (iii) provide the higher-pressure second refrigerant back to the second circuit,   wherein the condenser heat exchanger is further configured to (i) receive the higher-pressure second refrigerant from the second circuit, (ii) transfer energy from the higher-pressure second refrigerant to HVAC fluid passing through the condenser heat exchanger, and (iii) provide the second refrigerant back to the second circuit,   wherein the second electronic expansion valve is configured to (i) receive the second refrigerant from the second circuit, (ii) decrease pressure of the second refrigerant, and (iii) provide the lower-pressure second refrigerant back to the second circuit,   wherein the evaporator heat exchanger is further configured to (i) receive the lower-pressure second refrigerant from the second circuit, (ii) transfer energy from HVAC fluid passing through the evaporator heat exchanger to the lower-pressure second refrigerant, and (iii) provide the second refrigerant back to the second circuit, and   wherein the controller is in electronic communication with the first electronic expansion valve and/or the second electronic expansion valve, the controller being configured to control operation of the first electronic expansion valve and/or the second electronic expansion valve.   
     
     
         3 . The high-efficiency heat pump of  claim 2 , wherein the controller is configured to modulate the first and second compressors. 
     
     
         4 .- 5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . The high-efficiency heat pump of  claim 1 , wherein the first electronic expansion valve is configured to communicate electronically with an operator and/or a remote controller through a network. 
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . The high-efficiency heat pump of  claim 1 , wherein the first expansion valve is controllable to (A) simultaneously heat the first HVAC fluid to a temperature above 100F and cool the second HVAC fluid to a temperature below 10F in a first season and (B) simultaneously heat the first HVAC fluid to a temperature above 160F and cool the second HVAC fluid to a temperature below 40F in a second season. 
     
     
         9 . A method of efficiently heating and/or cooling HVAC fluid, comprising:
 (a) providing a high-efficiency heat pump that includes:
 (i) a frame, 
 (ii) a first compressor, a condenser heat exchanger, a first electronic expansion valve, and an evaporator heat exchanger, each supported by the frame, and 
 (iii) a first circuit supported by the frame and configured to circulate a first refrigerant through the first compressor, the condenser heat exchanger, the first electronic expansion valve, and the evaporator heat exchanger; 
   (b) circulating a first HVAC fluid through the condenser heat exchanger or the evaporator heat exchanger;   (c) activating the first compressor to heat the first HVAC fluid if the first HVAC fluid is circulating through the condenser heat exchanger or to cool the first HVAC fluid if the first HVAC fluid is circulating through the evaporator heat exchanger; and   (d) controlling the first electronic expansion valve to control heating of the first HVAC fluid if the first HVAC fluid is circulating through the condenser heat exchanger or to control cooling of the first HVAC fluid if the first HVAC fluid is circulating through the evaporator heat exchanger.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising (e) circulating a second HVAC fluid through whichever of the heat exchangers the first HVAC fluid is not circulating through, wherein activating the first compressor simultaneously heats the HVAC fluid in the condenser heat exchanger to a temperature above 125F and cools the HVAC fluid in the evaporator heat exchanger to a temperature below 35F. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein activating the first compressor simultaneously heats the HVAC fluid in the condenser heat exchanger to a temperature above 130F and cools the HVAC fluid in the evaporator heat exchanger to a temperature below 30F. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the heat pump further includes:
 (iv) a second compressor and a second electronic expansion valve, both supported by the frame, and   (v) a second circuit supported by the frame and configured to circulate a second refrigerant through the second compressor, the condenser heat exchanger, the second electronic expansion valve, and the evaporator heat exchanger.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising activating both the first compressor and the second compressor to heat the first HVAC fluid if the first HVAC fluid is circulating through the condenser heat exchanger or to cool the first HVAC fluid if the first HVAC fluid is circulating through the evaporator heat exchanger. 
     
     
         14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the first refrigerant and the second refrigerant are different refrigerants having different properties. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein controlling the first electronic expansion valve comprises remotely controlling the first electronic expansion valve. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein remotely controlling the first electronic expansion valve comprises controlling operation of the first electronic expansion valve based on input from one or more sensors of an HVAC system that incorporates the heat pump. 
     
     
         18 - 28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . A method of achieving a predetermined temperature difference in an HVAC fluid, comprising:
 (a) providing an initial heat pump and a subsequent heat pump;   (b) connecting the initial heat pump and the subsequent heat pump in series;   (c) circulating the HVAC fluid through the initial heat pump to achieve a first temperature difference in the HVAC fluid; and   (d) circulating the HVAC fluid through the subsequent heat pump to achieve a second temperature difference, wherein the first and second temperature differences sum to be approximately equal to the predetermined temperature difference.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the initial heat pump and/or the subsequent heat pump includes a controllable electronic expansion valve configured to control performance of the initial heat pump and/or the subsequent heat pump. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the controllable electronic expansion valve is remotely controllable. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the initial heat pump and/or the subsequent heat pump comprise two or more heat pump units. 
     
     
         33 . (canceled) 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the predetermined temperature difference is a temperature increase of 150F. 
     
     
         35 . (canceled) 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the predetermined temperature difference is a temperature decrease of 150F. 
     
     
         37 . (canceled) 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 29 , further comprising (e) circulating a first refrigerant through the initial heat pump and circulating a second refrigerant through the subsequent heat pump, wherein the first refrigerant and the second refrigerant are different refrigerants having different properties.