Hybrid Residential Ground-Coupled Heat Pump

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed that include providing a hybrid heat pump system with a heat pump connected in fluid communication with an outdoor unit and a ground heat exchanger via a plurality of valves. The hybrid heat pump system also includes a system controller that selectively configures the plurality of valves to alter a fluid flow path through at least one of the outdoor unit that exchanges heat between a fluid carried by an outdoor heat exchanger of the outdoor unit and ambient outdoor air and the ground heat exchanger that exchanges heat between the fluid carried by the ground heat exchanger and the ground in order to maximize heat transfer efficiency between the fluid and the ambient outdoor air and/or the ground based on various temperatures measured by the hybrid heat pump system.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A hybrid heat pump system, comprising:
 a heat pump;   an outdoor heat exchanger;   a ground heat exchanger; and   a fluid flow path including a plurality of valves selectively configurable to circulate fluid between the heat pump, the outdoor heat exchanger, and the ground heat exchanger.   
     
     
         2 . The hybrid heat pump system of  claim 1 , further comprising an outdoor unit comprising a fan and the outdoor heat exchanger. 
     
     
         3 . The hybrid heat pump system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of valves are selectively configurable between:
 a first valve configuration wherein the fluid flow path circulates fluid between the heat pump, the outdoor heat exchanger, and the ground heat exchanger;   a second valve configuration wherein the fluid flow path circulates fluid between the heat pump and the ground heat exchanger; and   a third valve configuration wherein the fluid flow path circulates fluid between the heat pump and the outdoor heat exchanger.   
     
     
         4 . The hybrid heat pump system of  claim 3 , further comprising one or more temperature sensors, and wherein selection between the first, second, and third valve configuration is based on a temperature sensed by the one or more temperature sensors. 
     
     
         5 . The hybrid heat pump system of  claim 1 , further comprising a controller in communication with the plurality of valves to promote selection between:
 a first valve configuration wherein the fluid flow path circulates fluid between the heat pump, the outdoor heat exchanger, and the ground heat exchanger;   a second valve configuration wherein the fluid flow path circulates fluid between the heat pump and the ground heat exchanger; and   a third valve configuration wherein the fluid flow path circulates fluid between the heat pump and the outdoor heat exchanger.   
     
     
         6 . The hybrid heat pump system of  claim 5 , further comprising one or more temperature sensors in communication with the controller, and wherein the controller selects between the first, second, and third valve configuration based on a temperature sensed by the one or more temperature sensors. 
     
     
         7 . A hybrid heat pump system, comprising:
 a heat pump;   an outdoor heat exchanger;   a ground heat exchanger; and   a fluid flow path including a plurality of valves selectively configurable:   in a first mode to circulate fluid between the heat pump and the ground heat exchanger,   in a second mode to circulate fluid between the heat pump and the outdoor heat exchanger,   in a third mode to circulate fluid from the heat pump to the outdoor heat exchanger and then circulate the fluid from the outdoor heat exchanger to the ground heat exchanger, and   in a fourth mode to circulate fluid from the heat pump to the ground heat exchanger and then circulate the fluid from the ground heat exchanger to enter the outdoor heat exchanger.   
     
     
         8 . The hybrid heat pump system of  claim 7 , further comprising one or more temperature sensors in communication with a controller, and wherein the controller is configured to select between the first, second, third, and fourth modes based on a temperature sensed by the one or more temperature sensors. 
     
     
         9 . The hybrid heat pump system of  claim 7 , further comprising one or more temperature sensors, and wherein selection between the first, second, third, and fourth modes is based on a temperature sensed by the one or more temperature sensors. 
     
     
         10 . The hybrid heat pump system of  claim 7 , further comprising an outdoor unit comprising a fan and the outdoor heat exchanger. 
     
     
         11 . A method of operating hybrid heat pump system, comprising:
 circulating fluid between a heat pump and a ground heat exchanger in a first mode;   circulating fluid between the heat pump and an outdoor heat exchanger in a second mode;   circulating fluid from the heat pump to the outdoor heat exchanger and then circulating the fluid from the outdoor heat exchanger to the ground heat exchanger in a third mode; and   circulating fluid from the heat pump to the ground heat exchanger and then circulating the fluid from the ground heat exchanger to enter the outdoor heat exchanger in a fourth mode.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the fluid is circulated through a fluid flow path via a plurality of valves that are selectively configurable. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising one or more temperature sensors in communication with a controller, and wherein the controller is configured to select between the first, second, third, and fourth modes based on a temperature sensed by the one or more temperature sensors. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising one or more temperature sensors, and wherein selection between the first, second, third, and fourth modes is based on a temperature sensed by the one or more temperature sensors.