Method of and system for compressor cooling to enhance an operating envelope and improve performance

Abstract

A heat pump system includes an evaporator coil, a condenser coil coupled to the evaporator coil to permit a refrigerant to cycle between the evaporator coil and the condenser coil via a first valve and a compressor coupled between the evaporator coil and the condenser coil. The heat pump system further includes a reversing valve configured to reverse a direction of flow of the refrigerant through the heat pump system and a refrigerant redirection circuit configured to redirect a portion of the refrigerant around the compressor to absorb heat and lower a compressor discharge temperature.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A heat pump system comprising:
 an evaporator coil;   a condenser coil coupled to the evaporator coil to permit a refrigerant to cycle between the evaporator coil and the condenser coil via a first valve;   a compressor coupled between the evaporator coil and the condenser coil;   a reversing valve configured to reverse a direction of flow of the refrigerant through the heat pump system; and   a refrigerant redirection circuit configured to redirect a portion of the refrigerant around the compressor to absorb heat and lower a compressor discharge temperature.   
     
     
         2 . The heat pump system of  claim 1 , wherein the refrigerant redirection circuit comprises:
 a second valve;   a third valve; and   a plurality of coils wrapped around the compressor.   
     
     
         3 . The heat pump system of  claim 2 , wherein the second valve comprises a solenoid valve that is configured to regulate the refrigerant to the plurality of coils wrapped around the compressor. 
     
     
         4 . The heat pump system of  claim 3 , wherein the third valve comprises a thermostatic expansion valve. 
     
     
         5 . The heat pump system of  claim 4 , wherein, prior to the redirected refrigerant entering the coils wrapped around the compressor, the third valve reduces pressure of the refrigerant. 
     
     
         6 . The heat pump system of  claim 5 , wherein, prior to the redirected refrigerant entering the coils wrapped around the compressor, the third valve lowers refrigerant temperature to a temperature lower than a temperature of air around the compressor. 
     
     
         7 . The heat pump system of  claim 6 , wherein the redirected refrigerant absorbs heat from the air surrounding the compressor and air around the compressor lowering the compressor discharge temperature. 
     
     
         8 . The heat pump system of  claim 6 , wherein the redirected refrigerant after absorbing heat is transmitted to the compressor via a section line. 
     
     
         9 . A heat pump system comprising:
 an evaporator coil;   a condenser coil coupled to the evaporator coil to permit a refrigerant to cycle between the evaporator coil and the condenser coil via a first valve;   a compressor coupled between the evaporator coil and the condenser coil;   a reversing valve configured to reverse a direction of flow of the refrigerant through the heat pump system; and   a refrigerant redirection circuit comprising:
 a second valve; 
 a third valve; 
 a plurality of coils wrapped around the compressor; and 
 wherein the second valve is configured to regulate a portion of the refrigerant to the plurality of coils wrapped around the compressor via the third valve to absorb heat and lower a compressor discharge temperature. 
   
     
     
         10 . The heat pump system of  claim 9 , wherein the second valve comprises a solenoid valve configured to regulate the refrigerant to the plurality of coils wrapped around the compressor. 
     
     
         11 . The heat pump system of  claim 10 , wherein the third valve comprises a thermostatic expansion valve. 
     
     
         12 . The heat pump system of  claim 11 , wherein, prior to the redirected refrigerant entering the coils wrapped around the compressor, the third valve reduces pressure of the refrigerant. 
     
     
         13 . The heat pump system of  claim 12 , wherein, prior to the redirected refrigerant entering the coils wrapped around the compressor, the third valve lowers refrigerant temperature to a temperature lower than a temperature of air around the compressor. 
     
     
         14 . The heat pump system of  claim 13 , wherein the redirected refrigerant absorbs heat from the compressor and air around the compressor lowering the compressor discharge temperature. 
     
     
         15 . The heat pump system of  claim 14 , wherein the redirected refrigerant after absorbing heat is transmitted to the compressor via a section line. 
     
     
         16 . The heat pump system of  claim 9 , comprising a controller configured to control operation of components within the heat pump system. 
     
     
         17 . The heat pump system of  claim 9 , wherein the first valve comprises a thermostatic expansion valve. 
     
     
         18 . The heat pump system of  claim 9 , wherein at least one end of the plurality of coils is connected to a suction line of the compressor. 
     
     
         19 . A method of lowering a discharge temperature of a compressor for a heat pump system, the method comprising:
 operating the heat pump system in a heating mode;   circulating refrigerant to cycle between an evaporator coil and a condenser coil via a first valve;   reversing, using a reversing valve, a direction of flow of the refrigerant through the heat pump system; and   redirecting, using a refrigerant redirection circuit, a portion of the refrigerant around the compressor to absorb heat and lower the discharge temperature.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the refrigerant redirection circuit comprises:
 a second valve;   a third valve;   a plurality of coils wrapped around the compressor;   wherein the second valve comprises a solenoid valve that is configured to regulate the refrigerant to the plurality of coils wrapped around the compressor; and   wherein the third valve comprises a thermostatic expansion valve that is configured to lower refrigerant temperature to a temperature lower than a temperature of air around the compressor.