Heat Pump with Multiple Mini-Compressors

Abstract

A refrigerant circuit of a heat pump is disclosed. The circuit may include a first heat exchanger configured to output a refrigerant in a low-pressure state. The circuit may further include a first compressor and a second compressor configured to receive the refrigerant from the first heat exchanger. The first compressor and the second compressor may be configured to output the refrigerant in a high-pressure state when the first compressor and the second compressor may be activated. The refrigerant circuit may further include a second heat exchanger configured to receive the refrigerant from at least one of the first compressor and the second compressor. The first compressor and the second compressor may be disposed in a parallel arrangement between the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger.

That which is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A refrigerant circuit comprising:
 a first heat exchanger;   a first compressor and a second compressor in fluid communication with the first heat exchanger; and   a second heat exchanger in fluid communication with at least one of the first compressor and the second compressor,   wherein the first compressor and the second compressor are disposed in a parallel arrangement between the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger.   
     
     
         2 . The refrigerant circuit of  claim 1 , wherein the first heat exchanger is an evaporator and the second heat exchanger is a condenser. 
     
     
         3 . The refrigerant circuit of  claim 1 , wherein the first compressor and the second compressor are of same size. 
     
     
         4 . The refrigerant circuit of  claim 1 , wherein the first compressor and the second compressor are of different sizes. 
     
     
         5 . The refrigerant circuit of  claim 1  further comprising a controller communicatively connected with the first compressor and the second compressor. 
     
     
         6 . The refrigerant circuit of  claim 5 , wherein the refrigerant circuit is part of a water heating system. 
     
     
         7 . The refrigerant circuit of  claim 6 , wherein the controller is configured to activate at least one of the first compressor and the second compressor based on at least one of date and time information, an ambient temperature, a compressor health status, a flow of water intake into the water heating system, and/or a desired water temperature. 
     
     
         8 . The refrigerant circuit of  claim 1 , wherein the first compressor and the second compressor are configured to output a refrigerant in a vapor state. 
     
     
         9 . The refrigerant circuit of  claim 8 , wherein the second heat exchanger is further configured to convert the refrigerant to a liquid state and output the refrigerant. 
     
     
         10 . The refrigerant circuit of  claim 9  further comprising an expansion valve connected between the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger, wherein the expansion valve is configured to receive the refrigerant from the second heat exchanger and output the refrigerant to the first heat exchanger. 
     
     
         11 . The refrigerant circuit of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first compressor and the second compressor has an associated displacement capacity of less than 10 cubic centimeters. 
     
     
         12 . The refrigerant circuit of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first compressor and the second compressor generates noise in a range of 38-42 dB. 
     
     
         13 . The refrigerant circuit of  claim 1 , wherein the second heat exchanger is in fluid communication with both the first compressor and the second compressor. 
     
     
         14 . A refrigerant circuit comprising:
 a first heat exchanger configured to output a refrigerant in a low-pressure state;   a first compressor and a second compressor configured to receive the refrigerant from the first heat exchanger, wherein the first compressor and the second compressor are configured to output the refrigerant in a high-pressure state when the first compressor and the second compressor are activated;   a second heat exchanger configured to receive the refrigerant from at least one of the first compressor and the second compressor, wherein the first compressor and the second compressor are disposed in a parallel arrangement between the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger; and   a controller communicatively connected with the first compressor and the second compressor, wherein the controller is configured to activate one or both of the first compressor and the second compressor based on at least one of date and time information, an ambient temperature, a compressor health status, a water tank temperature profile, and/or a hot water demand scenario.   
     
     
         15 . The refrigerant circuit of  claim 14 , wherein the first heat exchanger is an evaporator and the second heat exchanger is a condenser. 
     
     
         16 . The refrigerant circuit of  claim 14 , wherein the first compressor and the second compressor are of same size. 
     
     
         17 . The refrigerant circuit of  claim 14 , wherein the first compressor and the second compressor are of different sizes. 
     
     
         18 . The refrigerant circuit of  claim 14 , wherein each of the first compressor and the second compressor has an associated displacement capacity of less than 10 cubic centimeters. 
     
     
         19 . The refrigerant circuit of  claim 14 , wherein each of the first compressor and the second compressor generates noise in a range of 38-42 dB. 
     
     
         20 . A method to control a refrigerant circuit, the method comprising:
 obtaining, by a controller, at least one of date and time information, an ambient temperature, a heating demand, and a compressor health status, wherein the refrigerant circuit comprises:
 a first heat exchanger configured to output a refrigerant in a low-pressure state; 
 a first compressor and a second compressor configured to receive the refrigerant from the first heat exchanger, wherein the first compressor and the second compressor are configured to output the refrigerant in a high-pressure state when the first compressor and the second compressor are activated; 
 a second heat exchanger configured to receive the refrigerant from at least one of the first compressor and the second compressor, wherein the first compressor and the second compressor are disposed in a parallel arrangement between the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger; and 
   activating, by the controller, at least one of the first compressor and the second compressor based on at least one of the date and time information, the ambient temperature, the heating demand, and the compressor health status.