Patent Application
20160313013
The present subject matter relates generally to heat pump systems, such as packaged terminal air conditioner units, and sealed systems for the same.
Certain packaged terminal air conditioner units include a sealed system for chilling and/or heating air. The sealed systems include various components for treating a refrigerant in order to cool or heat air. The sealed system components are generally positioned within a casing that can be mounted within a wall or window of an associated building. Due to space constraints within the casing, selection of sealed system components for packaged terminal air conditioner units can be limited to relatively small components.
Packaged terminal air conditioner units are frequently classified and sold by efficiency. Customers generally prefer efficient packaged terminal air conditioner units because small improvements in heating and cooling efficiency can provide a significant reduction in utility bills. Energy efficiency in packaged terminal air conditioner units is generally a function of compressor size and efficiency, heat exchanger size, design and airflow and fan design among other factors. However, high efficiency compressors are typically very expensive, and large heat exchangers may not fit within the limited space available in the casing of a packaged terminal air conditioner unit.
Accordingly, a packaged terminal air conditioner unit with features for assisting with increasing an efficiency of the packaged terminal air conditioner would be useful. In particular, a packaged terminal air conditioner unit with features for assisting with increasing an efficiency of the packaged terminal air conditioner without requiring a high efficiency compressor and/or a large heat exchanger would be useful.
The present subject matter provides a packaged terminal air conditioner unit. The packaged terminal air conditioner unit includes a casing. A compressor, an interior coil, an exterior coil and a reversing valve are positioned within the casing. The reversing valve is configured for selectively reversing a flow direction of compressed refrigerant from the compressor. The packaged terminal air conditioner also includes at least one phase separator and at least one ejector. Additional aspects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the following description, or may be apparent from the description, or may be learned through practice of the invention.
In a first exemplary embodiment, a packaged terminal air conditioner unit is provided. The packaged terminal air conditioner unit includes a casing. A compressor is positioned within the casing. The compressor is operable to increase a pressure of a refrigerant. An interior coil is positioned within the casing, and an exterior coil is positioned within the casing opposite the interior coil. A phase separator is also positioned within the casing. The phase separator is configured for separating liquid refrigerant from vapor refrigerant. A reversing valve is positioned within the casing. The reversing valve is in fluid communication with the compressor in order to receive compressed refrigerant from the compressor. The reversing valve is configured for selectively directing the compressed refrigerant from the compressor to the exterior coil or the phase separator. A supply conduit extends between the exterior coil and the phase separator. An ejector is coupled to the supply conduit. A distribution conduit extends between the interior coil and the ejector. The packaged terminal air conditioner unit also includes a three-way valve. A first connection conduit extends between the phase separator and the three-way valve. A second connection conduit extends between the three-way valve and the interior coil. A third connection conduit extends between the three-way valve and the exterior coil.
In a second exemplary embodiment, a packaged terminal air conditioner unit is provided. The packaged terminal air conditioner unit includes a casing that extends between an exterior side portion and an interior side portion. A compressor is positioned within the casing. The compressor is operable to compress a refrigerant. An interior coil is positioned within the casing at the interior side portion of the casing. An exterior coil is positioned within the casing at the exterior side portion of the casing. A reversing valve is in fluid communication with the compressor in order to receive compressed refrigerant from the compressor. A phase separator is positioned within the casing. The phase separator is configured for separating liquid refrigerant from vapor refrigerant. An ejector is also positioned within the casing. The packaged terminal air conditioner unit is configured such that, in a cooling mode, a flow of liquid refrigerant from the exterior coil flows through the ejector and the ejector draws vapor refrigerant from the interior coil into the flow of liquid refrigerant and a combined flow of liquid and vapor refrigerant flows from the ejector to the phase separator. Vapor refrigerant from the phase separator also flows to the compressor and liquid refrigerant from the phase separator flows to the interior coil in the cooling mode. The packaged terminal air conditioner unit is also configured such that, in a heating mode, compressed refrigerant from the compressor flows through the phase separator and the ejector to the exterior coil.
These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following description and appended claims. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.
A full and enabling disclosure of the present invention, including the best mode thereof, directed to one of ordinary skill in the art, is set forth in the specification, which makes reference to the appended figures.
Reference now will be made in detail to embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the drawings. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the invention, not limitation of the invention. In fact, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. For instance, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be used with another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers such modifications and variations as come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
As may be seen in
Casing 110 defines a mechanical compartment 116. Sealed system 120 is disposed or positioned within mechanical compartment 116 of casing 110. A front panel 118 and a rear grill or screen 119 are mounted to casing 110 and hinder or limit access to mechanical compartment 116 of casing 110. Front panel 118 is mounted to casing 110 at interior side portion 112 of casing 110, and rear screen 119 is mounted to casing 110 at exterior side portion 114 of casing 110. Front panel 118 and rear screen 119 each define a plurality of holes that permit air to flow through front panel 118 and rear screen 119, with the holes sized for preventing foreign objects from passing through front panel 118 and rear screen 119 into mechanical compartment 116 of casing 110.
Packaged terminal air conditioner unit 100 also includes a drain pan or bottom tray 138 and an inner wall 140 positioned within mechanical compartment 116 of casing 110. Sealed system 120 is positioned on bottom tray 138. Thus, liquid runoff from sealed system 120 may flow into and collect within bottom tray 138. Inner wall 140 may be mounted to bottom tray 138 and extend upwardly from bottom tray 138 to a top wall of casing 110. Inner wall 140 limits or prevents air flow between interior side portion 112 of casing 110 and exterior side portion 114 of casing 110 within mechanical compartment 116 of casing 110. Thus, inner wall 140 may divide mechanical compartment 116 of casing 110.
Packaged terminal air conditioner unit 100 further includes a controller 146 with user inputs, such as buttons, switches and/or dials. Controller 146 regulates operation of packaged terminal air conditioner unit 100. Thus, controller 146 is in operative communication with various components of packaged terminal air conditioner unit 100, such as components of sealed system 120 and/or a temperature sensor, such as a thermistor or thermocouple, for measuring the temperature of the interior atmosphere. In particular, controller 146 may selectively activate sealed system 120 in order to chill or heat air within sealed system 120, e.g., in response to temperature measurements from the temperature sensor.
Controller 146 includes memory and one or more processing devices such as microprocessors, CPUs or the like, such as general or special purpose microprocessors operable to execute programming instructions or micro-control code associated with operation of packaged terminal air conditioner unit 100. The memory can represent random access memory such as DRAM, or read only memory such as ROM or FLASH. The processor executes programming instructions stored in the memory. The memory can be a separate component from the processor or can be included onboard within the processor. Alternatively, controller 146 may be constructed without using a microprocessor, e.g., using a combination of discrete analog and/or digital logic circuitry (such as switches, amplifiers, integrators, comparators, flip-flops, AND gates, and the like) to perform control functionality instead of relying upon software.
Sealed system 200 generally operates in a heat pump cycle. Sealed system 200 includes a compressor 210, an interior heat exchanger or coil 212 and an exterior heat exchanger or coil 214. As is generally understood, various conduits may be utilized to flow refrigerant between the various components of sealed system 200, as discussed in greater detail below. Thus, e.g., interior coil 212 and exterior coil 214 may be between and in fluid communication with each other and compressor 210 via suitable tubing or piping.
As may be seen in
As shown in
Exterior coil 214 is disposed downstream of compressor 210 in the cooling mode and acts as a condenser. Thus, exterior coil 214 is operable to reject heat into the exterior atmosphere, e.g., at exterior side portion 114 of casing 110, when sealed system 200 is operating in the cooling mode. For example, the superheated vapor from compressor 210 may enter exterior coil 214 via suitable conduit or piping that extends between and fluidly connects reversing valve 216 and exterior coil 214. Within exterior coil 214, the refrigerant from compressor 210 transfers energy to the exterior atmosphere and condenses into a saturated liquid, liquid vapor mixture and/or subcooled liquid. An exterior air handler or fan 230 positioned adjacent exterior coil 214 may facilitate or urge a flow of air from the exterior atmosphere across exterior coil 214 in order to facilitate heat transfer.
As may be seen in
As shown in
It should be understood that phase separator 222 may be any suitable type of phase separator. For example, phase separator 222 may be constructed in the same or similar manner to the phase separator described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/088,558 of Brent Alden Junge and/or the phase separator described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/258,397 of Brent Alden Junge et al., both of which are incorporated by reference herein for all purposes. Within a casing of phase separator 222, liquid phase refrigerant may collect or pool at a bottom portion of phase separator 222 and vapor phase refrigerant may collect or pool at a top portion of phase separator 222, e.g., due to density differences between the liquid and vapor phase refrigerants.
Sealed system 200 also includes a three-way valve 238. Three-way valve 238 assists with switching sealed system 200 between the cooling mode and the heating mode, e.g., by modifying the flow of refrigerant between components of sealed system 200, as discussed in greater detail below. Three-way valve 238 may be configured for selectively adjusting the flow of refrigerant between a first connection conduit 240, a second connection conduit 242, a third connection conduit 244.
As may be seen in
In the cooling mode, phase separator 222 receives refrigerant from supply conduit 234 and separates liquid refrigerant from supply conduit 234 and vapor refrigerant from supply conduit 234. The liquid phase refrigerant within phase separator 222 is directed from phase separator 222 to interior coil 212 via first and second connection conduits 240, 242 and three-way valve 238, as shown in
A first throttling device 218 is disposed on second connection conduit 242 between three-way valve 238 and interior coil 212. In the cooling mode, liquid refrigerant from phase separator 222 travels through first throttling device 218 before flowing through interior coil 212. First throttling device 218 may generally expand the refrigerant, lowering the pressure and temperature thereof. The refrigerant may then be flowed through interior coil 212. First throttling device 218 (e.g., and any other throttling device described herein) may include various components for throttling refrigerant flow through second connection conduit 242. For example, first throttling device 218 (e.g., and any other throttling device described herein) may include a capillary tube and check valve, a J-T valve, an electronic expansion valve, etc. to throttle the flow of refrigerant through second connection conduit 242, as will be understood by those skilled in the art.
Interior coil 212 is disposed downstream of first throttling device 218 in the cooling mode and acts as an evaporator. Thus, interior coil 212 is operable to heat refrigerant within interior coil 212 with energy from the interior atmosphere, e.g., at interior side portion 112 of casing 110, when sealed system 200 is operating in the cooling mode. For example, within interior coil 212, the refrigerant from first throttling device 218 receives energy from the interior atmosphere and vaporizes into superheated vapor and/or high quality vapor mixture. An interior air handler or fan 228 positioned adjacent interior coil 212 may facilitate or urge a flow of air from the interior atmosphere across interior coil 212 in order to facilitate heat transfer. As discussed above, ejector 232 directs the vapor refrigerant from interior coil 212 into supply conduit 234.
During operation of sealed system 200 in the heating mode, reversing valve 216 reverses the direction of refrigerant flow through sealed system 200, as shown in
As may be seen in
A second throttling device 220 is coupled to third connection conduit 244 between three-way valve 238 and exterior coil 214. In the heating mode, refrigerant from interior coil 212 travels through second throttling device 220 before flowing through exterior coil 214. Second throttling device 220 may generally expand the refrigerant, lowering the pressure and temperature thereof. The refrigerant may then be flowed through exterior coil 214. Second throttling device 220 may include various components for throttling refrigerant flow through third connection conduit 244. For example, second throttling device 220 may include a capillary tube and check valve, a J-T valve, an electronic expansion valve, etc. to throttle the flow of refrigerant through third connection conduit 244, as will be understood by those skilled in the art.
Exterior coil 214 is disposed downstream of second throttling device 220 in the heating mode and acts as an evaporator. Thus, exterior coil 214 is operable to heat refrigerant within exterior coil 214 with energy from the exterior atmosphere, e.g., at exterior side portion 114 of casing 110, when sealed system 200 is operating in the heating mode. For example, within exterior coil 214, the refrigerant from second throttling device 220 receives energy from the exterior atmosphere and vaporizes into superheated vapor and/or high quality vapor mixture. From exterior coil 214, refrigerant is directed back to compressor 210.
Sealed system 200 may assist with operating packaged terminal air conditioner unit 100 efficiently. For example, ejector 232 of sealed system 200 may utilize expansion work of high-pressure refrigerant to compress vapor refrigerant exiting interior coil 212 in the cooling mode. In such a manner, ejector 232 may assist with reducing energy consumption of compressor 210 in the cooling mode. Phase separator 222 also reduces a pressure drop in interior coil 212 by bypassing vapor refrigerant directly to compressor 210 in the cooling mode.
Like sealed system 200 (
As shown in
Exterior coil 314 is disposed downstream of compressor 310 in the cooling mode and acts as a condenser. Thus, exterior coil 314 is operable to reject heat into the exterior atmosphere, e.g., at exterior side portion 114 of casing 110, when sealed system 300 is operating in the cooling mode. Within exterior coil 314, the refrigerant from compressor 310 transfers energy to the exterior atmosphere and condenses into a saturated liquid, liquid vapor mixture and/or subcooled liquid. An exterior air handler or fan 330 positioned adjacent exterior coil 314 may facilitate or urge a flow of air from the exterior atmosphere across exterior coil 314 in order to facilitate heat transfer.
As may be seen in
As shown in
Sealed system 300 also includes a three-way valve 338. Three-way valve 338 assists with switching sealed system 300 between the cooling mode and the heating mode, e.g., by modifying the flow of refrigerant between components of sealed system 300, as discussed in greater detail below. Three-way valve 338 may be configured for selectively adjusting the flow of refrigerant between a first connection conduit 340, a second connection conduit 342, a third connection conduit 344.
As may be seen in
In the cooling mode, phase separator 322 receives refrigerant from supply conduit 334 and separates liquid refrigerant from supply conduit 334 and vapor refrigerant from supply conduit 334. The liquid phase refrigerant within phase separator 322 is directed from phase separator 322 to interior coil 312 via a transfer conduit 346 that extends between phase separator 322 and interior coil 312. Conversely, the vapor phase refrigerant within phase separator 322 is directed around interior coil 312 back to compressor 310 such that the vapor phase refrigerant bypasses interior coil 312 in the cooling mode.
A first throttling device 318 is disposed on transfer conduit 346 between phase separator 322 and interior coil 312. In the cooling mode, liquid refrigerant from phase separator 322 travels through first throttling device 318 before flowing through interior coil 312. First throttling device 318 may generally expand the refrigerant, lowering the pressure and temperature thereof. The refrigerant may then be flowed through interior coil 312.
Interior coil 312 is disposed downstream of first throttling device 318 in the cooling mode and acts as an evaporator. Thus, interior coil 312 is operable to heat refrigerant within interior coil 312 with energy from the interior atmosphere, e.g., at interior side portion 112 of casing 110, when sealed system 300 is operating in the cooling mode. For example, within interior coil 312, the refrigerant from first throttling device 318 receives energy from the interior atmosphere and vaporizes into superheated vapor and/or high quality vapor mixture. An interior air handler or fan 328 positioned adjacent interior coil 312 may facilitate or urge a flow of air from the interior atmosphere across interior coil 312 in order to facilitate heat transfer. As discussed above, ejector 332 directs the vapor refrigerant from interior coil 312 into supply conduit 334.
During operation of sealed system 300 in the heating mode, reversing valve 316 reverses the direction of refrigerant flow through sealed system 300, as shown in
As may be seen in
Second throttling device 320 is coupled to supply conduit 334 between ejector 332 and exterior coil 314. In the heating mode, refrigerant from interior coil 312 travels through second throttling device 320 before flowing through exterior coil 314. Second throttling device 320 may generally expand the refrigerant, lowering the pressure and temperature thereof. The refrigerant may then be flowed through exterior coil 314. A second check valve 326 coupled to supply conduit 334 hinders or prevents refrigerant from bypassing second throttling device 320 in the heating mode.
Exterior coil 314 is disposed downstream of second throttling device 320 in the heating mode and acts as an evaporator. Thus, exterior coil 314 is operable to heat refrigerant within exterior coil 314 with energy from the exterior atmosphere, e.g., at exterior side portion 114 of casing 110, when sealed system 300 is operating in the heating mode. For example, within exterior coil 314, the refrigerant from second throttling device 320 receives energy from the exterior atmosphere and vaporizes into superheated vapor and/or high quality vapor mixture. From exterior coil 314, refrigerant is directed back to compressor 310.
Sealed system 300 may assist with operating packaged terminal air conditioner unit 100 efficiently. For example, ejector 332 of sealed system 300 may utilize expansion work of high-pressure refrigerant to compress vapor refrigerant exiting interior coil 312 in the cooling mode. In such a manner, ejector 332 may assist with reducing energy consumption of compressor 310 in the cooling mode. Phase separator 322 also reduces a pressure drop in interior coil 312 by bypassing vapor refrigerant directly to compressor 310 in the cooling mode.
Like sealed system 200 (
As shown in
Exterior coil 414 is disposed downstream of compressor 410 in the cooling mode and acts as a condenser. Thus, exterior coil 414 is operable to reject heat into the exterior atmosphere, e.g., at exterior side portion 114 of casing 110, when sealed system 400 is operating in the cooling mode. Within exterior coil 414, the refrigerant from compressor 410 transfers energy to the exterior atmosphere and condenses into a saturated liquid, liquid vapor mixture and/or subcooled liquid. An exterior air handler or fan 430 positioned adjacent exterior coil 414 may facilitate or urge a flow of air from the exterior atmosphere across exterior coil 414 in order to facilitate heat transfer.
As may be seen in
In the cooling mode, phase separator 422 receives refrigerant from exterior coil 414 and ejector 432 and separates liquid refrigerant from vapor refrigerant. The liquid phase refrigerant within phase separator 422 is directed from phase separator 422 to interior coil 412. Conversely, the vapor phase refrigerant within phase separator 422 is directed around interior coil 412 back to compressor 410 such that the vapor phase refrigerant bypasses interior coil 412 in the cooling mode. In particular, sealed system 400 includes a first four-way valve 434 and a second four-way valve 436. First and second four-way valves 434, 436 assist with switching sealed system 400 between the cooling mode and the heating mode, e.g., by modifying the flow of refrigerant between components of sealed system 400, as discussed in greater detail below.
As shown in
Sealed system 400 also includes various throttling devices and/or check valves. In particular, sealed system 400 includes a first throttling device 438, a second throttling device 440, a third throttling device 442, a fourth throttling device 444, a first check valve 446, a second check valve 448, a third check valve 450 and a fourth check valve 452. First throttling device 438 is disposed between exterior coil 414 and ejector 432 in the cooling mode. In the cooling mode, refrigerant from exterior coil 414 travels through first throttling device 438 before flowing through ejector 432. First throttling device 438 may generally expand the refrigerant, lowering the pressure and temperature thereof. The refrigerant may then be flowed through ejector 432. It should be understood that, in certain exemplary embodiments, sealed system 400 need not include first throttling device 438 for pre-throttling refrigerant flowing to ejector 432, e.g., in the cooling mode. In addition, sealed system 400 need not include first check valve 446, e.g., in exemplary embodiments that do not include first throttling device 438.
Second throttling device 440 is disposed between phase separator 422 and interior coil 412 in the cooling mode. In the cooling mode, liquid refrigerant from phase separator 422 travels through second throttling device 440 before flowing through interior coil 412. Second throttling device 440 may generally expand the refrigerant, lowering the pressure and temperature thereof. The refrigerant may then be flowed through interior coil 412. In the cooling mode, first check valve 446 may hinder or prevent refrigerant from exterior coil 414 from flowing through fourth throttling device 444, and second check valve 448 may hinder or prevent liquid refrigerant from phase separator 422 from flowing through third throttling device 442.
Interior coil 412 is disposed downstream of second throttling device 440 in the cooling mode and acts as an evaporator. Thus, interior coil 412 is operable to heat refrigerant within interior coil 412 with energy from the interior atmosphere, e.g., at interior side portion 112 of casing 110, when sealed system 400 is operating in the cooling mode. For example, within interior coil 412, the refrigerant from second throttling device 440 receives energy from the interior atmosphere and vaporizes into superheated vapor and/or high quality vapor mixture. An interior air handler or fan 428 positioned adjacent interior coil 412 may facilitate or urge a flow of air from the interior atmosphere across interior coil 412 in order to facilitate heat transfer. As discussed above, ejector 432 directs the vapor refrigerant from interior coil 412 into the flow of refrigerant from exterior coil 414 to phase separator 422.
During operation of sealed system 400 in the heating mode, the direction of refrigerant flow through sealed system 400 is reversed with first and second four-way valves 434, 436, as shown in
As shown in
Third throttling device 442 is disposed between interior coil 412 and ejector 432 in the heating mode. In the heating mode, refrigerant from interior coil 412 travels through third throttling device 442 before flowing through ejector 432. Third throttling device 442 may generally expand the refrigerant, lowering the pressure and temperature thereof. The refrigerant may then be flowed through ejector 432. It should be understood that, in certain exemplary embodiments, sealed system 400 need not include third throttling device 442 for pre-throttling refrigerant flowing to ejector 432, e.g., in the heating mode. In addition, sealed system 400 need not include third check valve 450, e.g., in exemplary embodiments that do not include third throttling device 442.
Fourth throttling device 444 is disposed between phase separator 422 and exterior coil 414 in the heating mode. In the heating mode, liquid refrigerant from phase separator 422 travels through fourth throttling device 444 before flowing through exterior coil 414. Fourth throttling device 444 may generally expand the refrigerant, lowering the pressure and temperature thereof. The refrigerant may then be flowed through exterior coil 414. In the heating mode, third check valve 450 may hinder or prevent refrigerant from interior coil 412 from flowing through second throttling device 440, and fourth check valve 452 may hinder or prevent liquid refrigerant from phase separator 422 from flowing through first throttling device 438.
Exterior coil 414 is disposed downstream of fourth throttling device 444 in the heating mode and acts as an evaporator. Thus, exterior coil 414 is operable to heat refrigerant within exterior coil 414 with energy from the exterior atmosphere, e.g., at exterior side portion 114 of casing 110, when sealed system 400 is operating in the heating mode. For example, within exterior coil 414, the refrigerant from fourth throttling device 444 receives energy from the exterior atmosphere and vaporizes into superheated vapor and/or high quality vapor mixture. As discussed above, ejector 432 directs the vapor refrigerant from exterior coil 414 into the flow of refrigerant from interior coil 412 to phase separator 422.
Sealed system 400 may assist with operating packaged terminal air conditioner unit 100 efficiently. For example, ejector 432 of sealed system 400 may utilize expansion work of high-pressure refrigerant to compress vapor refrigerant exiting interior and exterior coils 412, 414 in the cooling and heating modes, respectively. In such a manner, ejector 432 may assist with reducing energy consumption of compressor 410 in the cooling and heating modes. Phase separator 422 also reduces a pressure drop in interior and exterior coils 412, 414 by bypassing vapor refrigerant directly to compressor 410 in the cooling and heating modes.
Like sealed system 200 (
As shown in
Exterior coil 514 is disposed downstream of compressor 510 in the cooling mode and acts as a condenser. Thus, exterior coil 514 is operable to reject heat into the exterior atmosphere, e.g., at exterior side portion 114 of casing 110, when sealed system 500 is operating in the cooling mode. Within exterior coil 514, the refrigerant from compressor 510 transfers energy to the exterior atmosphere and condenses into a saturated liquid and/or liquid vapor mixture. An exterior air handler or fan 530 positioned adjacent exterior coil 514 may facilitate or urge a flow of air from the exterior atmosphere across exterior coil 514 in order to facilitate heat transfer.
As may be seen in
As may be seen in
Sealed system 500 also includes various throttling devices and/or check valves. In particular, sealed system 500 includes a first throttling device 538, a second throttling device 540, a third throttling device 542, a first check valve 546, a second check valve 548, a third check valve 550 and a fourth check valve 552. First throttling device 538 is disposed between exterior coil 514 and first phase separator 522 in the cooling mode. In the cooling mode, refrigerant from exterior coil 514 travels through first throttling device 538 before flowing to first phase separator 522. First throttling device 538 may generally expand the refrigerant, lowering the pressure and temperature thereof. The refrigerant may then be flowed to first phase separator 522.
Second throttling device 540 is disposed between first phase separator 522 and interior coil 512 in the cooling mode. In the cooling mode, liquid refrigerant from first phase separator 522 travels through second throttling device 540 before flowing through interior coil 512. Second throttling device 540 may generally expand the refrigerant, lowering the pressure and temperature thereof. The refrigerant may then be flowed through interior coil 512. In the cooling mode, first check valve 546 may hinder or prevent refrigerant from exterior coil 514 from bypassing first phase separator 522 and/or second throttling device 540, and second check valve 548 may hinder or prevent compressed refrigerant from compressor 510 from bypassing exterior coil 514.
Interior coil 512 is disposed downstream of second throttling device 540 in the cooling mode and acts as an evaporator. Thus, interior coil 512 is operable to heat refrigerant within interior coil 512 with energy from the interior atmosphere, e.g., at interior side portion 112 of casing 110, when sealed system 500 is operating in the cooling mode. For example, within interior coil 512, the refrigerant from second throttling device 540 receives energy from the interior atmosphere and vaporizes into superheated vapor and/or high quality vapor mixture. An interior air handler or fan 528 positioned adjacent interior coil 512 may facilitate or urge a flow of air from the interior atmosphere across interior coil 512 in order to facilitate heat transfer. As discussed above, first ejector 532 directs the vapor refrigerant from interior coil 512 into the flow of vapor refrigerant from first phase separator 522.
During operation of sealed system 500 in the heating mode, reversing valve 516 reverses the direction of refrigerant flow through sealed system 500, as shown in
In the heating mode, second phase separator 524 receives refrigerant from interior coil 512 and separates liquid refrigerant from vapor refrigerant. The liquid phase refrigerant within second phase separator 524 is directed from second phase separator 524 to exterior coil 514. Conversely, the vapor phase refrigerant within second phase separator 524 is directed around exterior coil 514 back to compressor 510 such that the vapor phase refrigerant bypasses exterior coil 514 in the heating mode.
As may be seen in
First throttling device 538 is disposed between interior coil 512 and second phase separator 524 in the heating mode. In the heating mode, refrigerant from interior coil 512 travels through first throttling device 538 before flowing to second phase separator 524. First throttling device 538 may generally expand the refrigerant, lowering the pressure and temperature thereof. The refrigerant may then be flowed to second phase separator 524.
Third throttling device 542 is disposed between second phase separator 524 and exterior coil 514 in the heating mode. In the heating mode, liquid refrigerant from second phase separator 524 travels through third throttling device 542 before flowing through exterior coil 514. Third throttling device 542 may generally expand the refrigerant, lowering the pressure and temperature thereof. The refrigerant may then be flowed through exterior coil 514. In the heating mode, third check valve 550 may hinder or prevent refrigerant from interior coil 512 from bypassing second phase separator 524 and/or third throttling device 542, and fourth check valve 552 may hinder or prevent compressed refrigerant from compressor 510 from bypassing interior coil 512.
Exterior coil 514 is disposed downstream of third throttling device 542 in the heating mode and acts as an evaporator. Thus, exterior coil 514 is operable to heat refrigerant within exterior coil 514 with energy from the exterior atmosphere, e.g., at exterior side portion 114 of casing 110, when sealed system 500 is operating in the heating mode. For example, within exterior coil 514, the refrigerant from third throttling device 542 receives energy from the exterior atmosphere and vaporizes into superheated vapor and/or high quality vapor mixture. As discussed above, second ejector 534 directs the vapor refrigerant from exterior coil 514 into the flow of vapor refrigerant from second phase separator 524.
Sealed system 500 may assist with operating packaged terminal air conditioner unit 100 efficiently. For example, first and second ejectors 532, 534 of sealed system 500 may utilize expansion work of high-pressure refrigerant to compress vapor refrigerant exiting interior coil 512 in the cooling mode and exterior coil 514 in the heating mode. In such a manner, first and second ejectors 532, 534 may assist with reducing energy consumption of compressor 510 in the cooling and heating modes. First and second phase separators 522, 524 also reduces a pressure drop in interior coil 512 and exterior coil 514 by bypassing vapor refrigerant directly to compressor 510 in the cooling and heating modes.
This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they include structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal languages of the claims.
