Thermostatic controlled heat pump water circuit

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9630474-B2
Application number	US-201314065964-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 29, 2013
Priority date	Oct 29, 2013
Publication date	Apr 25, 2017
Grant date	Apr 25, 2017

Abstract

A method for regulating coolant temperature of an HVAC heat pump system with coolant heating. The method includes measuring temperature of coolant flowing through the system, and configuring a valve assembly of the system to direct coolant flow to a heater core from both an engine and an engine bypass line when temperature of the coolant is above a predetermined threshold.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for regulating coolant temperature of an HVAC heat pump system with coolant heating to allow optimal operation of the HVAC heat pump system, comprising:
increasing coolant flow from an engine to a heater core and decreasing coolant flow through an engine bypass line of the system if temperature of coolant exiting a condenser associated with the system is above a first predetermined threshold, to heat the coolant the condenser radiates heat from compressed refrigerant flowing through a heat pump refrigerant loop in fluid communication with an evaporator;
increasing coolant flow from the engine to the heater core and decreasing coolant flow through the engine bypass line if temperature of coolant exiting the engine is greater than temperature of coolant exiting the heater core; and
decreasing coolant flow from the engine to the heater core and increasing coolant flow through the engine bypass line if temperature of coolant exiting the condenser is below a second predetermined threshold.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising maintaining an amount of coolant flow from the engine to the heater core and maintaining an amount of coolant flow through the engine bypass line when temperature of coolant exiting the condenser is not above the first predetermined threshold, when temperature of coolant exiting the engine is not greater than temperature of coolant exiting the heater core, and when temperature of coolant exiting the condenser is not below the second predetermined threshold.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising increasing coolant flow from the engine to the heater core and decreasing coolant flow through the engine bypass line if the system is not operating.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising providing coolant flow through the system with a pump.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the coolant includes water and at least one of propylene glycol and ethylene glycol.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising monitoring the following: operating status of the system; temperature of coolant exiting the condenser; temperature of coolant exiting the engine; temperature of coolant exiting the heater core; and upper and lower temperature limits of the water cooled condenser.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising performing the monitoring at least partially with a controller.

8. The method of claim 6 , further comprising actuating a valve of a valve assembly along a coolant line between the heater core and the engine to increase coolant flow from the engine to the heater core and decrease coolant flow through the engine bypass line.

9. The method of claim 6 , further comprising actuating a valve of a valve assembly along a coolant line between the engine and a pump of the coolant line to increase coolant flow from the engine to the heater core and decrease coolant flow through the engine bypass line.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising increasing coolant flow from the engine to the heater core and decreasing coolant flow through the engine bypass line if temperature of coolant exiting the engine is greater than temperature of coolant exiting the heater core by activating an actuation member of a valve assembly of the system.

11. A method for regulating coolant temperature of an HVAC heat pump system with coolant heating to allow optimal operation of the HVAC heat pump system, comprising:
measuring temperature of coolant exiting an engine and measuring temperature of coolant exiting a heater core, the coolant flowing through the system and a condenser associated with the system, to heat the coolant the condenser radiates heat from compressed refrigerant flowing through a heat pump refrigerant loop in fluid communication with an evaporator;
comparing temperature of the coolant exiting the engine with temperature of the coolant exiting the heater core; and
if the temperature of the coolant exiting the engine is greater than the temperature of the coolant exiting the heater core, applying power to a valve of the system to configure the valve to direct coolant from the engine to the heater core and restrict coolant flow to the heater core through an engine bypass line.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising applying power to the valve only when the engine is running.

13. The method of claim 11 , further comprising applying power to a heating element of the valve to open the valve and permit coolant flow therethrough from the engine.

Assignees

• Denso Int America Inc

Inventors

• Brodie Bradley
• Huyghe Erik
• Florida Lisa
• Kastner Mark

Classifications

• B60H1/00764

  the input being a vehicle driving condition, e.g. speed (B60H1/00828, B60H1/00864 take precedence) · CPC title

• B60H2001/00928

  comprising a secondary circuit · CPC title

• B60H1/00921 Primary

  where the flow direction of the refrigerant does not change and there is an extra subcondenser, e.g. in an air duct · CPC title

• B60H1/00807

  the input being a specific way of measuring or calculating an air or coolant temperature · CPC title

• B60H1/00899 Primary

  Controlling the flow of liquid in a heat pump system (controlling the properties of the refrigerant liquid, e.g. pressure or temperature, B60H1/3204) · CPC title