Carrier Corporation

Electric Power Research Institute Incorporated

Roger J Voorhis

John M Palmer

Daryl G Erbs

Derrick A Marris

Kevin F Dudley

Richard J Duell

Lowell E Paige

Kevin Bryant Dunshee

James D'Agostino

A device for controlling or metering fluid flow in either direction through a conduit. The device comprises an elongated body having two end walls forming an internal chamber therebetween. Disposed within the chamber is a free piston having an axial passageway extending therethrough. One end wall of the device has a metering orifice and one or more bypass openings. The other end wall also has a metering orifice and one or more bypass openings. Fluid flow through the device urges piston against the end wall in the direction of fluid flow. In this position, the piston blocks the bypass opening(s) in the end wall in the direction of fluid flow. Fluid flowing into the device can pass through the bypassing the opening(s) of the opposite end wall. Fluid flowing out of the device must pass through the metering orifice in the end wall in the direction of the fluid flow. Upon a flow reversal, the piston is urged against the opposite end wall. In this position, fluid will flow through the metering orifice in the end wall of the fluid direction and through the bypass opening(s) in the opposite end wall. The device is adapted for use in a reversible vapor compression air conditioning system. In this application, the sizes of the two orifices are different so that one can provide proper metering for cooling mode operation and the other can provide proper metering for heating mode operation.

Bidirectional meterd flow control device

A connector plug (10, 20) for making electrical connection to the terminal assembly (40) of a hermetic compressor for an air conditioning or refrigeration system. The plug has a flexible skirt (15) that extends axially downward to fit snugly over the shoulder (43) of the body (41) of the terminal assembly when connected. An ear (16, 26) extends from the side wall (13) of the plug and has an engaging slot (17) which is sized and configured so that the engaging slot engages a stud (52) that extends from the compressor shell (51) in the vicinity of the terminal assembly when the plug is correctly installed on the terminal assembly. The ear may also include a cavity for receiving a thermal overload sensor (71) that may be associated with the compressors.

Electrical connector plug

An air conditioning apparatus for both heating and cooling an enclosed space. The apparatus employs a vapor compression refrigeration system in which the flow of refrigerant through the inside and outside heat exchangers is the same in both cooling and heating modes. The alignment of an arrangement of dampers determine whether air from the space passes through the evaporator section of the apparatus (during operation in the cooling mode) or through the condenser section (during operation in the heating mode). The same damper arrangement reconfigures the flow of outside air from the condenser section to the evaporator section on a shift from cooling to heating mode operation. The apparatus is entirely contained within a single enclosure intended for installation in an exterior wall of the structure that it serves. The evaporator section is located above the condenser section in the enclosure so that the area occupied by the apparatus is minimized and also so that water condensate that forms on the evaporator can drain by gravity to the condenser where it can be re-evaporated and carried out of the enclosure by the air passing through the condenser. The apparatus has operating modes that accelerate the removal of frost that may form on the evaporator during heating mode operation and that supply outside air and exhaust inside air from the enclosed space. The compressor and blowers of the apparatus may be of the type that can operate at more than one speed.

Air conditioning apparatus

An integrated heat pump and hot water system of the type having a variable speed compressor is controlled during a water heating mode, in which outdoor air serves as the heat source. The controlling is carried out on the basis of a field of outside temperature and water temperature. The compressor speed is controlled based on the outdoor air temperature, and the compressor is run at a maximum speed between a minimum outdoor temperature and a low temperature somewhat above the minimum, at minimum speed for outdoor air temperature between a maximum temperature and a high temperature below the maximum temperature, and at a speed that depends linearly on outdoor temperature for intermediate outdoor temperatures. There is a permissible temperature field or envelope bounded by the minimum and maximum outdoor temperatures, by minimum and maximum water temperatures, and by an efficiency floor and a torque limit ceiling.

Control of outdoor air source water heating using variable-speed heat

In a refrigeration system having a compressor driven by a variable speed motor, the refrigerant flow volume through the expansion device is controlled by way of a solenoid driven piston which alternately opens and closes the orifice, with the duty cycle of the solenoid being controlled such that the time period in which the orifice is open is proportional to the speed of the motor. A bypass channel is provided in parallel around the orifice such that a minimal flow is provided to thereby share the load with the modulating orifice and act to dampen the movement of the solenoid piston.

Refrigerant metering in a variable flow system

A method of controllably charging a heat pump system with refrigerant until adequately charged for the cooling mode of operation, including checking the outdoor ambient temperature, injecting sufficient refrigerant to sustain safe compressor operation, operating the compressor at higher or lower rates depending upon the detected ambient temperature level and determining when to halt charging by monitoring indoor coil inlet and suction temperature differences in the heat pump system.

Heat pump charging

An adaptive defrost system for a heat pump wherein the time-between-defrosts is continuously updated by multiplying the last time-between-defrosts by a ratio of the desired and actual differences between the pre-defrost and after-defrost saturated coil temperatures. A single thermistor is used for both pre and after-defrost measurements such that no calibration is required.

Defrost control for variable speed heat pumps

The control box for a refrigeration condensing unit has a heat sink mounted on its rear side between the control box and the coil assembly, the heat sink being in the flow path of the cooling air flowing in thru the coil such that the heat dissipation therefrom is substantially enhanced. The heat sink has a plurality of fins formed on its rear side, with the fins extending across the relatively narrow width of the heat sink such that the cooling air flows over the entire length of each of the fins and provides a substantially uniform velocity profile along the heat sink vertical axis.

Control module cooling

A heat pump system comprising a compressor, two heat exchangers, and an expansion device. The expansion device defines two, spaced apart flow passages. A first piston is located in a first flow passage for metering refrigerant flow therethrough at a first flow rate, and a second piston is located in the second flow passage for metering refrigerant flow therethrough at a second flow rate less than the first flow rate. The expansion device includes a valve having a first position, closing the second flow passage to direct refrigerant through the first flow passage, and a second position, closing the first flow passage to direct refrigerant through the second flow passage.

Heat pump system

A refrigeration circuit comprising serially arranged low and high stage compressors, a condenser, an expansion device, and an evaporator. The circuit also includes by-pass means connecting a low pressure line with the high stage compressor for conducting refrigerant vapor therebetween to by-pass the low stage compressor, and a quench line connected to the by-pass means for conducting liquid refrigerant thereto. A check-quench valve is located at the intersection of the by-pass means and the quench line. The check-quench valve has a quench position blocking the by-pass means and opening the quench line, and a by-pass position opening the by-pass means and closing the quench line.

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Pennellville, NY, United States of America

Roger J Voorhis