Outside air water source heat pump

Abstract

A thermal system and method are provided configured for improved efficiency. The system is typically configured to provide outside air to a building with the combination of a ground/water source heat pump and a dedicated outside air unit.

1 . A thermal system comprising:
 an airflow duct;   a compressor;   a first heat exchanger which is in the airflow duct and has a first heat exchanger inlet in fluid communication with the compressor and a first heat exchanger outlet;   a second heat exchanger which is in the airflow duct and which has a second heat exchanger inlet and a second heat exchanger outlet;   a compressor discharge line connected to and extending downstream from the compressor;   a first heat exchanger discharge line connected to the first heat exchanger outlet;   a mixture line which is connected to the second heat exchanger inlet and is in fluid communication with the compressor discharge line and first heat exchanger discharge line; and   a refrigerant which is movable through the first heat exchanger, second heat exchanger, compressor, compressor discharge line, first heat exchanger discharge line, and mixture line.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a flow rate control valve positioned to control a flow rate of the refrigerant toward the mixture line. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2  further comprising
 an outside air temperature sensor; and 
 an inside air temperature sensor; 
 wherein the flow rate control is in communication with the temperature sensors and controls the flow rate based on inside and outside air temperatures sensed respectively by the inside and outside air temperature sensors. 
 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3  further comprising
 a building defining an enclosed airspace; 
 an exit opening of the airflow duct in fluid communication with the enclosed airspace; and 
 an entrance opening of the airflow duct in fluid communication with outside air external to the building; 
 wherein the inside air temperature sensor is inside the enclosed airspace. 
 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising
 an inlet of the compressor; 
 a third heat exchanger having a third heat exchanger inlet and a third heat exchanger outlet; and 
 a third heat exchanger discharge line connected to the third heat exchanger outlet and the inlet of the compressor. 
 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5  further comprising a second heat exchanger discharge line connected to the second heat exchanger outlet and the third heat exchanger inlet. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6  further comprising
 an expansion valve having an expansion valve inlet and an expansion valve outlet; 
 a first segment of the second heat exchanger discharge line connected to the outlet of the second heat exchanger and the expansion valve inlet; and 
 a second segment of the second heat exchanger discharge line connected to the expansion valve outlet and the inlet of the third heat exchanger. 
 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 5  wherein the third heat exchanger is a ground coupled heat exchanger. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising
 a building defining an enclosed airspace; 
 an exit opening of the airflow duct in fluid communication with the enclosed airspace; 
 an entrance opening of the airflow duct in fluid communication with outside air external to the building; 
 an outside air temperature sensor outside the enclosed airspace; 
 an inside air temperature sensor inside the enclosed airspace; 
 a flow rate control valve which is in communication with the temperature sensors and controls a flow rate of the refrigerant toward the mixture line based on inside and outside air temperatures sensed respectively by the inside and outside air temperature sensors; 
 an inlet of the compressor; 
 a third heat exchanger having a third heat exchanger inlet and a third heat exchanger outlet; 
 a second heat exchanger discharge line connected to the second heat exchanger outlet and the third heat exchanger inlet; and 
 a third heat exchanger discharge line connected to the third heat exchanger outlet and the inlet of the compressor. 
 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9  further comprising
 an expansion valve having an expansion valve inlet and an expansion valve outlet; 
 a first segment of the second heat exchanger discharge line connected to the second heat exchanger outlet and the expansion valve inlet; and 
 a second segment of the second heat exchanger discharge line connected to the expansion valve outlet and the third heat exchanger inlet. 
 
     
     
         11 . A method comprising the steps of:
 providing first and second heat exchangers in an airflow duct;   discharging heated refrigerant from a compressor;   moving a first portion of the heated refrigerant discharged from the compressor into the first heat exchanger;   releasing the first portion from the first heat exchanger;   mixing a second portion of the heated refrigerant discharged from the compressor with the first portion released from the first heat exchanger to form a mixture;   delivering the mixture to the second heat exchanger; and   blowing air through the airflow duct to transfer heat from the first and second heat exchangers to the air.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the step of discharging comprises discharging heated refrigerant from the compressor into a compressor discharge line;
 the step of releasing comprises releasing the first portion from the first heat exchanger into a first heat exchanger release line; further comprising the step of 
 moving the first and second portions respectively from the first heat exchanger release line and compressor discharge line into a mixture line; and 
 wherein the step of delivering comprises moving the mixture through the mixture line to the second heat exchanger. 
 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising the step of controlling with a flow rate control valve a rate of flow of the refrigerant toward a mixing location at which the first and second portions are mixed to form the mixture. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising the steps of
 sensing an outside air temperature outside a building; and 
 sensing an inside air temperature of an enclosed airspace within the building; 
 wherein the step of blowing comprises blowing outside air from outside the building through the airflow duct into the enclosed airspace; and 
 the step of controlling comprises controlling the rate of flow based on the inside and outside air temperatures. 
 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising the steps of
 discharging the refrigerant from the second heat exchanger to a third heat exchanger; and 
 moving the refrigerant from the third heat exchanger to an inlet of the compressor. 
 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the third heat exchanger is a ground coupled heat exchanger. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the step of discharging comprises moving the refrigerant from the second heat exchanger to an expansion valve and from the expansion valve to the third heat exchanger. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising the steps of
 sensing an outside air temperature outside a building; 
 sensing an inside air temperature of an enclosed airspace within the building; 
 based on the inside and outside air temperatures, controlling with a flow rate control valve a rate of flow of the refrigerant toward a mixing location at which the first and second portions are mixed to form the mixture; and 
 moving the refrigerant from the second heat exchanger to an expansion valve, from the expansion valve to the third heat exchanger, and from the third heat exchanger to an inlet of the compressor; 
 wherein the step of blowing comprises blowing outside air from outside the building through the airflow duct into the enclosed airspace. 
 
     
     
         19 . A method comprising the steps of:
 providing first and second heat exchangers in an airflow duct;   moving a first portion of heated gaseous refrigerant into the first heat exchanger so that the refrigerant is cooled and discharged from the first heat exchanger as heated liquid refrigerant;   mixing a second portion of the heated gaseous refrigerant with the discharged heated liquid refrigerant to form a mixture;   delivering the mixture to the second heat exchanger; and   blowing air through the airflow duct to transfer heat from the first and second heat exchangers to the air.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  further comprising the steps of
 sensing an outside air temperature outside a building; 
 sensing an inside air temperature of an enclosed airspace within the building; 
 based on the inside and outside air temperatures, controlling with a flow rate control valve a rate of flow of the refrigerant toward a mixing location at which the first and second portions are mixed to form the mixture; and 
 moving the refrigerant from the second heat exchanger to an expansion valve, from the expansion valve to the third heat exchanger, and from the third heat exchanger to an inlet of the compressor; 
 wherein the step of blowing comprises blowing outside air from outside the building through the airflow duct into the enclosed airspace.