Centralized multi-function heat exchange system

Abstract

A centralized heat exchange system for controlling a plurality of heat exchangers in heat pump cycle includes a plurality of heat exchanging units; a compressor; a network of refrigerant piping connected to each of the plurality of heat exchanging units and the compressor; and a controller configured to receive signals from sensors to monitor temperature or the like of spaces/compartments to be controlled. The controller controls the compressor and a reversing valve and expansion valves installed in the network of refrigerant piping to establish, in the network of refrigerant piping, one or more of a heat-pump loop that constitutes a vapor-compression cycle through an arrangement of a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve, and an evaporator in accordance with a preset or user settable priority scheme that assigns at least one of the controlled spaces/compartments higher priority in control than the others.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A centralized heat exchange system for controlling a plurality of heat exchangers in heat pump cycle, the centralized heat exchange system comprising:
 a plurality of heat exchanging units, each of the heat exchanging units being thermally coupled to a space/compartment adjacent thereto, and being configured to function as either a condenser or an evaporator permanently, or to function as a condenser or an evaporator interchangeably so that heat is transferred from or to the space/compartment;   one or more of compressors;   a network of refrigerant piping connected to each of said plurality of heat exchanging units and said one or more of compressors,   at least one expansion valve in the network of refrigerant piping;   at least one reversing valve in the network of the refrigerant piping;   one or more sensors operably coupled to at least some of the spaces/compartments to be maintained at the same and/or different temperatures to which the corresponding heat exchanging units are respectively coupled, to measure one or more of thermodynamic state variables of said at least some of the spaces/compartments, said at least some of the spaces/compartments being defined as controlled spaces/compartments, at least two of said controlled space/compartments having respective heat capacities different from each other; and   a controller configured to receive signals from said one or more sensors to monitor said one or more of thermodynamic state variables of said controlled spaces/compartments, the controller controlling said one or more of compressors, said at least one expansion valve, and said at least one reversing valve,   wherein the controller is programmable to set respective target values for said one or more of thermodynamic state variables of said controlled spaces/compartments, and is also programmable to set a priority scheme for determining priorities for controlling said one or more of thermodynamic state variables of said controlled spaces/compartments, and   wherein the controller controls said one or more of compressors, said at least one expansion valve, and said at least one reversing valve, to establish, in said network of refrigerant piping, one or more of a heat-pump loop that undergoes a vapor-compression cycle through an arrangement of a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve, and an evaporator in series in accordance with the monitored one or more thermodynamic state variables, said target values and said priority scheme so that one or more among said controlled spaces/compartments are given higher priority in the control.   
     
     
         2 . The centralized heat exchange system according to  claim 1 , wherein said thermodynamic state variables are temperature, pressure, and humidity. 
     
     
         3 . The centralized heat exchange system according to  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of heat exchanging units include an outdoor heat exchanger that interchangeably operates as a condenser or an evaporator. 
     
     
         4 . The centralized heat exchange system according to  claim 3 , wherein said plurality of heat exchanging units further includes an indoor heat exchanger that interchangeably operates as a condenser or an evaporator. 
     
     
         5 . The centralized heat exchange system according to  claim 4 , wherein said plurality of heat exchanging units further includes a refrigerator for food storage, the refrigerator including an evaporator and a compartment coupled to said evaporator to store food as said space/compartment associated therewith. 
     
     
         6 . The centralized heat exchange system according to  claim 5 , wherein said plurality of heat exchanging units further includes a clothes dryer including a condenser and an evaporator. 
     
     
         7 . The centralized heat exchange system according to  claim 6 , wherein said plurality of heat exchanging units further includes at least one of a heat pump water heater having a condenser, a hot water storage tank for heating having an condenser, and a chilled water storage tank for cooling having an evaporator. 
     
     
         8 . The centralized heat exchange system according to  claim 4 , wherein said indoor heat exchanger is an HVAC unit. 
     
     
         9 . The centralized heat exchange system according to  claim 4 , wherein said plurality of heat exchanging units further includes at least one of:
 a refrigerator for food storage, the refrigerator including an evaporator and a compartment coupled to said evaporator to store food as said space/compartment associated therewith;   a clothes dryer including a condenser and an evaporator;   a heat pump water heater having a condenser;   a hot water storage tank for heating having a condenser; and   a chilled water storage tank for cooling having an evaporator.   
     
     
         10 . The centralized heat exchange system according to  claim 5 , wherein said priority scheme places the highest priority to control of the refrigerator. 
     
     
         11 . The centralized heat exchange system according to  claim 5 , wherein said plurality of heat exchanging units further includes a freezer for food storage having an evaporator, and
 wherein said priority scheme places the highest priority to control of the refrigerator and the freezer.   
     
     
         12 . The centralized heat exchange system according to  claim 1 , further comprising one or more of thermal storage units, said thermal storage units being capable of retaining heat accumulated or extracted therein or maintaining a high or low temperature state by way of phase transition,
 wherein the controller determine whether to establish and maintain one or more of said heat pump loop that undergoes a vapor-compression cycle based on a status of said thermal storage units.   
     
     
         13 . The centralized heat exchange system according to  claim 12 , wherein said one or more of thermal storage units include a hot water storage for heating a household, and
 wherein the controller further monitors electricity usage in the household and determines not to establish or maintain a heat-pump loop in the network of refrigerant piping based on the monitored electricity usage and a status of the hot water storage.   
     
     
         14 . The centralized heat exchange system according to  claim 12 , wherein said one or more of thermal storage units include a chilled water storage for cooling a household, and
 wherein the controller further monitors electricity usage in the household and determines not to establish or maintain a heat-pump loop in the network of refrigerant piping based on the monitored electricity usage and a status of the chilled water storage.   
     
     
         15 . The centralized heat exchange system according to  claim 12 , wherein said one or more of thermal storage units include an ice maker and storage unit for cooling a household, and
 wherein the controller further monitors electricity usage in the household and determines not to establish or maintain a heat-pump loop in the network of refrigerant piping based on the monitored electricity usage and a status of the ice maker and storage unit.   
     
     
         16 . The centralized heat exchange system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a power generator for producing electric power for a household or to an electricity grid,
 wherein wasted heat generated by said power generator is utilized to heat or cool a household   wherein the controller determine whether to establish and maintain one or more of said heat pump loop that undergoes a vapor-compression cycle based on a status of the household heated or cooled by said wasted heat.   
     
     
         17 . The centralized heat exchange system according to  claim 1 , wherein said one or more of the compressors include a variable speed compressor, and the controller controls the speed of the variable speed compressor. 
     
     
         18 . The centralized heat exchange system according to  claim 1 , further comprising at least one of an electric water heater and a gas-fired water heater, controlled by the controller. 
     
     
         19 . A centralized heat exchange system, comprising:
 a controller;   one or more of compressors controlled by said controller;   an outdoor heat exchanger that interchangeably operates as a condenser or an evaporator;   an indoor heat exchanger that interchangeably operates as a condenser or an evaporator;   a refrigerator for food storage, the refrigerator including an evaporator;   a network of refrigerant piping connected to said one or more of compressors, said outdoor heat exchanger, said indoor heat exchanger, and said refrigerator;   at least one expansion valve in the network of refrigerant piping; and   at least one reversing valve in the network of the refrigerant piping,   wherein the controller is connected to one or more user interface devices and to sensors that respectively monitor at least temperature of a space to be warmed or cooled by the indoor heat exchanger and a food compartment of the refrigerator, and   wherein the controller controls said one or more of compressors, said at least one expansion valve, and said at least one reversing valve to establish, in said network of refrigerant piping, one or more of a refrigerant flow loop that undergoes a vapor-compression cycle through an arrangement of a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve, and an evaporator in series in accordance with the monitored temperatures such that the refrigerator is given the highest priority in maintaining the temperature.   
     
     
         20 . The centralized heat exchange system according to  claim 19 , further comprising a clothes dryer including a condenser and an evaporator both connected to the network of refrigerant piping. 
     
     
         21 . The centralized heat exchange system according to  claim 20 , further comprising a heat pump water heater including a condenser connected in the network of refrigerant piping. 
     
     
         22 . The centralized heat exchange system according to  claim 19 , wherein said one or more of the compressors include a variable speed compressor, and the controller controls the speed of the variable speed compressor. 
     
     
         23 . The centralized heat exchange system according to  claim 19 , further comprising at least one of an electric water heater and a gas-fired water heater, controlled by the controller.