Heat pump system

Abstract

Provided is a heat pump system ( 10, 10 A) for a conditioned space comprising a first thermal fluid circuit adapted to selectably operate to circulate a thermal fluid therein, and a second thermal fluid circuit adapted to selectably operate to circulate the thermal fluid therein. The first thermal fluid circuit may comprise a compressor ( 15 ), a first heat exchanger ( 11 ), and a passage ( 55 ) of a heat accumulator ( 50 ). The second thermal fluid circuit may bypass the first heat exchanger ( 11 ), or the passage ( 55 ) of the heat accumulator ( 50 ), or both. The second thermal fluid circuit may comprise the compressor ( 15 ), and a second heat exchanger ( 12 ).

1 . A heat pump system for a conditioned space comprising:
 a first thermal fluid circuit adapted to selectably operate to circulate a thermal fluid therein, the first thermal fluid circuit comprising a compressor, a first heat exchanger, and a passage of a heat accumulator, wherein the heat accumulator
 a) comprises a solid surface in contact with the compressor, or 
 b) is in thermal communication with the compressor through a heat transfer conduit; and 
   a second thermal fluid circuit adapted to selectably operate to circulate the thermal fluid therein, the second thermal fluid circuit
 bypassing the first heat exchanger and the passage of the heat accumulator, and 
 comprising the compressor, and a second heat exchanger. 
   
     
     
         2 . The heat pump system of  claim 1 , wherein the thermal fluid is a refrigerant. 
     
     
         3 . The heat pump system of  claim 2 , wherein the passage of the heat accumulator is at least partially within the heat accumulator. 
     
     
         4 . The heat pump system of  claim 3 , wherein the first thermal fluid circuit and the second thermal fluid circuit are conjoined to form a continuous system. 
     
     
         5 . The heat pump system of  claim 3 , wherein the system is adapted to be operable to flow the thermal fluid through the first thermal fluid circuit and to simultaneously flow the thermal fluid through the second thermal fluid circuit. 
     
     
         6 . The heat pump system of  claim 4 , wherein the system is adapted to be operable to flow the thermal fluid through the first thermal fluid circuit and to simultaneously flow the thermal fluid through the second thermal fluid circuit. 
     
     
         7 . The heat pump system of  claim 1 , wherein the heat accumulator comprises the solid surface, the solid surface being in direct thermal contact with the compressor. 
     
     
         8 . The heat pump system of  claim 7 , wherein the heat accumulator is adapted to transfer heat from the compressor primarily by conduction. 
     
     
         9 . The heat pump system of  claim 6 , wherein the heat accumulator is in thermal communication with the compressor through the heat transfer conduit. 
     
     
         10 . The heat pump system of  claim 9 , wherein the heat transfer conduit comprises a solid surface in direct thermal contact with the compressor. 
     
     
         11 . A method of defrosting a part of a heat pump system for a conditioned space comprising:
 providing a heat pump system for a conditioned space comprising,
 a first thermal fluid circuit adapted to selectably operate to circulate a thermal fluid therein, the first thermal fluid circuit comprising a compressor, a first heat exchanger, and a passage of a heat accumulator, wherein the heat accumulator
 a) comprises a solid surface in contact with the compressor, or 
 b) is in thermal communication with the compressor through a heat transfer conduit; and 
 
 a second thermal fluid circuit adapted to selectably operate to circulate the thermal fluid therein, the second thermal fluid circuit
 bypassing the first heat exchanger and the passage of the heat accumulator, and 
 comprising the compressor, and a second heat exchanger; 
 
   operating the system,
 to circulate the thermal fluid in first thermal fluid circuit, and 
 to circulate the thermal fluid in the second thermal fluid circuit. 
   
     
     
         12 . The method of defrosting a part of a heat pump system for a conditioned space of  claim 11 , wherein the thermal fluid is a refrigerant. 
     
     
         13 . The method of defrosting a part of a heat pump system for a conditioned space of  claim 12 , wherein the passage of the heat accumulator is at least partially within the heat accumulator. 
     
     
         14 . The method of defrosting a part of a heat pump system for a conditioned space of  claim 13 , wherein the first thermal fluid circuit and the second thermal fluid circuit are conjoined to form a continuous system. 
     
     
         15 . The method of defrosting a part of a heat pump system for a conditioned space of  claim 13 , wherein the system is adapted to be operable to flow the thermal fluid through the first thermal fluid circuit and to simultaneously flow the thermal fluid through the second thermal fluid circuit. 
     
     
         16 . The method of defrosting a part of a heat pump system for a conditioned space of  claim 14 , wherein the system is adapted to be operable to flow the thermal fluid through the first thermal fluid circuit and to simultaneously flow the thermal fluid through the second thermal fluid circuit. 
     
     
         17 . The method of defrosting a part of a heat pump system for a conditioned space of  claim 16 , wherein the heat accumulator is adapted to transfer heat from the compressor primarily by conduction. 
     
     
         18 . The method of defrosting a part of a heat pump system for a conditioned space of  claim 16 , wherein the heat accumulator is in thermal communication with the compressor through the heat transfer conduit. 
     
     
         19 . The method of defrosting a part of a heat pump system for a conditioned space of  claim 18 , wherein the heat transfer conduit comprises a solid surface in direct thermal contact with the compressor. 
     
     
         20 . The heat pump system of  claim 1 :
 wherein the thermal fluid is a refrigerant;   wherein the heat accumulator
 a) comprises the solid surface, the solid surface being in direct thermal contact with the compressor, and is adapted to transfer heat from the compressor primarily by conduction, or 
 b) is in thermal communication with the compressor through the heat transfer conduit, and the heat transfer conduit comprises a solid surface in direct thermal contact with the compressor; 
   wherein the passage is at least partially within the heat accumulator;   wherein the first thermal fluid circuit and the second thermal fluid circuit are conjoined to form a continuous system; and   wherein the system is adapted to be operable to flow the thermal fluid through the first thermal fluid circuit and to simultaneously flow the thermal fluid through the second thermal fluid circuit.