Patent ID: 11920834
Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Field: Thermal processes and apparatus (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC F | IPC F

Claim 12:
13. A heat pump, comprising:
a refrigerant loop comprising:
a compressor having a low-pressure inlet, a mid-pressure inlet, and an outlet;
a first region of a first heat exchanger, wherein the first heat exchanger is positioned immediately downstream of the outlet of the compressor;
a first branching point positioned immediately downstream of the first region of the first heat exchanger, wherein the refrigerant loop splits into a first path and a second path at the first branching point;
a first shutoff valve positioned along the first path and immediately downstream of the first branching point;
a second shutoff valve positioned along the second path and immediately downstream of the first branching point;
a second heat exchanger downstream of the first heat exchanger;
a second branching point positioned immediately downstream of the second heat exchanger;
a third shutoff valve positioned immediately downstream of the second branching point;
an intersection point positioned immediately downstream of the third shutoff valve;
a first expansion valve positioned immediately downstream of the intersection point;
a third branching point, wherein a fluid flows immediately from the intersection point to the third branching point in at least one mode of operation; and
a vapor generator having a first region and a second region, wherein the first region is positioned immediately downstream of the first expansion valve, and wherein the second region is positioned immediately downstream of the third branching point, and wherein the second region is positioned immediately upstream of a fourth branching point, the fourth branching point being immediately upstream of a second expansion valve, and wherein the second expansion valve is immediately upstream of a first coupling point.