Patent ID: 11913687
Assignee: DTP THERMOELECTRICS LLC
Field: Thermal processes and apparatus (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC F  B  H | IPC F

Claim 0:
1. A heat pump system that can be used for temperature control in a cooling mode or in a heating mode, the heat pump system comprising:
a fluid conduit configured to hold a refrigerant;
a compressor configured to increase a pressure of the refrigerant within the fluid conduit;
a first heat exchanger that is configured to receive the refrigerant and a first fluid flow, and to change the enthalpy of the first fluid flow through heat exchange with the refrigerant;
a second heat exchanger that is configured to receive the refrigerant and a second fluid flow, and to change the enthalpy of the second fluid flow through heat exchange with the refrigerant;
a thermoelectric device that includes a hot side and a cold side, wherein the cold side is coupled to the fluid conduit downstream of the first heat exchanger or is coupled to the fluid conduit downstream of the second heat exchanger, and wherein the thermoelectric device is configured to change the enthalpy of the refrigerant in the fluid conduit by pumping heat from the refrigerant (i) directly into the first fluid flow, or (ii) directly into the second fluid flow, or (iii) indirectly into the first fluid flow via a first coolant loop, or (iv) indirectly into the second fluid flow via a second coolant loop;
at least one expansion valve that is coupled to the fluid conduit and configured to expand the refrigerant and reduce refrigerant pressure while conserving the refrigerant enthalpy;
at least one valve that is controllable to adjust whether the hot side of the thermoelectric device pumps the heat from the refrigerant (i) directly into the first fluid flow, or (iii) indirectly into the first fluid flow via the first coolant loop, at a location in the first fluid flow that is upstream of the first heat exchanger or is downstream of the first heat exchanger, or pumps heat from the refrigerant (ii) directly into the second fluid flow, or (iv) indirectly into the second fluid flow via the second coolant loop, at a location in the second fluid flow that is upstream of the second heat exchanger or is downstream of the second heat exchanger; and
a control system configured to control the at least one valve.