Patent ID: 11927372
Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Field: Thermal processes and apparatus (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC F  B | IPC B  F

Claim 0:
1. 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 second heat exchanger downstream of the first heat exchanger;
a vapor generator positioned downstream of the first heat exchanger, wherein the vapor generator is positioned upstream of the second heat exchanger in a first mode of operation, wherein the vapor generator is positioned downstream of the second heat exchanger in a second mode of operation, wherein the vapor generator is positioned upstream of both the low-pressure inlet and the mid-pressure inlet, and wherein the vapor generator delivers at least a portion of a gaseous component of a first heat exchange fluid to the mid-pressure inlet of the compressor; and
a first branching point positioned immediately downstream of the first region of the first heat exchanger;
a first shutoff valve positioned immediately downstream of the first branching point;
a second shutoff valve positioned immediately downstream of the first branching point, wherein the second heat exchanger is positioned downstream of the second shutoff valve;
a second branching point positioned downstream of the second heat exchanger;
a third shutoff valve and a fourth shutoff valve each positioned downstream of the second branching point, respectively;
a first coupling point positioned downstream of the fourth shutoff valve; and
a third branching point positioned immediately downstream of the first coupling point.