Patent ID: 11906226
Assignee: CARRIER CORPORATION
Field: Thermal processes and apparatus (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC F | IPC F

Claim 18:
19. A vapor compression system (20; 120; 220) comprising:
a first compressor (22A; 122A; 222A);
a second compressor (22B; 122B; 222B);
a first heat exchanger (40);
a second heat exchanger (46);
one or more expansion devices (52); and
means (32A, 32B; 32A, 32B, 126A, 126B; 32A, 32B, 232A, 232B) for switching the system between operation in:
a first mode wherein:
the first compressor compresses refrigerant;
the compressed refrigerant is cooled in the first heat exchanger;
the cooled refrigerant is expanded in at least one of the one or more expansion devices;
the expanded refrigerant absorbs heat in the second heat exchanger and returns to the first compressor; and
the second compressor is offline; and

a second mode wherein:
the second compressor compresses refrigerant;
the compressed refrigerant is cooled in the second heat exchanger;
the cooled refrigerant is expanded in at least one of the one or more expansion devices;
the expanded refrigerant absorbs heat in the first heat exchanger and returns to the second compressor; and
the first compressor is offline,, wherein:
the first compressor has a suction flowpath merging with a discharge flowpath of the second compressor at a first junction (34);
the first compressor has a discharge flowpath merging with a suction flowpath of the second compressor at a second junction (36);
a first control valve (32A) is along the first compressor discharge flowpath; and
a second control valve (32B) is along the second compressor discharge flowpath.