Patent ID: 11959683
Assignee: THERMA-STOR LLC
Field: Thermal processes and apparatus (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC F | IPC F

Claim 0:
1. A modulating refrigeration system, comprising:
an evaporation unit disposed within a housing, comprising:
a secondary evaporator configured to:
receive a flow of refrigerant discharged by a primary condenser disposed external to the housing;
receive a first supply airflow introduced into the housing; and
transfer heat from the first supply airflow to the flow of refrigerant as the first supply airflow passes through the secondary evaporator to generate a second airflow;

a first valve disposed upstream of the secondary evaporator configured to direct at least a first portion of the flow of refrigerant discharged by the primary condenser to the secondary evaporator;
a secondary metering device;
a primary evaporator configured to:
receive the flow of refrigerant from the secondary metering device or from the first valve;
receive the second airflow from the secondary evaporator; and
transfer heat from the second airflow to the flow of refrigerant as the second airflow passes through the primary evaporator to generate a third airflow;

a primary metering device disposed upstream of the primary evaporator;
a secondary condenser configured to:
receive the flow of refrigerant from the secondary evaporator;
receive the third airflow from the primary evaporator; and
transfer heat from the flow of refrigerant to the third airflow as the third airflow passes through the secondary condenser to generate a first output airflow; and

a compressor configured to:
receive the flow of refrigerant from the primary evaporator and provide the flow of refrigerant to the primary condenser via a reversing valve, the flow of refrigerant provided to the primary condenser comprising a higher pressure than the flow of refrigerant received at the compressor;

the reversing valve disposed between the compressor, the primary evaporator, and the primary condenser, wherein during a first mode of operation, the reversing valve is configured to:
receive the flow of refrigerant from the primary evaporator and direct the flow of refrigerant to the compressor; and
receive the flow of refrigerant discharged by the compressor and direct the flow of refrigerant discharged by the compressor to the primary condenser;

wherein during a second mode of operation, the reversing valve is configured to:
receive the flow of refrigerant from the primary condenser and direct the flow of refrigerant to the compressor; and
receive the flow of refrigerant discharged by the compressor and direct the flow of refrigerant discharged by the compressor to the primary evaporator; and

a condensing unit disposed external to the housing, comprising:
the primary condenser configured to:
receive the flow of refrigerant from the compressor;
receive a second supply airflow; and
transfer heat from the flow of refrigerant to the second supply airflow as the second supply airflow passes through the primary condenser to generate a second output airflow.