Patent ID: 11874035
Assignee: THERMA-STOR LLC
Field: Thermal processes and apparatus (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC F | IPC F

Claim 17:
18. A Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system, comprising:
an evaporator configured to:
receive a refrigerant in a liquid state;
evaporate the refrigerant into a gaseous state; and
output the refrigerant in the gaseous state;

a compressor fluidly coupled to the evaporator, configured to:
receive the refrigerant in the gaseous state;
compress the refrigerant; and
output the compressed refrigerant in the gaseous state;

a condenser fluidly coupled to the compressor, configured to:
receive the compressed refrigerant from the compressor;
condense the compressed refrigerant from the gaseous state into the liquid state; and
output the condensed refrigerant in the liquid state;

a fixed expansion device fluidly coupled to the condenser, comprising a tubular structure with an opening that is configured to:
receive the condensed refrigerant from the condenser;
output a first portion of the condensed refrigerant at a fixed flow rate, wherein the fixed flow rate is proportional to a diameter of the opening of the tubular structure;

a sensing bulb comprising:
a hollow chamber; and
a capillary tube fluidly coupled to the hollow chamber; and

wherein the sensing bulb is configured to:
sense a temperature of the evaporator; and
output a fluid from the hollow chamber via the capillary tube based on the sensed temperature of the evaporator;

and
a variable expansion device fluidly coupled to the condenser, wherein:
the variable expansion device is configured to:
receive the condensed refrigerant from the condenser;
output a second portion of the condensed refrigerant at a variable flow rate, wherein the variable flow rate is proportional to the sensed temperature of the evaporator; and

the variable expansion device comprises:
a flexible diaphragm fluidly coupled to the capillary tube of the sensing bulb, configured to:
receive the fluid from the sensing bulb; and
apply a first force to a pin based on the received fluid from the sensing bulb;

the pin operably configured to apply a second force to a valve based on the first force, wherein the size of the pin is proportional to a ratio between a maximum variable flow rate of the variable expansion device and a total flow rate that is equal to the fixed flow rate plus the maximum variable flow rate of the variable expansion device; and
the valve fluidly coupled to the condenser and configured to output the second portion of the condensed refrigerant.