Patent ID: 11959690
Assignee: TRANE INTERNATIONAL INC.
Field: Thermal processes and apparatus (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC F | IPC F

Claim 10:
11. A method of operating a climate control system, the climate control system comprising: a compressor, a metering device, a first heat exchanger, a second heat exchanger, a first fan positioned adjacent the first heat exchanger, and a second fan positioned adjacent the second heat exchanger; a refrigerant circuit comprising a refrigerant fluid that circulates between the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger, a thermal storage device fluidly coupled to the refrigerant circuit in series with the first and the second heat exchanger and configured to store thermal energy when refrigerant fluid flowing therethrough is above a threshold temperature and discharge thermal energy when refrigerant fluid flowing therethrough is below the threshold temperature, and a controller; the method comprising:
operating the climate control system in a heating mode, wherein in the heating mode the compressor circulates the refrigerant fluid through the first heat exchanger, the second heat exchanger, and the thermal storage device such that heat is transferred from the refrigerant fluid at the first heat exchanger and heat is transferred to the refrigerant fluid at the second heat exchanger, and the temperature of the refrigerant fluid at the thermal storage device is above the threshold temperature such that heat from the refrigerant fluid is stored in the thermal storage device; and
operating the climate control system in a defrost mode, wherein in the defrost mode the compressor circulates the refrigerant fluid through the first heat exchanger, the second heat exchanger, and the thermal storage device such that heat is transferred to the refrigerant fluid at the first heat exchanger and heat is transferred from the refrigerant fluid at the second heat exchanger, and the temperature of the refrigerant fluid at the thermal storage device is below the threshold temperature such that heat from the thermal storage device is discharged to the refrigerant fluid.