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

Claim 10:
11. 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;
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 positioned downstream of the second branching point;
a fourth shutoff valve positioned downstream of the second branching point;
a first coupling point positioned downstream of the fourth shutoff valve;
a third branching point positioned immediately downstream of the first coupling point; and
a first expansion valve positioned downstream of the third branching point, wherein the vapor generator comprises a first region and a second region, wherein the first region of the vapor generator is positioned immediately downstream of the first expansion valve, wherein the second region of the vapor generator is positioned immediately downstream of the third branching point, and wherein the mid-pressure inlet of the compressor is immediately downstream of the first region of the vapor generator.