Patent ID: 11879673
Assignee: UNITED ELECTRIC COMPANY. L.P.
Field: Thermal processes and apparatus (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC F | IPC F

Claim 14:
15. A heat pump unit comprising a main refrigerant system (MRS), a hot gas reheat system (HGRS) conductively engaged to the main refrigerant system, and a refrigerant charge control system (RCCS) conductively engaged to the main refrigerant system and comprising at least one refrigerant reservoir, wherein the heat pump unit distributes its total charge of refrigerant between said MRS, said HGRS, and said RCCS, and wherein
the MRS comprises an indoor heat exchanger and an outdoor heat exchanger;
the HGRS a heat exchanger that dehumidifies air;
the reservoir is placed at a relative height such that at least a major portion of its volume is below the MRS; and wherein
the unit is an air sourced heat pump unit that during a heating cycle operation of the heat pump unit no more than about 50% of the refrigerant charge is in the main refrigerant system and at least about 50% of the refrigerant charge is in the refrigerant charge control system, and during a cooling cycle operation of the heat pump unit at least about 50% of the refrigerant charge is in the main refrigerant system and no more than about 50% of the refrigerant charge is in the refrigerant charge control system, and wherein during a hot gas reheat mode of operation, excess refrigerant is discharged from the refrigerant charge control system back to the main refrigerant system; or
the unit is a water sourced heat pump unit that during a cooling cycle operation of the heat pump unit no more than about 50% of the refrigerant charge is in the main refrigerant system and at least about 50% of the refrigerant charge is in the refrigerant charge control system, and during the heating cycle operation of the heat pump unit at least about 50% of the refrigerant charge is in the main refrigerant system and no more than about 50% of the refrigerant charge is in the refrigerant charge control system, and wherein during a hot gas reheat mode of operation, excess refrigerant is collected in the refrigerant charge control system.