Patent ID: 11920834
Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Field: Thermal processes and apparatus (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC F | IPC F

Claim 0:
1. 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 first branching point positioned immediately downstream of the first region of the first heat exchanger, wherein the refrigerant loop splits into a first path and a second path at the first branching point;
a first shutoff valve positioned along the first path and immediately downstream of the first branching point;
a second shutoff valve positioned along the second path and immediately downstream of the first branching point;
a second heat exchanger positioned downstream of the first heat exchanger;
a vapor generator having a first region and a second region, wherein the second region is upstream of at least one of a third heat exchanger and a fourth heat exchanger;
a second branching point positioned immediately downstream of the second heat exchanger;
a third shutoff valve positioned immediately downstream of the second branching point;
an intersection point positioned immediately downstream of the third shutoff valve; and
a first expansion valve positioned immediately downstream of the intersection point.