Patent ID: 11940188
Assignee: COPELAND LP
Field: Thermal processes and apparatus (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC F | IPC F

Claim 11:
12. A heat-pump system comprising:
a compressor;
an outdoor heat exchanger in fluid communication with the compressor;
an indoor heat exchanger in fluid communication with the compressor;
an expansion device in fluid communication with the indoor and outdoor heat exchangers;
a first reversing valve having a first inlet, a second inlet, a first outlet, and a second outlet, wherein the first inlet of the first reversing valve is fluidly connected with a discharge outlet of the compressor, the second inlet of the first reversing valve is fluidly connected with an outlet of the expansion device, the first outlet of the first reversing valve is fluidly connected with an inlet of the outdoor heat exchanger, and the second outlet provides working fluid to the indoor heat exchanger;
a second reversing valve having a first inlet, a second inlet, a first outlet, and a second outlet, wherein the first inlet of the second reversing valve is fluidly connected with an outlet of the outdoor heat exchanger, the second inlet of the second reversing valve is fluidly connected with an outlet of the indoor heat exchanger, the first outlet of the second reversing valve is fluidly connected with an inlet of the expansion device, and the second outlet provides working fluid to a suction inlet of the compressor; and
a supplemental heater including a burner and a working-fluid conduit, wherein the burner is configured to burn a fuel and heat the working-fluid conduit;
a first bypass flow path in selective fluid communication with the first and second reversing valves;
a first bypass valve fluidly connected to the first bypass flow path and movable between a first position in which fluid flow through the first bypass flow path is restricted and fluid flow to a suction inlet of the compressor is allowed and a second position in which fluid flow through the first bypass flow path is allowed and fluid flow to the suction inlet of the compressor is restricted;
a second bypass flow path in selective fluid communication with the first and second reversing valves; and
a second bypass valve fluidly connected to the second bypass flow path and movable between a first position in which fluid flow through the second bypass flow path is restricted and fluid flow through the expansion device is allowed and a second position in which fluid flow through the second bypass flow path is allowed and fluid flow through the expansion device is restricted,
wherein the indoor heat exchanger receives working fluid from the working-fluid conduit such that the working fluid flows from an outlet of the working-fluid conduit to an inlet of the indoor heat exchanger without flowing through the compressor, without flowing through the outdoor heat exchanger, and without flowing through the expansion device.