Simplified engine coolant system for gas engine heat pump

Claim 2

A heat engine driven heat pump system comprising: a) a refrigeration cycle heat pump compressor driven by a heat engine means; b) a coolant fluid circulation subsystem including a recouperator means in fluid connection with the heat engine to receive a coolant fluid flowed from the engine, and wherein said recouperator means further includes a volume comprising a coolant fluid reservoir for supply of coolant fluid to said subsystem; c) a thermostatic coolant fluid control means in fluid connection with the recouperator means to receive through a first inlet and control the coolant fluid flow in response to the temperature of the coolant fluid; d) a first pump means in fluid connection with the thermostatic fluid control means to convey coolant fluid to the engine and complete a first loop circuit, operable by the control of the thermostatic means to warm or cool the engine more rapidly when the subsystem operation will benefit therefrom; e) a switching valve means in fluid connection with a second inlet of the thermostatic control means to supply coolant fluid to the engine means as required to warm or cool the engine means by modulation of coolant fluid flow through the thermostatic control means, and, further, to receive coolant fluid flow, in fluid connection with A) a first conduit means, including a first heat exchanger in heat exchange relation to an ambient heat source or sink, conveying coolant flow from the recouperator to the switching valve, or with B) a second conduit means, including a second heat exchanger in heat exchange relation to a heating or cooling load, said second conduit means receiving and conveying coolant fluid flow from the recouperator to the switching valve, to selectively switch the coolant fluid flow to receive such flow through the first heat exchanger in the cooling mode of operation or through the second heat exchanger in the heating mode of operation; f) a second pump means and an auxiliary heating means in the second conduit between the recouperator and the switching valve means to flow auxiliary heated coolant fluid to the second heat exchanger in the heating mode of operation; and g) a third conduit means connecting the second conduit means at a position downstream of the second pump means, auxiliary heating means, and second heat exchanger, directly to the recouperator through a check valve means, to return coolant fluid from the second heat exchanger during the heating mode of operation by selective operation of the second pump means and the auxiliary heating means.

Claim 3

A system according to claim 1 wherein the second pump means is located between the recouperator means and the auxiliary heating means to supply coolant fluid to the second heat exchanger located between the auxiliary heating means and the switching valve.

Claim 4

A system according to claim 1 wherein the second pump means is located between the recouperator means and the second heat exchanger to supply coolant fluid through the second heat exchanger means to the auxiliary heating means located between the second heat exchanger and the switching valve.

Claim 5

A system according to claim 1 wherein the first pump means is driven by the engine.

Claim 6

A system according to claim 1 wherein the switching valve means is switched to receive coolant fluid flow from the second conduit and open the second conduit to supply warm coolant fluid flow from the recouperator to the second heat exchanger when the heat pump is operating in the cooling mode to improve the dehumidification capabilities of the system.

Claim 7

A system according to claim 1 wherein the heat engine means is a natural gas fueled internal combustion engine.

Claim 8

A system according to claim 1 wherein the recouperator means includes a muffler, reservoir volume to receive and supply coolant fluid to the subsystem.

Claim 9

A system according to claim 1 wherein the recouperator includes a high point in the subsystem to receive air trapped in the coolant subsystem, and automatically eliminates air therefrom.

Claim 10

A system according to claim 1 wherein the thermostatic coolant fluid control means is a three-way valve having two inlets and an outlet with a temperature sensing element controlling flow through the valve between the inlets according to the temperature of the coolant flow in the valve.

Claim 11

A system according to claim 1 wherein the switching valve means is a three-way valve having two inlets and an outlet with an operator means to avert coolant flow between the inlets.

Claim 12

A system according to claim 1 wherein the auxiliary heating means is a gas burner and heat receiver means through which the coolant is flowed.

Claim 13

A gas fueled internal combustion engine driven heat pump system comprising: a) a refrigeration cycle heat pump compressor driven by a gas fueled internal combustion engine; b) a coolant fluid circulation subsystem including a recouperator means in fluid connection with the engine to receive a coolant fluid flowed from the engine, and wherein said recouperator means further includes a volume comprising a coolant fluid reservoir for supply of coolant fluid to said subsystem; c) a thermostatic coolant fluid control means in fluid connection with the recouperator means to receive through a first inlet and control the coolant fluid flow in response to the temperature of the coolant fluid; d) a first pump means in fluid connection with the outlet of the thermostatic fluid control means to convey coolant fluid to the engine and complete a first loop circuit, operable by the control of the thermostatic means to warm or cool the engine more rapidly when the subsystem operation will benefit therefrom; e) a switching valve means in fluid connection with a second inlet of the thermostatic control means to supply coolant fluid to the engine means as required to warm or cool the engine means by modulation of coolant fluid flow through the thermostatic control means, and, further, to receive coolant fluid flow, in fluid connection with A) a first conduit means, including a first heat exchanger in heat exchange relation to an ambient heat source or sink, conveying coolant flow from the recouperator to the switching valve, or with a B) a second conduit means, including a second heat exchanger in heat exchange relation to a heating or cooling load, said second conduit means receiving and conveying coolant fluid flow from the recouperator to the switching valve, to selectively switch the coolant fluid flow to receive such flow through the first heat exchanger in the cooling mode of operation or through the second heat exchanger in the heating mode of operation; f) a second pump means and an auxiliary heating means in the second conduit between the recouperator and the switching valve means to flow auxiliary heated coolant fluid to the second heat exchanger in the heating mode of operation; and g) a third conduit means connecting the second conduit means at a position downstream of the second pump means, auxiliary heating means, and second heat exchanger, directly to the recouperator through a check valve means, to return coolant fluid from the second heat exchanger during the heating mode of operation by selective operation of the second pump means and the auxiliary heating means.

Claim 14

A gas fueled internal combustion engine driven heat pump system comprising: a) a refrigeration cycle heat pump compressor driven by a gas fueled internal combustion engine; b) a coolant fluid circulation subsystem including a recouperator means in fluid connection with the engine to receive a coolant fluid flowed from the engine, and wherein said recouperator means further includes a volume comprising a coolant fluid reservoir for supply of coolant fluid to said subsystem; c) a thermostatic coolant fluid control means in fluid connection with the recouperator means to receive through a first inlet and control the coolant fluid flow in response to the temperature of the coolant fluid; d) a first pump means in fluid connection with the outlet of the thermostatic fluid control means to convey coolant fluid to the engine and complete a first loop circuit, operable by the control of the thermostatic means to warm or cool the engine more rapidly when the subsystem operation will benefit therefrom; e) a switching valve means in fluid connection with a second inlet of the thermostatic control means to supply coolant fluid to the engine means as required to warm or cool the engine means by modulation of coolant fluid flow through the thermostatic control means, and, further, to receive coolant fluid flow, in fluid connection with A) a first conduit means, including a first heat exchanger in heat exchange relation to an ambient heat source or sink, conveying coolant flow from the recouperator to the switching valve, or with a B) a second conduit means, including a second heat exchanger in heat exchange relation to a heating or cooling load, said second conduit means receiving and conveying coolant fluid flow from the recouperator to the switching valve, to selectively switch the coolant fluid flow to receive such flow through the first heat exchanger in the cooling mode of operation or through the second heat exchanger in the heating mode of operation; f) a second pump means and an auxiliary heating means in the second conduit between the recouperator and the switching valve means to flow auxiliary heated coolant fluid to the second heat exchanger in the heating mode of operation; and g) a third conduit means connecting the second conduit means at a position downstream of the second pump means, auxiliary heating means, and second heat exchanger, directly to the recouperator through a check valve means, to return coolant fluid from the second heat exchanger during the heating mode of operation by selective operation of the second pump means and the auxiliary heating means.

Claim 15

A system according to claim 12 wherein the second pump means is located between the recouperator means and the auxiliary heating means to supply coolant fluid through the auxiliary heating means to the second heat exchanger located between the auxiliary heating means and the switching valve.

Claim 16

A system according to claim 12 wherein the second pump means is located between the recouperator means and the second heat exchanger to supply coolant fluid through the second heat exchanger means to the auxiliary heating means located between the second heat exchanger and the switching valve.

Claim 17

A heat engine driven heat pump system comprising: a) a refrigeration cycle heat pump compressor driven by a heat engine means; b) a coolant fluid circulation subsystem including a recouperator means in fluid connection with the heat engine to receive a coolant fluid flowed from the engine, and wherein said recouperator means further includes a volume comprising a coolant fluid reservoir for supply of coolant fluid to said subsystem; c) a thermostatic coolant fluid control means in fluid connection with the recouperator means to receive through a first inlet and control the coolant fluid flow in response to the temperature of the coolant fluid; d) a first pump means in fluid connection with the thermostatic fluid control means to convey coolant fluid to the engine and complete a first loop circuit, operable by the control of the thermostatic means to warm or cool the engine more rapidly when the subsystem operation will benefit therefrom; e) a switching valve means controlling coolant fluid flow to a second inlet of the thermostatic control means to supply coolant fluid to the engine means as required to warm or cool the engine means by modulation of coolant fluid flow through the thermostatic control means, and the switching valve means controlling fluid flow from said recouperator through A) a first heat exchanger in heat exchange relation to an ambient heat source or sink, or through B) a second heat exchanger in heat exchange relation to a heating or cooling load, selectively switching such coolant fluid flow through the first heat exchanger in the cooling mode of operation or through the second heat exchanger in the heating mode of operation; f) a second pump means and an auxiliary heating means in series with and upstream of the second heat exchanger to flow auxiliary heated coolant fluid to the second heat exchanger in the heating mode of operation; and g) a conduit means positioned downstream of the second pump means, auxiliary heating means, and second heat exchanger, to receive and return coolant fluid flow through a check valve means directly to the recouperator, and to return coolant from the second heat exchanger during the heating mode of operation by selective operation of the second pump means.

Claim 18

A heat engine driven heat pump system comprising: a) a refrigeration cycle heat pump compressor driven by a heat engine means; b) a coolant fluid circulation subsystem including a recouperator means in fluid connection with the heat engine to receive a coolant fluid flowed from the engine, and wherein said recouperator means further includes a volume comprising a coolant fluid reservoir for supply of coolant fluid to said subsystem; c) a thermostatic coolant fluid control means in fluid connection with the recouperator means to receive through a first inlet and control the coolant fluid flow in response to the temperature of the coolant fluid; d) a first pump means in fluid connection with the thermostatic fluid control means to convey coolant fluid to the engine and complete a first loop circuit, operable by the control of the thermostatic means to warm or cool the engine more rapidly when the subsystem operation will benefit therefrom; e) a switching valve means controlling coolant fluid flow to a second inlet of the thermostatic control means to supply coolant fluid to the engine means as required to warm or cool the engine means by modulation of coolant fluid flow through the thermostatic control means, and the switching valve means controlling fluid flow from said recouperator through A) a first heat exchanger in heat exchange relation to an ambient heat source or sink, or through B) a second heat exchanger in heat exchange relation to a heating or cooling load, selectively switching such coolant fluid flow through the first heat exchanger in the cooling mode of operation or through the second heat exchanger in the heating mode of operation; f) a second pump means and an auxiliary heating means in series with and upstream of the second heat exchanger to flow auxiliary heated coolant fluid to the second heat exchanger in the heating mode of operation; and g) a conduit means positioned downstream of the second pump means, auxiliary heating means, and second heat exchanger, to receive and return coolant fluid flow through a check valve means directly to the recouperator, and to return coolant from the second heat exchanger during the heating mode of operation by selective operation of the second pump means.

Claim 19

A system according to claim 15 wherein the heat engine means is a natural gas fueled internal combustion engine.

Claim 20

A system according to claim 1 wherein the recouperator includes the highest point in the subsystem to receive air trapped in the coolant subsystem, and automatically eliminates air therefrom.

Claim 21

A system according to claim 12 wherein the recouperator includes the highest point in the subsystem to receive air trapped in the coolant subsystem, and automatically eliminates air therefrom.

Claim 22

A system according to claim 15 wherein the recouperator includes the highest point in the subsystem to receive air trapped in the coolant subsystem, and automatically eliminates air therefrom.