Simultaneous heating and chilling heat pump system

1 . A heat pump system ( 10 ) for supplying a heated process fluid ( 26 , 36 ) to a heated process ( 2 ) and for supplying a chilled process fluid ( 28 , 38 ) to a chilled process ( 4 ), comprising:

a compressor ( 16 ) to compress a refrigerant ( 24 , 34 , 44 , 50 , 54 , 62 , 70 , 84 , 98 , 114 , 132 );

a hot heat exchanger ( 18 ) to receive the heated process fluid ( 26 , 36 );

a cold heat exchanger ( 20 ) to receive the chilled process fluid ( 28 , 38 );

an expansion device ( 22 ); and

a heat exchanger ( 48 b ) able to receive a circulating fluid and a portion ( 44 j ) of said refrigerant ( 44 ) exiting said cold heat exchanger ( 20 ) and exchange energy therebetween before said refrigerant ( 44 ) enters said compressor ( 16 );

wherein said compressor ( 16 ), said hot heat exchanger ( 18 ), said cold heat exchanger ( 20 ), and said expansion device ( 22 ) circulate said refrigerant ( 24 , 34 , 44 , 50 , 54 , 62 , 70 , 84 , 98 , 114 , 132 ) in a first serial loop such that said hot heat exchanger ( 18 ) can impart heat energy into the heated process fluid ( 26 , 36 ) and concurrently said cold heat exchanger ( 20 ) can absorb heat energy from the chilled process fluid ( 28 , 38 ).

2 . The heat pump system of claim 1 , wherein said refrigerant is circulated as a gaseous refrigerant.

3 . The heat pump system of claim 1 , wherein the heated process fluid is water.

4 . The heat pump system of claim 1 , wherein the chilled process fluid is glycol.

5 . The heat pump system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a heat exchanger ( 40 a ) able to receive a circulating fluid ( 42 ) and the heated process fluid ( 36 b ) exiting the heated process ( 2 ) and exchange energy therebetween before the heated process fluid ( 36 b ) reenters said hot heat exchanger ( 18 ).

6 . The heat pump system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a heat exchanger ( 40 b ) able to receive a circulating fluid ( 42 ) and the chilled process fluid ( 38 b ) exiting the chilled process ( 4 ) and exchange energy therebetween before the chilled process fluid ( 38 b ) reenters said cold heat exchanger ( 20 ).

7 . The heat pump system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a heat exchanger ( 48 a ) able to receive a circulating fluid ( 46 ) and a portion ( 44 d ) of said refrigerant ( 44 ) exiting said hot heat exchanger ( 18 ) and exchange energy therebetween before said refrigerant ( 44 ) enters said expansion device ( 22 ).

8 . The heat pump system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a sub-cooling heat exchanger ( 52 ) to receive a first portion ( 50 b ) of said refrigerant ( 50 ) exiting said hot heat exchanger ( 18 ) before it enters said expansion device ( 20 ), to receive a second portion ( 50 e ) of said refrigerant ( 50 ) exiting said cold heat exchanger ( 20 ) before it enters said compressor ( 16 ), and to exchange energy between said first portion ( 50 b ) and said second portion ( 50 e ).

9 . The heat pump system of claim 8 , further comprising:

a heat exchanger ( 60 ) able to receive a circulating fluid ( 46 ) and a third portion ( 54 h ) of said refrigerant ( 54 ) exiting said sub-cooling heat exchanger ( 52 ) and exchange energy therebetween before said refrigerant ( 54 ) enters said compressor ( 16 ).

10 . The heat pump system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a sub-cooling heat exchanger ( 66 ); and

a heat exchanger ( 68 );

wherein:

said sub-cooling heat exchanger ( 66 ) receives a first portion ( 62 b ) of said refrigerant ( 62 ) exiting said hot heat exchanger ( 18 ) before it enters said expansion device ( 22 );

said sub-cooling heat exchanger ( 66 ) receives a second portion ( 62 e ) of said refrigerant ( 62 ) exiting said cold heat exchanger ( 20 ) and exchanges energy between said first portion ( 62 b ) and said second portion ( 62 e ); and

said heat exchanger ( 68 ) receives a circulating fluid ( 46 ) and said second portion ( 62 e ) and exchanges energy therebetween before said refrigerant ( 62 ) enters said compressor ( 16 ).

11 . The heat pump system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a first sub-cooling heat exchanger ( 74 );

a second sub-cooling heat exchanger ( 76 );

a pump ( 83 ) to circulate a cooling media ( 82 );

a heat exchanger ( 80 ) to receive a circulating fluid ( 46 ); and

wherein said first serial loop includes definable first through seventh portions ( 70 a - g ) of said refrigerant ( 70 ) in which:

said first portion ( 70 a ) is between said compressor ( 16 ) and said hot heat exchanger ( 18 ),

said second portion ( 70 b ) is between said hot heat exchanger ( 18 ) and said first sub-cooling heat exchanger ( 74 ),

said third portion ( 70 c ) is between said first sub-cooling heat exchanger ( 74 ) and said second sub-cooling heat exchanger ( 76 ),

said fourth portion ( 70 d ) is between said second sub-cooling heat exchanger ( 76 ) and said expansion device ( 22 ),

said fifth portion ( 70 e ) is between said expansion device ( 22 ) and said cold heat exchanger ( 20 ),

said sixth portion ( 70 f ) is between said cold heat exchanger ( 20 ) and said first sub-cooling heat exchanger ( 74 ), and

said seventh portion ( 70 g ) is between said first sub-cooling heat exchanger ( 74 ) and said compressor ( 16 );

wherein said pump ( 83 ), said heat exchanger ( 80 ) and said second sub-cooling heat exchanger ( 76 ) circulate said cooling media ( 82 ) in a second serial loop that includes definable first through third segments ( 82 a - c ) of said cooling media ( 82 ) in which:

said first segment ( 82 a ) is between said pump ( 83 ) and said heat exchanger ( 80 ),

said second segment ( 82 b ) is between said heat exchanger ( 80 ) and said second sub-cooling heat exchanger ( 76 ), and

said third segment ( 80 c ) is between said second sub-cooling heat exchanger ( 76 ) and said pump ( 83 ); and

thereby:

said first sub-cooling heat exchanger ( 74 ) imparts heat energy from said second portion ( 70 b ) into said seventh portion ( 70 g ) of said refrigerant ( 70 ),

said second sub-cooling heat exchanger ( 76 ) imparts heat energy from said third portion ( 70 c ) of said refrigerant ( 70 ) into said second segment ( 82 b ) of said cooling media ( 82 ), and

said heat exchanger ( 80 ) imparts heat energy from said cooling media ( 82 ) into said circulating fluid ( 46 ).

12 . The heat pump system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a first sub-cooling heat exchanger ( 88 );

a second sub-cooling heat exchanger ( 90 );

a pump ( 94 ) to circulate a cooling media ( 96 );

a heat exchanger ( 92 ) to receive a circulating fluid ( 46 ); and

wherein said first serial loop includes definable first through seventh portions ( 84 a - g ) of said refrigerant ( 84 ) in which:

said first portion ( 84 a ) is between said compressor ( 16 ) and said hot heat exchanger ( 18 ),

said second portion ( 84 b ) is between said hot heat exchanger ( 18 ) and said first sub-cooling heat exchanger ( 88 ),

said third portion ( 84 c ) is between said first sub-cooling heat exchanger ( 88 ) and said expansion device ( 22 ),

said fourth portion ( 84 d ) is between said expansion device ( 22 ) and said cold heat exchanger ( 20 ),

said fifth portion ( 84 e ) is between said cold heat exchanger ( 20 ) and said first sub-cooling heat exchanger ( 88 ),

said sixth portion ( 84 f ) is between said first sub-cooling heat exchanger ( 74 ), and said second sub-cooling heat exchanger ( 90 ), and

said seventh portion ( 84 g ) is between said second sub-cooling heat exchanger ( 90 ) and said compressor ( 16 );

wherein said pump ( 94 ), said heat exchanger ( 92 ) and said second sub-cooling heat exchanger ( 90 ) circulate said cooling media ( 96 ) in a second serial loop that includes definable first through third segments ( 96 a - c ) of said cooling media ( 96 ) in which:

said first segment ( 96 a ) is between said pump ( 94 ) and said heat exchanger ( 92 ),

said second segment ( 96 b ) is between said heat exchanger ( 92 ) and said second sub-cooling heat exchanger ( 90 ), and

said third segment ( 96 c ) is between said second sub-cooling heat exchanger ( 90 ) and said pump ( 94 ); and

thereby:

said first sub-cooling heat exchanger ( 88 ) imparts heat energy from said second portion ( 84 b ) into said fifth portion ( 84 e ) of said refrigerant ( 70 ),

said second sub-cooling heat exchanger ( 90 ) imparts heat energy from said sixth portion ( 84 f ) of said refrigerant ( 70 ) into said second segment ( 96 b ) of said cooling media ( 96 ), and

said heat exchanger ( 92 ) imparts heat energy from said cooling media ( 96 ) into said circulating fluid ( 46 ).

13 . The heat pump system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a first sub-cooling heat exchanger ( 102 );

a holding tank ( 104 );

a second sub-cooling heat exchanger ( 106 );

a pump ( 110 ) to circulate a cooling media ( 112 );

a heat exchanger ( 108 ) to receive a circulating fluid ( 46 ); and

wherein said first serial loop includes definable first through sixth portions ( 98 a - f ) of said refrigerant ( 98 ) in which:

said first portion ( 98 a ) is between said compressor ( 16 ) and said hot heat exchanger ( 18 ),

said second portion ( 98 b ) is between said hot heat exchanger ( 18 ) and said first sub-cooling heat exchanger ( 102 ),

said third portion ( 98 c ) is between said first sub-cooling heat exchanger ( 102 ) and said expansion device ( 22 ),

said fourth portion ( 84 d ) is between said expansion device ( 22 ) and said cold heat exchanger ( 20 ),

said fifth portion ( 84 e ) is between said cold heat exchanger ( 20 ) and said second sub-cooling heat exchanger ( 106 ), and

said sixth portion ( 84 f ) is between said second sub-cooling heat exchanger ( 106 ) and said compressor ( 16 );

wherein said pump ( 110 ), said heat exchanger ( 108 ) and said first sub-cooling heat exchanger ( 102 ) circulate said cooling media ( 112 ) in a second serial loop that includes definable first through fourth segments ( 112 a - d ) of said cooling media ( 112 ) in which:

said first segment ( 112 a ) is between said pump ( 110 ) and said heat exchanger ( 108 ),

said second segment ( 112 b ) is between said heat exchanger ( 108 ) and said first sub-cooling heat exchanger ( 102 ),

said third segment ( 112 c ) is between said first sub-cooling heat exchanger ( 102 ) and said second sub-cooling heat exchanger ( 106 ),

said fourth segment ( 112 d ) is between said second sub-cooling heat exchanger ( 106 ) and said pump ( 110 ); and

thereby:

said first sub-cooling heat exchanger ( 102 ) imparts heat energy from said second portion ( 98 b ) of said refrigerant ( 70 ) into said third segment ( 112 c ) of said cooling media ( 112 ),

said second sub-cooling heat exchanger ( 90 ) imparts heat energy from said fifth portion ( 98 e ) of said refrigerant ( 70 ) into said fourth segment ( 112 d ) of said cooling media ( 112 ), and

said heat exchanger ( 108 ) imparts heat energy from said cooling media ( 112 ) into said circulating fluid ( 46 ).

14 . The heat pump system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a first sub-cooling heat exchanger ( 118 );

a holding tank ( 120 );

a second sub-cooling heat exchanger ( 122 );

a third sub-cooling heat exchanger ( 124 );

a pump ( 128 ) to circulate a cooling media ( 130 );

a heat exchanger ( 126 ) able to receive a circulating fluid ( 46 ); and

wherein said first serial loop includes definable first through eighth portions ( 114 a - h ) of said refrigerant ( 114 ) in which:

said first portion ( 114 a ) is between said compressor ( 16 ) and said hot heat exchanger ( 18 ),

said second portion ( 114 b ) is between said hot heat exchanger ( 18 ) and said first sub-cooling heat exchanger ( 118 ),

said third portion ( 114 c ) is between said first sub-cooling heat exchanger ( 118 ) and said second sub-cooling heat exchanger ( 122 ),

said fourth portion ( 114 d ) is between said second sub-cooling heat exchanger ( 122 ) and said expansion device ( 22 ),

said fifth portion ( 114 e ) is between said expansion device ( 22 ) and said cold heat exchanger ( 20 ),

said sixth portion ( 114 f ) is between said cold heat exchanger ( 20 ) and said second sub-cooling heat exchanger ( 122 ),

said seventh portion ( 114 g ) is between said second sub-cooling heat exchanger ( 106 ) and said third sub-cooling heat exchanger ( 124 ), and

said eighth portion ( 114 g ) is between said third sub-cooling heat exchanger ( 124 ) and said compressor ( 16 );

wherein said pump ( 128 ), said heat exchanger ( 126 ) and said third sub-cooling heat exchanger ( 124 ) circulate said cooling media ( 130 ) in a second serial loop that includes definable first through fourth segments ( 130 a - d ) of said cooling media ( 130 ) in which:

said first segment ( 130 a ) is between said pump ( 128 ) and said heat exchanger ( 126 ),

said second segment ( 130 b ) is between said heat exchanger ( 126 ) and said first sub-cooling heat exchanger ( 118 ),

said third segment ( 130 c ) is between said first sub-cooling heat exchanger ( 118 ) and said third sub-cooling heat exchanger ( 124 ), and

said fourth segment ( 130 d ) is between said third sub-cooling heat exchanger ( 124 ) and said pump ( 128 ); and

thereby:

said first sub-cooling heat exchanger ( 118 ) imparts heat energy from said second portion ( 114 b ) of said refrigerant ( 70 ) into said third segment ( 130 c ) of said cooling media ( 130 ),

said second sub-cooling heat exchanger ( 122 ) imparts heat energy from said third portion ( 114 C) into said seventh portion ( 114 g ) of said refrigerant ( 70 ),

said third sub-cooling heat exchanger ( 124 ) imparts heat energy from said seventh portion ( 114 g ) of said refrigerant ( 70 ) into said fourth segment ( 112 d ) of said cooling media ( 112 ), and

said heat exchanger ( 108 ) imparts heat energy from said cooling media ( 112 ) into said circulating fluid ( 46 ).

15 . A heat pump system ( 10 ) for supplying a heated process fluid ( 26 , 36 ) to a heated process ( 2 ) and for supplying a chilled process fluid ( 28 , 38 ) to a chilled process ( 4 ), comprising:

a compressor ( 16 ) to compress a refrigerant ( 24 , 34 , 44 , 50 , 54 , 62 , 70 , 84 , 98 , 114 , 132 );

a hot heat exchanger ( 18 ) to receive the heated process fluid ( 26 , 36 );

a cold heat exchanger ( 20 ) to receive the chilled process fluid ( 28 , 38 );

an expansion device ( 22 );

a sub-cooling heat exchanger ( 52 ) to receive a first portion ( 50 b ) of said refrigerant ( 50 ) exiting said hot heat exchanger ( 18 ) before it enters said expansion device ( 20 ), to receive a second portion ( 50 e ) of said refrigerant ( 50 ) exiting said cold heat exchanger ( 20 ) before it enters said compressor ( 16 ), and to exchange energy between said first portion ( 50 b ) and said second portion ( 50 e ); and

a heat exchanger ( 60 ) able to receive a circulating fluid ( 46 ) and a third portion ( 54 h ) of said refrigerant ( 54 ) exiting said sub-cooling heat exchanger ( 52 ) and exchange energy therebetween before said refrigerant ( 54 ) enters said compressor ( 16 );

wherein said compressor ( 16 ), said hot heat exchanger ( 18 ), said cold heat exchanger ( 20 ), and said expansion device ( 22 ) circulate said refrigerant ( 24 , 34 , 44 , 50 , 54 , 62 , 70 , 84 , 98 , 114 , 132 ) in a first serial loop such that said hot heat exchanger ( 18 ) can impart heat energy into the heated process fluid ( 26 , 36 ) and concurrently said cold heat exchanger ( 20 ) can absorb heat energy from the chilled process fluid ( 28 , 38 ).

16 . The heat pump system of claim 15 , wherein said refrigerant is circulated as a gaseous refrigerant.

17 . The heat pump system of claim 15 , wherein the heated process fluid is water.

18 . The heat pump system of claim 16 , wherein the chilled process fluid is glycol.

19 . The heat pump system of claim 15 , further comprising:

a heat exchanger ( 40 a ) able to receive a circulating fluid ( 42 ) and the heated process fluid ( 36 b ) exiting the heated process ( 2 ) and exchange energy therebetween before the heated process fluid ( 36 b ) reenters said hot heat exchanger ( 18 ).

20 . The heat pump system of claim 15 , further comprising:

a heat exchanger ( 40 b ) able to receive a circulating fluid ( 42 ) and the chilled process fluid ( 38 b ) exiting the chilled process ( 4 ) and exchange energy therebetween before the chilled process fluid ( 38 b ) reenters said cold heat exchanger ( 20 ).