MOTOR VEHICLE REFRIGERANT CIRCUIT WITH A REFRIGERATION SYSTEM CIRCUIT AND A HEAT PUMP CIRCUIT
A fluid conditioning system includes a refrigeration circuit and a heat pump circuit. The refrigeration circuit includes a heat exchanger and an evaporator. The heat pump circuit includes a condenser, a chiller serially connected to the evaporator, and a first expansion member in fluid communication with the chiller, wherein the heat pump circuit is configured to utilize heat from ambient air and a cooling agent circuit for heating a passenger compartment of a vehicle.
1 . A fluid conditioning system, comprising:
a refrigeration circuit including a heat exchanger and an evaporator; and
a heat pump circuit including a condenser, a chiller serially connected to the evaporator, and a first expansion member in fluid communication with the chiller, wherein the chiller is also in fluid communication with a cooling agent circuit.
2 . The fluid conditioning system according to claim 1 , wherein the cooling agent circuit includes a means for heating a cooling agent.
3 . The fluid conditioning system according to claim 2 , wherein the means for heating the cooling agent includes at least one of an engine of a motor vehicle, at least one electronic component, a battery, an electrical resistance heater, at least one glow plug, and at least one positive temperature coefficient heating element.
4 . The fluid conditioning system according to claim 1 , wherein the cooling agent circuit is configured as one of a heating water circuit and a cooling water circuit of a motor vehicle.
5 . The fluid conditioning system according to claim 1 , wherein the first expansion member is disposed upstream of the chiller in respect of a direction of flow of a fluid through the heat pump circuit.
6 . The fluid conditioning system according to claim 1 , wherein the first expansion member is disposed downstream of the chiller in respect of a direction of flow of a fluid through the heat pump circuit.
7 . The fluid conditioning system according to claim 1 , wherein the chiller is connected in parallel to the heat exchanger in the heat pump circuit.
8 . The fluid conditioning system according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the refrigeration circuit and the heat pump circuit includes a fluid collector.
9 . The fluid conditioning system according to claim 1 , wherein the heat pump circuit further includes a branch point to divide a flow of a fluid through the heat pump circuit into a first partial mass flow and a second partial mass flow.
10 . The fluid conditioning system according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the refrigeration circuit and the heat pump circuit includes at least one valve to direct a flow of fluid therethrough.
11 . The fluid conditioning system according to claim 1 , wherein the heat pump circuit further includes a second expansion member in fluid communication with the evaporator and the condenser.
12 . The fluid conditioning system according to claim 11 , wherein the first expansion member is in fluid communication with the second expansion member.
13 . The fluid conditioning system according to claim 10 , wherein the heat pump circuit includes a third expansion member.
14 . The fluid conditioning system according to claim 13 , wherein the third expansion member is configured to permit bidirectional flow therethrough.
15 . The fluid conditioning system according to claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger operates as a condenser in the refrigeration circuit and as an evaporator in the heat pump circuit.
16 . A fluid conditioning system, comprising:
a refrigeration circuit including a heat exchanger and an evaporator; and
a heat pump circuit including a condenser, a chiller serially connected to the evaporator, and a first expansion member in fluid communication with the chiller, wherein the chiller is also in fluid communication with a cooling agent circuit, the heat pump circuit further including a branch point to divide a flow of a fluid through the heat pump circuit into a first partial mass flow and a second partial mass flow.
17 . The fluid conditioning system according to claim 16 , wherein the second partial mass flow is directed through at least a portion of the refrigeration circuit.
18 . The fluid conditioning system according to claim 16 , wherein at least one of the refrigeration circuit and the heat pump circuit further includes at least one valve to direct a flow of a fluid therethrough.
19 . The fluid conditioning system according to claim 18 , wherein the at least one valve is configured as a three-way valve.
20 . A fluid conditioning system, comprising:
a refrigeration circuit including a heat exchanger and an evaporator; and
a heat pump circuit including a condenser, a chiller serially connected to the evaporator, and an expansion member in fluid communication with the chiller, wherein the heat pump circuit is configured to utilize heat from ambient air and a cooling agent circuit for heating a passenger compartment of a vehicle.