IP Library Patent Application 18635788
Patent Application
App. No. 18/635,788

HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS WITH PRESSURE EXCHANGERS

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US None
App. No.
18/635,788
Abstract

A system includes a pressure exchanger (PX) to receive a first fluid at a first pressure, second fluid at a second pressure, and exchange pressure between the first fluid and the second fluid. The first fluid is to exit the PX at a third pressure and the second fluid is to exit the PX at a fourth pressure. A first condenser is to receive the first fluid from a compressor and provide thermal energy from the first fluid to a first environment. A second condenser is to receive the second fluid from the PX and provide thermal energy from the second fluid to a second environment. A heat exchanger is to receive the first fluid from the first condenser and the second fluid from the second condenser, provide thermal energy from the first fluid to the second fluid, and provide the first fluid to the PX.

Claims (45)

1 . A system comprising:

a pressure exchanger (PX) configured to receive a first fluid at a first pressure via a first inlet of the PX, receive a second fluid at a second pressure via a second inlet of the PX, and exchange pressure between the first fluid and the second fluid, wherein the first fluid is to exit the PX at a third pressure via a first outlet of the PX, and wherein the second fluid is to exit the PX at a fourth pressure via a second outlet of the PX;

a first condenser configured to receive the first fluid from a compressor and provide corresponding thermal energy from the first fluid to a first environment;

a second condenser configured to receive the second fluid from the PX via the second outlet and provide corresponding thermal energy from the second fluid to a second environment; and

a first heat exchanger configured to receive the first fluid output from the first condenser and further configured to receive the second fluid output from the second condenser, wherein the first heat exchanger is configured to provide corresponding thermal energy from the first fluid to the second fluid and provide the first fluid to the PX via the first inlet.

2 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a receiver configured to receive the first fluid from the first outlet of the PX, wherein the receiver forms a chamber configured to separate the first fluid into a first gas and a first liquid.

3 . The system of claim 2 , further comprising a bypass valve configured to:

receive a portion of the first gas of the first fluid from the receiver;

decrease pressure of the portion of the first gas; and

provide the portion of the first gas to be combined with output of an evaporator.

4 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising:

an evaporator configured to provide corresponding thermal energy from a third corresponding environment to at least a portion of the first fluid output via the first outlet of the PX.

5 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the compressor is configured to receive the at least a portion of the first fluid output from the evaporator, increase a corresponding pressure of the at least a portion of the first fluid, and provide the at least a portion of the first fluid to the first condenser.

6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the system is one or more of a refrigeration system or a heat pump system, wherein the first fluid and the second fluid comprise carbon dioxide (CO 2 ).

7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first pressure is higher than the second pressure, and wherein the third pressure is lower than the fourth pressure.

8 . A method, comprising:

causing, via a pressure exchanger (PX), pressure to be exchanged between a first fluid and a second fluid;

causing, via a first condenser configured to receive the first fluid from a compressor, corresponding thermal energy to be provided from the first fluid to a first environment;

causing, via a second condenser configured to receive the second fluid from the PX, corresponding thermal energy to be provided from the second fluid to a second environment; and

causing, via a first heat exchanger configured to receive the first fluid output from the first condenser and further configured to receive the second fluid output from the second condenser, corresponding thermal energy to be provided from the first fluid to the second fluid.

9 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

causing, via a receiver configured to receive the first fluid output from the PX, the first fluid to separate into a first gas and a first liquid.

10 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising:

causing, via a bypass valve configured to receive a portion of the first gas from the receiver, a pressure decrease of a portion of the first gas and to provide the portion of the first gas to be combined with output of an evaporator.

11 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

causing, via an evaporator, corresponding thermal energy to be provided from a third corresponding environment to at least a portion of the first fluid output via a first outlet of the PX.

12 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

causing, via the compressor, an increase in corresponding pressure of the at least a portion of the first fluid and provide the at least a portion of the first fluid to the first condenser.

13 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the PX is to receive the first fluid at a first pressure via a first inlet of the PX and the PX is to receive the second fluid at a second pressure via a second inlet of the PX, wherein the first fluid is to exit the PX at a third pressure via a first outlet of the PX, and wherein the second fluid is to exit the PX at a fourth pressure via a second outlet of the PX.

14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the first pressure is higher than the second pressure, and wherein the third pressure is lower than the fourth pressure.

15 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed by a processing device, cause the processing device to perform operations comprising:

causing, via a pressure exchanger (PX), pressure to be exchanged between a first fluid and a second fluid;

causing, via a first condenser configured to receive the first fluid from a compressor, corresponding thermal energy to be provided from the first fluid to a first environment;

causing, via a second condenser configured to receive the second fluid from the PX, corresponding thermal energy to be provided from the second fluid to a second environment; and

causing, via a first heat exchanger configured to receive the first fluid output from the first condenser and further configured to receive the second fluid output from the second condenser, corresponding thermal energy to be provided from the first fluid to the second fluid.

16 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the operations further comprise:

causing, via a receiver configured to receive the first fluid output from the PX, the first fluid to separate into a first gas and a first liquid.

17 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 16 , wherein the operations further comprise:

causing, via a bypass valve configured to receive a portion of the first gas from the receiver, a pressure decrease of a portion of the first gas and to provide the portion of the first gas to be combined with output of an evaporator.

18 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the operations further comprise:

causing, via an evaporator, corresponding thermal energy to be provided from a third corresponding environment to at least a portion of the first fluid output via a first outlet of the PX; and

causing, via the compressor, an increase in corresponding pressure of the at least a portion of the first fluid and provide the at least a portion of the first fluid to the first condenser.

19 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the PX is to receive the first fluid at a first pressure via a first inlet of the PX and the PX is to receive the second fluid at a second pressure via a second inlet of the PX, wherein the first fluid is to exit the PX at a third pressure via a first outlet of the PX, and wherein the second fluid is to exit the PX at a fourth pressure via a second outlet of the PX.

20 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 19 , wherein the first pressure is higher than the second pressure, and wherein the third pressure is lower than the fourth pressure.

Assignments (2)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 21, 2026
From: ENERGY RECOVERY, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 073535/0966 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 26, 2024
From: THATTE, AZAM MIHIR; GHASRIPOOR, FARSHAD; CHEN, KUO-CHIANG
To: ENERGY RECOVERY, INC.
Reel/Frame 068707/0755 →