IP Library Granted Patent US 12,624,874
Granted Patent B2
US 12,624,874 · App. 18/480,614 · Granted May 12, 2026

Heat pump system and control method thereof

Inventors: Guangyu Shen (Shanghai, CN); Guang Zhang (Shanghai, CN); Hui Zhai (Shanghai, CN)
Assignee: CARRIER CORPORATION
F25B47/027F25B5/02F25B41/34F25B2313/021
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,624,874
App. No.
18/480,614
Granted
May 12, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

The heat pump system comprises an indoor unit and an outdoor unit communicated through a refrigerant pipeline. The outdoor unit comprises a compressor, a first heat exchanger, a first throttling device, and a change-over valve. The indoor unit comprises a second heat exchanger. A heat storage unit is arranged on the refrigerant gas-phase pipeline between the indoor unit and the outdoor unit, the heat storage unit comprising a first branch and a second branch arranged in parallel. The first branch is provided with a heat storage heat exchanger and a second throttling device, and the second branch is provided with a control valve device capable of cutting off refrigerant flowing through the second branch in a controlled manner. The heat pump system can operate in a cooling mode, a heating mode, a heat storage and heating mode, and a defrosting mode.

Claims (36)

1 . A heat pump system, comprising:

an outdoor unit comprising a compressor, a first heat exchanger, a first throttling device, and a change-over valve;

an indoor unit comprising a second heat exchanger;

a refrigerant pipeline comprising a refrigerant gas-phase pipeline and a refrigerant liquid-phase pipeline;

a heat storage unit comprising a first branch and a second branch, wherein the first branch is provided with a heat storage heat exchanger and a second throttling device, and the second branch is provided with a control valve device capable of cutting off refrigerant flowing through the second branch in a controlled manner; and

wherein, the heat pump system is capable of operating in a heating mode,

wherein in the heating mode, the second throttling device is turned on with an opening, and the control valve device is turned on to allow the refrigerant to flow from the change-over valve of the outdoor unit to the second heat exchanger of the indoor unit through the second branch.

2 . The heat pump system according to claim 1 , wherein the heat storage unit is arranged on the refrigerant gas-phase pipeline.

3 . The heat pump system according to claim 1 , wherein the first branch and the second branch are arranged in parallel.

4 . The heat pump system according to claim 1 , wherein the heat pump system is capable of further operating in a cooling mode, a heat storage and heating mode, and/or a defrosting mode.

5 . The heat pump system according to claim 1 , wherein the control valve device comprises a solenoid valve or an electric ball valve.

6 . The heat pump system according to claim 1 , wherein the heat storage heat exchanger is a phase change heat exchanger.

7 . A heat pump system, comprising:

an outdoor unit comprising a compressor, a first heat exchanger, a first throttling device, and a change-over valve;

an indoor unit comprising a second heat exchanger;

a refrigerant pipeline comprising a refrigerant gas-phase pipeline and a refrigerant liquid-phase pipeline;

a heat storage unit comprising a first branch and a second branch, wherein the first branch is provided with a heat storage heat exchanger and a second throttling device, and the second branch is provided with a control valve device capable of cutting off refrigerant flowing through the second branch in a controlled manner; and

wherein, the heat pump system is capable of operating in a heat storage and heating mode,

wherein in the heat storage and heating mode, the second throttling device is fully turned on with the first throttling device playing a throttling role to store heat in the heat storage heat exchanger, and the control valve device is turned off, so that no refrigerant passes through the second branch.

8 . The heat pump system according to claim 7 , wherein, the heat pump system is capable of further operating in a heating mode, a cooling mode, and/or a defrosting mode.

9 . The heat pump system according to claim 7 , wherein the heat storage unit is arranged on the refrigerant gas-phase pipeline.

10 . The heat pump system according to claim 7 , wherein the first branch and the second branch are arranged in parallel.

11 . The heat pump system according to claim 7 , wherein the control valve device comprises a solenoid valve or an electric ball valve.

12 . The heat pump system according to claim 7 , wherein the heat storage heat exchanger is a phase change heat exchanger.

13 . A heat pump system, comprising:

an outdoor unit comprising a compressor, a first heat exchanger, a first throttling device, and a change-over valve;

an indoor unit comprising a second heat exchanger;

a refrigerant pipeline comprising a refrigerant gas-phase pipeline and a refrigerant liquid-phase pipeline;

a heat storage unit comprising a first branch and a second branch, wherein the first branch is provided with a heat storage heat exchanger and a second throttling device, and the second branch is provided with a control valve device capable of cutting off refrigerant flowing through the second branch in a controlled manner; and

wherein, the heat pump system is capable of operating in a heat storage and heating mode,

wherein in the heat storage and heating mode, the second throttling device is partially turned on to allow at least a portion of the refrigerant to flow through the heat storage heat exchanger, and the control valve device is turned on to allow most of the refrigerant to pass through the second branch.

14 . The heat pump system according to claim 13 , wherein, the heat pump system is capable of further operating in a heating mode, a cooling mode, and/or a defrosting mode.

15 . The heat pump system according to claim 13 , wherein the heat storage unit is arranged on the refrigerant gas-phase pipeline.

16 . The heat pump system according to claim 13 , wherein the first branch and the second branch are arranged in parallel.

17 . The heat pump system according to claim 13 , wherein the control valve device comprises a solenoid valve or an electric ball valve.

18 . The heat pump system according to claim 13 , wherein the heat storage heat exchanger is a phase change heat exchanger.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 15, 2025
From: CARRIER AIR CONDITIONING AND REFRIGERATION R&D MANAGEMENT (SHANGHAI) CO., LTD.
To: CARRIER CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 071123/0225 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 15, 2025
From: SHEN, GUANGYU; ZHANG, GUANG; ZHAI, HUI
To: CARRIER AIR CONDITIONING AND REFRIGERATION R&D MANAGEMENT (SHANGHAI) CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 071123/0144 →
Priority Claims (1)
EP 23199226 · Sep 22, 2023 · regional
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20250102208A1 · Mar 27, 2025
References Cited (23)
US 4628706A · Neudorfer · 1986 [cited by applicant]
US 5165250A · Nagatomo et al. · 1992 [cited by applicant]
US 5497629A · Rafalovich · 1996 [cited by examiner]
US 5680898A · Rafalovich et al. · 1997 [cited by applicant]
US 5755104A · Rafalovich et al. · 1998 [cited by applicant]
US 8516847B2 · Koh et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 8667804B2 · Koh et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 10267569B2 · Altman et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 10539335B2 · Yasuo et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 11175082B2 · Tanaka · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 11193702B2 · Bissell et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 20090282854A1 · Matsuoka · 2009 [cited by examiner]
US 20190226735A1 · Bissell · 2019 [cited by examiner]
US 20190383713A1 · Haack · 2019 [cited by examiner]
CN 109539620A · 2019 [cited by applicant]
DE 102012004094B3 · 2013 [cited by applicant]
EP 2040009A1 · 2009 [cited by applicant]
JP 2009287903A · 2009 [cited by applicant]
JP 5287820B2 · 2013 [cited by applicant]
WO 9741398A1 · 1997 [cited by applicant]
WO 2012032680A1 · 2012 [cited by applicant]
WO 2014057454A1 · 2014 [cited by applicant]
Extended European Search Report received for EP Application No. 23199226.4, mailed on Feb. 12, 2024, 8 Pages. [cited by applicant]