A heat pump system includes a compressor, a usage side heat exchanger, a heat source side heat exchanger, an expansion mechanism, a main refrigerant flow control valve switchable between cooling and heating modes, a gas reheat heat exchanger, a fan, and a secondary refrigerant flow control device switchable between first, second, and third modes. Refrigerant flows from the compressor discharge line to the main refrigerant flow control device in the first mode. Refrigerant flows from discharge line to gas reheat heat exchanger and then main refrigerant flow control valve in the second mode. Refrigerant flows both from discharge line to gas reheat heat exchanger and then main refrigerant flow control valve, and from discharge line to main refrigerant flow control valve without flowing through the gas reheat heat exchanger in the third mode. Refrigerant flows to the usage side and hot gas reheat heat exchanger in the heating mode.

A hybrid heat pump system comprising a heat pump loop integrated with a hydronic loop. The hybrid heat pump system offers multiple modes of operation to provide increased versatility and improved performance. Each of the loops can operate independently. In addition, the loops can operate in conjunction with each other in both heating and cooling modes. Still further, the hydronic loop can provide a reheat function when the heat pump loop is operating in the cooling mode to provide improved dehumidification of the air delivered to the conditioned space. The heat pump loop may include a hot gas bypass functionality for capacity control and/or freeze protection. The hydronic heat exchanger and the space heat exchanger of the heat pump loop may be combined in a compact single slab construction with a slit fin preventing cross-conduction between the heat exchanger sections.

A heat pump system includes a compressor, a usage side heat exchanger, a heat source side heat exchanger, an expansion mechanism, a main refrigerant flow control device switchable between cooling and heating modes, a gas reheat heat exchanger, a fan, and a secondary refrigerant flow control device switchable between first, second, and third modes. Refrigerant flows from the compressor discharge line to the main refrigerant flow control device in the first mode. Refrigerant flows from discharge line to gas reheat heat exchanger and then main refrigerant flow control device in the second mode. Refrigerant flows both from discharge line to gas reheat heat exchanger and then main refrigerant flow control device, and from discharge line to main refrigerant flow control device without flowing through the gas reheat heat exchanger in the third mode. Refrigerant may flow to the usage side and hot gas reheat heat exchanger in the heating mode.

In an air conditioning apparatus, heat exchange is conducted between refrigerant passing through a first high-temperature-side flow path and refrigerant passing through a first low-temperature-side flow path of a cooler, and between refrigerant passing through a second high-temperature-side flow path and refrigerant passing through a second low-temperature-side flow path of the cooler. A switching device switches between first/second refrigerant circuits. In the first circuit, an inlet of the first high-temperature-side flow path is formed downstream of the first low-temperature-side flow path with respect to an outlet of the first high-temperature-side flow path, and in the second refrigerant circuit, an inlet of the second high-temperature-side flow path is formed downstream of the second low-temperature-side flow path with respect to an outlet of the second high-temperature-side flow path.

A heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system in which a primary water loop is used as a heat transfer reservoir for both heating and cooling. A plurality of micro chillers are provided, with each micro chiller being connected to the primary water loop. Each micro chiller includes its own heat engine. Each micro chiller includes one or more fan control units that exchange heat between the micro chiller and the air in a building. In a first mode a micro chiller transfers heat from the air in the building to the water circulating within the primary water loop. In a second mode the micro chiller transfers heat from the water circulating in the primary water loop to the air in the building. A primary water loop regulation system is provided to control the temperature of the water circulating in the primary water loop.

An appliance air/water handling system includes a rotating drum, airflow and fluid paths for directing process air and fluid, respectively, therethrough. First and second heat exchangers are in direct engagement with the airflow and fluid paths, respectively. A reversible refrigerant circuit delivers refrigerant through the first and second heat exchangers to alternatively define washing and drying conditions. In the washing condition the first heat exchanger cools the process air into cooled process air, and the second heat exchanger heats the fluid to define a heated fluid that is directed into the drum. In the drying condition the first heat exchanger heats the process air to define heated process air that is directed through the drum and through a third heat exchanger, and the second heat exchanger cools the fluid to define a cooled fluid that is directed to the third heat exchanger intersect with the heated process air.

An appliance air/water handling system includes a rotating drum, airflow and fluid paths for directing process air and fluid, respectively, therethrough. First and second heat exchangers are in direct engagement with the airflow and fluid paths, respectively. A reversible refrigerant circuit delivers refrigerant through the first and second heat exchangers to alternatively define washing and drying conditions. In the washing condition the first heat exchanger cools the process air into cooled process air, and the second heat exchanger heats the fluid to define a heated fluid that is directed into the drum. In the drying condition the first heat exchanger heats the process air to define heated process air that is directed through the drum and through a third heat exchanger, and the second heat exchanger cools the fluid to define a cooled fluid that is directed to the third heat exchanger intersect with the heated process air.

The present invention is generally directed to a system for providing heating, cooling, and domestic hot water (DHW) using a water source heat pump, the system including: a compressor; a source heat exchanger; a load heat exchanger; a DHW heat exchanger; and a DHW storage tank. In some embodiments, the system may be concealable, and mounted between two wall studs. In some embodiments, a water-to-water water source heat pump and DHW storage tank may be mounted between the same wall studs, the system having a width of no more than 14.5″ and a depth of no more than 7″. In some embodiments, in a heating cycle high-temperature high-pressure refrigerant in a gaseous phase is provided to both a brazed plate DHW heat exchanger and a brazed plate load heat exchanger in a parallel manner so one of the heat exchangers receives the refrigerant at a time.

A method for air-conditioning of watercraft and the like using a device with: an electronically controlled variable-r.p.m. compressor, a main gas/water condenser (5), at least one environmental heat-exchanger (3) with an electronically controlled fan (14), at least one electronically controlled expansion valve (8), and at least one first electronic control unit (4) programmed for calculating continuously a temperature deviation detected (DeltaT=T_ad−T_a), and as a function of said temperature deviation regulating in combination, the r.p.m. of the compressor (1), opening of the flow valve (8), and the r.p.m. of the fan of the heat-exchanger (3).

A method of conditioning air includes controlling a secondary refrigerant flow control valve to select between a first mode in which refrigerant flows from a discharge line to a main refrigerant flow control valve, and a second mode in which refrigerant flows from the discharge line to a gas reheat heat exchanger and then flows to the main refrigerant flow control valve. A heat transfer medium flow control valve is controlled to adjust the flow of the heat transfer medium into a heat source side heat exchanger. The heat transfer medium flow control valve allows the heat transfer medium to flow to the heat source side heat exchanger when the secondary refrigerant flow control valve is in the first mode, and adjusts the flow of the heat transfer medium to the heat source side heat exchanger when the secondary refrigerant flow control valve is in the second mode.