James C Wendschlag

US Patent:

45760110, Mar 18, 1986

Filed:

Aug 16, 1984

Appl. No.:

6/641413

Inventors:

Paul R. Glamm - La Crosse WI
James C. Wendschlag - La Crosse WI

Assignee:

Electric Power Research Institute - Palo Alto CA

International Classification:

F25B 100

US Classification:

62115

Abstract:

An air conditioning system and method of operation for reducing cyclic losses due to non-steady state operation at the start of operating cycles are disclosed. A bi-flow expansion valve assembly is provided in the refrigerant line between the heat exchangers, and the valve assembly can meter refrigerant flow between the heat exchangers or can permit substantially unrestricted flow therethrough. At the start of a cycle, the valve assembly is adjusted to allow refrigerant to flood between the heat exchangers, thereby correcting mislocation of refrigerant caused by the migration of refrigerant to the evaporator during the off-cycle, or caused when heat exchanger functions are switched, as, for example, during a defrost cycle of a heat pump.

US Patent:

43911048, Jul 5, 1983

Filed:

Jan 15, 1982

Appl. No.:

6/339540

Inventors:

James C. Wendschlag - Onalaska WI

Assignee:

The Trane Company - La Crosse WI

International Classification:

F25B 2702
F25B 700

US Classification:

62 79

Abstract:

A heat pump system and method, wherein the system may be operated in cascade fashion to heat water using heat extracted from relatively cold outdoor ambient air, or in non-cascade fashion to provide supplemental heating or cooling in a comfort zone. The system uses a first and a second refrigerant fluid with separate compression cycle loops passing in heat transfer relationship through a tri-fluid heat exchanger. In a first mode of operation, the first refrigerant fluid condensed while heating water is vaporized in the tri-fluid heat exchanger to cool air supplied to the comfort zone, and in a second mode the first refrigerant fluid is vaporized by heat rejected from condensing the second refrigerant fluid. In a third mode, wherein only the second refrigerant loop is operative, air passing through the tri-fluid heat exchanger to the comfort zone is heated by condensation of the compressed second refrigerant fluid.