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SamsungGranted patentBatteries & energyInterest 4/10

Samsung patents heat pump control that adjusts valve opening for efficiency

This patent describes a heat pump system that uses sensors to monitor water temperature and refrigerant pressure. A controller compares these readings to adjust how much the expansion valve opens, ensuring the refrigerant condenses at the right temperature.

Why it mattersThis improves the efficiency of heating and cooling systems by fine-tuning the refrigerant flow based on real-time water temperature data.

In the filing’s own words

A heat pump system according to an aspect of the disclosure may comprise: a compressor configured to compress a refrigerant; a water heat exchanger configured to exchange heat between the compressed refrigerant and introduced water; an expansion valve configured to expand the refrigerant condensed in the water heat exchanger; an outdoor heat exchanger configured to exchange heat between the refrigerant expanded by the expansion valve and outdoor air; a high-tension pressure sensor configured to detect the temperature of the refrigerant to be condensed in the water heat exchanger; a discharged water temperature sensor configured to detect the temperature of water on which heat exchange has been performed in the water heat exchanger; and a control unit including a controller comprising circuitry configured to: determine a target condensation temperature of the refrigerant based on a detection result of the discharged water temperature sensor, compare the target condensation temperature with the current condensation temperature detected by the high-tension pressure sensor, and control the degree of opening of the expansion valve based on the comparison result.

What exactly they claim (claim 1)

1. A heat pump system comprising: a compressor configured to compress a refrigerant; a water heat exchanger configured to exchange heat between the compressed refrigerant and input water to condense the refrigerant; an expansion valve configured to expand the refrigerant after the refrigerant has been condensed in the water heat exchanger; an outdoor heat exchanger configured to exchange heat between the refrigerant expanded in the expansion valve and outdoor air; a high-pressure pressure sensor configured to detect a pressure of the refrigerant discharged by the compressor; a water output temperature sensor configured to detect a temperature of water having undergone heat exchange in the water heat exchanger; and a controller including at least one processor, comprising processing circuitry, and the at least one processor being individually and/or collectively configured to: determine a target condensation temperature of the refrigerant based on a result of detecting of the water output temperature sensor, determine a current condensation temperature by converting the pressure detected by the high-pressure pressure sensor into a saturation temperature, compare the target condensation temperature with the current condensation temperature, and control an opening degree of the expansion valve based on a result of comparing the target condensation temperature with the current condensation temperature.

Facts

Company
Samsung (Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.)
Official title
Heat pump system and control method thereof
Patent number
US12753957B2
Application number
18802836
Filed
Aug 13, 2024
Granted
Oct 6, 2026
Inventors
4
Claims
15

Classified under

F25B 41/31 Mechanical engineeringF25B 13/00 Mechanical engineering
Read the full filing (official PDF) ↗ Open in the Patent Tracker

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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.