CN118019947A - Dual-function water heater and air conditioning unit - Google Patents
Dual-function water heater and air conditioning unit Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- CN118019947A CN118019947A CN202280064363.4A CN202280064363A CN118019947A CN 118019947 A CN118019947 A CN 118019947A CN 202280064363 A CN202280064363 A CN 202280064363A CN 118019947 A CN118019947 A CN 118019947A
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- heat exchanger
- water heater
- refrigerant
- air conditioning
- control valve
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- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 title claims abstract description 300
- 238000004378 air conditioning Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 74
- 239000003507 refrigerant Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 162
- 230000009977 dual effect Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 45
- 238000001816 cooling Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 33
- 238000010438 heat treatment Methods 0.000 claims description 64
- 238000005057 refrigeration Methods 0.000 claims description 62
- 239000012530 fluid Substances 0.000 claims description 14
- 230000006835 compression Effects 0.000 claims description 7
- 238000007906 compression Methods 0.000 claims description 7
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 claims description 5
- 238000011144 upstream manufacturing Methods 0.000 claims description 3
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 abstract description 23
- 239000007791 liquid phase Substances 0.000 abstract description 19
- 239000012808 vapor phase Substances 0.000 abstract description 7
- 238000000605 extraction Methods 0.000 abstract description 5
- 230000007704 transition Effects 0.000 abstract description 4
- 239000003570 air Substances 0.000 description 61
- 239000012071 phase Substances 0.000 description 23
- 238000009833 condensation Methods 0.000 description 12
- 230000005494 condensation Effects 0.000 description 12
- 230000008859 change Effects 0.000 description 10
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 8
- 230000008569 process Effects 0.000 description 8
- 239000012080 ambient air Substances 0.000 description 7
- 238000010586 diagram Methods 0.000 description 6
- 230000007423 decrease Effects 0.000 description 5
- 238000001704 evaporation Methods 0.000 description 4
- 230000008020 evaporation Effects 0.000 description 4
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 description 4
- 229910052751 metal Inorganic materials 0.000 description 4
- 230000001681 protective effect Effects 0.000 description 4
- RYGMFSIKBFXOCR-UHFFFAOYSA-N Copper Chemical compound [Cu] RYGMFSIKBFXOCR-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 229910052802 copper Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- 239000010949 copper Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000000203 mixture Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000009420 retrofitting Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000001052 transient effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000009423 ventilation Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000002699 waste material Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000010521 absorption reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000000654 additive Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000000996 additive effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000008901 benefit Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000006243 chemical reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000001143 conditioned effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000004851 dishwashing Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000009434 installation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000013021 overheating Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000002085 persistent effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000004044 response Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000000630 rising effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 125000006850 spacer group Chemical group 0.000 description 1
- 239000007858 starting material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000003466 welding Methods 0.000 description 1
Classifications
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
- F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
- F24F5/00—Air-conditioning systems or apparatus not covered by F24F1/00 or F24F3/00, e.g. using solar heat or combined with household units such as an oven or water heater
- F24F5/0007—Air-conditioning systems or apparatus not covered by F24F1/00 or F24F3/00, e.g. using solar heat or combined with household units such as an oven or water heater cooling apparatus specially adapted for use in air-conditioning
- F24F5/001—Compression cycle type
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
- F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
- F24F5/00—Air-conditioning systems or apparatus not covered by F24F1/00 or F24F3/00, e.g. using solar heat or combined with household units such as an oven or water heater
- F24F5/0096—Air-conditioning systems or apparatus not covered by F24F1/00 or F24F3/00, e.g. using solar heat or combined with household units such as an oven or water heater combined with domestic apparatus
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
- F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
- F24F11/00—Control or safety arrangements
- F24F11/62—Control or safety arrangements characterised by the type of control or by internal processing, e.g. using fuzzy logic, adaptive control or estimation of values
- F24F11/63—Electronic processing
- F24F11/65—Electronic processing for selecting an operating mode
- F24F11/67—Switching between heating and cooling modes
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
- F24H—FLUID HEATERS, e.g. WATER OR AIR HEATERS, HAVING HEAT-GENERATING MEANS, e.g. HEAT PUMPS, IN GENERAL
- F24H4/00—Fluid heaters characterised by the use of heat pumps
- F24H4/02—Water heaters
- F24H4/04—Storage heaters
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
- F24H—FLUID HEATERS, e.g. WATER OR AIR HEATERS, HAVING HEAT-GENERATING MEANS, e.g. HEAT PUMPS, IN GENERAL
- F24H6/00—Combined water and air heaters
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
- F25B29/00—Combined heating and refrigeration systems, e.g. operating alternately or simultaneously
- F25B29/003—Combined heating and refrigeration systems, e.g. operating alternately or simultaneously of the compression type system
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
- F25B39/00—Evaporators; Condensers
- F25B39/04—Condensers
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
- F25B41/00—Fluid-circulation arrangements
- F25B41/20—Disposition of valves, e.g. of on-off valves or flow control valves
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
- F24D—DOMESTIC- OR SPACE-HEATING SYSTEMS, e.g. CENTRAL HEATING SYSTEMS; DOMESTIC HOT-WATER SUPPLY SYSTEMS; ELEMENTS OR COMPONENTS THEREFOR
- F24D3/00—Hot-water central heating systems
- F24D3/08—Hot-water central heating systems in combination with systems for domestic hot-water supply
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
- F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
- F24F5/00—Air-conditioning systems or apparatus not covered by F24F1/00 or F24F3/00, e.g. using solar heat or combined with household units such as an oven or water heater
- F24F5/0007—Air-conditioning systems or apparatus not covered by F24F1/00 or F24F3/00, e.g. using solar heat or combined with household units such as an oven or water heater cooling apparatus specially adapted for use in air-conditioning
- F24F5/0017—Air-conditioning systems or apparatus not covered by F24F1/00 or F24F3/00, e.g. using solar heat or combined with household units such as an oven or water heater cooling apparatus specially adapted for use in air-conditioning using cold storage bodies, e.g. ice
- F24F2005/0025—Air-conditioning systems or apparatus not covered by F24F1/00 or F24F3/00, e.g. using solar heat or combined with household units such as an oven or water heater cooling apparatus specially adapted for use in air-conditioning using cold storage bodies, e.g. ice using heat exchange fluid storage tanks
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
- F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
- F24F2221/00—Details or features not otherwise provided for
- F24F2221/54—Heating and cooling, simultaneously or alternatively
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
- F25B2313/00—Compression machines, plants or systems with reversible cycle not otherwise provided for
- F25B2313/003—Indoor unit with water as a heat sink or heat source
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
- F25B2313/00—Compression machines, plants or systems with reversible cycle not otherwise provided for
- F25B2313/025—Compression machines, plants or systems with reversible cycle not otherwise provided for using multiple outdoor units
- F25B2313/0252—Compression machines, plants or systems with reversible cycle not otherwise provided for using multiple outdoor units with bypasses
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
- F25B2313/00—Compression machines, plants or systems with reversible cycle not otherwise provided for
- F25B2313/027—Compression machines, plants or systems with reversible cycle not otherwise provided for characterised by the reversing means
- F25B2313/02742—Compression machines, plants or systems with reversible cycle not otherwise provided for characterised by the reversing means using two four-way valves
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
- F25B2400/00—General features or devices for refrigeration machines, plants or systems, combined heating and refrigeration systems or heat-pump systems, i.e. not limited to a particular subgroup of F25B
- F25B2400/04—Refrigeration circuit bypassing means
- F25B2400/0411—Refrigeration circuit bypassing means for the expansion valve or capillary tube
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Thermal Sciences (AREA)
- Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Sustainable Development (AREA)
- Signal Processing (AREA)
- Fuzzy Systems (AREA)
- Mathematical Physics (AREA)
- Air Conditioning Control Device (AREA)
- Other Air-Conditioning Systems (AREA)
- Heat-Exchange Devices With Radiators And Conduit Assemblies (AREA)
Abstract
A dual function water heater and air conditioning unit includes an air conditioner subassembly and a water heater subassembly. In the illustrated operating cycle, the unit 10 heats the water in the water heater 20 and operates the air conditioner 14.1 in a cooling mode. The water heater heat exchanger 22 acts as a condenser in which the refrigerant transitions from a vapor phase to a liquid phase. The liquid refrigerant is delivered to an internal unit expansion valve 42 where it is flashed and delivered to the internal unit heat exchanger 16 operating as an evaporator where adiabatic cooling of the refrigerant causes heat extraction from the air flowing through the internal unit heat exchanger tubes. The extracted heat is conducted to the refrigerant, causing the liquid refrigerant to evaporate into a gaseous refrigerant that is directed from the internal unit heat exchanger 16 to the compressor 30 for repeated cycles.
Description
Technical Field
The present invention relates to a dual function water heater and air conditioning unit.
Background
The dual function unit of the present invention is essentially a "heat collection" system that "collects" heat from one or both of the ambient environment, the warm air output of the air conditioner, and the water heater (typically a domestic water heater for heating bath, shower or dishwashing water, commonly referred to as a "water heater (geyser)") in south africa.
Disclosure of Invention
According to the present invention, a dual function water heater and air conditioning unit includes an air conditioner sub-assembly and a water heater sub-assembly interconnected for circulating a refrigerant within a fluid circuit configured as a vapor compression refrigeration circuit:
the air conditioner sub-assembly includes an interior air conditioning unit configured to be installed within a building and an exterior air conditioning unit configured to be installed outside the building;
the internal air conditioning unit includes a first heat exchanger interconnected within the circuit in a refrigeration circuit;
The external air conditioning unit includes a second heat exchanger interconnected within the circuit in the refrigeration circuit;
the water heater subassembly includes a water tank and a third heat exchanger interconnected within the circuit in the refrigeration circuit and configured to be located within the water tank;
The first and second heat exchangers each include an outflow tube and first and second inflow tubes within the circuit in the refrigeration circuit;
the third heat exchanger comprises an inflow pipe and an outflow pipe in the cooling circuit in the circuit;
the first refrigerant inflow tube of each of the first and second heat exchangers has an expansion valve installed upstream of the heat exchanger in the refrigeration circuit;
The second refrigerant inflow tube of each heat exchanger has no expansion valve;
The refrigeration circuit includes a plurality of control valves that may be configured to direct refrigerant within the refrigeration circuit;
the control valve may be set such that:
At least one of the first or second heat exchangers may be configured to operate as an evaporator, in which setting of the control valve refrigerant is introduced into the heat exchanger through an expansion valve installed in a first inflow pipe of the heat exchanger;
At least one of the first or second heat exchangers may be configured to operate as a condenser, in which setting of the control valve refrigerant is introduced into the heat exchanger through the second inflow tube of the heat exchanger; and
The third heat exchanger may be configured to operate as a water heater within the water tank, in this setting of the control valve, the third heat exchanger is configured to operate as a condenser.
The control valve may preferably be configured such that the dual function water heater and air conditioning unit is configured to operate in one of a plurality of modes of operation selected from:
a first mode of operation-water heating only;
A second mode of operation-water heating and air conditioner cooling;
A third mode of operation-air conditioning cooling only; and
Fourth mode of operation—air conditioning heating only.
In this form of the invention, in a first mode of operation, water heating only, the control valve is set such that:
the first heat exchanger is switched out of the refrigeration circuit and no refrigerant is supplied to the first heat exchanger;
the third heat exchanger is configured to operate as a condenser, in which setting of the control valve refrigerant is introduced from the compressor into the third heat exchanger via the third heat exchanger inflow tube; and
The second heat exchanger is configured to operate as an evaporator, and in this setting of the control valve, refrigerant is supplied to the second heat exchanger from the third heat exchanger outflow pipe through the first inflow pipe of the second heat exchanger via the expansion valve of the second heat exchanger.
In this form of the invention, in the second mode of operation, water heating and air conditioner cooling, the control valve is set such that:
The second heat exchanger is switched out of the refrigeration circuit and no refrigerant is supplied to the second heat exchanger;
the third heat exchanger is configured to operate as a condenser, in which setting of the control valve refrigerant is introduced from the compressor into the third heat exchanger via the third heat exchanger inflow tube; and
The first heat exchanger is configured to operate as an evaporator, and in this setting of the control valve, refrigerant is supplied to the first heat exchanger from the third heat exchanger outflow pipe via the first inflow pipe of the first heat exchanger via the expansion valve of the first heat exchanger.
In this form of the invention, in the third mode of operation, air conditioning cooling only, the control valve is set such that:
the third heat exchanger is switched out of the refrigeration circuit and no refrigerant is supplied to the third heat exchanger;
The second heat exchanger is configured to operate as a condenser, in which setting of the control valve refrigerant is introduced from the compressor into the second heat exchanger via a second inflow tube of the second heat exchanger; and
The first heat exchanger is configured to operate as an evaporator, and in this setting of the control valve, refrigerant is supplied to the first heat exchanger from the second heat exchanger outflow pipe via the first inflow pipe of the first heat exchanger via the expansion valve of the first heat exchanger.
In this form of the invention, in the fourth mode of operation, air conditioning heating only, the control valve is set such that:
the third heat exchanger is switched out of the refrigeration circuit and no refrigerant is supplied to the third heat exchanger;
The first heat exchanger is configured to operate as a condenser, in which setting of the control valve refrigerant is introduced into the first heat exchanger from the compressor via the second inflow tube of the first heat exchanger; and
The second heat exchanger is configured to operate as an evaporator, and in this setting of the control valve, refrigerant is supplied to the second heat exchanger from the second heat exchanger outflow pipe through the first inflow pipe of the second heat exchanger via the expansion valve of the second heat exchanger.
The tank heater may conveniently be a water heater or a tank of a water heater, which may be a horizontal or vertical water heater.
In this embodiment of the invention, further, the third heat exchanger (water heater heat exchanger) may be configured as a direct heating submerged heating element comprising a finned tube heat exchanger which may be mounted within the interior of the water heater to effect direct heat transfer from the heat exchanger to the water within the water heater.
Further, in this embodiment of the invention, the third heat exchanger (water heater heat exchanger) may be configured to conform to the current standardized electrical water heater elements in shape, size, general shape and size, and physical connection equipment, such that the water heater heat exchanger may be retrofitted into a conventional electrical water heater to replace conventional electrical elements.
Drawings
The invention will be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
fig. 1 to 4 are simplified circuit diagrams (in block diagram form) of the components of the dual-function unit of the invention, illustrating the unit switching in each case to one of four operating modes, each diagram illustrating only the refrigeration circuit associated with that operating mode;
fig. 1 illustrates a unit switching to a first mode or cycle of operation: cycle 1-heating only water;
fig. 2 illustrates the unit switching to a second mode or cycle of operation: circulation 2-water heating and air conditioner cooling;
Fig. 3 illustrates the unit switching to a third mode or cycle of operation: circulation 3—air-conditioning cooling only; and
Fig. 4 illustrates the unit switching to a fourth mode or cycle of operation: circulation 4—only air conditioning heating; and
FIG. 5 is a schematic view of a conventional horizontal domestic water heater or boiler illustrating the assembly of the water heating heat exchanger of the present invention to such a conventional horizontal water heater;
FIG. 6 is a schematic view of a conventional vertical domestic water heater or boiler illustrating the assembly of a pair of water heating heat exchangers to such a conventional vertical water heater in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 7 is a schematic isometric view of one embodiment of a finned tube water heating heat exchanger in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 8 is a schematic side view of the finned tube water heating heat exchanger of FIG. 7;
FIG. 9 is a schematic side view of yet another embodiment of a finned tube water heating heat exchanger in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 10 is a schematic end view of a water heater mounting plate of the heat exchanger of FIG. 9;
FIG. 11 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line 11-11 in FIG. 9;
FIG. 12 is a schematic side view of a stamped fin for use in the heat exchanger of FIGS. 7 and 9; and
Fig. 13 is a schematic partial cross-sectional side view of a heat exchanger tube arrangement (fig. 7 and 9), illustrating the arrangement of heat exchanger tubes and stamped fins.
Detailed Description
Vapor compression refrigeration, in which a refrigerant is circulated through a refrigeration circuit, is widely used in air conditioning and refrigeration, and heat pumps. The refrigerant used depends on the application scenario, but in each case is a working fluid that undergoes a continuous first-order phase change during the refrigeration cycle. The first-order phase change is essentially a constant temperature process in which a large amount of energy is absorbed or released as latent heat, while the temperature remains essentially constant. These systems use the evaporation enthalpy to add heat to the medium to be conditioned (e.g., air in an air conditioning system or water in a water heater heat pump) and in turn use the condensation enthalpy to extract heat from the medium.
It is understood that heat conduction is an additive process-heat is always additively conducted from the hotter medium to the colder medium even during the cooling process. Nonetheless, terms such as heat "extraction" or "absorption" are sometimes used in this specification to refer to the cooling process. This is done for ease of reference.
Vapor compression refrigeration requires four basic components: a compressor, a condenser, a thermal expansion valve, and an evaporator.
The circulating refrigerant leaving the evaporator enters the compressor in a gaseous state, where it is compressed and at the same time adiabatically heated by compression.
The superheated gas then passes through a condenser where the gaseous refrigerant changes from a gaseous state to a liquid phase through the vapor. The condensation process accelerates the release of a large amount of latent heat, which is conducted to the external heat extraction medium. In some systems (e.g., water heater heat pumps), the heat extraction medium is water to be heated, and latent heat is conducted through a heat exchanger to heat the water in the water heater. However, in some systems, such as in most air conditioning systems, the heat extraction medium is simply a ventilation air stream that is vented to the atmosphere. It will be appreciated that this constitutes a serious waste of energy.
The condensed liquid refrigerant then passes through an expansion valve where the liquid undergoes a sudden pressure drop, resulting in adiabatic flashing and adiabatic cooling of the refrigerant, which produces an auto-refrigeration effect.
The cold (refrigerated) refrigerant liquid and vapor mixture then passes through an evaporator where heat must be extracted from (or contributed to by) the surrounding medium to replace the latent heat of condensation lost during evaporation. Heat is transferred to the refrigerant, which causes a continuous evaporation of the liquid refrigerant, returning it to the gaseous state. In an air conditioning system, the surrounding medium is air to be cooled, after which the cooled air is ventilated into the space or room to be cooled. However, in some systems (such as water heater heat pumps), the surrounding medium contributing heat is a ventilation air flow that is simply vented to the exhaust (typically to the atmosphere) as spent cooled air, again constituting a waste of energy.
To complete the refrigeration cycle, the refrigerant gas from the evaporator is returned to the compressor to repeat the cycle.
The drawings illustrate a dual function water heater and air conditioning unit 10 of the present invention. Unit 10 includes a water heater subassembly 12 interconnected with an air conditioner subassembly 14.
The air conditioner sub-assembly 14 is similar in many respects to a split air conditioner system in that it includes an inner air conditioner unit 14.1 configured to be installed within a building (not shown) and an outer air conditioner unit 14.2 configured to be installed outside the building.
The first and second interconnected finned coil heat exchangers 16, 18 are mounted within an internal air conditioning unit (14.1) and an external air conditioning unit (14.2), respectively. The first heat exchanger 16, which is the first heat exchanger mentioned in the claims and the summary, is located in the inner air conditioner unit 14.1 and the second heat exchanger 18, which is the second heat exchanger mentioned in the claims and the summary, is located in the outer air conditioner unit 14.2.
The water heater subassembly 12 includes a conventional horizontal tank water heater or water heater 20.
Fig. 1-4 (schematically) illustrate a water heater subassembly 12 incorporating a horizontal water heater 20.
The dual function water heater and air conditioning unit 10 may be used with a vertical water heater. Fig. 6 illustrates and describes a vertical water heater 120 configured to be integrated with the dual function unit 10.
In both cases, the water heater subassembly 12 utilizes a water heater heat exchanger 22 (which is the third heat exchanger referred to in the claims and summary of the invention), which in a preferred form of the invention is a finned tube heat exchanger.
The finned tube heat exchanger 22 is a direct heating submerged heater mounted within the interior of the water heater 20 for submersion within the water in the water heater 20 and for effecting direct heat transfer from the heat exchanger 22 to the water in the water heater 20.
The water heater heat exchanger 22 is preferably standardized to conform to the current standardized electric water heater elements in shape, size, common shape and size, and physical connection equipment. In this respect, the replaceable components of existing electric water heaters, in particular electric water heater elements, have been standardized to a great extent. In the case of electric heater elements, these elements have been standardized to meet a small range of standard sizes, shape dimensions, and physical and electrical connections. This is to facilitate easy replacement of the element as a replaceable component. The standardization of the water heater heat exchanger 22 to conform to the shape, size and general shape dimensions of the electrical water heater elements enables the water heater heat exchanger 22 to be retrofitted into a conventional electric water heater to replace the electrical elements of such a conventional electric water heater.
The internal air conditioner unit 14.1 may be similarly configured to the shape and configuration of the internal units of currently available split type air conditioners. The user of the internal air conditioner unit 14.1 should immediately be familiar with the operation of the unit 14.1, which includes an external housing, a manually variable speed fan (not shown) located within the air conditioner duct within the housing. The fan is configured to direct ambient air (typically from a source other than the building space served by the interior air conditioner unit 14.1) through the finned tube heat exchanger coils of the interior unit heat exchanger 16 and through the variable guide grille into the building space served by the interior air conditioner unit 14.1. The operating controls of the internal unit 14.1 are relatively conventional and similar to existing split air conditioner internal units and, as described below, the internal unit 14.1 can operate as an air conditioner in either a heating or cooling mode.
The external air conditioner unit 14.2 is configured to be installed outside of a building served by the internal air conditioner unit 14.1 like a conventional split air conditioner, and may be similarly configured as to the shape and configuration of the external units of the split air conditioners currently available like the internal air conditioner unit 14.1. The external air conditioner unit 14.2 comprises an external housing and an automatic step-variable speed fan (not shown) located within the air conditioner duct within the housing. The fan draws ambient air from outside the building through the finned tube heat exchanger coils of the outside unit heat exchanger 18, from where the air is simply vented to the atmosphere.
The dual function water heater and air conditioning unit 10 includes an integrated refrigerant fluid flow circuit within which at least the 4 variations of the refrigeration cycle described below may operate. The various components of the refrigeration circuit will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
As described above, fig. 1 to 4 are simplified circuit diagrams (in block form) of components of a dual-function water heater and air conditioner unit 10.
Fig. 1-4 are simplified circuit diagrams and block diagrams illustrating components and operation of a dual function unit 10. Each of fig. 1-4 illustrates one of four modes of operation, and in each case each figure illustrates only the refrigeration circuit associated with that mode of operation. Referring to fig. 1 to 4, the refrigeration circuit includes, in addition to the components already described:
housed within the external air conditioner unit 14.2 housing:
A compressor 30;
control valves, which may be configured to direct refrigerant within the refrigeration circuit, including a plurality of check valves 32, a first turn manifold 34, and a second turn manifold 36;
An external unit expansion valve 38; and
A suction steering manifold 40;
housed within the internal air conditioner unit 14.1 housing:
An internal unit expansion valve 42; and
Interconnecting fluid lines extending between the various components described above, which interconnect the components described above hydraulically/pneumatically to complete a refrigeration circuit-the various fluid lines will be described in more detail with reference to each mode of operation of the dual function water heater and air conditioner unit 10.
The dual function water heater and air conditioning unit 10 further includes a reservoir 24 and a viewing window 26, the reservoir being mounted to receive a liquid feed from any of the three heat exchangers 16, 18, 22 to ensure that sufficient liquid is stored to feed the expansion valves 38, 42 in the external air conditioning unit 14.2 and the internal air conditioning unit 14.1.
Cycle 1-Water heating only
In fig. 1, the dual function water heater and air conditioning unit 10 is switched to a first mode or cycle: cycle 1-heating of water only.
As illustrated in fig. 1, the refrigeration circuit required for "cycle 1-water only heating" operation includes many of the components already described, including the water heater subassembly 12 and its components, and the external air conditioner unit 14.2 and its components.
In the cycle 1 mode, circulating refrigerant enters the compressor 30 through a suction line 44 and exits the compressor 30 through a hot gas line 46 which directs refrigerant to the first and second turn manifolds 34, 36 which switch fluid flow to a hot gas line 48 which directs superheated refrigerant gas to an inlet 50 of the water heater heat exchanger 22.
After switching to this configuration, the water heater heat exchanger 22 acts as a condenser in which the gaseous refrigerant changes phase from a gas phase to a liquid phase. In addition to overheating through compression, the condensation process accelerates the release of a large amount of latent heat, which is conducted directly to the water in the water heater 20 by the finned tube water heater heat exchanger 22.
Refrigerant, now condensed into the liquid phase, exits the heat exchanger 22 through the heat exchanger outlet 52. The fluid line 54 delivers refrigerant to the check valve 32.1 which directs the refrigerant to the reservoir 24 and the viewing window 26. The liquid refrigerant is delivered by liquid line 56 to the external unit expansion valve 38 where it is flashed and delivered to the external unit heat exchanger 18.
Upon switching to this configuration, the external unit heat exchanger 18 functions as an evaporator in which adiabatic cooling is used to efficiently absorb heat from the external atmosphere.
After passing through the evaporator constituted by the external unit heat exchanger 18, the refrigerant leaves the external unit heat exchanger 18 as cold gaseous refrigerant via a suction line 58, the suction line 58 being led by the second turn manifold 36 and the check valve 32.2 to the suction turn manifold 40, from where the refrigerant is recirculated to the compressor 30 for repeated refrigerant cycles.
Circulation 2-Water heating and air conditioner Cooling
As illustrated in fig. 2, in the cycle 2 mode the dual function water heater and air conditioner unit 10 is switched to a second mode or cycle, wherein the unit 10 is used to heat the water in the water heater 20 and the internal air conditioner unit 14.1 is operated as an air conditioner unit in the cooling mode.
In cycle 2 mode, refrigerant enters the compressor 30 through a suction line 44 and exits the compressor through a hot gas line 46 which directs superheated refrigerant gas to the first and second turn manifolds 34, 36.
Similar to cycle 1, the water heater heat exchanger 22 acts as a condenser in which the gaseous refrigerant changes phase from the vapor phase to the liquid phase. During the transition, the latent heat of condensation is conducted directly to the water in the water heater 20 through the finned tube water heater heat exchanger 22.
The condensed liquid refrigerant leaves the heat exchanger 22 through the heat exchanger outlet 52, from which the liquid line 54 carries the liquid refrigerant to the check valve 32.1 which directs the refrigerant to the receiver 24 and the viewing window 26. Liquid refrigerant is delivered by liquid line 60 to the internal unit expansion valve 42 where it is flashed and delivered to the internal unit heat exchanger 16 via line 62.
The internal unit heat exchanger 16 operates as an evaporator in which adiabatic flashing of the refrigerant and adiabatic cooling of the vaporized refrigerant produce an autorefrigeration effect.
In the evaporator formed by the internal unit heat exchanger 16, a cold (chilled) refrigerant liquid and vapor mixture passes through the evaporator, where heat is extracted from (or contributed to by) the surrounding medium (ambient air flowing through the heat exchanger tubes) to replace the latent heat of condensation lost during evaporation. Heat is transferred to the refrigerant, which causes the liquid refrigerant to continue to evaporate, returning it to the gaseous state.
After passing through the evaporator constituted by the inner and outer unit heat exchanger 16, the refrigerant leaves the inner unit heat exchanger 16 as cold gaseous refrigerant via a suction line 64, the suction line 64 being led by the first turn manifold 34 and the check valve 32.3 to the suction turn manifold 40, from where the refrigerant is recirculated to the compressor 30 via the suction line 44 to repeat the refrigerant cycle.
Circulation 3-air Conditioning Cooling only
As illustrated in fig. 3, in the cycle 3 mode the dual function water heater is simply switched with the air conditioner unit 10 to operate the internal air conditioner unit 14.1 as an air conditioner unit in the cooling mode.
In this mode, circulating refrigerant enters the compressor 30 through a suction line 44 and exits the compressor as superheated refrigerant gas through a hot gas line 46 which directs the superheated refrigerant gas to the first and second turn manifolds 34, 36.
The turn manifolds 34, 36 switch the fluid flow to a hot gas line 66 that directs superheated refrigerant gas to a secondary inlet 68 of the external unit heat exchanger 18, bypassing the external unit expansion valve 38. The external unit heat exchanger 18 acts as a condenser in which the hot gaseous refrigerant changes phase from the vapor phase to the hot liquid phase. During the conversion process, the latent heat of condensation is discharged to the outside atmosphere as excess heat.
The hot liquid phase refrigerant is delivered from the external unit heat exchanger 18 to a check valve 32.4 which directs the refrigerant to the receiver 24 and the viewing window 26 via a liquid line 70. The liquid refrigerant is delivered by fluid line 60 to the internal unit expansion valve 42 where it is flashed and delivered to the internal unit heat exchanger 16 via fluid line 62.
As in cycle 2, the internal unit heat exchanger 16 and the internal unit 14.1 operate as an air conditioner in a cooling mode.
From the internal unit heat exchanger 16, the refrigerant is directed to the suction turn manifold 40 via a suction line 64 directed by the first turn manifold 34 and check valve 32.3, from where it is recirculated to the compressor 30 via the suction line 44 to repeat the refrigerant cycle.
Circulation 4-air Conditioning heating only
In this mode of operation, circulating refrigerant enters the compressor 30 through a suction line 44 and exits the compressor 30 as superheated refrigerant gas through a hot gas line 46 that directs the refrigerant gas to the turn manifold 34.
The turn manifold 34 switches the fluid flow to a hot gas line 72 that directs superheated refrigerant gas to an inlet 76 of the inner unit heat exchanger 16, bypassing the inner unit expansion valve 42.
In this mode, the internal unit heat exchanger 16 acts as a condenser in which the hot gaseous refrigerant changes phase from the vapor phase to the hot liquid phase in which the latent heat of condensation must be conducted to an external medium provided by the incoming cold air.
In the interior unit 14.1, a manually variable speed fan is operated to direct cool air from the building space served by the interior air conditioner unit 14.1 through the finned tube heat exchanger coils of the interior unit heat exchanger 16 and into the building space served by the interior air conditioner unit 14.1. Heat exchanger tubes heated by the latent heat of condensation of the refrigerant converted from gas to liquid conduct refrigerant heat to the incoming air to heat the building space served by the unit 14.1. Thus, in this mode (cycle 4), the internal unit 14.1 operates as an air conditioner in the heating mode.
Liquid phase refrigerant is delivered from the inner unit heat exchanger 16 to a check valve 32.5 which directs the refrigerant to the receiver 24 and the viewing window 26 via a liquid line 74. The refrigerant is delivered by liquid line 56 to the external unit expansion valve 38 where the liquid refrigerant is flashed and delivered to the external unit heat exchanger 18.
The external unit heat exchanger 18 functions as an evaporator in which heat is efficiently absorbed from the external atmosphere using adiabatic cooling. The refrigerant leaves the external unit heat exchanger 18 as cold vapor phase refrigerant via a suction line 58, which suction line 58 is directed by the second turn manifold 36 and check valve 32.2 to the suction turn manifold 40 from where it is recirculated to the compressor 30 to repeat the refrigerant cycle.
Water heater heat exchanger
The present invention includes a finned tube heat exchanger 22 which can be installed within the water heater tank 20.1 in place of the electrical water heater elements conventionally used in such water heaters. The heat exchanger 22 is standardized to conform to the current standardized electric water heater elements in shape, size, common shape and size, and physical connection equipment. This allows replacement of conventional electrical components with the heat exchanger 22 of the present invention by simple retrofitting. The electrical components are removed and the heat exchanger 22 is simply attached in place.
By hydraulically/pneumatically connecting the heat exchanger 22 into the refrigeration circuit described above with reference to fig. 1 to 4, instead of connecting the water heater 20 into the power supply system, a conventional water heater 20 in which the heat exchanger 22 is installed can now be integrated with the dual function unit 10 described with reference to fig. 1 to 4.
In the water heating mode (cycles 1 and 2), superheated refrigerant gas is supplied to the inlet 50 of the water heater heat exchanger 22. The water heater heat exchanger 22 acts as a condenser in which the gaseous refrigerant changes phase from the vapor phase to the liquid phase, releasing a large amount of latent heat in the process, which the fin tube water heater heat exchanger 22 conducts directly to the water in the water heater 20. Refrigerant condensed into the liquid phase exits the heat exchanger 22 through the heat exchanger outlet 52 and is recycled to the refrigeration circuit.
The heat exchanger 22 is located in substantially the same location as the electrical components being replaced and is mounted to the water heater 20 using connectors (other than electrical connectors) and fasteners typically used to mount the electrical water heater components being replaced.
The finned tube section 22.1 of the heat exchanger 22 is a direct heating submerged heater similar in size and shape to the electrical components replaced by the heat exchanger 22. The finned tube sections 22.1 of the heat exchanger 22 are mounted within the interior of the water heater tank 20.1 for submersion in the water in the tank 20.1 and for effecting the above-described direct heat transfer from the heat exchanger 22 to the water in the tank 20.1 during the water heating cycle (cycles 1 and 2).
To mount the heat exchanger 22 to the water heater 20, the heat exchanger 22 is provided with a mounting plate 22.2 which is standardized to conform to the shape, size and general shape dimensions of the mounting plate of the electrical components replaced by the heat exchanger 22.
As can be seen from fig. 7 and 8, the heat exchanger 22 is a finned tube heat exchanger wherein the fins are made up of a stack of evenly spaced metal fin plates 22.9 secured to the metal refrigerant tubes 22.6. The tubes 22.6 are interconnected in a serpentine path coil arrangement secured within headers 22.7, 22.8 which serve to hydraulically/pneumatically interconnect the tubes 22.6 to allow refrigerant to flow from the heat exchanger inflow tubes 50 through the tubes 22.6 to the heat exchanger outflow tubes 52.
Fig. 9 to 13 illustrate a second embodiment of the heat exchanger 22. In these figures, like items are numbered with an increase of 100 corresponding to the numbers used in fig. 7 and 8.
The embodiment of the heat exchanger 122 illustrated in fig. 9-11 is also a finned tube heat exchanger in which the fins are made up of a stack of evenly spaced metal fin plates 122.9 secured to metal refrigerant tubes 122.6. The tubes 122.6 are interconnected in a serpentine path coil arrangement, with the tubes 122.6 being bent into a U-shape at one end (upper end in fig. 9). At their other ends, the hairpin tubes 122.6 are interconnected by a short hairpin tube 122.10 welded to the open end of the hairpin tube 122.6. This serves to hydraulically/pneumatically interconnect the tubes 122.6 to allow refrigerant to flow from the heat exchanger inflow tube 150 through the tubes 122.6 to the heat exchanger outflow tube 152.
To mount the heat exchanger 122 to the water heater 20, the heat exchanger 122 is provided with a mounting plate 122.2 which is standardized to conform to the shape, size and general shape dimensions of the mounting plate of the electrical component replaced by the heat exchanger 122. This figure illustrates mounting holes 122.13 through which the mounting plate 122.2 is mounted to the water heater 120.
In this embodiment, the heat exchanger 122 comprises, in addition to the heat exchanger tube 122.6, an electric heater element 22.11. In cold climates, the outside ambient air temperature may become too cold for the unit 10 to be able to adequately heat the water in the water heater 20. In these circumstances, the electric heater element 22.11 may be switched into the circuit to assist in heating the water in the water heater 20 to a desired pressure under the control of the water heater thermostat. In the most basic implementation of this embodiment of the invention, the electric heater element 22.11 may simply be wired to the house main switchboard, where a circuit breaker or switch may be used to manually switch the electric heater element into or out of the circuit. Alternatively, the unit 10 may be provided with an ambient air temperature sensor and the unit programmable logic may be programmed to switch the electric heater element 22.11 into the circuit to assist in water heating when the ambient air temperature sensor registers that the ambient air temperature is below a predetermined temperature, which may be any temperature between-15 ℃ and-5 ℃, preferably-10 ℃.
The heat exchanger 122 further comprises a protective tube 122.12 which is fixed to the heat exchanger mounting plate 122.2 by welding or the like. The protective tube extends around the outside of the tube and fin array of the heat exchanger 122 and serves to protect the tubes 122.6 and fins 122.9 from damage during transport, handling and installation.
In both embodiments of the heat exchanger 22 (fig. 7 and 8; fig. 9 to 11), the tubes 22.6, 122.6 and the fin plates 22.9, 122.9 are preferably made of copper, the thermal conductivity of which matches well with the working fluid used in the refrigeration circuit and with the water in the water heater 20, 120.
As can be seen from fig. 12 and 13, the fin plate (for ease of reference, number 22.9) is made of a thin copper plate 22.9.1. Tube mounting holes 22.9.2 are formed in the plate 22.9.1 to accommodate the refrigerant tubes 22.6, 122.6. Tube mounting hole 22.9.2 is formed by press forming, cutting, and flaring to create a flared collar extending from the surface of plate 22.9.1 that includes sleeve portion 22.9.3 and flared abutment portion 22.9.4. The sleeve 22.9.3 serves as a spacer between adjacent fin plates 22.9 and tube mounting holes 22.9.2, and the sleeve 22.9.3 is sized to closely fit around the outer surface of the refrigerant tubes 22.6, 122.6 to facilitate conductive heat transfer between the tubes and fin plates. The flared collar abutment portions 22.9.4 act as stops between adjacent fin plates 22.9.
Horizontal water heater (in south Africa type)
The water heater 20 illustrated in fig. 1-4 is a conventional horizontal water heater or water heater in nature and will be illustrated in more detail in fig. 5 (but is still schematic). The water heater 20 comprises an insulated water tank 20.1 having a cold water inflow pipe 20.2 and a hot water outflow pipe 20.3, suitably configured to connect the water heater 20 into a domestic or other conduit.
The finned tube heat exchanger 22 according to the present invention is mounted within the water heater tank 20.1 in place of the electric water heater elements conventionally used in such water heaters, for example conventional horizontal water heaters. The heat exchanger 22 is standardized to conform to the current standardized electric water heater elements in shape, size, common shape and size, and physical connection equipment. This allows replacement of conventional electrical components with the heat exchanger 22 of the present invention by simple retrofitting. The electrical components are removed and the heat exchanger 22 is simply attached in place. The heat exchanger 22 is arranged horizontally in the water heater tank 20.1, as is the electrical element to be replaced.
By hydraulically/pneumatically connecting the heat exchanger 22 into the refrigeration circuit described above with reference to fig. 1 to 4, instead of connecting the water heater 20 into the power supply system, a conventional water heater 20 in which the heat exchanger 22 is installed can now be integrated with the dual function unit 10 described with reference to fig. 1 to 4.
In the water heating mode (cycles 1 and 2), superheated refrigerant gas is supplied to the inlet 50 of the water heater heat exchanger 22. The water heater heat exchanger 22 acts as a condenser in which the gaseous refrigerant changes phase from the vapor phase to the liquid phase, releasing a large amount of latent heat in the process, which the fin tube water heater heat exchanger 22 conducts directly to the water in the water heater 20. Refrigerant condensed into the liquid phase exits the heat exchanger 22 through the heat exchanger outlet 52 and is recycled to the refrigeration circuit.
The heat exchanger 22 is located in substantially the same location as the electrical components being replaced and the heat exchanger 22 is mounted to the water heater 20 using connectors (other than electrical connectors) and fasteners typically used to mount the electrical water heater components being replaced.
The finned tube section 22.1 of the heat exchanger 22 is a direct heating submerged heater similar to the electrical components replaced by the heat exchanger 22. The finned tube sections 22.1 of the heat exchanger 22 are mounted within the interior of the water heater tank 20.1 for submersion in the water in the tank 20.1 and for direct heat transfer from the heat exchanger 22 to the water in the tank 20.1 during the water heating cycles described above (cycles 1 and 2).
Vertical water heater (typical in USA, europe, australia)
Vertical electric water heaters typically use two electric heater elements located within a water heater tank, including: a base element adjacent to the base of the water heater, where the cold water inlet is also located; and a demand element located at a relatively high position within the water heater tank, where the hot water outlet is also located. The heater element control circuit switches between the base element and the demand element, with the demand element prioritizing. The base element typically carries the main heating load and the demand element simply switches on when the water temperature around the demand element falls below a predetermined temperature. The water heater is typically provided with a thermostat and a thermostat-driven switch to monitor and control the switching on and off of the heating element.
When the temperature of the water surrounding the demand element drops below a predetermined temperature, the demand element provides auxiliary heating to address the instantaneous hot water demand of the water heater. In USA, europe and australia, a typical 200L vertical water heater will generate a 4.6kW electrical load demand switching between the demand element and the base element during heating of only the base element.
Fig. 6 illustrates a conventional vertical water heater 120 in which the electrical heating element has been replaced by a heat exchanger 22 according to the present invention. The water heater 120 includes an insulated water tank 120.1 having a cold water inflow tube 120.2 located near the base of the water heater 120 and a hot water outflow tube 120.3 located relatively high within the water heater tank 120.1, both inlets being suitably configured for connection of the water heater 120 into a household or other conduit.
The heat exchanger 22 replacing the electric element is located in the same position as the electric element to constitute the base element (lower heat exchanger 22.3) and the demand element (upper heat exchanger 22.4).
By connecting the heat exchanger 22 in a circuit to the refrigeration circuit described above with reference to fig. 1 to 4, instead of connecting the water heater 20 to the power supply system, such a vertical water heater 120 with the heat exchanger 22 installed therein is integrated with the dual function unit 10 described with reference to fig. 1 to 4.
In the refrigeration circuit, in the water heating mode (cycles 1 and 2), superheated refrigerant gas flows through the heat exchanger 22 as follows:
Superheated refrigerant gas is supplied to the inlet 150.1 of the demand element 22.4;
The refrigerant flows through the demand element 22.4 operating as a condenser;
Refrigerant exits the demand element 22.4 through the demand element outlet 152.1 into the connected hot gas line 150/152;
the hot gas line 150/152 delivers refrigerant from the demand element 22.4 to the base element 22.3;
Refrigerant is supplied to the inlet 152.2 of the base element 22.3;
The refrigerant flows through the base element 22.3 operating as a condenser; and
The refrigerant leaves the base element 22.3 through the base element outlet 150.2 and returns to the refrigeration circuit.
Both heat exchangers 22.3 and 22.4 act as condensers, but the phase change of the refrigerant from the gas phase to the liquid phase will automatically adjust to the temperature of the water in the water heater 120.
State 1 Low demand
In this state:
the temperature of the water in the water heater 120 is relatively stable at or near a preset hot water temperature;
the heat demand of water is relatively low;
as a result, the heat rejection of the refrigerant from the demand element 22.4 is relatively low; and
As a further consequence, the hot gaseous refrigerant passes largely from the demand element 22.4 to the base element 22.3.
Most of the heating in this state is provided by the base element, most of the phase change of the refrigerant from the gas phase to the liquid phase occurs in the base element, and thus the base element generates most of the latent heat of condensation.
Typical heating load distribution:
Base element >60%; the required component is <40%.
State 2 high demand
In case of high hot water demand, hot water flows out of the water heater outlet 120.3 and cold water flows into the water heater inlet 120.2, while the hot water in the tank 120.1 is gradually replaced with progressively rising cold water.
In the case of a high hot water demand, the inflowing cold water causes a gradual decrease in the water temperature around the demand element 22.4.
When this occurs, the phase change of the refrigerant in the demand element 22.4 is gradually and automatically adjusted in response to the changing water temperature. This occurs as the refrigerant gas flows through the heat exchanger 22 in the following manner:
Superheated refrigerant gas is supplied to the inlet 150.1 of the demand element 22.4;
The refrigerant flows through the demand element 22.4 operating as a condenser;
as the temperature of the water around the demand element 22.4 gradually decreases, the heat demand of the water gradually increases;
As a result, the refrigerant heat rejection from the demand element 22.4 increases progressively as the temperature of the water decreases progressively;
this causes the degree of phase change of the refrigerant from the hot gas phase to the liquid phase (within the demand element 22.4) to become progressively greater; and
Further, this results in a gradual decrease of the passage of the hot gaseous refrigerant from the demand element 22.4 to the base element 22.3.
As the water temperature in the water heater 120 gradually decreases, the heating load gradually shifts to the base member in this state. In a steady state where most of the water in the water heater 120 is relatively cold, most of the phase change of the refrigerant from the gas phase to the liquid phase occurs in the base element 22.3. As a result, the base element 22.3 generates a large part of the condensed latent heat.
Typical heating load distribution gradually transitions:
from steady state: base element >60%; demand element <40%;
Through the transition state: a base element >40%; demand element <60%;
to steady state: base element >60%; the required component is <40%.
State 3|transient (non-persistent) demand
In the case of a hot water demand condition, wherein the hot water demand is instantaneous rather than continuous, the amount of cold water typically flowing in is not sufficient to completely change the refrigerant cycle from the reference condition 1 (low demand) to condition 2 (high demand) to be introduced into the water heater tank 120.1.
In this state:
the temperature of the water in the water heater 120 is initially relatively stable at or near a preset hot water temperature;
Due to the non-continuous transient water demand, a non-continuous water temperature difference is created between the water in the vicinity of the demand element 22.4 and the water in the vicinity of the base element 22.3;
The heat demand of the water in the vicinity of the base element 22.3 is relatively low;
the heat demand of the water in the vicinity of the demand element 22.4 is relatively high;
the heat rejection of the refrigerant from the demand element 22.4 is relatively high;
The degree of phase change of the refrigerant from the hot gas phase to the liquid phase (within the demand element 22.4) increases;
most of the heating in this state is provided by the demand element 22.4, in which most of the phase change of the refrigerant from the gas phase to the liquid phase occurs, and thus most of the latent heat of condensation is generated by the demand element; and
When the temperature of the water in the water heater 120 returns to the preset hot water temperature, the water heater and refrigeration circuit revert to state 1 (low demand).
Typical heating load distribution—transient (non-continuous) demand:
a base element >40%; the required element is <60%.
Because the dual function water heater and air conditioner unit 10 relies on a free running electric motor and compressor that places a relatively low load on the compressor motor for heating and cooling, the electrical load placed on the power supply system by the unit 10 is relatively low and has relatively low current consumption. In fact, when the unit 10 is operating in cycle 2 (water heating and air conditioning cooling), water heating is essentially free because the hot gas phase refrigerant leaving the internal unit heat exchanger 16 is directly applied to the water heater heat exchanger 22 where the refrigerant condenses and the latent heat of condensation is conducted directly to the water in the water heater 20 by the finned tube water heater heat exchanger 22.
In most modes of operation and cycles described in this specification, the dual function water heater and air conditioner unit 10 operates with a coefficient of performance (COP) of 3 or better—the COP of a heat pump or air conditioning system is a useful heating or cooling to energy input ratio—cop=q/W, where Q (the amount of heat supplied or removed (heating or cooling)) is compared to W (the work required—the energy input required).
In addition to this power and cost saving benefit, the low power utilization of the dual function unit 10 enables the unit 10 to operate on battery power, which is not possible in currently existing water heaters or water heaters.
To further enhance battery compatibility of the dual function unit 10, the drive electronics of the unit may be configured to include a motor soft starter, which is typically used temporarily with an ac electric motor to reduce the starting torque and current surges of the motor during starting.
Claim (modification according to treaty 19)
1. A dual function water heater and air conditioning unit comprising an air conditioner sub-assembly and a water heater sub-assembly, the air conditioner sub-assembly and the water heater sub-assembly being interconnected for circulating a refrigerant within a fluid circuit configured as a vapor compression refrigeration circuit:
The air conditioner sub-assembly includes an interior air conditioning unit configured to be installed within a building and an exterior air conditioning unit configured to be installed outside the building;
the internal air conditioning unit includes a first heat exchanger interconnected within the refrigeration circuit;
The external air conditioning unit includes a second heat exchanger interconnected within the circuit in the refrigeration circuit;
The water heater subassembly includes a water tank and a third heat exchanger interconnected within the refrigeration circuit and configured to be located within the water tank;
The first and second heat exchangers each comprising an outflow pipe and first and second inflow pipes within the refrigeration circuit;
The third heat exchanger includes an inflow tube and an outflow tube in the refrigeration circuit within the circuit;
A first refrigerant inflow tube of each of the first and second heat exchangers has an expansion valve installed upstream of the heat exchanger in the refrigeration circuit;
The second refrigerant inflow tube of each heat exchanger has no expansion valve;
The refrigeration circuit includes a plurality of control valves that can be set to direct the refrigerant within the refrigeration circuit;
the control valve can be set such that:
At least one of the first heat exchanger or the second heat exchanger is configured to operate as an evaporator, in which refrigerant is introduced into the heat exchanger through an expansion valve installed in a first inflow pipe of this heat exchanger in the setting of the control valve;
at least one of the first heat exchanger or the second heat exchanger can be configured to operate as a condenser, refrigerant being introduced into the heat exchanger through a second inflow tube of this heat exchanger in the setting of the control valve; and
The third heat exchanger can be configured to operate as a water heater within the water tank, the third heat exchanger being configured to operate as a condenser in the setting of the control valve.
2. The dual function water heater and air conditioning unit of claim 1 wherein the control valve is preferably settable such that the unit is configured to operate in one of a plurality of modes of operation selected from the following modes of operation:
a first mode of operation-water heating only;
A second mode of operation-water heating and air conditioner cooling;
A third mode of operation-air conditioning cooling only; and
Fourth mode of operation—air conditioning heating only.
3. The dual function water heater and air conditioning unit of claim 2 wherein in the first mode of operation in which only water is heated, the control valve is set such that:
The first heat exchanger is switched out of the refrigeration circuit and no refrigerant is supplied to the first heat exchanger;
The third heat exchanger is configured to operate as a condenser, refrigerant being introduced into the third heat exchanger from the compressor via the third heat exchanger inflow tube in the setting of the control valve; and
The second heat exchanger is configured to operate as an evaporator, refrigerant being supplied to the second heat exchanger from the third heat exchanger outflow pipe through the first inflow pipe of the second heat exchanger via the expansion valve of the second heat exchanger in the setting of the control valve.
4. The dual function water heater and air conditioning unit of claim 2 wherein in the second mode of operation of water heating and air conditioning cooling, the control valve is set such that:
the second heat exchanger is switched out of the refrigeration circuit and no refrigerant is supplied to the second heat exchanger;
The third heat exchanger is configured to operate as a condenser, refrigerant being introduced into the third heat exchanger from the compressor via the third heat exchanger inflow tube in the setting of the control valve; and
The first heat exchanger is configured to operate as an evaporator, and in the setting of the control valve, refrigerant is supplied to the first heat exchanger from the third heat exchanger outflow pipe through a first inflow pipe of the first heat exchanger via an expansion valve of the first heat exchanger.
5. The dual function water heater and air conditioning unit of claim 2 wherein in the third mode of operation of air conditioning cooling only, the control valve is set such that:
The third heat exchanger is switched out of the refrigeration circuit and no refrigerant is supplied to the third heat exchanger;
The second heat exchanger is configured to operate as a condenser, refrigerant being introduced into the second heat exchanger from the compressor via a second inflow tube of the second heat exchanger in the setting of the control valve; and
The first heat exchanger is configured to operate as an evaporator, and in the setting of the control valve, refrigerant is supplied to the first heat exchanger from the second heat exchanger outflow pipe through a first inflow pipe of the first heat exchanger via an expansion valve of the first heat exchanger.
6. The dual function water heater and air conditioning unit of claim 2 wherein in the fourth mode of operation of air conditioning heating only, the control valve is set such that:
The third heat exchanger is switched out of the refrigeration circuit and no refrigerant is supplied to the third heat exchanger;
the first heat exchanger is configured to operate as a condenser, refrigerant being introduced into the first heat exchanger from the compressor via a second inflow tube of the first heat exchanger in the setting of the control valve; and
The second heat exchanger is configured to operate as an evaporator, refrigerant being supplied to the second heat exchanger from the second heat exchanger outflow pipe through a first inflow pipe of the second heat exchanger via an expansion valve of the second heat exchanger in the setting of the control valve.
7. The dual function water heater and air conditioning unit of claim 2 wherein the water tank is a water tank of a water heater/heater.
8. A dual function water heater and air conditioning unit as claimed in claim 2, including an electric heater element located in the water tank.
9. A dual function water heater and air conditioning unit according to any of the preceding claims wherein the third heat exchanger is configured as a direct heating submerged heating element comprising a finned tube heat exchanger mounted within the interior of the water heater to effect direct heat transfer from the heat exchanger to the water within the water heater.
10. The dual function water heater and air conditioning unit of claim 9, wherein the third heat exchanger includes a protective tube secured to the heat exchanger and configured to extend around an outside of the finned tube of the heat exchanger.
11. The dual function water heater and air conditioning unit of claim 9 wherein the third heat exchanger is configured to conform to currently standardized conventional electric water heater elements in shape, size, universal shape and size, and physical connection equipment such that the water heater heat exchanger can be retrofitted into a conventional electric water heater to replace conventional electrical elements.
12. The dual function water heater and air conditioning unit of claim 11, wherein the third heat exchanger includes a protective tube secured to the heat exchanger to extend around the outside of the finned tube of the heat exchanger.
Claims (11)
1. A dual function water heater and air conditioning unit comprising an air conditioner sub-assembly and a water heater sub-assembly, the air conditioner sub-assembly and the water heater sub-assembly being interconnected for circulating a refrigerant within a fluid circuit configured as a vapor compression refrigeration circuit:
The air conditioner sub-assembly includes an interior air conditioning unit configured to be installed within a building and an exterior air conditioning unit configured to be installed outside the building;
the internal air conditioning unit includes a first heat exchanger interconnected within the refrigeration circuit;
The external air conditioning unit includes a second heat exchanger interconnected within the circuit in the refrigeration circuit;
The water heater subassembly includes a water tank and a third heat exchanger interconnected within the refrigeration circuit and configured to be located within the water tank;
The first and second heat exchangers each comprising an outflow pipe and first and second inflow pipes within the refrigeration circuit;
The third heat exchanger includes an inflow tube and an outflow tube in the refrigeration circuit within the circuit;
A first refrigerant inflow tube of each of the first and second heat exchangers has an expansion valve installed upstream of the heat exchanger in the refrigeration circuit;
The second refrigerant inflow tube of each heat exchanger has no expansion valve;
The refrigeration circuit includes a plurality of control valves that can be set to direct the refrigerant within the refrigeration circuit;
the control valve can be set such that:
At least one of the first heat exchanger or the second heat exchanger is configured to operate as an evaporator, in which refrigerant is introduced into the heat exchanger through an expansion valve installed in a first inflow pipe of this heat exchanger in the setting of the control valve;
at least one of the first heat exchanger or the second heat exchanger can be configured to operate as a condenser, refrigerant being introduced into the heat exchanger through a second inflow tube of this heat exchanger in the setting of the control valve; and
The third heat exchanger can be configured to operate as a water heater within the water tank, the third heat exchanger being configured to operate as a condenser in the setting of the control valve.
2. The dual function water heater and air conditioning unit of claim 1 wherein the control valve is preferably settable such that the unit is configured to operate in one of a plurality of modes of operation selected from the following modes of operation:
a first mode of operation-water heating only;
A second mode of operation-water heating and air conditioner cooling;
A third mode of operation-air conditioning cooling only; and
Fourth mode of operation—air conditioning heating only.
3. The dual function water heater and air conditioning unit of claim 2 wherein in the first mode of operation in which only water is heated, the control valve is set such that:
The first heat exchanger is switched out of the refrigeration circuit and no refrigerant is supplied to the first heat exchanger;
The third heat exchanger is configured to operate as a condenser, refrigerant being introduced into the third heat exchanger from the compressor via the third heat exchanger inflow tube in the setting of the control valve; and
The second heat exchanger is configured to operate as an evaporator, refrigerant being supplied to the second heat exchanger from the third heat exchanger outflow pipe through the first inflow pipe of the second heat exchanger via the expansion valve of the second heat exchanger in the setting of the control valve.
4. The dual function water heater and air conditioning unit of claim 2 wherein in the second mode of operation of water heating and air conditioning cooling, the control valve is set such that:
the second heat exchanger is switched out of the refrigeration circuit and no refrigerant is supplied to the second heat exchanger;
The third heat exchanger is configured to operate as a condenser, refrigerant being introduced into the third heat exchanger from the compressor via the third heat exchanger inflow tube in the setting of the control valve; and
The first heat exchanger is configured to operate as an evaporator, and in the setting of the control valve, refrigerant is supplied to the first heat exchanger from the third heat exchanger outflow pipe through a first inflow pipe of the first heat exchanger via an expansion valve of the first heat exchanger.
5. The dual function water heater and air conditioning unit of claim 2 wherein in the third mode of operation of air conditioning cooling only, the control valve is set such that:
The third heat exchanger is switched out of the refrigeration circuit and no refrigerant is supplied to the third heat exchanger;
The second heat exchanger is configured to operate as a condenser, refrigerant being introduced into the second heat exchanger from the compressor via a second inflow tube of the second heat exchanger in the setting of the control valve; and
The first heat exchanger is configured to operate as an evaporator, and in the setting of the control valve, refrigerant is supplied to the first heat exchanger from the second heat exchanger outflow pipe through a first inflow pipe of the first heat exchanger via an expansion valve of the first heat exchanger.
6. The dual function water heater and air conditioning unit of claim 2 wherein in the fourth mode of operation of air conditioning heating only, the control valve is set such that:
The third heat exchanger is switched out of the refrigeration circuit and no refrigerant is supplied to the third heat exchanger;
the first heat exchanger is configured to operate as a condenser, refrigerant being introduced into the first heat exchanger from the compressor via a second inflow tube of the first heat exchanger in the setting of the control valve; and
The second heat exchanger is configured to operate as an evaporator, refrigerant being supplied to the second heat exchanger from the second heat exchanger outflow pipe through a first inflow pipe of the second heat exchanger via an expansion valve of the second heat exchanger in the setting of the control valve.
7. A dual function water heater and air conditioning unit as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the tank heater is a water tank of a water heater/heater.
8. A dual function water heater and air conditioning unit according to any of the preceding claims wherein the third heat exchanger is configured as a direct heating submerged heating element comprising a finned tube heat exchanger mounted within the interior of the water heater to effect direct heat transfer from the heat exchanger to the water within the water heater.
9. The dual function water heater and air conditioning unit of claim 8 wherein the third heat exchanger is configured to conform to current standardized electrical water heater elements in shape, size, universal shape and size, and physical connection equipment such that the water heater heat exchanger can be retrofitted into a conventional electrical water heater to replace a conventional electrical element.
10. A dual function water heater and air conditioning unit according to any of claims 8 or 9 wherein the third heat exchanger includes a protected tube secured to the heat exchanger and configured to extend around the outside of the finned tube of the heat exchanger.
11. A dual function water heater and air conditioning unit as claimed in any one of claims 8 to 10, including an electric heater element.
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| ZA202105214 | 2021-07-23 | ||
| ZA2021/05214 | 2021-07-23 | ||
| PCT/ZA2022/050033 WO2023004443A1 (en) | 2021-07-23 | 2022-07-22 | Dual function water heater and air-conditioning unit |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CN118019947A true CN118019947A (en) | 2024-05-10 |
Family
ID=84980530
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CN202280064363.4A Pending CN118019947A (en) | 2021-07-23 | 2022-07-22 | Dual-function water heater and air conditioning unit |
Country Status (5)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US20240230116A1 (en) |
| EP (1) | EP4374113A1 (en) |
| CN (1) | CN118019947A (en) |
| AU (1) | AU2022314083A1 (en) |
| WO (1) | WO2023004443A1 (en) |
Family Cites Families (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SE424889B (en) * | 1978-03-15 | 1982-08-16 | Sjostrand Nils Eric | CONDENSATE DRAINAGE DEVICE |
| JP3858015B2 (en) * | 2003-09-30 | 2006-12-13 | 三洋電機株式会社 | Refrigerant circuit and heat pump water heater |
| US9389000B2 (en) * | 2013-03-13 | 2016-07-12 | Rheem Manufacturing Company | Apparatus and methods for pre-heating water with air conditioning unit or heat pump |
| CN204285677U (en) * | 2014-08-25 | 2015-04-22 | Tcl空调器(中山)有限公司 | Heat recovery system |
| CN204063403U (en) * | 2014-08-28 | 2014-12-31 | 北京石油化工学院 | A kind of heat pump water heater system |
-
2022
- 2022-07-22 CN CN202280064363.4A patent/CN118019947A/en active Pending
- 2022-07-22 AU AU2022314083A patent/AU2022314083A1/en active Pending
- 2022-07-22 US US18/292,005 patent/US20240230116A1/en active Pending
- 2022-07-22 WO PCT/ZA2022/050033 patent/WO2023004443A1/en active Application Filing
- 2022-07-22 EP EP22846877.3A patent/EP4374113A1/en active Pending
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| AU2022314083A1 (en) | 2024-02-29 |
| WO2023004443A1 (en) | 2023-01-26 |
| EP4374113A1 (en) | 2024-05-29 |
| US20240230116A1 (en) | 2024-07-11 |
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