GB2160966A

GB2160966A - Air conditioning and hot water supply system

Info

Publication number: GB2160966A
Application number: GB08416215A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Fu-Nan Lin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1984-06-26
Filing date: 1984-06-26
Publication date: 1986-01-02
Also published as: GB8416215D0

Abstract

The system comprises an air conditioning system (A) operated by a water-cooled internal combustion engine (E), and a hot water supply reservoir (H) wherein a part of the water after cooling the engine (E) is diverted from the engine cooling system to the hot water supply reservoir (H). The system (A) includes a fan (F) for supplying cooled air to rooms to be air conditioned, a compressor (C), an evaporator (A2) and a condenser (L). The hot water system includes a heat exchanger (X) in which some of the water supplied to the reservoir is heated by the gas from exhaust pipe (E2). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Air conditioning and hot water supply system This invention relates to an air conditioning and hot water supply system, more particularly a system wherein a water-cooled internal combustion engine is employed to operate an air conditioning system, and wherein a part of the water used for cooling the engine is diverted from the engine cooling system to a hot water supply system.

Nowadays most public institutions such as hotels, hospitals, offices and factories are provided with a central air conditioning, which may be driven by an electric motor or an internal combustion engine. Since in an internal combustion engine a certain amount of heat is lost through the cooling system and exhaust gas, an internal combustion engine is less efficient that an electric motor in terms of energy use. However, if the heat lost through the cooling system and exhaust gas can be effectively recovered, not necessarily for use by the engine itself but for other applications, internal combustion engines are then advantageous over electric motors with regards to effective energy utilization.For example, the water used for cooling the engine, which is normally considerably hot, can be used for housekeeping or hygienic applications; and the exhaust gas can be used for further heating the water taken from the engine cooling system. Such applications are particularly worthwhile for those places where a constant supply of hot water is needed and a separate hot water supply system is provided in addition to the central air conditioning. Such an additional system constitutes dual capital investments and duplicated operation expenses.

It is desirable, therefore, to provide an air conditioning and hot water supply system in which an internal combustion engine is employed to operate an air conditioning system and also to supply hot water without the need for a separate source for hot water.

It is also desirable to provide an air conditioning and hot water supply system in which an internal combustion engine is employed to operate an air conditioning system wherein the heat lost by the engine in the engine cooling system and the exhaust is effectively utilized.

Furthermore, it is desirable to provide an air conditioning and hot water supply system which avoids dual capital investment and minimizes operation expenses.

According to the present invention, there is provided an air conditioning and hot water supply system, wherein a water-cooled internal combustion engine is employed to drive a compressor of an air conditioning portion of the system and wherein water, after cooling the engine, is diverted from the engine cooling system to a reservoir of a hot water supply portion of the system.

Following is a description, by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, of one method of carrying the invention into effect.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of one embodiment of an air conditioning and hot water supply system according to the present invention, and Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of another embodiment of a system according to the present invention.

Referring now to Fig. 1 of the drawings, there is shown an internal combustion engine E and an air conditioning system A having a compressor C driven by the engine E through a reduction gear S and a flywheel W.

The air conditioning system A includes a receiver Al in which a refrigerant in a liquid state is stored, an evaporator A2 in which the refrigerant evaporates into a gaseous state, an evaporator feed device or expansion valve A3 through which the refrigerant from receiver Al expands and flows into the evaporator A2; a suction tube A4 through which the evaporated refrigerant is admitted to a compressor C where the gaseous refrigerant is compressed; a discharge tube A5 through which the compressed refrigerant is delivered into a condenser L where the compressed gaseous refrigerant is condensed into a liquid state. A fan F is provided to produce an air stream to pass along evaporator A2 whereby the air is cooled and then distributed to each room to be air conditioned.

The engine E is provided with a cooling system including a water supply tube EO, a water jacket (not shown), a water supply valve E5 and an inlet tube El through which water from water supply tube EO is regulated to the water jacket of the engine E; a delivery tube E3 through which water from the water jacket of the engine E is delivered to a hot water pipe line H1 having a check valve K1 and a regulator valve E6; a delivery tube E3 having a branch tube E7 provided with a regulator valve E4 and a check valve K2 for allowing water from the delivery tube E3 to be delivered to the inlet tube El. The engine E is also provided with an exhaust pipe E2 through which exhaust gas of the engine E is discharged, the exhaust pipe E2 having a threeway valve X7 connecting the exhaust pipe E2 with a by-pass X2 and a chimney X5.The three-way valve X7 is adapted selectively to allow exhaust gas from the exhaust pipe E2 to be directed to a heat exchanger X through the by-pass X2 or to atmosphere through the chimney X5.

A hot water pipe line H 1 is adapted to direct water from the delivery tube E3 to a reservoir H, and is provided with a by-pass X1 passing through the heat exchanger X, the by pass X1 having a by-pass valve X6 for regulating the flow of water through the by-pass X1 into the heat exchanger X. The heat exchanger X has a discharge tube X3 connecting the heat exchanger X to the chimney X5.

It is to be understood that the engine E is provided with a water pump which is operated by the engine causing water to flow from the inlet tube El through the water jacket of the engine E, from which a part of the water is delivered to the reservoir H and another part is recirculated through the branch tube E7 and the water jacket of the engine E.

The engine E is provided with a radiator R1 which communicates with the water jacket of the engine by means of a tube E8 having a regulator valve R2 and by means of a return tube R3 so that, when the regulator valve R2 is open, the water from the water jacket of the engine E circulates through the radiator R1 and is cooled thereby.

In operation, the compressor C of the air conditioning system A is driven by the engine E so as to perform a refrigerating cycle. Initially, the regulator valves E5 and E6 and the by-pass valve R2 are closed and the regulator valve E4 is open. In consequence, water in the water jacket is circulated without the addition of water or the removal of circulating water, until the engine temperature raises to within the normal operating temperature range. The regulator valves E5 and E6 then are opened to allow supply of water to the water jacket of the engine E and at the same time to allow delivery of hot water from the water jacket to the reservoir H.The three-way valve X7 and the by-pass valve X6 are opened for further heating a part of the hot water to be delivered to the reservoir H with exhaust gas from the engine E.

As water supplied from the tube EO is at room temperature, which is considerably lower than the engine operating temperature, the supply of water into the water jacket of the engine E effectively cools the engine without operating the radiator R. However, in order to ensure that the water is at an adequate temperature when entering the water jacket of the engine, the regulator valve E4 is adjusted to allow an adequate amount of hot water from the delivery tube E3 to mix with the water before the water enters the water jacket of the engine E.

When the reservoir H is full, or hot water is not needed, the regulator valves E5, E6 and E4 are closed, the by-pass valve R2 is opened and the three-way valve X7 is set to shut off the heat exchanger X so as to operate the engine E as a conventional engine.

In Fig. 2 there is shown another embodiment of an air conditioning and hot water supply system according to the present invention wherein a dust collector Z is installed in the chimney X5. The dust collector Z may be of a water-spray type or an electro-static type.

The internal combustion engine E employed in the system of this invention can be of either a spark-ignition type or a compessionignition type, provided that it is water cooled.

Claims

1. An air conditioning and hot water supply system comprising: a compressor for compressing a refrigerant in an air conditioning portion of the system a water cooled internal combustion engine for operating said compressor, a reservoir for the hot water supply portion of the system, and a delivery tube for supplying the reservoir with water from the engine, whereby after having been used to cool the engine water is delivered to the reservoir.

2. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the delivery tube is provided with an auxiliary tube having a regulator valve which auxiliary tube connects the delivery tube to a supply of water to the engine.

3. A system as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, which further comprises a heat exchanger adapted for heating water directed from the delivery tube from heat supplied by gas exhausted from the engine.

4. An air conditioning and hot water supply system substantially as hereinbefore described and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.