GB2312495A

GB2312495A - Combined condenser and heat exchanger unit

Info

Publication number: GB2312495A
Application number: GB9608478A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Pichit Likitcheva
Original assignee: Charles Anthony Micklewright
Current assignee: Charles Anthony Micklewright
Priority date: 1996-04-25
Filing date: 1996-04-25
Publication date: 1997-10-29
Also published as: GB9608478D0

Abstract

A combined condenser and heat exchanger unit for use in heating a fluid comprises a condenser having a plurality of tubes (14), each end of each tube being held in an aperture (10) in a partition plate (6) disposed in a reservoir (8,8'). The fluid to be heated is able to flow into input reservoir (8), around the tubes (14) in passages (22), and into outlet reservoir (8'). The tubes (14) diverge towards the respective partition plate to enable smooth flow of the fluid to be heated.

Description

AN IMPROVED METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR HEAT ACCUMULATION FROM REFRIGERATION MACHINE FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a method anct an improved apparatus for the accumulation of heat from a heat generating machine and, more particularly, to a method and an improved apparatus for heat accumulation from refrigeration machine.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION in general, conventional refrigeration machines such as efrigerators, air conditioners or the likes are built to decrease air temperature for some differen. useful purposes To decrease air temperature, an amount of energy in the form of heat must be removed from the air voiume. And to remove heat energy from such air volume, an appropriate amount of energy at least equal to that of removed energy must be applied to the refrigeration machine This amount of energy is the amount that we have to pay for it As described above, the amount of money we have to pay to receive cool air is directly proportional to trie amount of heat energy removed from the air volume. This amount of energy, which is in some case a huge amount of energy, is wastefully blown away by an electric fan of a typical conventional refrigeration machine to an atmosphere external to cooled air volume without utilizing this useful amount of energy. This is not only the losing of a huge amount of energy, which is ;the losing of.

a large amount of money, but also the causing of an unpleasant atmosphere bv the Increasing of surrounding air temperature to the worker nearby.

Thai Patent Application No. 000342 filed on 28 Januarv 1982 by Aircon Incorporated of Manila Philippines under the invention title Air Conditioner Water Heater has disclosed the invention of an air conditioner water heater by constructing a separate water tube system located in front of the refrigerant tube of the condenser of an air conditioner as shown in Fig 1 The refrigerant tube of the condenser of an air conditioner transfers heat to the water flowing in this water tube system by means of common metal fins. By this method, hot water flowing out of the water tube system possesses a relatively low temperature and it is not appropriate for an industrial use. In aciditlon, a relatively large amount of heat energy generated by this air conditioner still be wastefully lost to the surrounding atmosphere.

UK Patent Application No. 9400589.9 filed on 13 rd January 1994 in the name of Pichit Likitcheva has disclosed method and an apparatus for heat accumulation from refrigeration machine Tire apparatus comprises of two sections as shown in Fig. 2 The first section is a smaller diameter heat carrying fluid tube inserted inside a larger diameter refrigerant tube of the condenser. The secon(i section comprises a series of refrigerant tubes enclosecl inside the heat carrying fluid tube By replacing the conventional refrigerant tubes of the condenser by the first section, by connecting the second section between the compressor and the condenser of the conventional refrigerant machine, and by Feeding the heat carrying fluid into the heat carrying fluid tubes of the first and the second section connected in series in the direction opposite to the direction of the refrigerant flowing inside the refrigerant tube of the refrigerant machine; the heat carrying fluid with its temperature high enough for an industrial use can Ge obtained. However, to receive such high temperature the flowing rate of heat carrying fluid must be kept slow and resulting in a slow rate of heat accumulation by this apparatus. in addition, the structure of this apparatus is somewhat cumbersome and difficult to be manufactured in practice.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an improvement to the method and apparatus for heat accumulation from refrigeration machine invented by the same inventor of this invention and disclosed in the UK Patent Application No.

9400589.9 mentioned above. More specifically, the object of this invention is to provide method and apparatus for heat accumulation from refrigeration machine having a faster rate of heat accumulation and easier to be manufactured In practice and also still re able to generate heat carry rig fiuid with its temperature high enough for an industrial use without any usage 0 an energy in additional to that of being used for producing coo.

air by @ he refrigeration machine.

To achieve the above object, according to the present invention, the improved method and apparatus for heat accumulation from refrigeration machine comprises of three sections; the input reservoir for heat carrying fluid, the condenser and heat accumulator, and the output reservoir for heat carrying fluid. These three sections are connected in series such that the input reservoir and the output reservoir for hear carrying fluid are on both ends of the condenser and heat accumulator This apparatus is then connected in between the compressor and the evaporator. In place of the condenser, of a conventional refrigeration machine The input reservoir for heat carrying fluid is designed to allow the heat carrying fluid to flow into the system In a manner that it can pass through and touch the external surface of all small refrigerant tubes tightly inserted inside the heat carrying fluid tube of the condenser and heat accumulator The condenser and heat accumulator composecl of several smaller diameter refrigerant tubes inserted relatively tight inside a larger diameter heat carrying fluid tube which is wrapped around bv an insulator Both ends of this are designed such that they can be easllv and tightly connected into the Input reservoir for heat carrying fluid and the output reservoir for heat carrying flu i cl The output reservoir for heat carrying fluid is designed to allow the heat carrying fluicl flowing through the heat carrying fluid tube of the condenser and heat accumulator to flow out of the system noos tructed ly The structure of this output reservoir for heat carrying fluid is exactly the same as the structure of the input reservoir for heat carrying fluid. The only differences of the input reservoir and the output reservoir for heat carrying fluid are rheir functions one functions as an input passage and the other functions as an output passage of the heat carrying fluid.

The method for heat accumulation from r efrlgeration machine by t his apparatus Is made by feecling a lover temperature heat carrying flu icl Used to accumulate heat into the input reservoir for heat carrying fluid and let it flows inside the hear carrying fluid tube of the condenser and heat accumulator along the space outside the refrigerant tubes In the direction opposite to the direction of the refrigerant flowing inside those refrigerant tubes until it reaches the output reservoir for heat carrying fluid and flows Out through this reservoir as a higher temperature heat carrying fluid. The temperature of this higher temperature heat carrying fluid depends mainly on the length of the condenser and heat accumulator , the area of outside surface of the refrigerant tubes touching directly by heat carrying fluid, the flow rate of heat carrying fluid, and the type of heat carrying fluid.

Since the area oi the outside surface of the refrigerant tubes touching directly by the heat carrying fluid which is the heat accumulating area of this apparatus is comparatively larger than the heat accumulating area of the apparatus invented by the same inventor as shown in Pig. 2, then the rate of heat accumulation of this apparatus is faster than the rate of heat accumulation of the apparatus disclosed in The UK Patent Application No 9400589.9 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a separate water rube system located in front of refrigerant tube of the condenser oi he air conditioner in the air conditioner water heater of the prior art.

Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram of two stage heat exchange for efrigeration which is used as an apparatus for heat accumulation from refrigeration machine by the inventor of the present invention in the prior art.

Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating the input reservoir and the output reservoir for heat carrying fluid of the improved apparatus for heat accumulation from refrigeration machine in accordance with an embodiment of the present Invention.

Pig 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating the condenser and heat accumulator of the improved apparatus for heat accumulation from refrigeration machine in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating a complete set of the improved apparatus for heat accumulation from refrigeration machine in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Pig. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating an application or the improved apparatus for heat accumulation from refrigeration macri ine in the refrigeration circuit in accordance with an embodiment of the present Invention DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 3 illustrates the input reservoir and the output reservoir for heat carry rig fluid of the improved apparatus for heat accumulation from refrigeration machine In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention The input reservoir for heat carrying fluid 1 consists of the fluldd reservoir 4, the refrigerant collector 5 anal the partitioner 5 The reservoir connector 7 and the reservoir inlet 3 are the integral parts of the fluid reservoir 4. The refrigerant collector includes the connector 9 as its integral part. The partitioner 6 includes a number of fitting holes 10, 10, 10 and possesses the same cross section as of the fluid reservoir 4 and the refrigerant collector 5.

An example of the cross section of the partitioner 6 demonstrating a number of holes is shown by 1 1. The fluid reservoir 4, the refrigerant collector 5 ancl the partitioner 6 are separate parts but they can be tightly assembled to form an input reservoir for heat carrying fluid 1.The partioner 6 is specially designed to be convenient for fitting all ends of refrigerant tubes of the condenser and heat accumulator into their fitting holes 10,10,10 and also to be tight enough so that no leakage occurs between the fluid space 12 of the fluid reservoir 4 ancl the refrigerant space 13 of the refrigerant collector 5 as well as no leakage occurs between inside and outside of the input reservoir for heat carrying fluid 1.

The output reservoir for heat carrying fluid 3 is the same as the input reservoir for heat carrying fluid 1 excepe that the reservoir inlet 8 in this case performs as the reservoir outlet 8.

and the refrigerant collector 5 in this case performs as the refrigerant distributor 5' rig. 4 illustrates the condenser anti heat accumulator of the improved apparatus for heat accumulation from refrigeration machine ir. accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In this figure, the condenser and heat accumulator 2 composed cf several snzetller refrigerant tubes 14 insel tes:l relatively tight inside a iarger diameter heat carrying flu it tube 15 which is wrapped arouncl bv an insulator. These refrigerant tubes are inserted such that their two ends 16,17 emerge outside the two ends of the heat carrying fluid tube 18,19 with their length long enough for being assembled into the input reservoir for heat carrying fluid I or the output reservoir for heat carrying Fluid 3.

The size of the refrigerant tubes 14 are chosen such that all of them can be inserted relatively tight inside the larger diameter heat carrying fluid tube 15 and each of them can be fitted into the fitting holes 10 of the partitioner 6 of the input reservoir for heat carrying fluid 1 or the output reservoir for heat carrying fluid 3.

The number of refrigerant tubes 14 are given to be the same as the number of fitting holes 10 of the partitioner of the input reservoir for heat carrying fluid 1 or the output reservoir for heat carrying fluid 3.

Both ends of refrigerant tubes 16,17 are prepared to fit into the input reservoir for heat carrying fluid 1 or the output reservoir for heat carrying fluid 3 in a manner that they form the entrance spaces 20 or the exit spaces 21. These entrance spaces 20 cr the exit spaces 21 enable the heat carrying fluid to flow smoothly through all heat accumulating passages 22 which are the spaces between the r efrigrant tubes Inside the heat carrying u d tute Fig. 5 illustrates a complete set of the improved apparatus for heat accumulation from refrigeration machine in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention In this figure, the input reservoir ior heat carrying fluid 1, the concienser and heat accumulator 2 and the output reservoir for heat carrying fluid 3 are assembled together to form the improved apparatus for heat accumulation from refrigeration machine Both encls of refrigerant tubes 16, i are fitted tightly into fitting holes 1G of the partitioner 6 of the input reservoir for heat carrying fluid 1 or the outpu t reservoir for heat carrying fluicl 3 to form the entrance spaces 20 inside the input reservoir For heat carrying fluid 1 and the exit spaces 21 inside the output reservoir for heat carrying fluid 3. Both ends of the heat carrying fluid tube 18,19 are connectecl tightly with the reservoir connector 7,7 of the input reservoir for heat carrying fluid 1 and the output reservoir for heat carrying fluid 3 to form a complete passages for heat carrying fluid to flow smoothly from the entrance spaces 20 through all heat accumulating passages 22 and exit at the exit spaces 21.

The refigerant can be fed into the refrigerant space 13 of the refrigerant distributor 5 of the output reservoir for heat carrying fluid 3 through the connector 9. This refrigerant is then distributed and flows pass all refrigerant tubes 14 through the fitting holes 10,10,10 until it reaches the refrigerant space 13 of the refrigerant collector 5 and flows out through the connector 9.

The heat carrying fluid, on the other hand, can be fed into the fluid space 12 of the fluid reservoir 4 of the input reservoir for heat carrying fluid 1 through the reservoir inlet 8. This heat carrying fluid is then forced to flow pass all heat accumulating passages 22 through the entrance spaces 20 until it reaches the exit space 2i of the fluid space 12 of the fluid reservoir 4 and flows out through the reservoir outlet S Fig. 6 illustrates an application of the improved apparatus for heat accumulation from refrigeration machine in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention in the refrigeration circuit - In this figure, the condenser of a convent tonal refrigeration is replaced by the improved apparatus for heat accumulation from refrigeraeion machine. The connector 9 of the input reservoir for heat carrying fluid 1 is connected to the referigerant tube of the evaporator and the connector 9 of the output reservoir for heat carrying fluid 3 is connected to the refrigcrant tube of the compressor To obtain heated fluid, the refrigeration machine is First started so that the compressor compresses the refrigerant along the dashed-line arrows as shown in Fig. 6 and generates hot vapour refrigerant along the refrigerant tubes. The lower temperature heat carrying fluid used to accumulate heat, such as water, Is then fed into the reservoir inlet 8 of the input reservoir for heat carrying fluid 1 and is forced to flow through the condenser and heat accumulator 2 in the direction opposite to the direction of the hot vapour refrigerant Li until It flows out through the reservoir outlet 8' of the output reservoir for heat carrying fluid 3 as the higher temperature heat carrying fluid.

By the above described configuration, the lower temperature heat carrying fluid used to accumulate heat starts to accu mu late heat smoothly from the lowest temperature hot vapour refrigerant flowing inside the refrigerant tubes closet to the evaporator until it reaches the highest remperature hot vapour refrigerant closest to the compressor where the heat accumulation process is completed and the higher temperature heat carrying fluid is obtained The temperature of the higher temperature heat carrying fluid obtained from this apparatus depends essentially on the length of the condenser and heat accumulator, the area of outside surface of the refrigerant tubes touching directly by heat carrying fluid the flow rate of heat carrying fluid, and the type of heat carrying fluid itself Since the area of the outside surface of the refrigerant tubes touching directly bv the heat carrying fluid, which is the heat accumulating area of this apparatus is comparatively larger than the heat accumulating area of the apparatus invention by the same riven tor of the present Invention as shown in Fig. 2, then the rate of heat accumulation of this apparatus is faster than the rate of heat accumulation of the apparatus disclosed in The UK Patent Application No.9400589.9. For example, using wacer at temperature of 30 C as the lower temperature heat carrying fluid and using a 1200 BTU air conditioner as an original refrigeration machine, to obtain the higher temperature of 70 C the flow rate of 250 CC/3 min must be maintained for the apparatus of the prior art mentioned above, but the flow rate of 250 CC/1 min can be used for the improved apparatus for heat accumulation from refrigeration machine in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Not only the rate of heat accumulation has been Improved substantially by this improved apparatus, the manufacturing of this improved apparatus in practice has been also improved to be easier For example, the input and the output reservoir for heat carrying fluid both are the same in their structures and they can be Wised interchagebly. They are made in separate three parts: the fluid reservoir, the refrigerant collector or the refrigerant distributor anci the partitioner. These three separate parts tenable the assembling of several refrigerant tubes of the condenser and accumulator Into the input or the output reservoir for heat carrying fluid to be possible and relatively easy.

In addition, the simple structure of the condenser and heat accumulator provides a very high flexibility in the design of this improved apparatus for heat accumulation from refrigeration machine. The condenser and heat accumulator 2 can be along a straight line as it be in Fig. 4 or it can be of anv configuration as desired for example s-shape or helica I-shape or multi-l-ing shape or other shapes.

Many different embodiments of the present invention mav be constructed without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. It should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described in this specification. The following claims are to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all modifications, equivalent structures and functions.

Claims

1. An apparatus as incorporating with a refrigeration machine in place of a condenser performing as a condenser and a heat accumulator comprising an input reservoir for heat carrying fluid. a condenser and heat accumulator, and an output reservoir for heat carrying fluid connected in series where said input reservoir and said output reservoir are at both ends of said condenser and heat accumulator, in which: a) said input reservoir for heat carrying fluid provides wide entrances for heat carrying fluid such that it can enter al! small heat accumulating passages of said condenser and heat accumulator unobs tructedly; b) said condenser and heat accumulator provides a number of separate smail refrigerant passages and a number of their complimentary said small heat accumulating passages, for heat carrying fluid te accumulate heat, inside a heat carrying fluid passage cj said output reservoir for heat carrying fluid providers Wvide exits for heat carrying fluid such that it can exit from all said small heat accumulating passages of said condenser and heat accumulator unobstructedly

2. An input reservoir for heat carrying fluid according to claim 1 a! comprising a fluid reservoir, a refrigerant collector ancl a partitioner as three separate parts and being assembled simultaneously with refrigerant tubes emerging from said heat carrying fluid tube of said condenser ancl heat accumulator in a manner that said refrigerant tubes emerging from said heat carrying fluid tube of said condenser and heat accumulator are.

first assembled into said fluid reservoir then each of their ends is assembled into each of fitting holes of said partitioner before said refrlgerant collector is assemled to complete assembling process, in which: ai said fluid reservoir includes a through connector for connecting tightly with heat carrying fluid tube of said condenser and heat accumulator through which said refrigerant tubes emerging from said carrying fluid tube of said condenser and heat accumulator can be inserted, an inlet to allow heat carrying fluid to enter said input reservoir for heat carrying fluid , an open end with its cross sectional area larger than the cross sectional area of said through connector to allow said refrigerant tubes emerging from sad heat carrying fluid tube of said connector and heat accumulator to spread out before assemling into fitting holes of said part loner, an open end receptor to receive said partitioner, and an open end means for connecting tightly with said refrigerant collector; b@ said refrigerant collector includes an open end with its cross sectional area equal to the cross sectional area of saici open erir of saici fluid reservoir an open end receptor tci receive said partitioner and an open end means for connecting tightly with said fluid reservoir and a through connector with its cross sectional area smaller than the cross sectional area of said open end of said refrigerant collector through which refrigerant collected from all refrigerant tubes flows out of said input reservoir for heat carrying fluid; ci said partitioner includes a number of said fitting holes equal to a number of said refrigerant tubes emerging from said heat carrying fluid tube of said condenser and heat accumulator which their ends are inserted into these holes during assembling process and a number of fitting means to hold all ends of said refrigerant tubes emerging from said heat carrying fluid tube of said condenser and heat accumulator tightly anct automatically without anv leakage of heat carrying fluid and/or refrigerant when said open encl of said fluid reservoir and said open end of said refrigerant caliecter are tighten together.

3. A condenser and heat accumulator according to claim 1 b) comprising said heat carrying fluid tube of any shape coated or wrapped around by an insulator with two through connectors at both ends and a number of said refrigerant tubes inserted relatively tight inside said heat carrying fluid tube such that their ends emerge from both ends of said heat carrying fluid tube with their length long enough for fitting into said fitting holes of said partitioner of said input reservoir for heat carrying fluid accorcling to claim 2 in which said refrigerant tubes serve as said separate small refrigerant passages and the spaces outside said refrigerant tubes within said heat carrying fluid tube serve as said small heat accumulating passages.

4. An output reservoir for heat carrying fluid according to claim 1 c) comprising the same components as of said input reservoir for heat carrying fluid according to claim 2 except that said refrigerant collector in this case called refrigerant distributor ' and said inlet according to claim 2 a@ in this case called ' an outlet ' in accordance with their function.

5. A method to condense a hot vapor refrigerant and to accumulate heat simultaneously from this hot vapour refrigerant flowing inside a refrigerant tube of a refrigeration machine by replacing a condenser of said refrigeration machine by an apparatus according to claim 1 and by feeding said heat carrying fluid into said input reservoir for heat carrying fluid of said apparatus unti! it flows out of said output reservoir for heat carrying fluid of said apparatus as a higher temperature heat carrying fluid.