US20120067074A1

US20120067074A1 - Separable heat pump and water heater

Info

Publication number: US20120067074A1
Application number: US12/886,910
Authority: US
Inventors: Claude Lesage; Jean-Claude Lesage
Original assignee: Miclau SRI Inc
Current assignee: Miclau SRI Inc
Priority date: 2010-09-21
Filing date: 2010-09-21
Publication date: 2012-03-22

Abstract

A water heater device with an integrated modular heat pump is described. The water heater device has an insulated glass-lined casing for storing water to be heated. One or more resistive heating elements are provided in the casing for heating water. A cold water conduit introduces water in a lower portion of the casing and a hot water conduit extracts hot water from an upper portion of the casing. Detachable supports are provided to support the modular heat pump in close proximity to the water heater. The refrigeration system of the heat pump has a condensation coil having a refrigerant conduit in heat exchange relationship with a water circulation conduit to heat water in the water circulation conduit pumped from the lower portion of the casing through a supply conduit and returned to the casing by a return conduit. Detachable couplings are provided to easily detach the cold water conduit, the hot water conduit and the supply conduit and return conduit when repair and maintenance require it.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to water heaters, particularly but not exclusively, to domestic hot water heaters to which is integrated a modular heat pump and wherein the two are easily separable from one another for maintenance, repair or interchange.

BACKGROUND ART

It is known to integrate heat pumps with domestic hot water heaters and this usually results in complex devices integrated together in a single unit. A disadvantage of such integrated devices is that because domestic hot water heaters utilize glass-lined casings, their life span is usually short and when such becomes defective it is necessary to effect expensive modifications or to change the entire integrated unit. Also, maintenance of integrated systems can be expensive depending on its structure. Accordingly, there is added service cost when using integrated hot water systems and this cost can sometimes obviate the projected economical advantages of such systems. Such advantages include lower electrical energy consumption as it is less expensive to operate a compressor than the electrical resistive elements of water heaters. Also, the refrigeration system provides cool air conditioning.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

It is a feature of the present invention to provide a water heater device with an integrated modular heat pump which substantially overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages of the prior art.
Another feature of the present invention is to provide a water heater device with an integrated modular heat pump and wherein this water heater and heat pump are interconnected by detachable coupling means to disconnect the modular heat pump from the water heater for replacement or servicing of the water heater or the modular heat pump.
Another feature of the present invention is to provide a water heater device with an integrated modular heat pump which is more efficient and less costly to operate than stand-alone hot water heaters having resistive heating elements.
Another feature of the present invention is to provide a domestic hot water heater having an integrated modular heat pump mounted on the top wall of the heater by detachable support means as well as detachable coupling means communicating with supply and return conduits for the heat pump provided in the reservoir of the hot water heater.
According to the above features, from a broad aspect, the present invention provides a water heater device with an integrated modular heat pump. The hot water device has an insulated glass-lined casing for storing water to be heated. One or more resistive heating elements are provided for heating water in the casing. A cold water conduit is provided for introducing water in a lower portion of the casing. A hot water conduit is provided for extracting heated water from an upper portion of the casing. Support means supports the modular heat pump in close proximity to the water heater device. The modular heat pump has a refrigeration system including a condensation coil which has a refrigerant conduit in heat exchange relationship with a water circulation conduit to heat water in the water circulation conduit pumped from the lower portion of the casing through a supply conduit and returned to the casing by a return conduit. Detachable coupling means is provided for detachable connection of the cold water conduit, the hot water conduit, the supply conduit and return conduit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the integrated water heater device and modular heat pump constructed in accordance with the present invention;

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to the drawing, there is shown at 10 a water heater device, herein a domestic hot water heater device. A modular heat pump 11 is hereinshown mounted on the top wall 12 of the hot water heater 10 by detachable supports 13. The supports 13 are provided with a quick disconnect coupling 13′ in a lower part thereof.
The domestic hot water heater 10 has an insulated glass lined inner casing 14. Water is introduced in the casing by a domestic cold water inlet conduit 15 and released through a dip tube 16 connected thereto in a lower portion 17 of the glass lined casing 14. Hot water is extracted from the upper portion 18 of the casing, where the water is the hottest, by a hot water outlet conduit 19. Resistive heating elements 20 and 20′ are used to heat water in the upper and lower portion of the glass lined casing. The glass lined casing is also insulated by an insulating foam material (not shown) introduced in the space surrounding the inner casing and the outer shell 21. All this structure is well known in the art.
As hereinshown, the modular heat pump 11 is provided with a refrigeration system including a condensation coil 26 which has a refrigeration conduit 26′ in which is circulated a compressible gas, such as Freon. The refrigeration conduit 26′ is in contact with a water circulation conduit 27 in which cold water from the casing 14 is fed by a pump 28 which is secured to a supply conduit 29 connected to a dip tube 30 whereby to extract cold water from the lower portion 17 of the hot water heater 10. This supply conduit 29 is secured to the dip tube 30 by a detachable coupling means, such as coupling 31. As the cold water circulates through the water circulation conduit 27, it is in heat exchange with the hot gas in the hot refrigerant in the conduit 26′ and is heated. The refrigeration conduit 26′ and the circulation conduit 27 may be concentrically mounted, as for example, for heat exchange.
The heated water from the water circulation conduit 27 exits the condensation coil 26 through a hot water supply conduit 32 and is fed to a further dip tube 33 which terminates inside the glass line casing 14 at approximately two-thirds (⅔) distance from the upper part of the inner casing 14 in a region where water is at an intermediate temperature whereby to introduce hot water from the heat pump. Of course, the hotter water propagates towards the top of the casing. The conduit 32 is secured to the dip tube 33 through another detachable coupling 34. Also, the cold water conduit 15 is secured to the dip tube 16 through a further similar detachable coupling 35 and the hot water outlet conduit 19 is also connected to the top portion of the inner casing by a similar detachable coupling 36 over the top wall of the outer shell 21. It is pointed out that the detachable couplings 31, 34, 35 and 36 are connectors capable of being removed and re-engaged by a trade person whereby to easily disconnect the modular heat pump from the water heater for the replacement or servicing of the water heater or the modular heat pump, if there is a need to disconnect them. Accordingly, the modular heat pump is a stand-alone unit easily disconnectable from the hot water heater 10. The connectors 31, 34, 35 and 36 may be screw-type connectors or connectors that are soldered to the conduits 15, 19, 29 and 32, if such conduits are made of copper. Any suitable quick connection means is contemplated for easy detachment.
Because of the separable connections of both the hot water heater and the heat pump, when the glass liquid inner casing 14 is defective, a new hot water heater 10 is replaced by the disconnection and re-connection of the quick connectors. The previous hot water heater can then be recycled as only the inner casing needs to be changed.
As hereinshown, only basic elements of the integrated modular heat pump 11 are illustrated. As hereinshown, the refrigeration system includes a compressor and an evaporator coil 41 through which ambient air is pushed through by the fan 25 whereby cooled dehumidified air 42 is expelled in the space where the heat pump is located or in conduits to convey it to other spaces in a building or outside. The refrigeration system also uses an expansion valve 43 feeding the condensation coil 36. Such refrigeration systems are well known in the art.
It is also foreseen that the supply conduit 30 may be located exteriorly of the hot water heater such as illustrated by phantom lines 30′ and easily disconnected from the inner tank by a suitable fitting (not shown) but obvious to a person skilled in the art.
A controller module 50 is also provided to monitor water temperature from temperature sensors 51 and 52 located at predetermined locations inside the inner casing 14 to monitor water temperature therein. Such is required to control the operation of the modular heat pump and the resistive heating elements 20 and 20′ of the inner casing 14 to satisfy user settings. A control pad 53 interfaces with the controller and permits a user person to set the mode of operation of the system.
It is within the ambit of the present invention to cover any obvious modifications of the water heater device and integrated modular heat pump as illustrated and described herein. For example, although the modular heat pump 11 is hereinshown resting on the top wall of the hot water heater by disconnectable supports 13, it is also foreseen that such modular heat pump can be suspended from a ceiling or attached to an adjoining wall. Also, all of the conduits 15, 19, 29 and 32 may be flexible conduits as now commonly utilized in plumbing and provided with appropriate quick disconnect connectors to connect to the hot water heater 10. Although the hot water heater 10 is hereinshown with two resistive elements, a third resistive element could be incorporated inside the casing depending on the performance required for the supply of hot water, such as in commercial applications and wherein the hot water reservoir may be of a larger capacity.

Claims

We claim,:

1. A water heater device with an integrated modular heat pump, said water heater device having an insulated glass-lined casing for storing water to be heated, one or more resistive heating elements for heating water in said casing, a cold water conduit for introducing water in a lower portion of said casing, a hot water conduit for extracting heated water from an upper portion of said casing, support means for supporting said modular heat pump in close proximity to said water heater device, said modular heat pump having a refrigeration system including a condensation coil, said condensation coil having a refrigerant conduit in heat exchange relationship with a water circulation conduit to heat water in said water circulation conduit pumped from said lower portion of said casing through a supply conduit and returned to said casing by a return conduit; and detachable coupling means for detachable connection of said cold water conduit, said hot water conduit, said supply conduit and return conduit.

2. A hot water heater device with an integrated modular heat pump as claimed in claim 1 wherein said detachable coupling means are connectors capable of being removed and re-engaged to disconnect said modular heat pump from said water heater for the replacement or servicing of said water heater or modular heat pump.

3. A hot water heater device with an integrated modular heat pump as claimed in claim 2 wherein said connectors are quick-type screw connectors or soldered connectors capable of being disconnected and re-connected by a trade person.

4. A hot water heater device with an integrated modular heat pump as claimed in claim 1 wherein said supply conduit is a dip tube extending in said glass lined casing and having an inlet end disposed in said lower portion of said casing to draw cooler water therefrom, and a pump associated with a conduit section connected to said dip tube exteriorly of said water heater.

5. A hot water heater device with an integrated modular heat pump as claimed in claim 1 wherein said supply conduit is disposed exteriorly of said casing and has a lower end section disposed in said lower portion of said casing to draw cooler water therefrom, and a pump associated with said supply conduit.

6. A hot water heater device with an integrated modular heat pump as claimed in claim 4 wherein said pump is located inside said modular heat pump.

7. A hot water heater device with an integrated modular heat pump as claimed in claim 5 wherein said pump is located inside said modular heat pump.

8. A hot water heater device with an integrated modular heat pump as claimed in claim 1 wherein said return conduit is a dip tube extending in said glass lined casing and having an outlet end disposed at a level of approximately ⅔ from a top end of said tank.

9. A hot water heater device with an integrated modular heat pump as claimed in claim 1 wherein said refrigeration system further includes a refrigerant loop having a compressor for increasing the temperature of a refrigerant gas pumped therethrough in said loop, an evaporator coil and a fan to convect ambient air across said evaporator coil where heat from said ambient air is absorbed by said refrigerant and cooled dehumidified air is exhausted, heated refrigerant at an outlet of said evaporator coil is then expanded by an expansion valve and fed through said condensation coil to heat water circulated in said water circulation conduit.

10. A hot water heater device with an integrated modular heat pump as claimed in claim 9 wherein there is further provided a controller to monitor water temperature in said casing and to control the operation of said modular heat pump and the operation of said one or more resistive heating elements to satisfy user settings.

11. A hot water heater device with an integrated modular heat pump as claimed in claim 1 wherein said support means is a disconnectable support secured to a top end of said water heater device.

12. A hot water heater device with an integrated modular heat pump as claimed in claim 1 wherein said support means is a support secured in close proximity to said water heater device independent therefrom.

13. A hot water heater device with an integrated modular heat pump as claimed in claim 1 wherein said water heater device is a domestic hot water heater.