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US 10,041,702 B2Granted
Apparatus and method for hybrid water heating and air cooling and control thereof
AssigneeRheem Manufacturing Company
InventorsWalker R. Lowrimore, Robert L. Long, Scott D. Winters, Randy W. Foster
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system for conditioning air circulated from an interior of a building includes a refrigerant path, an air-cooled condenser in the refrigerant path, a water-cooled condenser in the refrigerant path that transfers heat from refrigerant in the refrigerant path to the building water, an evaporator in the refrigerant path, and a control system. The control system moves the system between operation of the air-cooled condenser and the water-cooled condenser based upon predetermined system conditions.
Claims21
A system for conditioning air and for heating water, comprising:
- a refrigerant path;
- a first condenser in the refrigerant path and disposed in an air flow path so that the first condenser transfers heat to air in the air flow path from refrigerant moving through the first condenser in the refrigerant path;
- a second condenser in the refrigerant path and that defines a water flow path so that the second condenser transfers heat to water in the water flow path from refrigerant moving through the second condenser in the refrigerant path;
- an evaporator in the refrigerant path and disposed in a second air flow path so that air in the second air flow path transfers heat to refrigerant moving through the evaporator;
- a compressor in the refrigerant path and configured to move refrigerant in the refrigerant path;
- a three-way valve comprising a first connection to a first output line in the refrigerant path from the compressor, a second connection to an input line in the refrigerant path to the first condenser, and a third connection to an input line in the refrigerant path to the second condenser;
- a port in the three-way valve, comprising a fourth connection distinct from each of the first connection, the second connection, and the third connection, the fourth connection connected to a bypass refrigerant path connected to an input to the compressor in the refrigerant path where such input is downstream from the evaporator with respect to the refrigerant path;
- a second output line in the refrigerant path from the first condenser to the evaporator;
- and
- a control system in operative communication with the refrigerant path and the three-way valve configured to
- selectively direct refrigerant flow from the first connection, through the second connection to the first condenser or through the third connection to the second condenser,
- upon directing refrigerant flow through the third connection to the second condenser without directing refrigerant flow through the second connection to the first condenser, draining refrigerant from the first condenser, in response to pressure in the first condenser or the second output line, and
- selectively open the port in the three-way valve in response to pressure in the first output line.
10 more elements
A system for conditioning air and for heating water, comprising:
- a refrigerant path;
- a first condenser in the refrigerant path and disposed in a first air flow path so that the first condenser transfers heat to air in the first air flow path from refrigerant moving through the first condenser in the refrigerant path;
- a second condenser in the refrigerant path and that defines a water flow path so that the second condenser transfers heat to water in the water flow path from refrigerant moving through the second condenser in the refrigerant path;
- an evaporator in the refrigerant path and disposed in a second air flow path so that air in the second air flow path transfers heat to refrigerant moving through the evaporator;
- a compressor in the refrigerant path and configured to move refrigerant in the refrigerant path;
- a three-way valve comprising a first connection to a first output line in the refrigerant path from the compressor, a second connection to an input line in the refrigerant path to the first condenser, and a third connection to an input line in the refrigerant path to the second condenser;
- a port in the three-way valve, comprising a fourth connection distinct from each of the first connection, the second connection, and the third connection, the fourth connection connected to a bypass refrigerant path connected to an input to the compressor in the refrigerant path where such input is downstream from the evaporator with respect to the refrigerant path;
- a second output line in the refrigerant path from the first condenser to the evaporator, the second output line having an expansion valve;
- and
- a control system in operative communication with the refrigerant path and the three-way valve configured to
- selectively direct refrigerant flow from the first connection, to the second connection to the first condenser or to the third connection to the second condenser,
- upon directing refrigerant flow to the third connection to the second condenser without directing refrigerant flow to the second connection to the first condenser, draining refrigerant from the first condenser into a flow between the second condenser and the evaporator, in response to pressure in the first condenser or the second output line, and
- selectively open the port in the three-way valve in response to pressure in the first output line.
10 more elements
A system for conditioning air, and for heating water, comprising:
- a refrigerant path;
- a first condenser in the refrigerant path and disposed in a first air flow path so that the first condenser transfers heat to air in the first air flow path from refrigerant moving through the first condenser in the refrigerant path;
- a second condenser in the refrigerant path and that defines a water flow path so that the second condenser transfers heat to water in the water flow path from refrigerant moving through the second condenser in the refrigerant path;
- an evaporator in the refrigerant path and disposed in a second air flow path so that air in the second air flow path transfers heat to refrigerant moving through the evaporator;
- a compressor in the refrigerant path and configured to move refrigerant in the refrigerant path;
- a three-way valve comprising a first connection to a first output line in the refrigerant path from the compressor, a second connection to an input line in the refrigerant path to the first condenser, and a third connection to an input line in the refrigerant path to the second condenser;
- a port in the three-way valve, comprising a fourth connection distinct from each of the first connection, the second connection, and the third connection, the fourth connection connected to a bypass refrigerant path connected to an input to the compressor in the refrigerant path where such input is downstream from the evaporator with respect to the refrigerant path;
- a second output line in the refrigerant path from the first condenser to the evaporator, the second output line having an expansion valve;
- a refrigerant drain line from the second output line to the evaporator, downstream from the expansion valve with respect to the refrigerant path;
- a sensor disposed with respect to the second output line so that the sensor outputs a signal corresponding to pressure in the second output line;
- and
- a control system in operative communication with
- the sensor,
- the refrigerant drain line to selectively open and close the refrigerant drain line, and
- the three-way valve,
- wherein the control system is configured to control opening of the refrigerant drain line responsively to the signal, and
- wherein the control system is configured to selectively open the port in the three-way valve in response to pressure in the first output line.
14 more elements
A system for conditioning air and for heating water, comprising:
- a refrigerant path;
- a first condenser in the refrigerant path and disposed in a first air flow path so that the first condenser transfers heat to air in the first air flow path from refrigerant moving through the first condenser in the refrigerant path;
- a second condenser in the refrigerant path and that defines a water flow path so that the second condenser transfers heat to water in the water flow path from refrigerant moving through the second condenser in the refrigerant path;
- an evaporator in the refrigerant path and disposed in a second air flow path so that air in the second air flow path transfers heat to refrigerant moving through the evaporator;
- a compressor in the refrigerant path and configured to move refrigerant in the refrigerant path;
- a three-way valve comprising a first connection to an output line in the refrigerant path from the compressor, a second connection to an input line in the refrigerant path to the first condenser, and a third connection to an input line in the refrigerant path to the second condenser;
- a port in the three-way valve, comprising a fourth connection distinct from each of the first connection, the second connection, and the third connection, the fourth connection connected to a bypass refrigerant path connected to an input to the compressor in the refrigerant path where such input is downstream from the evaporator with respect to the refrigerant path;
- a temperature sensor disposed with respect to the refrigerant path to detect an air temperature ambient to the refrigerant path;
- and
- a control system in operative communication with the refrigerant path, the three-way valve, and the temperature sensor and configured to
- selectively direct refrigerant flow from the first connection, through the second connection to the first condenser or through the third connection to the second condenser and, upon transitioning refrigerant flow from one of the first condenser and the second condenser to the other of the first condenser and the second condenser, controlling refrigerant flow in the refrigerant path in response to ambient temperature detected by the temperature sensor, and
- selectively open the port in the three-way valve in response to pressure in the output line in the refrigerant path from the compressor.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.