Apparatus and methods for heating water with refrigerant and phase change material

An apparatus for heating water, comprising:

• a first tank defining a first inner volume for storing the water that is to be heated and having a heating assembly in operative communication with the first inner volume so that the heating assembly contributes heat to the water in the first inner volume;
• a second tank extending within the first tank and that defines a second inner volume that is adjacent the first inner volume so that heat transfers between the first inner volume and the second inner volume, wherein the second inner volume is fluidly isolated from the water, and wherein the second inner volume contains a phase change material;
• and
• an air conditioning system comprising
• an air handler fan actuatable to move an air flow through an air flow path into a conditioned space,
• a refrigerant path that is defined by a refrigerant conduit, a portion of the refrigerant conduit passing through the air flow path and another portion of the refrigerant conduit passing through the second inner volume,
• a compressor disposed in the refrigerant path and being actuatable to move refrigerant through the refrigerant path, and
• refrigerant that flows through the refrigerant path responsively to the compressor,
• wherein the other portion of the refrigerant conduit that passes through the second inner volume is disposed radially inward and spaced apart from a second tank sidewall of the second tank such that the phase change material encases an outer surface of the refrigerant conduit over a majority of a length of the other portion of the refrigerant conduit that is within the second inner volume.

An apparatus for heating water, comprising:

• a first tank defining a first inner volume within the first tank for storing the water;
• a second tank surrounding an exterior of the first tank and that defines a second inner volume adjacent to the first inner volume so that heat transfers from the second inner volume and the first inner volume, wherein the second inner volume is fluidly isolated from the water in the first inner volume, and wherein the second inner volume contains a phase change material;
• and
• an air conditioning system comprising a refrigerant path defined by a refrigerant conduit, a portion of the refrigerant conduit passing through the second inner volume, wherein the portion of the refrigerant conduit that passes through the second inner volume is disposed radially inward and spaced apart from a second tank sidewall of the second tank such that the phase change material encases an outer surface of the refrigerant conduit over a majority of a length of the portion of the refrigerant conduit that is within the second inner volume.

An apparatus for heating water, comprising:

• a first tank defining a first inner volume for storing water;
• a second tank that defines a second inner volume that is adjacent the first inner volume so that heat transfers between the first inner volume and the second inner volume, wherein the second inner volume is fluidly isolated from water in the first inner volume, and wherein the second inner volume contains a phase change material;
• and
• a conduit that passes through the second inner volume and that extends outward of both the first tank and the second tank, wherein a portion of the conduit that passes through the second inner volume is disposed radially inward and spaced apart from a second tank sidewall of the second tank such that the phase change material encases an outer surface of the conduit over a majority of a length of the portion of the conduit that is within the second inner volume.

A method for heating water, comprising:

• providing a first tank defining a first inner volume for storing the water that is to be heated;
• providing a second tank that defines a second inner volume that is adjacent the first inner volume so that heat transfers between the first inner volume and the second inner volume, wherein the second inner volume is fluidly isolated from the water in the first inner volume, and wherein the second inner volume contains a phase change material;
• providing an air conditioning system comprising a refrigerant path defined by a refrigerant conduit, a portion of the refrigerant conduit passing through the second inner volume, wherein the portion of the refrigerant conduit that passes through the second inner volume is disposed radially inward and spaced apart from a sidewall of the second tank such that the phase change material encases an outer surface of the refrigerant conduit over a majority of a length of the portion of the refrigerant conduit that is within the second inner volume;
• and
• moving refrigerant through the refrigerant path, including through the second inner volume.