Method and apparatus for reduction of water re-evaporation in a dedicated dehumidifier/water heater
AssigneeLennox Industries Inc.
InventorRobert B. Uselton
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus that includes a refrigeration circuit that includes an evaporator, a first condenser and a compressor. The apparatus includes a refrigerant-water heat exchanger that includes a second condenser fluidly coupled to the refrigeration circuit. A control valve is operatively connected to the refrigeration circuit to direct flow of refrigerant through at least one of the first condenser during a dehumidification mode and the second condenser during a water heating mode. A damper is disposed on an upwind side of the evaporator, the damper being operable to reduce airflow across the evaporator during a ventilation mode.
Claims20
An apparatus comprising:
- a refrigeration circuit comprising an evaporator, a first condenser and a compressor;
- a refrigerant-water heat exchanger comprising a second condenser fluidly coupled to the refrigeration circuit;
- a control valve operatively connected to the refrigeration circuit to direct flow of refrigerant through at least one of the first condenser during a dehumidification mode and the second condenser during a water heating mode;
- a flow path operable to allow airflow across the evaporator and the first condenser;
- a bypass flow path operable to allow airflow to bypass an aligned arrangement of the evaporator and the first condenser;
- a damper spaced apart from the evaporator and the first condenser and disposed in the bypass flow path between the evaporator and a fan, wherein the damper is disposed on an upwind side of the evaporator and downwind side of the fan;
- and
- wherein the damper moves from an open position to a closed position when the apparatus is operating in a ventilation mode.
A method of reducing re-evaporation of water in a water heating and air processing (WHAP) system, the method comprising:
- providing a refrigeration circuit comprising an evaporator, a first condenser and a compressor;
- fluidly coupling a refrigerant-water heat exchanger comprising a second condenser to the refrigeration circuit;
- directing, utilizing a control valve, flow of refrigerant through the first condenser during a dehumidification mode or through the second condenser during a water heating mode;
- positioning a damper spaced apart from the evaporator and the first condenser to form a flow path operable to allow airflow across the evaporator and the first condenser and a bypass flow path operable to allow airflow to bypass the evaporator and the first condenser, and between the evaporator and a fan to reduce airflow across the evaporator when the WHAP system is operating in a ventilation mode, wherein the damper is disposed on an upwind side of the evaporator and downwind side of the fan;
- and
- wherein the damper moves from an open position to a closed position when the apparatus is operating in the ventilation mode.
A water heating and air processing (WHAP) system for heating potable water for an enclosure and processing air for the enclosure, the WHAP system comprising:
- a multi-mode dehumidifier and water heater comprising:
- a refrigeration circuit comprising an evaporator, a first condenser and a compressor;
- a refrigerant-water heat exchanger comprising a second condenser fluidly coupled to the refrigeration circuit;
- a control valve operatively connected to the refrigeration circuit to direct flow of refrigerant through at least one of the first condenser during a dehumidification mode and the second condenser during a water heating mode;
- a flow path operable to allow airflow across the evaporator and the first condenser;
- a bypass flow path operable to allow airflow to bypass an aligned arrangement of the evaporator and the first condenser;
- a damper spaced apart from the evaporator and the first condenser and disposed in the bypass flow path between the evaporator and a fan, wherein the damper is disposed on an upwind side of the evaporator and downwind side of the fan;
- and
- wherein the damper moves from an open position to a closed position when the WHAP system is operating in a ventilation mode.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.