Water heating system
AssigneeMixergy Limited
InventorsPeter ARMSTRONG, Isaac JARMARKIER
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A modular heat pump water tank is provided. The modular heat pump water tank comprises a tank unit including a tank for containing heated water; a heat pump unit including a heat pump for providing heat to the tank; and a heat exchanger arranged externally to the tank for transferring heat from the heat pump to water from the tank. The tank unit and the heat pump unit are adapted for mounting to one another to form an integrated heat pump water tank.
Claims75
A modular heat pump water tank comprising:
- a tank unit including a tank for containing heated water;
- a heat pump unit including a heat pump for providing heat to the tank;
- and
- a heat exchanger arranged externally to the tank for transferring heat from the heat pump to water from the tank;
- wherein the tank unit and the heat pump unit are adapted for mounting to one another to form an integrated heat pump water tank.
A modular heat pump water tank according to any preceding claim, wherein the heat pump unit and/or the tank unit is adapted for mounting the heat pump unit above the tank unit in use.
A modular heat pump water tank according to any preceding claim, wherein the heat pump unit and/or the tank unit comprises one or more mounting guides for positioning and orienting the heat pump unit to the tank unit.
A modular heat pump water tank according to any preceding claim, wherein the heat pump unit and/or the tank unit comprises one or more attachment means for fixing the heat pump unit and the tank unit to one another.
A modular heat pump water tank according to any preceding claim, wherein the heat pump unit and/or the tank unit comprises one or more module sensors for sensing presence or absence of a heat pump unit at a tank unit.
A modular heat pump water tank according to any preceding claim, wherein the heat pump unit and/or the tank unit comprises one or more module recognition components for providing characteristics to an associated tank unit or heat pump unit and/or identifying characteristics of an associated tank unit or heat pump unit.
A modular heat pump water tank according to any preceding claim, wherein the heat pump unit comprises the heat exchanger, preferably wherein the heat exchanger is a plate heat exchanger.
A modular heat pump water tank according to any preceding claim, further comprising:
- a conduit providing a flow path from a portion of the tank via the heat exchanger back to the tank;
- and a pump, preferably a variable speed pump, arranged to pump water through the conduit.
A tank unit for use in a modular heat pump water tank according to any preceding claim, wherein the tank unit is adapted for mounting to a heat pump unit to form an integrated heat pump water tank.
A heat pump unit for use in a modular heat pump water tank according to any preceding claim, wherein the heat pump unit is adapted for mounting to a tank unit to form an integrated heat pump water tank.
An integrated heat pump water tank comprising:
- a heat pump for providing heat;
- a tank for containing heated water;
- a heat exchanger arranged externally to the tank for transferring heat from the heat pump to water from the tank;
- a conduit providing a flow path external to the tank from a portion of the tank via the heat exchanger back to the tank;
- and
- a pump, preferably a variable speed pump, arranged to pump water through the conduit.
A kit of parts for an integrated heat pump water tank, the kit of parts comprising:
- a tank for containing heated water;
- a heat pump for providing heat to the tank;
- and
- a heat exchanger for arrangement external to the tank for transferring heat from the heat pump to water from the tank;
- a conduit for providing a flow path external to the tank from a portion of the tank via the heat exchanger back to the tank;
- and
- a pump, preferably a variable speed pump, for pumping water through the conduit;
- wherein the tank and the heat pump are reversibly attachable to one another to form an integrated heat pump water tank.
A heating system comprising:
- a heat pump for providing heat;
- a tank for containing heated water;
- a heat exchanger arranged externally to the tank for transferring heat from the heat pump to water from the tank;
- a conduit providing a flow path external to the tank from a lower portion of the tank to an upper portion of the tank via the heat exchanger;
- a pump arranged to pump water through the conduit from the lower portion of the tank to the upper portion of the tank via the heat exchanger;
- and a non-return valve arranged in the conduit to prevent water flow from the upper portion of the tank the lower portion of the tank via the conduit.
A heating system comprising:
- a heat pump for providing heat;
- a tank for containing heated water;
- a heat exchanger arranged externally to the tank for transferring heat from the heat pump to water from the tank;
- a conduit providing a flow path external to the tank from a lower portion of the tank to an upper portion of the tank via the heat exchanger;
- a pump arranged to pump water through the conduit from the lower portion of the tank to the upper portion of the tank via the heat exchanger;
- and a controller configured to control the pump to continue pumping after the heat pump is switched off.
A heating system comprising:
- a plate heat exchanger having a first side for connection to a heat pump and a second side for receiving fluid to be heated;
- a pump arranged to pump fluid through the second side of the plate heat exchanger;
- a first flow path arranged to carry water to be heated from a water source to the second side of the plate heat exchanger and to carry heated water away from the second side of the plate heat exchanger;
- and
- a second flow path arranged to carry descaling fluid to the second side of the plate heat exchanger and to carry descaling fluid away from the second side of the plate heat exchanger,
- wherein the first flow path and the second flow path include the pump.
A method of descaling a heating system, the method comprising:
- forming a fluid circuit to connect a plate heat exchanger and a pump to a water source and a descaling fluid reservoir;
- controlling the fluid circuit to isolate the water source from the descaling fluid reservoir;
- and
- controlling the pump to pump descaling fluid from the descaling fluid reservoir through the plate heat exchanger.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.