Condensate atomizer for heat pump water heater
AssigneeA. O. Smith Corporation
InventorBrian Branecky
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A heat pump water heating system and method provide heated water to a residence or facility. The heat pump water heating system includes a tank for storing water, an evaporator configured for use in heating the water, where the evaporator produces condensate during operation, a reservoir for collecting the condensate, an atomizer configured to atomize the condensate collected in the reservoir, and a fan configured to eject the atomized condensate from the heat pump water heating system.
Claims20
A heat pump water heating system comprising:
- a tank for storing water,
- an evaporator configured for use in heating the water, the evaporator configured to produce condensate during operation,
- a reservoir for collecting the condensate,
- an atomizer configured to atomize the condensate collected in the reservoir, and
- a fan configured to eject the atomized condensate from the heat pump water heating system.
A method of discharging condensate from a heat pump water heating system, the heat pump water heating system comprising:
- a tank for storing water,
- an evaporator configured for use in heating the water, the evaporator configured to produce condensate during operation thereof,
- a reservoir for collecting the condensate,
- an atomizer configured to atomize the condensate collected in the reservoir, and
- a fan configured to eject the atomized condensate from the heat pump water heating system,
- wherein the method comprises:
- operating the heat pump water heating system to produce the condensate,
- collecting the condensate within the reservoir,
- atomizing the condensate with the atomizer, and
- operating the fan to discharge the atomized condensate from the heat pump water heating system.
A method of operating a heat pump system, comprising:
- receiving a flow of air from an environment of the heat pump system, the flow of air having a dewpoint temperature;
- directing the flow of air through an evaporator of the heat pump system;
- directing a flow of refrigerant through the evaporator, the flow of refrigerant having a temperature that is below the dewpoint temperature;
- transferring thermal energy from the flow of air to the flow of refrigerant within the evaporator;
- condensing water vapor from the flow of air within the evaporator to form liquid condensate;
- directing the flow of air back into the environment of the heat pump system after directing the flow of air through the evaporator;
- collecting the liquid condensate;
- atomizing the liquid condensate to form a mist of liquid-state water droplets;
- and
- directing the liquid-state water droplets into the environment of the heat pump system.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.