US 2026/0298484 A1Published application

Systems and methods for integrating a water heating unit and a heat pump

OwnerAndrew M. Welch, Brian Richard Butler +6inventors

InventorsAndrew M. Welch, Brian Richard Butler, Stuart Keith Morgan, Winfield S. Morter, Michael J. Moran, Abigail Ellen Almanrode, Lonnie J. Aldredge, Laurel E. Sagartz

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Abstract

An integrated heat pump-water heater system includes a heat pump, a water heater, and a network of valves. The heat pump is operable in multiple operating modes and includes a compressor, an indoor air-refrigerant heat exchanger (ARHX), an outdoor ARHX, and a reversing valve. The reversing valve is connected to the compressor and positionable to direct flow of refrigerant between the indoor ARHX and the outdoor ARHX based on the operating mode. The water heater includes a water loop and a water-refrigerant heat exchanger (WRHX). The WRHX thermally connects the water in the water loop and the refrigerant in the refrigerant loop. The network of valves is positioned on the refrigerant loop and connected to the reversing valve, the indoor ARHX, and the outdoor ARHX. The network of valves is positionable to direct the flow of the refrigerant through the system.

Claims20

Dependent claims

An integrated heat pump-water heater system, comprising:

a heat pump for circulating refrigerant in a refrigerant loop, the heat pump operable in multiple operating modes for an indoor space, the heat pump comprising:
a compressor positioned on the refrigerant loop,
an indoor air-refrigerant heat exchanger (ARHX) positioned on the refrigerant loop,
an outdoor ARHX positioned on the refrigerant loop, and
a reversing valve positioned on the refrigerant loop and connected to the compressor and positionable to direct flow of the refrigerant between the indoor ARHX and the outdoor ARHX based on the operating mode of the heat pump;
a water heater comprising a water loop and a water-refrigerant heat exchanger (WRHX) that thermally connects water in the water loop and the refrigerant in the refrigerant loop;
and
a network of valves positioned on the refrigerant loop and connected to the reversing valve, the indoor ARHX, and the outdoor ARHX, wherein the network of valves is positionable to direct the flow of the refrigerant through the WRHX such that the refrigerant is able to heat the water via the WRHX in each operating mode of the heat pump, and wherein the network of valves is positionable to isolate the compressor and the outdoor ARHX from the flow of the refrigerant and direct the flow of the refrigerant between the WRHX and the indoor ARHX.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.