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US 2026/0298485 A1Published application
Systems and methods for integrating a water heating unit and a heat pump
OwnerBrian Richard Butlerinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An integrated heat pump-water heater system includes a heat pump with a refrigerant loop including a compressor, indoor and outdoor air-refrigerant heat exchangers (ARHX), and two reversing valves. The heat pump operates in multiple modes to condition an indoor space. A water heater with a water loop and a water-refrigerant heat exchanger (WRHX) thermally connects to the refrigerant loop. The first reversing valve controls whether the WRHX is part of the refrigerant loop or isolated from it. The second reversing valve directs refrigerant flow between the indoor and outdoor ARHX based on the operating mode, such as heating or cooling the indoor space.
Claims20
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,
- a first reversing valve positioned on the refrigerant loop and connected to the compressor, and
- a second reversing valve positioned on the refrigerant loop and connected to the first reversing valve, the compressor, the indoor ARHX, and the outdoor ARHX;
- and
- 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;
- wherein the first reversing valve is positionable between a first position, in which the WRHX is connected to the refrigerant loop, and a second position, in which the WRHX is isolated from the refrigerant loop,
- wherein the second reversing valve is positionable to direct flow of the refrigerant between the indoor ARHX and the outdoor ARHX based on the operating mode of the heat pump.
7 more elements
An integrated heat pump-water heater system, comprising:
- a heat pump operable in multiple operating modes for conditioning an indoor space, the heat pump comprising a refrigerant loop, and an indoor heat exchanger and an outdoor heat exchanger each on the refrigerant loop;
- a water heater comprising a water loop and a water-refrigerant heat exchanger (WRHX) that thermally connects water in the water loop and refrigerant in the refrigerant loop;
- and
- a controller connected to the heat pump and the water heater, wherein the controller is configured to:
- when the heat pump is operating in a space heating mode, control the heat pump to reject heat from the refrigerant in the indoor heat exchanger into an inlet air stream;
- when the heat pump is operating in a space cooling mode, control the heat pump to absorb heat into the refrigerant in the indoor heat exchanger from the inlet air stream;
- in each of the space heating mode and the space cooling mode, determine that a condition of the water heater indicates a need for water heating and that a condition of the heat pump indicates an availability of the refrigerant in the refrigerant loop to heat the water in the water loop and, in response, control supply of the water to the WRHX and control the heat pump to direct the refrigerant through the WRHX for heating the water;
- and
- in the space cooling mode, determine that the condition of the heat pump indicates that the refrigerant in the refrigerant loop is not available to heat the water in the water loop and, in response, cycle and/or turn off the outdoor heat exchanger.
6 more elements
A method of operating an integrated heat pump-water heater system for an indoor space, the method comprising:
- circulating a refrigerant through a refrigerant loop of a heat pump operable in a space heating mode and a space cooling mode, wherein the heat pump includes a compressor, an indoor air-refrigerant heat exchanger (ARHX), an outdoor ARHX, a reversing valve, a water-refrigerant heat exchanger (WRHX) thermally connecting the refrigerant loop to a water loop of a water heater, and a network of valves, all positioned on the refrigerant loop,
- wherein operating the heat pump in the space heating mode comprises:
- positioning the reversing valve to direct the refrigerant from the compressor towards the network of valves and from the outdoor ARHX towards the compressor,
- positioning the network of valves to direct the refrigerant from the reversing valve towards the WRHX,
- transferring heat from the refrigerant to water in the water loop via the WRHX,
- directing the refrigerant from the WRHX successively through the indoor ARHX and the outdoor ARHX,
- rejecting heat from the refrigerant to an indoor air stream via the indoor ARHX to heat the indoor space, and
- absorbing heat from an outdoor air stream into the refrigerant via the outdoor ARHX;
- wherein operating the heat pump in the space cooling mode comprises:
- positioning the reversing valve to direct the refrigerant from the compressor towards the outdoor ARHX and from the network of valves towards the compressor;
- positioning the network of valves to direct the refrigerant from the outdoor ARHX towards the WRHX,
- transferring heat from the refrigerant to the water in the water loop via the WRHX,
- directing the refrigerant from the WRHX towards the indoor ARHX,
- absorbing heat from the indoor air stream into the refrigerant via the indoor ARHX to cool the indoor space, and
- rejecting heat from the refrigerant to the outdoor air stream via the outdoor ARHX;
- and
- wherein the steps of transferring heat from the refrigerant to the water via the WRHX in both the space heating mode and the space cooling mode enhance energy efficiency by utilizing the refrigerant to heat the water across the space heating mode and the space cooling mode.
14 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.