Apparatus for enhancing the performance of a heat pump and the like
OwnerJerry J. Pachecoinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Apparatus for enhancing the performance of a heat pump which includes first and second auxiliary coils that are operatively connected to the heat pump. Each auxiliary coil has a radiant quartz heating element disposed internally thereof and a fan is disposed in closely adjacent spaced relation to the second auxiliary coil and exteriorly thereof. A pair of thermostats selectively actuate the radiant quartz heating elements and the fan at preselected environmental ambient temperatures to achieve increased heat pump efficiency.
Claims16
An apparatus for enhancing the performance of a heat pump that utilizes a refrigerant, the apparatus comprising
- first and second auxiliary coils of predetermined dimension operatively interconnected in fluid flow relation with the heat pump to receive and transmit the refrigerant;
- radiant heating means disposed in heat transferring relation to the first and second auxiliary coils for imparting heat energy to the refrigerant therein;
- temperature sensor means operatively interconnected with the heat pump for sensing the temperature of the refrigerant and the ambient air temperature;
- air flow inducing means disposed in heat removing relation to the second auxiliary coil for dissipating the heat energy from the refrigerant contained therein;
- and
- selectively adjustable control means for selectively actuating the radiant heating means of the first and second auxiliary coils, and the air flow reducing means for selected periods of time at a predetermined high and low ambient air temperature, and predetermined refrigerant temperatures to achieve increased heat pump efficiency.
An apparatus for enhancing the performance of a heat pump that has a compressor, an evaporator, a condenser, a refrigerant, and conduits for serially connecting and transmitting the refrigerant between the compressor, evaporator, and condenser, the apparatus comprising:
- a first auxiliary coil having a longitudinal axis and operatively connected in fluid communication with and upstream of the condenser and downstream of the compressor, said first auxiliary coil being a reduced diameter helical coil having an increased surface area to volume of refrigerant ratio;
- a second auxiliary coil having a longitudinal axis and operatively connected in fluid communication with and downstream of the condenser and upstream of the evaporator, said second auxiliary coil being a reduced diameter helical coil having an increased surface area to volume of refrigerant ratio;
- at least one radiant quartz heating element disposed in radiant heat transferring relation internally and substantially centrally along the longitudinal axis of each auxiliary coil, the quartz heating element adapted to impart heat energy to the refrigerant as it circulates in each auxiliary coil;
- a fan mounted in heat removing relation externally of the second auxiliary coil, said fan drawing a volume of air through the second auxiliary coil to absorb and thereby dissipate heat energy from the refrigerant;
- and
- temperature control means operatively connected to each quartz heating element and to the fan for individually selectively activating each quartz heating element and the fan for predetermined periods of time at individual selected high and low ambient air temperatures and high and low refrigerant temperatures to achieve enhanced heat pump efficiency.
An apparatus for enhancing the performance of a heat pump that has a compressor, an evaporator, a condenser, a refrigerant, and conduits for serially connecting and transmitting the refrigerant between the compressor, evaporator and condenser, the apparatus comprising at least one auxiliary coil having a longitudinal axis and operatively interconnected in fluid communication with and downstream of the evaporator and upstream of the compressor, said auxiliary coil being a reduced diameter helical coil having an increased surface area to volume of refrigerant ratio;
- at least one radiant quartz heating element disposed in radiant heat transferring relation internally, and substantially centrally along said longitudinal axis of the auxiliary coil, the quartz heating element adapted to impart heat energy to the refrigerant as it circulates in the auxiliary coil;
- a fan mounted in heat removing relation externally of the auxiliary coil, said fan drawing a volume of air through the auxiliary coil to absorb and thereby dissipate heat energy from the refrigerant;
- and thermostatic control means operatively connected to the quartz heating element and the fan for individually selectively activating the quartz heating element and the fan for predetermined periods of time at individual selected high and low ambient air temperatures to achieve enhanced heat pump efficiency.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.