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US 5,305,614 AGranted
Ancillary heat pump apparatus for producing domestic hot water
AssigneeLennox Industries Inc.
InventorTheodore C. Gilles
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AssigneeLennox Industries Inc.
InventorTheodore C. Gilles
Estimating the term…
The ancillary heat pump apparatus of the present invention for producing domestic hot water generally includes a domestic hot water heat pump having refrigerant and water circuits which are operatively disposed at the proximal ends thereof into close array at the heat exchanger of the domestic hot water heat pump. The refrigerant circuit of the domestic hot water heat pump hereof has a heat exchanger coil disposed at the distal end thereof, and the water circuit is connected at the distal end thereof to a hot water heater. In the apparatus of the present invention, the distal refrigerant circuit heat exchanger coil is disposed into operative heat exchanging position, directly or indirectly, with a return fluid stream of a heat source. In preferred embodiments of the present invention, the heat source may be selected from the group consisting of (a) a space conditioning air stream heat pump, (b) a heating and air conditioning system, and (c) a hydronic distribution HVAC system. Other forms of a heat source may likewise be utilized.
Apparatus for heating liquid, said apparatus including a heat pump having first and second circuits, first circulation means for circulating refrigerant through said first circuit and second circulation means for circulating liquid to be heated through said second circuit, respective first portions of said first and second circuits being operatively disposed in heat exchange relationship to define a first heat exchanger, a second portion of said first circuit being operatively disposed in heat exchange relationship with a return fluid stream of a primary source of space conditioning and being cooperable therewith to define a second heat exchanger for removing heat from the return fluid stream, the primary source of space conditioning being systemically separate from said heat pump, a second portion of said second circuit being connected to a tank for storing heated liquid.
Apparatus for heating water, said apparatus including a heat pump having a refrigerant circuit and a water circuit, respective first portions of said refrigerant circuit and said water circuit being operatively disposed in heat exchange relationship to define a first heat exchanger, a second portion of said refrigerant circuit being operatively disposed in heat exchange relationship with a return fluid stream of a primary source of space conditioning and being cooperable therewith to define a second heat exchanger, the primary source of space conditioning being systematically separate from said heat pump, a second portion of said water circuit being connected to a tank for storing heated water.
Apparatus for heating water, said apparatus including a heat pump having a refrigerant circuit and a water circuit, respective first portions of said refrigerant circuit and said water circuit being operatively disposed in heat exchange relationship to define a first heat exchanger, a second portion of said refrigerant circuit being operatively disposable in heat exchange relationship with a return fluid stream of a primary source of space conditioning and being cooperable therewith for defining a second heat exchanger, the primary source of space conditioning being systemically separate from said heat pump, a second portion of said water circuit being connectable to a hot water storage tank, whereby said apparatus is adapted for retrofit connection between the return fluid stream of a primary source of space conditioning and a hot water storage tank.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.