US 5,473,910 AGranted

Apparatus and method for exhaust gas dispersion and condensate removal for gas engine driven heat pumps

AssigneeGas Research Institute

InventorsWilliam G. Atterbury, Scott N. Danhof

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Abstract

A gas engine driven heat pump system including an apparatus and method for exhaust gas dispersion and condensate removal which disperses and mixes exhaust gases more effectively to prevent local icing, inhibit frosting of outdoor heat exchangers, reduce engine noise, and mask exhaust odors, and which removes and treats condensate to further inhibit frosting and corrosion. Dispersion and condensate removal are achieved with exhaust gas distribution and condensate draining features incorporated into the exhaust system of the present invention, and with a fan compartment structure which promotes more complete mixing of exhaust gases and ambient air, while housing both the exhaust system and the outdoor heat exchanger.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A gas engine driven heat pump system comprising heat pump system components to provide heating to indoor spaces during heating mode operation, said heat pump system including:

an outdoor fan compartment defining a fan cavity and having a plurality of openings;
a fan disposed in a first opening of said fan compartment to produce an air stream through said fan compartment in at least one direction;
an outdoor heat exchanger positioned in a second opening to convey an air stream into or out of said fan compartment;
at least a portion of the exhaust system of said gas engine positioned in said fan cavity to introduce engine exhaust thereinto and to provide exhaust gas dispersion and condensate removal, said portion of the exhaust system comprising:
at least one perforated distribution pipe having a plurality of openings to distribute engine exhaust in said fan compartment for dispersion;
at least one condensate drain opening in said distribution pipe to drain condensed exhaust gases and vapors from said exhaust system;
and
at least one fan compartment drain opening positioned generally to pass therethrough said condensate draining from said exhaust system.

5 more elements

A gas engine driven heat pump system comprising heat pump system components to provide heating to indoor spaces during heating mode operation and to provide, said heat pump system including:

an outdoor fan compartment defining a fan cavity and having a plurality of openings;
a fan disposed in a first opening of said fan compartment to produce an air stream through said fan compartment in at least one direction;
an outdoor heat exchanger positioned in a second opening to convey an air stream into or out of said fan compartment;
at least a portion of the exhaust system of said gas engine positioned in said fan cavity to introduce engine exhaust thereinto and to provide exhaust gas dispersion and condensate removal, said portion of the exhaust system comprising:
at least one distribution pipe having at least one opening, said at least one distribution pipe disposed generally adjacent to a portion of said fan compartment;
and
at least one fan compartment drain opening in said portion of said fan compartment adjacent to said at least one distribution pipe, positioned to receive condensed exhaust gases and vapors draining from said distribution pipe, and sized to allow air flow into said fan compartment which promotes entrainment, mixing and distribution of engine exhaust in said fan compartment.

4 more elements

A method for exhaust gas dispersion and condensate removal for gas engine driven heat pumps comprising the steps of:

providing a gas engine driven heat pump system having heat pump system components to provide heating to indoor spaces during heating mode operation, wherein said heat pump system includes an outdoor fan compartment defining a fan cavity and having a plurality of openings, a fan disposed in a first opening of said fan compartment to produce an air stream through said fan compartment in at least one direction, an outdoor heat exchanger positioned in a second opening to convey an air stream into or out of said fan compartment, and wherein said heat pump system further includes an exhaust system for said gas engine, at least a portion of which is positioned in said fan cavity;
distributing engine exhaust into said fan cavity through at least one distribution pipe comprising a portion of said exhaust system in said fan cavity;
mixing said engine exhaust with said air stream produced by said fan through said fan compartment;
providing at least one fan compartment drain opening in said fan compartment, and providing at least one condensate drain opening in said distribution pipe to drain said condensate through said respective fan compartment drain opening;
and
draining condensed exhaust gases and vapors from said exhaust system through said fan compartment drain opening.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 08/123,790Filed 20 Sep 1993
Granted: 12 Dec 1995
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification13 codes

F01N 13/08
Exhaust or silencing apparatus characterised by constructional features: other arrangements or adaptations of exhaust conduits
F01N 3/05
For cooling, or for removing solid constituents of, exhaust: by means of air, e.g. by mixing exhaust with air
F01N 5/02
Exhaust or silencing apparatus combined or associated with devices profiting by exhaust energy: the devices using heat
F25B 30/06
Heat pumps: characterised by the source of low potential heat