Heat transfer system

In a heat transfer system functioning as a combination air conditioner and swimming pool heater, which system is characterized as a mechanical refrigeration system including the following components, a means for compressing refrigerant gas, a first refrigerant-to-air heat transfer device and fan in communication with ambient air, a second refrigerant-to-air heat transfer device in communication with air from an interior space, a refrigerant-to-water heat exchanger in communication with a pool water source, and mechanical refrigeration controls which enable said system to function in any one of three operating modes, wherein in the first mode of operation said first refrigerant-to-air heat transfer device functions as a condenser and said evaporator device functions as an evaporator such that heat is transferred from an interior space to the atmosphere, in the second mode of operation said refrigerant-to-water heat exchanger functions as a condenser and said evaporator device functions as an evaporator such that heat is transferred from an interior space to pool water, in the third mode of operation said refrigerant-to-water heat exchanger functions as a condenser and said refrigerant-to-air heat transfer device functions as an evaporator such that heat is transferred from the atmosphere to pool water, an improvement comprising:

• said refrigerant-to-water heat exchanger having an outer water conduit and an inner refrigerant conduit coaxially disposed therein, said outer and inner conduits forming a helical coil shape having an upper portion and a lower portion, said refrigerant-to-water heat exchanger disposed in substantially surrounding relation about said means for compressing refrigerant gas thereby functioning as a compressor sound shield;
• said heat exchanger further including a means for trapping gas present within said outer conduit in an area remote from said inner conduit, whereby said inner conduit is not exposed to said gas.

A refrigeration unit for use with an air handling apparatus having an evaporator and a fan, for selectively cooling an interior space and heating water, said refrigeration unit comprising:

• a structure for housing mechanical refrigeration components, said components including:
• (a) means for compressing refrigerant gas, said means for compressing having a suction inlet and a compressed gas outlet, said outlet in fluid communication with a reversing valve, said reversing valve having an inlet and first, second and third outlets, said reversing valve selectively movable from a first position wherein fluid communication is achieved between said inlet and said third outlet and commonly between said first and second outlets, and a second position wherein fluid communication is achieved between said inlet and said first outlet, and commonly between said second and third outlets;
• (b) a refrigerant-to-water heat exchanger having refrigerant conduit including an inlet and an outlet, and a water inlet and outlet, said refrigerant inlet in fluid communication with said first reversing valve outlet, said water inlet in fluid communication with a pool water circulating pump for drawing water from a pool water source, said water outlet being in communication with a water conduit returning water to said pool water source;
• said refrigerant-to-water-heat exchanger including means for maintaining said heat exchanger refrigerant conduit submerged in water;
• (c) a refrigerant-to-air heat transfer coil, said heat transfer coil and a fan for forcing ambient air across said coil, and first and second refrigerant ports for passing refrigerant fluid through said coil, said first refrigerant port in fluid communication with said third reversing valve outlet;
• (d) means for receiving and storing refrigerant having an inlet and an outlet, said heat exchanger refrigerant outlet and said heat transfer coil second port being in fluid communication with said inlet of said means for receiving and storing refrigerant, said outlet of said means for receiving and storing refrigerant being in fluid communication with refrigerant conduit including a first solenoid valve and a first thermal expansion valve, said conduit further fluidly communicating with said heat transfer coil second refrigerant port.

A heat transfer system for selectively cooling an interior space and heating water, said system comprising:

• (a) means for compressing refrigerant gas having a suction inlet and a compressed gas outlet, said outlet in fluid communication with a reversing valve, said reversing valve having an inlet and first, second and third outlets, said reversing valve selectively movable from a first position wherein fluid communication is achieved between said inlet and said third outlet and commonly between said first and second outlets, and a second position wherein fluid communication is achieved between said inlet and said first outlet, and commonly between said second and third outlets;
• (b) a refrigerant-to-water heat exchanger having a refrigerant conduit including an inlet and an outlet, and a water inlet and outlet, said refrigerant inlet in fluid communication with said first reversing valve outlet, said water inlet in fluid communication with a pool water circulating pump for drawing water from a pool water source, said water outlet being in communication with a water conduit returning water to said pool water source;
• said refrigerant-to-water heat exchanger including a gas trap for isolating gas within heat exchanger such that said refrigerant conduit is not exposed to corrosive gas accumulating therein;
• (c) a refrigerant-to-air heat transfer coil, said heat transfer coil including a fan for forcing ambient air across said coil, and first and second refrigerant ports for passing refrigerant fluid through said coil, said first refrigerant port in fluid communication with said third reversing valve outlet;
• (d) means for receiving and storing refrigerant having an inlet and an outlet, said heat exchanger refrigerant outlet and said heat transfer coil second port being in fluid communication with said inlet of said means for receiving and storing refrigerant, said outlet of said means for receiving and storing refrigerant being in fluid communication with refrigerant conduit including a first solenoid valve and a first thermal expansion valve, said conduit further fluidly communicating with said heat transfer coil second refrigerant port;
• (e) an evaporator for allowing heat transfer between refrigerant in said evaporator and air from an interior space, said evaporator having an inlet in fluid communication with said outlet of said means for receiving and storing refrigerant, and an outlet in fluid communication with said means for compressing refrigerant, and a fan for forcing air from said interior space across said evaporator, said evaporator inlet including a second solenoid valve and a second thermal expansion valve;
• and
• (f) control means, responsive to interior space temperature and pool water temperature, for energizing and controlling said system for selectively cooling said interior space and/or heating said pool water.

A heat transfer system for selectively cooling an interior space and heating water, said system comprising:

• (a) means for compressing refrigerant gas having a suction inlet and a compressed gas outlet, said outlet in fluid communication with a reversing valve, said reversing valve having an inlet and first, second and third outlets, said reversing valve selectively movable from a first position wherein fluid communication is achieved between said inlet and said third outlet and commonly between said first and second outlets, and a second position wherein fluid communication is achieved between said inlet and said first outlet, and commonly between said second and third outlets;
• (b) a refrigerant-to-water heat exchanger having a refrigerant conduit including an inlet and an outlet, and a water conduit including an inlet and an outlet, said refrigerant conduit inlet in fluid communication with said first reversing valve outlet, said water conduit inlet in fluid communication with a pool water circulating pump for drawing water from a pool water source, said water conduit outlet being in communication with said pool water source;
• a water check valve connected to said heat exchanger water conduit for preventing water from draining from said water conduit whereby a sufficient level of water is maintained in said water conduit to maintain said heat exchanger refrigerant conduit totally submerged in water;
• (c) a refrigerant-to-air heat transfer coil, said heat transfer coil including a fan for forcing ambient air across said coil, and first and second refrigerant ports for passing refrigerant fluid through said coil, said first refrigerant port in fluid communication with said third reversing valve outlet;
• (d) means for receiving and storing refrigerant having an inlet and an outlet, said heat exchanger refrigerant outlet and said heat transfer coil second port being in fluid communication with said inlet of said means for receiving and storing refrigerant, said outlet of said means for receiving and storing refrigerant being in fluid communication with refrigerant conduit including a first solenoid valve and a first thermal expansion valve, said conduit further fluidly communicating with said heat transfer coil second refrigerant port;
• (e) an evaporator for allowing heat transfer between refrigerant in said evaporator and air from an interior space, said evaporator having an inlet in fluid communication with said outlet of said means for receiving and storing refrigerant, and an outlet in fluid communication with said means for compressing refrigerant, and a fan for forcing air from said interior space across said evaporator, said evaporator inlet including a second solenoid valve and a second thermal expansion valve;
• and
• (f) control means, responsive to interior space temperature and pool water temperature, for energizing and controlling said system for selectively cooling said interior space and/or heating said pool water.

A heat transfer system for selectively cooling an interior space and heating water, said system comprising:

• (a) means for compressing refrigerant gas having a suction inlet and a compressed gas outlet, said outlet in fluid communication with a reversing valve, said reversing valve having an inlet and first, second and third outlets, said reversing valve selectively movable from a first position wherein fluid communication is achieved between said inlet and said third outlet and commonly between said first and second outlets, and a second position wherein fluid communication is achieved between said inlet and said first outlet, and commonly between said second and third outlets;
• (b) a refrigerant-to-water heat exchanger having a refrigerant conduit including an inlet and an outlet, and a water conduit including an inlet and an outlet, said refrigerant inlet in fluid communication with said first reversing valve outlet, said water inlet in fluid communication with a pool water circulating pump for drawing water from a pool water source, said water outlet being in communication with said pool water source;
• said refrigerant-to-water heat exchanger further including a metallic anode disposed in said water conduit and exposed to water contained therein, said anode electrically connected to a common metallic refrigeration system component, said metallic anode having an electrode potential which is higher than the electrode potential of metallic system components;
• (c) a refrigerant-to-air heat transfer coil, said heat transfer coil including a fan for forcing ambient air across said coil, and first and second refrigerant ports for passing refrigerant fluid through said coil, said first refrigerant port in fluid communication with said third reversing valve outlet;
• (d) means for receiving and storing refrigerant having an inlet and an outlet, said heat exchanger refrigerant outlet and said heat transfer coil second port being in fluid communication with said inlet of said means for receiving and storing refrigerant, said outlet of said means for receiving and storing refrigerant being in fluid communication with refrigerant conduit including a first solenoid valve and a first thermal expansion valve, said conduit further fluidly communicating with said heat transfer coil second refrigerant port;
• (e) an evaporator for allowing heat transfer between refrigerant in said evaporator and air from an interior space, said evaporator having an inlet in fluid communication with said outlet of said means for receiving and storing refrigerant, and an outlet in fluid communication with said means for compressing refrigerant, and a fan for forcing air from said interior space across said evaporator, said evaporator inlet including a second solenoid valve and a second thermal expansion valve;
• and
• (f) control means, responsive to interior space temperature and pool water temperature, for energizing and controlling said system for selectively cooling said interior space and/or heating said pool water.