Single package, indoor air-sourced, basement heat pump for home heating and air conditioning

A heat pump system for a house, said house having a basement and a foundation, said foundation including a footing and a plurality of basement outer walls supported thereon, said basement substantially embedded in locally surrounding subsurface material and ground, said house also having an above-ground living space adjoiningly atop said basement, said above-ground living space enclosing a volume of living-space ambient air, said basement having a floor comprising a concrete slab disposed atop an underlying grade, said concrete slab having an upward-facing surface and a downward-facing surface, said downward-facing surface of said concrete slab being substantially un-insulated with respect to said underlying grade, said basement enclosing a volume of basement ambient air, said heat pump system drawing input living-space air from said volume of living-space ambient air, thermally modifying said input living-space air, and returning the thermally-modified living-space air to said above-ground living space as heat pump system output air, said heat pump system separately drawing in thermal supply air, causing an imposed temperature change to said thermal supply air, and releasing said thermal supply air having said imposed temperature change as heat pump thermal exhaust, said heat pump system comprising:

• a. a single-package heat pump, located in said basement and comprising:
• 1. an evaporator fed by a suitable supply of evaporator input air and releasing chilled evaporator output air,
• 2. a condenser fed by a suitable supply of condenser input air and releasing heated condenser output air,
• 3. means for powering the movement of evaporator input air through said evaporator, and
• 4. means for powering the movement of condenser input air through said condenser,
• wherein said means for powering the movement of evaporator input air and said means for powering the movement of condenser input air are selected from the group consisting of air blowers and air fans,
• b. a condenser intake assembly attaching to said single-package heat pump and comprising:
• 1. a condenser intake stage and enclosing means configured to route said suitable supply of condenser input air to said single-package heat pump, so that said suitable supply of condenser input air is passed to said condenser, and
• 2. a condenser intake aperture means comprising at least one opening in said condenser intake stage and enclosing means, enabling entry of comprising air for said suitable supply of condenser input air,
• c. an evaporator intake assembly attaching to said single-package heat pump and comprising:
• 1. an evaporator intake stage and enclosing means configured to route said suitable supply of evaporator input air to said single-package heat pump, so that said suitable supply of evaporator input air is passed to said evaporator, and
• 2. an evaporator intake aperture means comprising at least one opening in said evaporator intake stage and enclosing means, enabling entry of comprising air for said suitable supply of evaporator input air,
• d. a condenser output assembly attaching to said single-package heat pump and comprising:
• 1. a condenser output stage and enclosing means for collecting, channeling, and enabling the directed release of a suitable volume of said heated condenser output air, and
• 2. a condenser output aperture means including at least one opening to direct and release said heated condenser output air from said condenser output stage and enclosing means,
• e. an evaporator output assembly attaching to said single-package heat pump and comprising:
• 1. an evaporator output stage and enclosing means for collecting, channeling, and enabling the directed release of a suitable volume of said chilled evaporator output air, and
• 2. an evaporator output aperture means including at least one opening to direct and release said chilled evaporator output air from said evaporator output stage and enclosing means,
• f. an air inflow and handling means for controllably routing suitable flows of air to said condenser intake assembly and said evaporator intake assembly, comprising:
• 1. a winter inflow and handling means for living-space air to deliver a suitable supply of said input living-space air to said condenser intake aperture means and to thereby enable said condenser output aperture means to release heated condenser output air that comprises a thermally-modified output of living-space air,
• 2. a winter inflow and handling means for basement air to deliver a suitable supply of basement ambient air to said evaporator intake aperture means for use as said thermal supply air, said suitable supply of basement ambient air to accordingly be incorporated in said chilled evaporator output air, and released via said evaporator output aperture means as said heat pump thermal exhaust,
• 3. a summer inflow and handling means for living-space air to deliver a suitable supply of said input living-space air to said evaporator intake aperture means and to thereby enable said evaporator output aperture means to release chilled evaporator output air that comprises a thermally-modified output of living-space air, and
• 4. a summer inflow and handling means for basement air to deliver a suitable supply of basement ambient air to said condenser intake aperture means for use as said thermal supply air, said suitable supply of basement ambient air to accordingly be incorporated in said heated condenser output air, and released via said condenser output aperture means as said heat pump thermal exhaust,
• wherein said air inflow and handling means are configured for winter operation by engaging said winter inflow and handling means for living-space air in combination with said winter inflow and handling means for basement air, and are likewise configured for summer operation by engaging said summer inflow and handling means for living-space air in combination with said summer inflow and handling means for basement air,
• g. a thermal exhaust temperature mitigation means contained within said basement and comprising:
• 1. a thermal exhaust plenum configured to channel and expose heat pump thermal exhaust so that said concrete slab, said foundation, said underlying grade, and said locally surrounding subsurface material and ground are effectively used as a combined thermal sink, thereby causing said imposed temperature change reflected in said heat pump thermal exhaust to be substantially mitigated, and
• 2. a thermal exhaust outlet means providing a suitable method of expelling said heat pump thermal exhaust having mitigated temperature to said volume of basement ambient air,
• h. an air outflow and handling means for controlling the routing of air outflows released from said evaporator output aperture means and said condenser output aperture means, comprising:
• 1. a winter outflow and handling means for living-space air, to deliver said thermally-modified output of living-space air from said condenser output aperture means to said above-ground living space, so that said thermally-modified output of living-space air is presented as said heat pump system output air,
• 2. a winter thermal exhaust transfer means to transfer said heat pump thermal exhaust from said evaporator output aperture means to said thermal exhaust temperature mitigation means,
• 3. a summer outflow and handling means for living-space air, to deliver said thermally-modified output of living-space air from said evaporator output aperture means to said above-ground living space, so that said thermally-modified output of living-space air is presented as said heat pump system output air, and
• 4. a summer thermal exhaust transfer means comprising enclosing means to transfer said heat pump thermal exhaust from said condenser output aperture means to said thermal exhaust temperature mitigation means,
• wherein said air outflow and handling means are configured for winter operation by engaging said winter outflow and handling means for living-space air in combination with said winter thermal exhaust transfer means, and is likewise configured for summer operation by engaging said summer outflow and handling means for living-space air in combination with said summer thermal exhaust transfer means,
• whereby said heat pump system (a) conducts a substantial thermal exchange between said heat pump thermal exhaust and said combined thermal sink so as to substantially mitigate the temperature change reflected in said heat pump thermal exhaust, (b) releases said heat pump thermal exhaust having mitigated temperature to said volume of basement ambient air, (c) in winter operation draws said thermal supply air from said volume of basement ambient air thereby incorporating otherwise wasted heat available via said volume of basement ambient air, (e) in summer operation counteracts formation of basement mold and mildew by providing targeted warming of said concrete slab and said foundation, as well as limited warming of said volume of basement ambient air, and, (e) enables home heating and air-conditioning to be supported in an efficient and extended fashion by an embedded heat pump unit having a single-package design.

A method for heating and air conditioning a house, said house having a basement and a foundation, said foundation including a footing and a plurality of basement outer walls supported thereon, said basement substantially embedded in locally surrounding subsurface material and ground, said house also having an above-ground living space adjoiningly atop said basement, said above-ground living space enclosing a volume of living-space ambient air, said basement having a floor comprising a concrete slab disposed atop an underlying grade, said concrete slab having an upward-facing surface and a downward-facing surface, said downward-facing surface of said concrete slab being substantially un-insulated with respect to said underlying grade, said basement enclosing a volume of basement ambient air, said method for heating and air conditioning comprising:

• a. providing a single-package heat pump having an air-fed condenser, an air-fed evaporator, means for powering the movement of air through said air-fed evaporator, and means for powering the movement of air through said air-fed condenser, wherein said means for powering movement of air through said air-fed evaporator, and said means for powering the movement of air through said air-fed condenser, are selected from the group consisting of air blowers and air fans,
• b. providing air handling enclosures attached to said single-package heat pump that comprise a condenser intake assembly having a condenser intake aperture means configured to route air to said air-fed condenser, a condenser output assembly having a condenser output aperture means configured to route air from said air-fed condenser, an evaporator intake assembly having an evaporator intake aperture means configured to route air to said air-fed evaporator, and an evaporator output assembly having an evaporator output aperture means configured to route air from said air-fed evaporator,
• c. providing a winter inflow and handling means for living-space air configured to deliver a suitable supply of air from said volume of living-space ambient air to said condenser intake aperture means, and thereby enable said condenser output aperture means to release a heated output of living-space air,
• d. providing a winter outflow and handling means for living-space air configured to deliver said heated output of living-space air from said condenser output aperture means to said above-ground living space,
• e. providing a summer inflow and handling means for living-space air configured to deliver a suitable supply of air from said volume of living-space ambient air to said evaporator intake aperture means, and thereby enable said evaporator output aperture means to release a chilled output of living-space air,
• f. providing a summer outflow and handling means for living-space air configured to deliver said chilled output of living-space air from said evaporator output aperture means to said above-ground living space,
• g. providing a winter inflow and handling means for basement air configured to deliver a suitable supply of air from said volume of basement ambient air to said evaporator intake aperture means, and thereby enable said evaporator output aperture means to release a stream of heat pump thermal exhaust that comprises a chilled output of basement air,
• h. providing a summer inflow and handling means for basement air configured to deliver a suitable supply of air from said volume of basement ambient air to said condenser intake aperture means, and thereby enable said condenser output aperture means to release a stream of heat pump thermal exhaust that comprises a heated output of basement air,
• i. providing a thermal exhaust temperature mitigation means by:
• 1. providing a thermal exhaust plenum incorporating a portion of said concrete slab as a bounding side and configured to channel and expose heat pump thermal exhaust so that said concrete slab, said foundation, said underlying grade, and said locally surrounding subsurface material and ground are effectively used as a combined thermal sink, and
• 2. providing a thermal exhaust outlet means that enables a suitable method of expelling said heat pump thermal exhaust from said thermal exhaust plenum to said volume of basement ambient air,
• j. configuring said thermal exhaust outlet means to release and direct said heat pump thermal exhaust so as to enhance thermal contact between said heat pump thermal exhaust and an area of exposed slab in a centralized walking area of the basement,
• k. providing a winter thermal exhaust transfer means configured to transfer said chilled output of basement air from said evaporator output aperture means to said thermal exhaust plenum,
• l. providing a summer thermal exhaust transfer means configured to transfer said heated output of basement air from said condenser output aperture means to said thermal exhaust plenum,
• m. providing means to configure for heating mode by,
• 1. disengaging said summer inflow and handling means for living-space air, said summer outflow and handling means for living-space air, said summer inflow and handling means for basement air, and said summer thermal exhaust transfer means, and
• 2. engaging in combination said winter inflow and handling means for living-space air, said winter outflow and handling means for living-space air, said winter inflow and handling means for basement air, and said winter thermal exhaust transfer means,
• n. providing means to configure for air conditioning mode by,
• 1. disengaging said winter inflow and handling means for living-space air, said winter outflow and handling means for living-space air, said winter inflow and handling means for basement air, and said winter thermal exhaust transfer means, and
• 2. engaging in combination said summer inflow and handling means for living-space air, said summer outflow and handling means for living-space air, said summer inflow and handling means for basement air, and said summer thermal exhaust transfer means,
• whereby a heat pump system that implements said method for heating and air conditioning a house will (a) conduct a substantial thermal exchange via said concrete slab so as to substantially mitigate the temperature change reflected in said heat pump thermal exhaust, (b) release said heat pump thermal exhaust having mitigated temperature to said volume of basement ambient air while drawing said thermal supply air from said volume of basement ambient air so as to leverage otherwise wasted heat flows present in said volume of basement ambient air, (c) substantially prevent formation of basement mold and mildew as part of summer operation by providing targeted warming of said concrete slab and said foundation, and by providing limited warming of said volume of basement ambient air, and (e) enable home heating and air-conditioning to be supported in an efficient and extended fashion by a generic embedded heat pump unit that comprises a mass-produced, reliable, and low-cost window air conditioner having a generic single-package design.