Dedicated dehumidifier and water heater
AssigneeLennox Industries Inc.
InventorRobert Uselton
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The disclosure provides an apparatus for heating water and dehumidifying air and a water heating and air processing system. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes: (1) a refrigeration circuit including an evaporator, a first condenser and a compressor, (2) a refrigerant-water heat exchanger having a second condenser fluidly coupled to the refrigeration circuit and (3) a control valve operatively connected to the refrigeration circuit to either direct flow of the refrigerant through the first condenser during a dehumidification mode or through the second condenser during a water heating mode.
Claims20
An apparatus, comprising:
- a refrigeration circuit including an evaporator, a first condenser and a compressor;
- a refrigerant-water heat exchanger having a second condenser fluidly coupled to said refrigeration circuit;
- and
- a control valve operatively connected to said refrigeration circuit to either direct flow of said refrigerant through said first condenser during a dehumidification mode or through said second condenser during a water heating mode.
A water heating and air processing (WHAP) system for heating potable water for an enclosure and processing air for said enclosure, said WHAP system comprising:
- a multi-mode dehumidifier and water heater including:
- a refrigeration circuit including an evaporator, a first condenser and a compressor;
- a refrigerant-water heat exchanger having a second condenser fluidly coupled to said refrigeration circuit;
- and
- a control valve operatively connected to said refrigeration circuit to either direct flow of said refrigerant through said first condenser during a dehumidification mode or through said second condenser during a water heating mode;
- and
- a fresh air ventilation damper positioned to allow outside air to flow across said evaporator and said first condenser and into said enclosure during a ventilation mode.
An environment operating and control system for an enclosure, comprising:
- a central heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) system having a circulating fan for moving air through said enclosure;
- and
- a water heating and air processing (WHAP) system for heating potable water for said enclosure and processing air for said enclosure, said WHAP system fluidly coupled to said central HVAC system and including:
- a multi-mode dehumidifier and water heater including:
- a refrigeration circuit including an evaporator, a first condenser and a compressor;
- a refrigerant-water heat exchanger having a second condenser fluidly coupled to said refrigeration circuit;
- and
- a control valve operatively connected to said refrigeration circuit to either direct flow of said refrigerant through said first condenser during a dehumidification mode or through said second condenser during a water heating mode;
- and
- fresh air ventilation dampers positioned to allow outside air flow across said evaporator and said first condenser and into said enclosure during a ventilation mode.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.