Apparatus and method for hybrid water heating and air cooling and control thereof

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10041702-B2
Application number	US-201414476647-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 3, 2014
Priority date	Sep 2, 2014
Publication date	Aug 7, 2018
Grant date	Aug 7, 2018

Abstract

A system for conditioning air circulated from an interior of a building includes a refrigerant path, an air-cooled condenser in the refrigerant path, a water-cooled condenser in the refrigerant path that transfers heat from refrigerant in the refrigerant path to the building water, an evaporator in the refrigerant path, and a control system. The control system moves the system between operation of the air-cooled condenser and the water-cooled condenser based upon predetermined system conditions.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for conditioning air and for heating water, comprising:
a refrigerant path;
a first condenser in the refrigerant path and disposed in an air flow path so that the first condenser transfers heat to air in the air flow path from refrigerant moving through the first condenser in the refrigerant path;
a second condenser in the refrigerant path and that defines a water flow path so that the second condenser transfers heat to water in the water flow path from refrigerant moving through the second condenser in the refrigerant path;
an evaporator in the refrigerant path and disposed in a second air flow path so that air in the second air flow path transfers heat to refrigerant moving through the evaporator;
a compressor in the refrigerant path and configured to move refrigerant in the refrigerant path;
a three-way valve comprising a first connection to a first output line in the refrigerant path from the compressor, a second connection to an input line in the refrigerant path to the first condenser, and a third connection to an input line in the refrigerant path to the second condenser;
a port in the three-way valve, comprising a fourth connection distinct from each of the first connection, the second connection, and the third connection, the fourth connection connected to a bypass refrigerant path connected to an input to the compressor in the refrigerant path where such input is downstream from the evaporator with respect to the refrigerant path;
a second output line in the refrigerant path from the first condenser to the evaporator; and
a control system in operative communication with the refrigerant path and the three-way valve configured to
selectively direct refrigerant flow from the first connection, through the second connection to the first condenser or through the third connection to the second condenser,
upon directing refrigerant flow through the third connection to the second condenser without directing refrigerant flow through the second connection to the first condenser, draining refrigerant from the first condenser, in response to pressure in the first condenser or the second output line, and
selectively open the port in the three-way valve in response to pressure in the first output line.

2. The system as in claim 1 , including a temperature sensor in the water flow path and wherein the control system is configured to selectively direct refrigerant flow from the first connection, through the second connection to the first condenser or through the third connection to the second condenser responsively to an output signal of the temperature sensor.

3. The system as in claim 2 , including a pump in the water flow path so that the pump moves water through the water flow path.

4. The system as in claim 1 , wherein the control system is configured to drain the refrigerant from the first condenser to the evaporator.

5. The system as in claim 4 , wherein the control system is configured to drain refrigerant from the first condenser to the evaporator in response to a difference between a pressure in the evaporator and the pressure in the first condenser or the second output line.

6. The system as in claim 5 ,
comprising a temperature sensor disposed with respect to the second output line to detect an air temperature ambient to the second output line,
wherein the temperature sensor outputs a signal to the control system corresponding to the ambient temperature, and
wherein the control system is configured to compare the ambient temperature represented by the signal output from the temperature sensor to a predetermined temperature at which the difference is sufficient to permit the refrigerant to drain from the first condenser or the second output line to the evaporator and, if the ambient temperature represented by the signal is greater than the predetermined temperature, to drain the refrigerant from the first condenser to the evaporator.

7. The system as in claim 6 , comprising a refrigerant drain line between the first condenser and the evaporator, and a valve in the refrigerant drain line, wherein the control system is in operative communication with the drain line valve to selectively open and close the drain line valve in response to comparison between the ambient temperature represented by the signal output from the temperature sensor and the predetermined temperature.

8. The system as in claim 6 ,
comprising a pressure sensor in the refrigerant path at the evaporator that outputs a signal to the control system corresponding to pressure of refrigerant in the evaporator,
wherein the control system is configured, if the ambient temperature represented by the signal from the temperature sensor is greater than the predetermined temperature, to compare a threshold pressure based on the ambient temperature represented by the signal from the temperature sensor to the pressure of refrigerant in the evaporator, and drain the refrigerant from the first condenser to the evaporator if comparison of the threshold pressure to the pressure of refrigerant in the evaporator meets a predetermined criteria.

9. A system for conditioning air and for heating water, comprising:
a refrigerant path;
a first condenser in the refrigerant path and disposed in a first air flow path so that the first condenser transfers heat to air in the first air flow path from refrigerant moving through the first condenser in the refrigerant path;
a second condenser in the refrigerant path and that defines a water flow path so that the second condenser transfers heat to water in the water flow path from refrigerant moving through the second condenser in the refrigerant path;
an evaporator in the refrigerant path and disposed in a second air flow path so that air in the second air flow path transfers heat to refrigerant moving through the evaporator;
a compressor in the refrigerant path and configured to move refrigerant in the refrigerant path;
a three-way valve comprising a first connection to a first output line in the refrigerant path from the compressor, a second connection to an input line in the refrigerant path to the first condenser, and a third connection to an input line in the refrigerant path to the second condenser;
a port in the three-way valve, comprising a fourth connection distinct from each of the first connection, the second connection, and the third connection, the fourth connection connected to a bypass refrigerant path connected to an input to the compressor in the refrigerant path where such input is downstream from the evaporator with respect to the refrigerant path;
a second output line in the refrigerant path from the first condenser to the evaporator, the second output line having an expansion valve; and
a control system in operative communication with the refrigerant path and the three-way valve configured to
selectively direct refrigerant flow from the first connection, to the second connection to the first condenser or to the third connection to the second condenser,
upon directing refrigerant flow to the third connection to the second condenser without directing refrigerant flow to the second connection to the first condenser, draining refrigerant from the first condenser into a flow between the second condenser and the evaporator, in response to pressure in the first condenser or the second output line, and
selectively open the port in the three-way valve in response to pressure in the first output line.

10. The system as in claim 9 , including a temperature sensor in the water flow path and wherein the control system is configured to selectively direct refrigerant flow through the second connection to the first condenser or the third connection to the second con

Assignees

• Rheem Mfg Co

Inventors

• Lowrimore Walker R
• Long Robert L
• Winters Scott D
• Foster Randy W

Classifications

• Y02B30/12

  Hot water central heating systems using heat pumps · CPC title

• F25B49/005

  of safety devices (F25B49/02 and F25B49/04 take precedence) · CPC title

• F25B2339/047

  Water-cooled condensers · CPC title

• F25B2600/2507

  Flow-diverting valves · CPC title

• F24D2220/046

  Pressure sensors · CPC title