Combined space and water heating systems

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12449139-B2
Application number	US-202017086863-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 2, 2020
Priority date	Nov 2, 2020
Publication date	Oct 21, 2025
Grant date	Oct 21, 2025

Abstract

A combination domestic hot water and space heating system is disclosed. The system includes two refrigerant circuits, one dedicated to heating potable water in a water storage tank and one dedicated to heating a condenser used to heat a space within a building. A controller sends output signals to valves to vary refrigerant flow into the first refrigerant circuit and/or the second refrigerant circuit. The variation in refrigerant flow can be provided by a single multi-directional valve, one or more valves placed at a first end of each refrigerant circuit, and/or one or more electronic expansion valves placed at the end of each refrigerant circuit. Portions of the system can be placed into a single housing, thereby reducing installation costs and labor.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A heating system comprising:
an evaporator having an evaporator inlet and an evaporator outlet;
a compressor having a compressor inlet in fluid communication with the evaporator outlet and a compressor outlet;
a water storage tank;
a first condenser proximate the water storage tank;
a first refrigerant circuit in fluid communication with the compressor outlet at a first end of the first refrigerant circuit and in fluid communication with the evaporator inlet at a second end of the first refrigerant circuit, the first refrigerant circuit configured to provide heat to heat the first condenser;
a second condenser for heating a fluid to provide a space heating effect;
a second refrigerant circuit in fluid communication with the compressor outlet at a first end of the second refrigerant circuit and in fluid communication with the evaporator inlet at a second end of the second refrigerant circuit, the second refrigerant circuit configured to provide heat to the second condenser;
a first enclosure containing the water storage tank, the first condenser, and at least a portion of the first refrigerant circuit;
a second enclosure containing the second condenser and at least a portion of the second refrigerant circuit in addition to the second condenser, wherein the second enclosure is disposed adjacent to and directly attached to the first enclosure; and
a single third enclosure containing the evaporator and the compressor, wherein the single third enclosure is disposed adjacent to and directly attached to the first enclosure.

2. The heating system of claim 1 , wherein the compressor outlet comprises a circuit split, a first end of the circuit split in fluid communication with the first end of the first refrigerant circuit, and a second end of the circuit split in fluid communication with the first end of the second refrigerant circuit.

3. The heating system of claim 2 , wherein the circuit split comprises a multi-directional valve configured to independently vary refrigerant flow to the first refrigerant circuit and the second refrigerant circuit.

4. The heating system of claim 3 , further comprising an expansion valve disposed proximate the evaporator inlet,
wherein the second end of the first refrigerant circuit and the second end of the second refrigerant circuit merge into a single conduit in fluid communication with the expansion valve.

5. The heating system of claim 2 , further comprising:
a first valve disposed along the first refrigerant circuit between the circuit split and the water storage tank, the first valve configured to vary refrigerant flow into the first refrigerant circuit; and
a second valve disposed along the second refrigerant circuit between the circuit split and the second condenser, the second valve configured to vary refrigerant flow into the second refrigerant circuit.

6. The heating system of claim 5 , further comprising an expansion valve disposed proximate the evaporator inlet,
wherein the second end of the first refrigerant circuit and the second end of the second refrigerant circuit merge into a single conduit in fluid communication with the expansion valve.

7. The heating system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a first electronic expansion valve disposed along the first refrigerant circuit between the water storage tank and the evaporator inlet, the first electronic expansion valve configured to vary refrigerant flow out of the first refrigerant circuit and into the evaporator; and
a second electronic expansion valve disposed along the second refrigerant circuit between the second condenser and the evaporator inlet, the second electronic expansion valve configured to vary refrigerant flow out of the second refrigerant circuit and into the evaporator.

8. The heating system of claim 1 , further comprising a fan configured to blow air across the second condenser,
wherein the second condenser is configured to heat the air.

9. The heating system of claim 1 , further comprising a radiant heating tube and a circulation pump, wherein the second condenser is configured to heat the radiant heating tube.

10. The heating system of claim 9 , wherein the second condenser is a brazed plate heat exchanger.

11. The heating system of claim 1 , wherein the single third enclosure is disposed above the first enclosure, and wherein the second enclosure is disposed beside the first enclosure.

12. A heating system comprising:
an evaporator;
a compressor;
a first condenser;
a water storage tank;
a first temperature sensor configured to detect a water temperature of water within the water storage tank;
a first refrigerant circuit configured to heat the water storage tank via the first condenser;
a second condenser;
a fan configured to blow air across the second condenser, wherein the second condenser is configured to heat the air;
a second temperature sensor configured to detect air temperature within a space;
a second refrigerant circuit configured to provide heat to the second condenser;
a first enclosure containing the water storage tank, the first condenser, and at least a portion of the first refrigerant circuit;
a second enclosure containing the second condenser, the fan, and at least a portion of the second refrigerant circuit, wherein the second enclosure is disposed adjacent to the first enclosure;
a single third enclosure containing all heat sources for the water storage tank and the air, the heat sources comprising the evaporator and the compressor, wherein the single third enclosure is disposed adjacent to and directly attached to the first enclosure;
a controller having a processor and memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the controller to:
receive a first input signal from the first temperature sensor;
transmit a first output signal to adjust refrigerant flow into the first refrigerant circuit based on the first input signal;
receive a second input signal from the second temperature sensor; and
transmit a second output signal to adjust refrigerant flow into the second refrigerant circuit based on the second input signal.

13. The heating system of claim 12 , wherein:
the first input signal is indicative of the water temperature being below a first predetermined threshold;
the first output signal includes instructions to increase the refrigerant flow into the first refrigerant circuit;
the second input signal is indicative of the air temperature being below a second predetermined threshold; and
the second output signal includes instructions to increase the refrigerant flow into the second refrigerant circuit.

14. The heating system of claim 12 , further comprising a multi-directional valve configured to independently vary refrigerant flow to the first refrigerant circuit and the second refrigerant circuit,
wherein the first output signal and the second output signal includes instructions to adjust the multi-directional valve.

15. The heating system of claim 12 , further comprising:
a first valve disposed along the first refrigerant circuit; and
a second valve disposed along the second refrigerant circuit,
wherein the first output signal includes instructions to adjust the first valve responsive to the first input signal, and
wherein the second output signal includes instructions to adjust the second valve responsive to the second input signal.

16. The heating system of claim 12 , further comprising:
a first electronic expansion valve disposed along the first refrigerant circuit and configured to vary refrigerant flow out of the first refrigerant circuit and into

Assignees

• Rheem Mfg Co

Inventors

• Ardha Vishwanath
• Manay Atilhan
• Long Robert L
• Inamdar Harshad
• Shellenberger Timothy

Classifications

• F24D3/1066

  Distributors for heating liquids · CPC title

• F24D17/02

  using heat pumps · CPC title

• F24D15/04

  using heat pumps · CPC title

• F24D19/1024

  a multiple way valve · CPC title

• F24D3/082 Primary

  Hot water storage tanks specially adapted therefor · CPC title