Heat pump systems

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2022235944-A1
Application number	US-202117160975-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 28, 2021
Priority date	Jan 28, 2021
Publication date	Jul 28, 2022
Grant date	—

Abstract

Disclosed herein are heat pump systems for water heaters. The heat pump systems can comprise a housing defining an interior chamber, an air inlet, and an air outlet. The air inlet and the air outlet can form an air flow path through the interior chamber, and an evaporator unit can be positioned within the interior chamber such that the air flow path contacts the evaporator unit. The housing can also have a flue pipe having a cross-section to encourage aerodynamic flow and/or side baffles to encourage air flow into the evaporator unit. The housing can also have a second air inlet to increase air flow and a curved elbow around the first air inlet to direct the air flow path. The air flow path can flow from a top side of the housing to a side of the housing, and the air flow path can be reversible.

First claim

1 . A heat pump system for a water heater, the heat pump system comprising:
a housing defining an interior chamber having an air inlet and an air outlet; an air flow path in the interior chamber extending between the air inlet and the air outlet; an evaporator unit positioned at least partially in the air flow path to interact with air flowing along the air flow path; a first side baffle and a second side baffle positioned at a first and a second lateral end of the evaporator unit and along the air flow path, respectively; and a flue pipe positioned in the air flow path and defined by a flue pipe cross section, the flue pipe cross-section having a leading edge, a trailing edge, and a central portion between the leading edge and the trailing edge, the flue pipe being oriented such that the leading edge is positioned in the air flow path at a location upstream of the central portion and the trailing edge, wherein (i) a width of the leading edge is less than or equal to a width of the central portion and (ii) for at least a portion of the flue pipe, a length of the flue pipe is greater than a width of the flue pipe, the length being parallel to the air flow direction and the width being perpendicular to the air flow direction, wherein the flue pipe extends from a bottom side of the housing through the interior chamber.

2 . The heat pump system of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the flue pipe has a cross-sectional shape that is elliptical, a major axis of the elliptical cross-section being parallel to the air flow path.

3 . The heat pump system of claim 1 , wherein the first and the second side baffles are disposed at an angle such that the first and the second side baffles direct the air flow path to the evaporator unit.

4 . The heat pump system of claim 3 , wherein the air inlet is a first air inlet, the housing further comprising a second air inlet in fluid communication with the air flow path, the second air inlet being proximate to the first side baffle.

5 . The heat pump system of claim 1 further comprising a curved elbow attached to the air inlet and configured to direct the air flow path to the evaporator unit.

6 . The heat pump system of claim 1 further comprising a top pan configured to engage a top end of the heat pump system, wherein the top pan comprises the air inlet.

7 . The heat pump system of claim 6 , wherein the top pan defines a top side of the interior chamber.

8 . The heat pump system of claim 1 , wherein the air outlet is positioned on a side of the heat pump system.

9 . The heat pump system of claim 1 , wherein the air inlet is positioned on a side of the heat pump system and the air outlet is positioned on a top side of the interior chamber.

10 . A heat pump system comprising:
a housing having an internal volume and a partition defining a first interior chamber and a second interior chamber within the internal volume, the first interior chamber and the second interior chamber being fluidly separated, the first interior chamber having an air inlet and an air outlet; an air flow path extending through the first interior chamber from the air inlet to the air outlet; an evaporator unit positioned at least partially in the air flow path to interact with air flowing along the air flow path; a side baffle positioned at a first end of the evaporator unit and along the air flow path, the side baffle disposed at an angle such that the side baffle directs the air flow path to the evaporator unit; and a flue pipe positioned in the second interior chamber such that the flue pipe is separated from the air flow path, the flue pipe having a cross-section having a leading edge, a trailing edge, and a central portion between the leading edge and the trailing edge, the flue pipe being oriented such that the leading edge is positioned in the air flow path at a location upstream of the central portion and the trailing edge, wherein (i) a width of the leading edge is less than or equal to a width of the central portion and (ii) for at least a portion of the flue pipe, a length of the flue pipe is greater than a width of the flue pipe, the length being parallel to the air flow direction and the width being perpendicular to the air flow direction.

11 . The heat pump system of claim 10 further comprising a curved elbow attached to the air inlet and configured to direct the air flow path to the evaporator unit.

12 . The heat pump system of claim 10 further comprising a top pan configured to engage a top end of the heat pump system, wherein the top pan comprises the air inlet.

13 . The heat pump system of claim 12 , wherein the top pan defines a top side of the interior chamber.

14 . The heat pump system of claim 10 , wherein the air outlet is positioned on a side of the heat pump system.

15 . The heat pump system of claim 10 , wherein the air inlet is positioned on a side of the heat pump system and the air outlet is positioned on a top side of the interior chamber.

16 . The heat pump system of claim 10 , wherein the evaporator unit is curved thereby increasing a surface area of the evaporator unit exposed to the air flow path.

17 . A heat pump system comprising:
a housing defining an interior chamber having an air inlet and an air outlet; an air flow path in the interior chamber extending between the air inlet and the air outlet; an evaporator unit positioned at least partially in the air flow path to interact with air flowing along the air flow path; side baffles between the evaporator unit and the housing, each of the side baffles being disposed at an angle such that the side baffles direct the air flow path to the evaporator unit; and a flue pipe extending from a bottom side of the housing through the interior chamber, the flue pipe positioned in the air flow path and defined by a flue pipe cross section having a leading edge, a trailing edge, and a central portion between the leading edge and the trailing edge, wherein a width of the leading edge is less than or equal to a width of the central portion.

18 . The heat pump system of claim 17 , wherein the air inlet is a first air inlet, the housing further comprising a second air inlet in fluid communication with the air flow path, the second air inlet being proximate to at least one of the side baffles.

19 . The heat pump system of claim 17 , wherein the flue pipe has a cross-section having a leading edge, a trailing edge, and a central portion between the leading edge and the trailing edge, the flue pipe being oriented such that the leading edge is positioned in the air flow path at a location upstream of the central portion and the trailing edge, wherein (i) a width of the leading edge is less than or equal to a width of the central portion and (ii) for at least a portion of the flue pipe, a length of the flue pipe is greater than a width of the flue pipe, the length being parallel to the air flow direction and the width being perpendicular to the air flow direction.

20 . The heat pump system of claim 17 further comprising a curved elbow attached to the air inlet and configured to direct the air flow path to the evaporator unit.

Assignees

• Rheem Mfg Co

Inventors

• Ardha Vishwanath
• Beyhaghi Saman
• Chen Hongchu
• Gibbons David

Classifications

• F24H4/02 Primary

  Water heaters · CPC title

• F25B30/02

  of the compression type · CPC title

• F24H9/02

  Casings; Cover lids; Ornamental panels · CPC title

• F24D3/18 Primary

  using heat pumps · CPC title

• F24D19/082

  for water heating systems · CPC title