USING HEAT RECOVERED FROM HEAT SOURCE TO OBTAIN HIGH TEMPERATURE HOT WATER

• US 20180363947A1
• Filed: 12/08/2016
• Published: 12/20/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Trane International Inc. (Trane Technologies plc)
• Original Assignee: Trane International Inc. (Trane Technologies plc)
• Inventors: COSBY, II, Ronald Maurice, KUJAK, Stephen A., Schultz, Kenneth J.
• Granted Patent: US 11,231,205 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 2205/126 Unsaturated fluorinated hydrocarbons
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 5/044 comprising halogenated compounds
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 5/045 containing only fluorine as halogen
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 4/04 Storage heaters
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2339/047 Water-cooled condensers
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2400/075 with parallel compressors
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2400/121 using R1234
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 25/005 using primary and secondary systems
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 29/003 of the compression type system
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 30/02 of the compression type
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 6/04 arranged in series
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 7/00 Compression machines, plants or systems, with cascade operation, i.e. with two or more circuits, the heat from the condenser of one circuit being absorbed by the evaporator of the next circuit F25B9/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 30/272 Solar heating or cooling
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/20 Solar thermal
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 20/10 Process efficiency

Abstract

Heat is recovered from a heat source to heat water to high temperatures. Apparatuses, systems and methods are described to heat water to a high temperature by using heat, such as may be considered in some instances as waste heat, recovered from a heat source. The methods, systems, and apparatuses described utilize low pressure refrigerant(s) as a fluid to provide a refrigeration cycle that utilizes a source of heat to heat water to a high temperature. The refrigeration cycle can be with or without a cascade cycle. The refrigerant cycle in some examples uses an oil free compressor.

Claims

1. A refrigeration system, comprising:

a first refrigeration cycle having a first heat exchange fluid; and

a second refrigeration cycle having a second heat exchange fluid,

the second heat exchange fluid having a relatively lower pressure than the first heat exchange fluid,

the second refrigeration cycle is in a heat exchange relationship with the first refrigeration cycle, such that the first refrigeration cycle providing a source of heat to the second refrigeration cycle, the second refrigeration cycle configured to heat water using, as a boost, the source of heat from the first refrigeration cycle.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first heat exchange fluid is a refrigerant and the second heat exchange fluid is a refrigerant.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the first heat exchange fluid is at least one selected from the group consisting of R-134a, R-513A, R-1234yf, R-1234ze, R-410A, and R-452A.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the second heat exchange fluid is at least one selected from the group consisting of trans-1-chloro-3,3,3 trifluoropropene;

cis-1-chloro-3,3,3 trifluoropropene;

2-chloro-3,3,3 trifluoropropene;

1,1,dichloro-3,3,3 trifluoropropene;

trans-1,2 dichloro-3,3,3 trifluoropropene;

cis-1,2 dichloro-3,3,3 trifluoropropene;

trans-1,3,3,3 tetrafluoropropene;

cis-1,3,3,3 tetrafluoropropene;

2,3,3,3 tetrafluoropropene;

1,1,2 trichloro-3,3,3 trifluoropropene;

trans-1,2 dichloroethylene;

cis-1,2 dichloroethylene;

1,1 dichloroethylene;

cis-1,1,1,4,4,4 hexafluorobutene;

trans-1,1,1,4,4,4 hexafluorobutene;

1,1,3,3 tetrafluoropropane;

1,1,1,2,3 pentafluoropropane;

1,1,2,3,3 pentafluoropropane;

1,1,1,3,3 pentafluoropropane;

1,1,1,2,2 pentafluoropropane;

1,1,1,2,2,3 hexafluoropropane;

1,1,1,2,3,3 hexafluoropropane;

1,1,1,3,3,3 hexafluoropropane;

propane;

butane;

isobutene;

isopentane;

pentane;

cyclopentane;

1, 1 difluoroethane;

1,2-difluoroethane;

difluoromethane;

1,1,1,2 tetrafluoroethane;

trans-1,3,3,3 tetrafluoropropene;

cis-1,3,3,3 tetrafluoropropene;

2,3,3,3 tetrafluoropropene;

1,1,2 trichloro-3,3,3 trifluoropropene;

trans-1,2 dichloroethylene;

cis-1,2 dichloroethylene;

1,1 dichloroethylene;

cis-1,1,1,4,4,4 hexafluorobutene;

trans-1,1,1,4,4,4 hexafluorobutene;

1, 1 difluoroethene;

1,2-difluoroethene;

1,1,1,2 tetrafluoroethane;

1,1,2,2 tetrafluoroethane;

1,1 difluoroethene;

trans-1,2 difluoroethene;

cis-1,2 difluoroethene;

Z-1-chloro-2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene;

E-1-chloro-2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene;

E-1,1,1,4,4,5,5,5-octafluoropent-2-ene;

trifluoroiodomethane; and

1,2,2 trifluroroethene.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the source of heat from the first refrigeration cycle is waste heat or heat that may otherwise be rejected or that would not have been recovered.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the first refrigeration cycle is selected from a rooftop machine, a unitary rooftop machine, a chiller, a variable refrigerant flow (VRF) machine, and/or variable water flow (VWF) machine, a HVAC system or unit or equipment.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the second refrigeration cycle is configured to heat water using, as a boost, the source of heat from the first refrigeration cycle, where the water heated by the second refrigeration cycle is in the range of 160°

F. to 200°

F.

8. The system of claim 1, where one or both of the first refrigeration cycle and the second refrigeration cycle is an oil free system, where a compressor of the respective first refrigeration cycle and/or second refrigeration cycle does not employ oil.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the second refrigeration cycle is in a heat exchange relationship with the first refrigeration cycle through a heat exchanger that takes heat rejected by the first heat exchange fluid to heat up and evaporate the second heat exchange fluid.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the second refrigeration cycle includes an oil free compressor, a condenser, an evaporator, and an expansion device between the outlet of the condenser and the inlet of the evaporator.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the oil free compressor is an oil free centrifugal compressor.

12. A method of heating water, comprising:

evaporating a refrigerant;

compressing the evaporated refrigerant;

rejecting heat from the compressed refrigerant to condense the refrigerant; and

heating water with the rejected heat from the condensed refrigerant, such that

the heating water heats water in the range of 160°

F. to 200°

F.,

the refrigerant being a relatively low pressure refrigerant suitable to heat water to the range of 160°

F. to 200°

F.,

the refrigerant is selected from at least one from the group consisting of trans-1-chloro-3,3,3 trifluoropropene;

cis-1-chloro-3,3,3 trifluoropropene;

2-chloro-3,3,3 trifluoropropene;

1,1,dichloro-3,3,3 trifluoropropene;

trans-1,2 dichloro-3,3,3 trifluoropropene;

cis-1,2 dichloro-3,3,3 trifluoropropene;

trans-1,3,3,3 tetrafluoropropene;

cis-1,3,3,3 tetrafluoropropene;

2,3,3,3 tetrafluoropropene;

1,1,2 trichloro-3,3,3 trifluoropropene;

trans-1,2 dichloroethylene;

cis-1,2 dichloroethylene;

1,1 dichloroethylene;

cis-1,1,1,4,4,4 hexafluorobutene;

trans-1,1,1,4,4,4 hexafluorobutene;

1,1,3,3 tetrafluoropropane;

1,1,1,2,3 pentafluoropropane;

1,1,2,3,3 pentafluoropropane;

1,1,1,3,3 pentafluoropropane;

1,1,1,2,2 pentafluoropropane;

1,1,1,2,2,3 hexafluoropropane;

1,1,1,2,3,3 hexafluoropropane;

1,1,1,3,3,3 hexafluoropropane;

propane;

butane;

isobutene;

isopentane;

pentane;

cyclopentane;

1, 1 difluoroethane;

1,2-difluoroethane;

difluoromethane;

1,1,1,2 tetrafluoroethane;

trans-1,3,3,3 tetrafluoropropene;

cis-1,3,3,3 tetrafluoropropene;

2,3,3,3 tetrafluoropropene;

1,1,2 trichloro-3,3,3 trifluoropropene;

trans-1,2 dichloroethylene;

cis-1,2 dichloroethylene;

1,1 dichloroethylene;

cis-1,1,1,4,4,4 hexafluorobutene;

trans-1,1,1,4,4,4 hexafluorobutene;

1, 1 difluoroethene;

1,2-difluoroethene;

1,1,1,2 tetrafluoroethane;

1,1,2,2 tetrafluoroethane;

1,1 difluoroethene;

trans-1,2 difluoroethene;

cis-1,2 difluoroethene;

Z-1-chloro-2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene;

E-1-chloro-2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene;

E-1,1,1,4,4,5,5,5-octafluoropent-2-ene;

trifluoroiodomethane; and

1,2,2 trifluroroethene.

13. A method of heating water, comprising:

evaporating a first heat exchange fluid in a first refrigeration cycle;

compressing the evaporated first heat exchange fluid in the first refrigeration cycle;

rejecting heat from the compressed first heat exchange fluid to condense the first heat exchange fluid, the rejecting of heat from the compressed first heat exchange fluid includes a heat exchange relationship with a second heat exchange fluid in a second refrigeration cycle and vaporizing the second heat exchange fluid in the second refrigeration cycle;

compressing the vaporized second heat exchange fluid in the second refrigeration cycle; and

heating water with the compressed second heat exchange fluid and condensing the compressed second heat exchange fluid,

the second heat exchange fluid having a relatively lower pressure than the first heat exchange fluid, where the first heat exchange fluid from the first refrigeration cycle providing a source of heat to the second refrigeration cycle, and where the second refrigeration cycle configured to heat the water using, as a boost, the source of heat from the first refrigeration cycle.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the first heat exchange fluid is a refrigerant and the second heat exchange fluid is a refrigerant.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the first heat exchange fluid is at least one selected from the group consisting of R-134a, R-513A, R-1234yf, R-1234ze, R-410A, and R-452A.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the second heat exchange fluid is at least one selected from the group consisting of trans-1-chloro-3,3,3 trifluoropropene;

cis-1-chloro-3,3,3 trifluoropropene;

2-chloro-3,3,3 trifluoropropene;

1,1,dichloro-3,3,3 trifluoropropene;

trans-1,2 dichloro-3,3,3 trifluoropropene;

cis-1,2 dichloro-3,3,3 trifluoropropene;

trans-1,3,3,3 tetrafluoropropene;

cis-1,3,3,3 tetrafluoropropene;

2,3,3,3 tetrafluoropropene;

1,1,2 trichloro-3,3,3 trifluoropropene;

trans-1,2 dichloroethylene;

cis-1,2 dichloroethylene;

1,1 dichloroethylene;

cis-1,1,1,4,4,4 hexafluorobutene;

trans-1,1,1,4,4,4 hexafluorobutene;

1,1,3,3 tetrafluoropropane;

1,1,1,2,3 pentafluoropropane;

1,1,2,3,3 pentafluoropropane;

1,1,1,3,3 pentafluoropropane;

1,1,1,2,2 pentafluoropropane;

1,1,1,2,2,3 hexafluoropropane;

1,1,1,2,3,3 hexafluoropropane;

1,1,1,3,3,3 hexafluoropropane;

propane;

butane;

isobutene;

isopentane;

pentane;

cyclopentane;

1, 1 difluoroethane;

1,2-difluoroethane;

difluoromethane;

1,1,1,2 tetrafluoroethane;

trans-1,3,3,3 tetrafluoropropene;

cis-1,3,3,3 tetrafluoropropene;

2,3,3,3 tetrafluoropropene;

1,1,2 trichloro-3,3,3 trifluoropropene;

trans-1,2 dichloroethylene;

cis-1,2 dichloroethylene;

1,1 dichloroethylene;

cis-1,1,1,4,4,4 hexafluorobutene;

trans-1,1,1,4,4,4 hexafluorobutene;

1, 1 difluoroethene;

1,2-difluoroethene;

1,1,1,2 tetrafluoroethane;

1,1,2,2 tetrafluoroethane;

1,1 difluoroethene;

trans-1,2 difluoroethene;

cis-1,2 difluoroethene;

Z-1-chloro-2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene;

E-1-chloro-2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene;

E-1,1,1,4,4,5,5,5-octafluoropent-2-ene;

trifluoroiodomethane; and

1,2,2 trifluroroethene.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the source of heat from the first refrigeration cycle is waste heat or heat that may otherwise be rejected or that would not have been recovered.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the first refrigeration cycle is selected from a rooftop machine, a unitary rooftop machine, a chiller, a variable refrigerant flow (VRF) machine, and/or variable water flow (VWF) machine, a HVAC system or unit or equipment.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein the second refrigeration cycle is configured to heat the water using, as a boost, the source of heat from the first refrigeration cycle, where the water heated by the second refrigeration cycle is in the range of 160°

F. to 200°

F.

20. The method of claim 13, where one or both of the first refrigeration cycle and the second refrigeration cycle is an oil free system, where a compressor of the respective first refrigeration cycle and/or second refrigeration cycle does not employ oil.

21. The method of claim 13, wherein the second refrigeration cycle is in a heat exchange relationship with the first refrigeration cycle through a heat exchanger that takes heat rejected by the first heat exchange fluid to heat up and evaporate the second heat exchange fluid.

22. The method of claim 13, wherein the second refrigeration cycle includes an oil free compressor, a condenser, an evaporator, and an expansion device between the outlet of the condenser and the inlet of the evaporator.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the oil free compressor is an oil free centrifugal compressor.