Dual source heat pump

• US 4,336,692 A
• Filed: 04/16/1980
• Issued: 06/29/1982
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/1980
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: International Comfort Products Corp. (Carrier Global Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Atlantic Richfield Company Incorporated (BP PLC)
• Inventors: Pietsch, Joseph A., Ecker, Amir L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Makay, Albert J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TANNER, HARRY B
• Application Number:
  US06/140,706
• Time in Patent Office: 804 Days
• Field of Search: 165/29, 165/17, 62/282, 62/2, 62/82, 62/238.6, 62/156, 62/235.1, 126/419, 126/420, 126/421, 126/427, 126/433, 126/435, 237/2 B
• US Class Current: 62/82
• CPC Class Codes: F24D 11/0221 combined with solar energy
• CPC Class Codes: F24D 19/106 the system uses a heat pump and solar energy
• CPC Class Codes: F24D 2200/12 Heat pump
• CPC Class Codes: F24D 2200/14 Solar energy
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 5/0046 using natural energy, e.g. solar energy, energy from the ground
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 15/136 Defrosting or de-icing; Preventing freezing
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 13/00 Compression machines, plants or systems, with reversible cycle defrosting cycles F25B47/02
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2313/021 Indoor unit or outdoor unit with auxiliary heat exchanger not forming part of the indoor or outdoor unit
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 29/003 of the compression type system
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 47/022 hot gas defrosting
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 21/12 by hot-fluid circulating system separate from the refrigerant system
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/20 Solar thermal
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/70 Hybrid systems, e.g. uninterruptible or back-up power supplies integrating renewable energies

Abstract

What is disclosed is a heat pump apparatus for conditioning a fluid characterized by a fluid handler and path for circulating the fluid in heat exchange relationship with a refrigerant fluid; at least two refrigerant heat exchangers, one for effecting heat exchange with the fluid and a second for effecting heat exchange between refrigerant and a heat exchange fluid and the ambient air; a compressor for efficiently compressing the refrigerant; at least one throttling valve for throttling liquid refrigerant; a refrigerant circuit; refrigerant; a source of heat exchange fluid; heat exchange fluid circulating device and heat exchange fluid circuit for circulating the heat exchange fluid in heat exchange relationship with the refrigerant; and valves or switches for selecting the heat exchangers and direction of flow of the refrigerant therethrough for selecting a particular mode of operation. The heat exchange fluid provides energy for defrosting the second heat exchanger when operating in the air source mode and also provides a alternate source of heat.

Claims

1. Apparatus for conditioning a fluid temperature-wise and affording a single temperature hot water storage system for domestic using, defrosting, and supplying heat to a heat pump, comprising:

a. a hot water storage tank connected to conventional hot water inlet and outlet lines;

b. a fluid handler and fluid path means for circulating said fluid in a path in heat exchange relationship with a refrigerant fluid;

c. at least two refrigerant heat exchangers;

a first of the heat exchangers being disposed in the path of the fluid such that the fluid is passed in heat exchange relationship therewith, and a second of the refrigerant heat exchangers being disposed in a heat exchange fluid circuit for circulating the refrigerant in heat exchange relationship with a heat exchange fluid and in heat exchange relationship with ambient air;

d. at least one compressor connected into a refrigerant circuit for efficiently compressing the refrigerant from its inlet pressure to its discharge pressure under conditions of operation of the refrigerant circuit;

e. at least one metering valve connected at the inlet of a heat exchanger in which liquid refrigerant is being vaporized;

f. a refrigerant circuit serially connecting said heat exchangers, metering valve and compressor and defining a flow path for said refrigerant;

g. a reversing valve included in said refrigerant circuit for effecting operation respectively in a heating mode and in a cooling mode;

h. means for selecting the heat exchangers and direction of flow of refrigerant therethrough for selecting a particular mode of operation of the heat pump;

i. refrigerant disposed in said refrigerant circuit and adapted to be circulated in a selected flow path for transferring heat at a coefficient of performance greater than one;

j. a source of heat in the form of a heat exchange fluid;

k. heat exchange fluid circulating means for circulating said heat exchange fluid in a heat exchange circuit and in heat exchange relationship with said refrigerant;

l. a heat exchange circuit serially connecting said heat exchange fluid source, circulating means and second refrigerant-heat exchange fluid heat exchanger;

whereby said heat exchange fluid can be circulated through said second heat exchanger to provide optionally melting of accumulated frost and a secondary source of heat;

m. temperature sensor disposed in said second heat exchanger to measure the temperature therewithin;

n. control means to energize said heat exchange fluid circulating means when the temperature measured in said second heat exchanger is less than 32°

F. and to keep said heat exchanger fluid circulating means operative until the ice is melted from said second heat exchanger and the temperature in said second heat exchanger is above the freezing point of water whereby accumulated frost is detected and melted;

said second heat exchanger having an ambient air circulation means for circulating ambient air past said second heat exchanger; and

said control means including means for deenergizing said ambient air circulation means during defrosting;

o. solar heating circuit connected with said heat exchange circuit;

p. solar fluid circulating means disposed in said solar heating circuit for circulating said heat exchange fluid therethrough;

said hot water storage tank having a hot water fluid circulating means serially connected in a hot water circulating circuit that also incorporates a desuperheater heat exchanger and a water-heat exchange fluid heat exchanger for heat exchanging respectively with hot refrigerant and heat exchange fluid;

said desuperheater also being serially incorporated in said refrigerant circuit downstream of said compressor;

said water-heat exchange fluid heat exchanger also being serially incorporated in said solar heating circuit with said solar fluid circulating means for heat exchange between said heat exchange fluid and said hot water;

whereby a single temperature hot water storage serves optionally as a heat sink and a heat source to allow storing heat during periods of sun and using heat optionally for defrosting and for increasing efficiency of the heat pump.

2. A method of operating a heat pump, having a conventional compressor and refrigerant circuit, in a heating mode and simultaneously supplying a single temperature hot water storage system for domestic using, defrosting and supplying heat for the heat pump, comprising the steps of:

a. heat exchanging a heated, compressed refrigerant gas with a fluid being circulated by a fluid handler to heat the fluid and condense the refregerant gas to form a refrigerant liquid;

b. heat exchanging the refrigerant liquid in an outdoor heat exchanger with optionally ambient air;

c. providing separate heat exchange flow path in said outdoor heat exchanger for a heat exchange fluid;

d. providing a single temperature hot water storage capability, adding heat thereto with heat exchange with the solar fluid when the temperature of the solar fluid is greater than the temperature of the hot water, also adding heat to the hot water by exchanging heat with the hot compressed refrigerant gas in a desuperheater;

e. measuring the temperature in said outdoor heat exchanger;

f. employing said hot water for domestic hot water, in supplying heat to said refrigerant in said outdoor heat exchanger and in defrosting said outdoor heat exchanger when the temperature measured therein falls below 32°

F. to indicate that frost has formed thereon.