Efficient heater and air conditioner

• US 4,813,242 A
• Filed: 11/17/1987
• Issued: 03/21/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Frank E. Wicks
• Original Assignee: Frank E. Wicks
• Inventors: Wicks, Frank E.
• Primary Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Application Number:
  US07/121,878
• Time in Patent Office: 490 Days
• Field of Search: 62/238.3, 62/238.6, 62/323.1, 62/323.2, 62/332, 62/333, 62/335, 62/476
• US Class Current: 62/238.3
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 15/008 with multi-stage operation F25B15/006 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 27/00 Machines, plants or systems, using particular sources of energy F25B30/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 27/02 using waste heat, e.g. from internal-combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 30/274 using waste energy, e.g. from internal combustion engine
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 30/625 combined with heat or power generation [CHP], e.g. trigeneration

Abstract

The purpose of this invention is to cost effectively achieve more fuel efficient cooling and heating of buildings and also provide society with the resource conservation and environmental benefits that can result from the more efficient use of our fuel resources. The invention uses conventional equipment and includes an internal combustion engine and components that are now used in electric driven compression and steam driven absorption air conditioning and heat pump systems. The work from the engine provides a direct mechanical drive for the compression cycle and most of the rejected heat from the engine is recovered and utilized by the absorption cycle, which is achieved by recovering the high and medium temperature heat in the absorption cycle generator and recovering the low temperature heat from the engine exhaust by the mixture flow stream from the absorber to the generator. The result is a direct fueled engine driven combined cycle system that can be twice as fuel efficient as existing electric driven compression or steam driven absorption systems, and that can cost effectively replace most exissting systems in large building and provide substantial resource and environmental benefits.

Claims

1. A system for transferring heat from a lower to a higher temperature comprising:

an internal combustion engine;

a compression refrigeration, heat pump or air conditioner cycle with its compressor driven by the mechanical output of the engine;

an absorption refrigeration, heat pump or air conditioner cycle having a single stage and generator or multiple stages and generators and having a weak and strong solution and an absorber and the weak solution is defined as the mixture that flows form the absorber to the first stage generator and the strong solution is defined a the mixture that flows from the last stage generator back to the absorber;

means for recovery of the higher temperature heat from the engine by the first stage generator of the absorption cycle; and

a

means for recovering the lower temperature portion of the engine exhaust heat by the absorption cycle weak solution in a heat transfer process that is in parallel with the transfer of heat from the strong solution flow stream to the weak solution flow stream.