Heat pump with heat recovery
First Claim
1. A method of providing at least a partial amount of heat to a climate-controlled space comprising the steps of:
- providing a fuel cell for producing electrical power for an HVAC&
R system, said fuel cell also producing a substantial amount of heat during operation;
directing at least a portion of the heat produced by said fuel cell to said climate-controlled space during periods of time in which heat in the climate-controlled space is required, the portion of the heat produced by said fuel cell provided to the climate-controlled space being supplemental to heat provided by said HVAC&
R system; and
providing a channeling assembly which can be selectively modulated to adjust the portion of the heat produced by said fuel cell provided to said climate-controlled space and a portion of the heat produced by said fuel cell provided to an alternate location.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A fuel cell is provided to furnish electrical power to an HVAC&R system, and the waste heat from the fuel cell is transferred to a secondary fluid directed to flow to the climate-controlled space of a building during periods of time in which heating is required. The heat rejected by the fuel cell may be a supplemental or primary source of heat as well used for precise temperature control within the climate-controlled space of the building. A channeling assembly is used to selectively direct the fuel cell heat either to and/or away from the climate-controlled space served by the HVAC&R system. Higher energy efficiencies of the HVAC&R equipment are achieved, and the “cold blow” phenomenon is reduced or eliminated.
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Citations
36 Claims
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1. A method of providing at least a partial amount of heat to a climate-controlled space comprising the steps of:
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providing a fuel cell for producing electrical power for an HVAC&
R system, said fuel cell also producing a substantial amount of heat during operation;directing at least a portion of the heat produced by said fuel cell to said climate-controlled space during periods of time in which heat in the climate-controlled space is required, the portion of the heat produced by said fuel cell provided to the climate-controlled space being supplemental to heat provided by said HVAC&
R system; andproviding a channeling assembly which can be selectively modulated to adjust the portion of the heat produced by said fuel cell provided to said climate-controlled space and a portion of the heat produced by said fuel cell provided to an alternate location. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. Apparatus for providing at least a partial amount of heat to a climate-controlled space comprising:
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a fuel cell for producing electrical power for an HVAC&
R system, said fuel cell also producing a substantial amount of heat during operation;a means for directing at least a portion of this heat from said fuel cell to said climate-controlled space during periods of time in which heat in the climate-controlled space is required, the portion of the heat produced by said fuel cell provided to the climate-controlled space being supplemental to heat provided by said HVAC&
R system; anda channeling assembly which can be selectively modulated to adjust the portion of heat produced by said fuel cell provided to said climate-controlled space and a portion of the heat produced by the fuel cell provided to an alternate location. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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Specification