Heat pump with heat recovery

• US 8,373,099 B2
• Filed: 11/06/2007
• Issued: 02/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Carrier Corporation (Carrier Global Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Carrier Corporation (Carrier Global Corporation)
• Inventors: Lifson, Alexander, Taras, Michael F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Viet Q
• Application Number:
  US12/682,131
• Publication Number:
  US 20100206868A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,925 Days
• Field of Search: 219/476, 219/449.1, 622/386, 621/86, 621/87, 165/205, 165/210, 165/214, 165/216, 165/48.1, 165/58, 429/434, 429/436
• US Class Current: 219/476
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2250/405 Cogeneration of heat or hot water
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04007 related to heat exchange
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/10 Applications of fuel cells in buildings
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells

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.

Claims

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.

2. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said fuel cell is a primary power supply for said HVAC&

R system.

3. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said fuel cell is a supplementary power supply for said HVAC&

R system.

4. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said other means includes at least a heat pump or a furnace.

5. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said portion of heat provided by said fuel cell to said climate-controlled space is a primary source of heat.

6. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said heat directing step is accomplished by way of a fan or a liquid pump.

7. The method as set forth in claim 6 wherein said fan or liquid pump is positioned upstream of the fuel cell.

8. The method as set forth in claim 6 wherein said fan or liquid pump is positioned downstream of the fuel cell.

9. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the alternate location is an ambient environment.

10. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said channeling assembly comprises at least one damper.

11. The method as set forth in claim 10 wherein said channeling assembly comprises a pair of dampers.

12. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said HVAC&

R system includes an indoor section and further wherein said fuel cell is positioned sequentially, with respect to indoor airflow, with the indoor section of the HVAC&

R system.

13. The method as set forth in claim 12 wherein said fuel cell is positioned upstream of said indoor section of the HVAC&

R system.

14. The method as set forth in claim 12 wherein said fuel cell is positioned downstream of said indoor section of the HVAC&

R system.

15. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said HVAC&

R system includes an indoor section and further wherein said fuel cell is positioned in parallel, with respect to indoor airflow, with the indoor section of the HVAC&

R system.

16. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said portion of heat provided by said fuel cell to said climate-controlled space is used to control temperature in the climate-controlled space during at least one of heating or cooling mode of operation.

17. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said fuel cell produces electrical power for at least one subsystem of said HVAC&

R system that provides heating to said climate-controlled space.

18. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said fuel cell produces electrical power for at least one subsystem of said HVAC&

R system that does not provide heating to said climate-controlled space.

19. Apparatus for providing at least a partial amount of heat to a climate-controlled space comprising:

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; and

a 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.

20. The apparatus as set forth in claim 19 wherein said fuel cell is a primary power supply for said HVAC&

R system.

21. The apparatus as set forth in claim 19 wherein said fuel cell is a supplementary power supply for said HVAC&

R system.

22. The apparatus as set forth in claim 19 wherein said other means includes at least a heat pump or a furnace.

23. The apparatus as set forth in claim 19 wherein said portion of heat provided by said fuel cell to said climate-controlled space is a primary source of heat.

24. The apparatus as set forth in claim 19 wherein said heat directing means are accomplished by way of a fan or a liquid pump.

25. The apparatus as set forth in claim 24 wherein said fan or liquid pump is positioned upstream of the fuel cell.

26. The apparatus as set forth in claim 24 wherein said fan or liquid pump is positioned downstream of the fuel cell.

27. The apparatus as set forth in claim 19 wherein the alternate location is an ambient environment.

28. The apparatus as set forth in claim 19 wherein said channeling assembly comprises at least one damper.

29. The apparatus as set forth in claim 28 wherein said channeling assembly comprises a pair of dampers.

30. The apparatus as set forth in claim 19 wherein said HVAC&

R system includes an indoor section and further wherein said fuel cell is positioned sequentially, with respect to indoor airflow, with the indoor section of the HVAC&

R system.

31. The apparatus as set forth in claim 30 wherein said fuel cell is positioned upstream of said indoor section of the HVAC&

R system.

32. The apparatus as set forth in claim 30 wherein said fuel cell is positioned downstream of said indoor section of the HVAC&

R system.

33. The apparatus as set forth in claim 19 wherein said HVAC&

R system includes an indoor section and further wherein said fuel cell is positioned in parallel, with respect to indoor airflow, with the indoor section of the HVAC&

R system.

34. The apparatus as set forth in claim 19 wherein said portion of heat provided by said fuel cell to said climate-controlled space is used to control temperature in the climate-controlled space during at least one of heating or cooling mode of operation.

35. The apparatus as set forth in claim 19 wherein said fuel cell produces electrical power for at least one subsystem of said HVAC&

R system that provides heating to said climate-controlled space.

36. The apparatus as set forth in claim 19 wherein said fuel cell produces electrical power for at least one subsystem of said HVAC&

R system that does not provide heating to said climate-controlled space.