Apparatus for using cast-off heat to warm water from household water heater

Abstract

A retrofit heat transfer unit, including: a housing for the retrofit unit, including inlet and outlet ports for water and refrigerant; a water pump, in fluid communication with the water inlet port, the water pump adapted to pump water from a water source; a heat exchanger, in fluid communication with the water pump, the water outlet port, the refrigerant inlet port and the refrigerant outlet port; and a thermostat, configured to measure a temperature of the pumped water and activate the water pump when the water is below a predefined low temperature and cease to pump when water is above a predefined high temperature. The retrofit unit is also adapted to receive heated refrigerant fluid from an air conditioner and direct the refrigerant through the heat exchanger and direct the pumped water into the heat exchanger so that the refrigerant heats the water and the water cools the refrigerant.

Description

FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention relates to a heat transfer apparatus and, more particularly, to an apparatus for transferring heat from an air conditioner unit to water from a water heater.[0002]A legacy air conditioner uses refrigerant to cool down a space. The refrigerant (e.g. Freon) cools to very low temperatures which is useful in cooling an indoor space. A fan blows air over Evaporator coils (coils which contain cool refrigerant) to cool the room. Another characteristic of the refrigerant used in air conditioners is that it absorbs heat from the air in the room and returns cooled air. The absorbed heat must be released though, and this is the job of the Condenser. Condenser coils are usually located outdoors and have a fan which blows air over the coils (which contain very hot refrigerant, often between 70° C. and 80° C.). The fan air cools the coils and refrigerant so that the refrigerant can be reused to cool the indoor space. In some systems...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The innovative patent is about a retrofit heat transfer system that can improve the efficiency of an air conditioner and a water heater tank. The system uses the heat produced by the air conditioner compressor to heat the water in the water heater tank. This heat must be released for the water to cool back up. The refrigerant gas compresses back into a liquid and runs through a coil heat-exchanger or a plate heat-exchanger to cool the refrigerant liquid. The refrigerant then continues through the condensation coils for continued working. When the air conditioner is active, the refrigerant liquid flows through the heat exchanger and cools the water in the tank, which then needs to be heated back up. This process uses the air conditioner to heat the water in the tank, reducing the cost of cooling and heating. Overall, the system lowers the energy cost and makes the air conditioner more efficient.

Problems solved by technology

The '833 application fails to disclose a domestic water heater-air conditioner arrangement.

A water heater, on the other hand, does not have an existing pump or heating system that has a byproduct which creates cool air.

The system does not teach a retrofit system which can be added to existing air conditioning and water heating systems.

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