Caloric Water Heater Appliance

a water heater and heater technology, applied in the field of water heater appliances, can solve the problems of only operating at about 45 percent or less of the maximum theoretical carnot cycle efficiency, and the range of ambient temperatures over which certain refrigerant-based systems can operate may be impractical for certain locations

Inactive Publication Date: 2017-11-02
HAIER US APPLIANCE SOLUTIONS INC
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention is about a water heater appliance that uses a caloric heat pump system to heat liquid within a tank. This system includes a plurality of caloric material stages that are moved in and out of a field of a field generator during operation. The caloric heat pump system also includes a pump for circulating a heat transfer fluid between the first and second heat exchangers and the caloric material stages. This allows for efficient heating of the liquid within the tank. The technical effects of this invention are improved heating efficiency, reduced energy usage, and improved durability of the water heater appliance.

Problems solved by technology

While improvements have been made to such heat pump systems that rely on the compression of fluid refrigerant, at best such can still only operate at about forty-five percent or less of the maximum theoretical Carnot cycle efficiency.
The range of ambient temperatures over which certain refrigerant-based systems can operate may be impractical for certain locations.
Other challenges with heat pumps that use a fluid refrigerant exist as well.

Method used

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Examples

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Embodiment Construction

[0017]Reference now will be made in detail to embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the drawings. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the invention, not limitation of the invention. In fact, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. For instance, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be used with another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers such modifications and variations as come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

[0018]The present subject matter is directed to a water heater appliance with a caloric heat pump system for heating water within the water heater appliance. While described in greater detail below in the context of a magneto-caloric heat pump system, one o...

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Abstract

A water heater appliance includes a first heat exchanger that is coupled to a tank. The water heater appliance also includes a caloric heat pump system that is configured for heating liquid within the tank via the first heat exchanger. The caloric heat pump system includes a plurality of caloric material stages. A field generator is positioned such that the caloric material stages are moved in and out of a field of the field generator during operation of the caloric heat pump system.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present subject matter relates generally to water heater appliances, such as heat pump water heater appliancesBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]Heat pump water heaters are gaining broader acceptance as a more economic and ecologically-friendly alternative to electric water heaters. Heat pump water heaters include a sealed system for heating water to the set temperature. Conventional sealed system technology typically utilizes a heat pump that relies on compression and expansion of a fluid refrigerant to receive and reject heat in a cyclic manner so as to effect a desired temperature change or i.e. transfer heat energy from one location to another. This cycle can be used to provide e.g., for the receiving of heat from the environment and the rejecting of such heat to a tank of water. A variety of different fluid refrigerants have been developed that can be used with the heat pump in such systems.[0003]While improvements have been made to such heat pump ...

Claims

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Application Information

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Patent Type & AuthorityApplications(United States)
IPC IPC(8): F24H4/04F24H7/04F24H7/00
CPCF24H4/04F24H7/04F24H7/002
InventorBENEDICT, MICHAEL ALEXANDERBEERS, DAVID G.
OwnerHAIER US APPLIANCE SOLUTIONS INC