Refrigerant Bypass Water Preheating for Air Conditioner Heat Recovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing apparatus and methods for preheating water using refrigerant from air conditioning systems are often complex and expensive, lacking efficiency in many applications.
Innovation Solution
An air conditioner/water heater circuit and heat pump/water heater circuit system that captures and utilizes refrigerant heat to preheat water, with an electronic control system managing the flow of refrigerant to efficiently transfer heat to a water heater tank, allowing for supplemental refrigerant-based heating and integration with both single and dual tank configurations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If previously proposed apparatus and methods are used for preheating water with air conditioning unit, then water preheating function is achieved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the air conditioning unit and water heater into a single integrated system where the air conditioner's refrigerant circuit serves dual purposes: cooling air and preheating water. The condenser coil is positioned to transfer heat from the refrigerant to the water in the water heater tank, eliminating the need for separate preheating equipment and reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The air conditioning unit is designed to perform multiple functions: traditional air cooling and water preheating. The refrigerant circuit operates in different modes to provide either air conditioning alone or combined air conditioning and water preheating, making the system versatile and reducing the need for additional dedicated equipment.
2Use of energy by moving object
If previously proposed apparatus and methods are used for preheating water with air conditioning unit, then water preheating function is achieved, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the air conditioning unit and water heater into a single integrated system where the air conditioner's refrigerant circuit serves dual purposes: cooling air and preheating water. The condenser coil is positioned to transfer heat from the refrigerant to the water in the water heater tank, eliminating the need for separate preheating equipment and reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The air conditioning unit is designed to perform multiple functions: traditional air cooling and water preheating. The refrigerant circuit operates in different modes to provide either air conditioning alone or combined air conditioning and water preheating, making the system versatile and reducing the need for additional dedicated equipment.
3Loss of energy
If refrigerant heat is captured to preheat water, then energy efficiency improves, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates dynamic control capabilities that allow the air conditioning unit to switch between different operational modes based on demand. The electronic expansion valve and control system dynamically adjust refrigerant flow to optimize heat transfer to water when preheating is needed, while maintaining traditional air conditioning operation when water preheating is not required.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a control system that acts as an intermediary between the refrigerant circuit and water heater. This control system manages the complex interactions by regulating refrigerant flow through the condenser coil and coordinating operation between the air conditioning and water heating functions, simplifying the overall control architecture.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system provides efficient preheating of water while reducing costs by leveraging existing air conditioning infrastructure, offering improved efficiency and low-cost hot water capacity during peak demand periods.
Implementation Method 1
captures and utilizes refrigerant heat to preheat water
Implementation Method 2
refrigerant from air conditioning apparatus such as an air conditioner with a non-reversible refrigerant circuit
Data Source
AI summary
Water heater apparatus includes a tank for storing water; a heat exchanger associated with the tank and being operative to receive refrigerant and transfer heat therefrom to the tank, the heat exchanger representatively being a heat conductive tube externally wrapped around the tank in heat conductive contact therewith; air conditioning apparatus operative to utilize refrigerant flowing through a refrigerant circuit portion of the air conditioning apparatus, the refrigerant circuit portion being in fluid communication with the heat exchanger; and a control system operative to selectively cause a portion of the flowing refrigerant to pass through the heat exchanger, or cause essentially the entire flow of the refrigerant to bypass the heat exchanger.