SEPARABLE HEAT PUMP AND WATER HEATER

THERMOPOMPE ET CHAUFFE-EAU SEPARABLES

English Abstract

A domestic water heater device with an integrated
modular heat pump is described. The water heater device has
an insulated glass-lined casing for storing water to be
heated. One or more resistive heating elements are provided
in the casing for heating water. A cold
water conduit
introduces water in a lower portion of the casing and a hot
water conduit extracts hot water from an upper portion of the
casing.
Detachable supports are provided to support the
modular heat pump in close proximity to the water heater.
The refrigeration system of the heat pump has a condensation
coil having a refrigerant conduit in heat exchange
relationship with a water circulation conduit to heat water
in the water circulation conduit pumped from the lower
portion of the casing through a supply conduit and returned
to the casing by a return conduit. Detachable couplings are
provided to easily detach the cold water conduit, the hot
water conduit and the supply conduit and return conduit when
repair and maintenance require it.

French Abstract

Un chauffe-eau domestique pourvu dune thermopompe modulaire intégrée est décrit. Le chauffe-eau comporte une enceinte isolée revêtue intérieurement de verre pour stocker leau à chauffer. Un ou plusieurs éléments chauffants résistifs sont prévus dans lenceinte pour chauffer leau. Une conduite deau froide introduit de leau dans la partie inférieure de lenceinte et une conduite deau chaude extrait de leau chaude à partir dune partie supérieure de lenceinte. Des supports détachables sont prévus pour supporter la thermopompe modulaire à proximité immédiate du chauffe-eau. Le système de réfrigération de la thermopompe comporte un serpentin de condensation pourvu dun conduit de frigorigène en relation déchange thermique avec une conduite de circulation deau pour chauffer leau dans cette dernière pompée à partir de la partie inférieure de lenceinte à travers une conduite dalimentation et retournée à lenceinte par une conduite de retour. Des raccords amovibles sont prévus afin de débrancher facilement la conduite deau froide, la conduite deau chaude, la conduite dalimentation et la conduite de retour lorsquune réparation ou un entretien lexige.

Claims

8
CLAIMS:
1. A domestic water heater device with an integrated modular heat pump,
said
water heater device having an insulated glass-lined casing for stroring water
to be
heated, one or more resistive heating elements for heating water in said
casing, a cold
water conduit for introducing water in a lower portion of said casing, a hot
water conduit
for extracting heated water from an upper portion of said casing, quick
disconnectable
supports secured to a top end of said water heater device for supporting said
modular
heat pump in close proximity on top of said water heater device, said modular
heat
pump having a refrigeration system including a condensation coil, said
condensation
coil having a refrigerant conduit in heat exchange relationship with a water
circulation
conduit to heat circulated water in said water circulation conduit pumped from
said lower
portion of said casing through a supply conduit and returned to said casing by
a return
conduit; and detachable coupling means for detachable connection of said cold
water
conduit, said hot water conduit, said supply conduit and return conduit; said
detachable
coupling means being constituted by independent connectors capable of being
removed
and re-engaged to disconnect said modular heat pump from said water heater for
the
replacement or servicing of said water heater or modular heat pump, said
return conduit
is a dip tube extending in said glass lined casing and having an outlet end
disposed at a
level of approximately 2/3 the length of said casing from a top end of said
casing where
said water in said casing is at an intermediate temperature, said hot water in
the top of
the casing close to said hot water outlet conduit being undisturbed and
unaffected by
the temperature of heated water in said return conduit, said hot water in said
return
conduit being at an inferior temperature to the hot water at said top end and
unrelated

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thereto, the water in said return conduit being routed into said glass-lined
casing at a
distance from said hot water outlet conduit such that the temperature of the
hot water in
said outlet conduit is buffered by the temperature of the further water in
said glass-lined
casing.
2. The domestic water heater device with an integrated modular heat pump as

claimed in claim 1 wherein said connectors are quick-type screw connectors or
soldered
connectors capable of being disconnected and re-connected by a trade person.
3. The domestic water heater device with an integrated modular heat pump as

claimed in claim 1 wherein said supply conduit is a dip tube extending in said
glass lined
casing and having an inlet end disposed in said lower portion of said casing
to draw
cooler water therefrom, and a pump associated with a conduit section connected
to said
dip tube exteriorly of said water heater.
4. The domestic water heater device with an integrated modular heat pump as

claimed in claim 1 wherein said supply conduit is disposed exteriorly of said
casing and
has a lower end section disposed in said lower portion of said casing to draw
cooler
water therefrom, and a pump associated with said supply conduit.
5. The domestic water heater device with an integrated modular heat pump as

claimed in claim 3 wherein said pump is located inside said modular heat pump.

10
6. The domestic water heater device with an integrated modular heat pump
as
claimed in claim 1 wherein there is further provided a controller to monitor
water
temperature in said casing and to control the operation of said modular heat
pump and
the operation of said one or more resistive heating elements to satisfy user
settings.

Description

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SEPARABLE HEAT PUMP AND WATER HEATER
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The
present invention relates to water heaters,
particularly but not exclusively, to domestic hot water
heaters to which is integrated a modular heat pump and
wherein the two are easily separable from one another for
maintenance, repair or interchange.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] It is
known to integrate heat pumps with domestic
hot water heaters and this usually results in complex devices
integrated together in a single unit. A disadvantage of such
integrated devices is that because domestic hot water heaters
utilize glass-lined casings, their life span is usually short
and when such becomes defective it is necessary to effect
expensive modifications or to change the entire integrated
unit. Also,
maintenance of integrated systems can be
expensive depending on its structure. Accordingly, there is
added service cost when using integrated hot water systems
and this cost can sometimes obviate the projected economical
advantages of such systems. Such
advantages include lower
electrical energy consumption as it is less expensive to
operate a compressor than the electrical resistive elements
of water heaters. Also, the
refrigeration system provides
cool air conditioning.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
[0003] It is a
feature of the present invention to provide
a water heater device with an integrated modular heat pump
which substantially overcomes the above-
mentioned
disadvantages of the prior art.
[0004] Another
feature of the present invention is to
provide a water heater device with an integrated modular heat

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pump and wherein this water heater and heat pump are
interconnected by detachable coupling means to disconnect the
modular heat pump from the water heater for replacement or
servicing of the water heater or the modular heat pump.
[0005] Another
feature of the present invention is to
provide a water heater device with an integrated modular heat
pump which is more efficient and less costly to operate than
stand-alone hot water heaters having resistive heating
elements.
[0006] Another
feature of the present invention is to
provide a domestic hot water heater having an integrated
modular heat pump mounted on the top wall of the heater by
detachable support means as well as detachable coupling means
communicating with supply and return conduits for the heat
pump provided in the reservoir of the hot water heater.
[0007] According
to the above features, from a broad
aspect, the present invention provides a domestic water
heater device with an integrated modular heat pump. The hot
water device has an insulated glass-lined casing for storing
water to be heated. One or more resistive heating elements
are provided for heating water in the casing. A cold water
conduit is provided for introducing water in a lower portion
of the casing. A hot
water conduit is provided for
extracting heated water from an upper portion of the casing.
Quick disconnectable supports are secured to a top end of the
water heater device for supporting the modular heat pump in
close proximity on top of the water heater device. The
modular heat pump has a refrigeration system including a
condensation coil which has a refrigerant conduit in heat
exchange relationship with a water circulation conduit to
heat circulated water in the water circulation conduit pumped
from the lower portion of the casing through a supply conduit
and returned to the casing by a return conduit. Detachable
coupling means is provided for detachable connection of the

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cold water conduit, the hot water conduit, the supply conduit
and return conduit. The
detachable coupling means is
constituted by independent connectors capable of being
removed and re-engaged to disconnect the modular heat pump
from the water heater for the replacement or servicing of the
water heater or modular heat pump. The return conduit is a
dip tube extending in the glass lined casing and having an
outlet end disposed at a level of approximately 2/3 the
length of the tank from a top end of the tank where the water
in the tank is at an imternediate temperature. The hot water
in the top of the tank close to the hot water outlet conduit
is undisturbed and unaffected by the temperature of heated
water in the return conduit. The hot
water in the return
conduit is at an inferior temperature to the hot water at the
top end and unrelated thereto. The
return conduit also
permits uninterrupted operation of the modular heat pump to
supply cooled air and hot water and permitting uninterrupted
supply of hot water from the top end of the tank through the
hot water conduit.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0008] A
preferred embodiment of the present invention
will now be described with reference to the accompanying
drawings in which:
[0009] FIG. 1 is
a schematic diagram showing the
integrated water heater device and modular heat pump
constructed in accordance with the present invention;
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[00010] Referring
to the drawing, there is shown at 10 a
water heater device, herein a domestic hot water heater
device. A modular heat pump 11 is hereinshown mounted on the
top wall 12 of the hot water heater 10 by detachable supports

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13. The
supports 13 are provided with a quick disconnect
coupling 13' in a lower part thereof.
[00011] The
domestic hot water heater 10 has an insulated
glass lined inner casing 14. Water is
introduced in the
casing by a domestic cold water inlet conduit 15 and released
through a dip tube 16 connected thereto in a lower portion 17
of the glass lined casing 14. Hot water is extracted from
the upper portion 18 of the casing, where the water is the
hottest, by a hot water outlet conduit 19. Resistive heating
elements 20 and 20' are used to heat water in the upper and
lower portion of the glass lined casing. The glass
lined
casing is also insulated by an insulating foam material (not
shown) introduced in the space surrounding the inner casing
and the outer shell 21. All this structure is well known in
the art.
[00012] As hereinshown, the modular heat pump 11 is
provided with a refrigeration system including a condensation
coil 26 which has a refrigeration conduit 26' in which is
circulated a compressible gas, such as Freon. The
refrigeration conduit 26' is in contact with a water
circulation conduit 27 in which cold water from the casing 14
is fed by a pump 28 which is secured to a supply conduit 29
connected to a dip tube 30 whereby to extract cold water from
the lower portion 17 of the hot water heater 10. This supply
conduit 29 is secured to the dip tube 30 by a detachable
coupling means, such as coupling 31. As the
cold water
circulates through the water circulation conduit 27, it is in
heat exchange with the hot gas in the hot refrigerant in the
conduit 26' and is heated. The refrigeration conduit 26' and
the circulation conduit 27 may be concentrically mounted, as
for example, for heat exchange.
[00013] The
heated water from the water circulation conduit
27 exits the condensation coil 26 through a hot water supply
conduit 32 and is fed to a further dip tube 33 which

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terminates inside the glass line casing 14 at approximately
two-thirds (2/3) distance from the upper part of the inner
casing 14 in a region where water is at an intermediate
temperature whereby to introduce hot water from the heat
pump. Of course, the hotter water propagates towards the top
of the casing. The conduit 32 is secured to the dip tube 33
through another detachable coupling 34. Also, the cold water
conduit 15 is secured to the dip tube 16 through a further
similar detachable coupling 35 and the hot water outlet
conduit 19 is also connected to the top portion of the inner
casing by a similar detachable coupling 36 over the top wall
12 of the outer shell 21. It is
pointed out that the
detachable couplings 31, 34, 35 and 36 are connectors capable
of being removed and re-engaged by a trade person whereby to
easily disconnect the modular heat pump from the water heater
for the replacement or servicing of the water heater or the
modular heat pump, if there is a need to disconnect them.
Accordingly, the modular heat pump is a stand-alone unit
easily disconnectable from the hot water heater 10. The
connectors 31, 34, 35 and 36 may be screw-type connectors or
connectors that are soldered to the conduits 15, 19, 29 and
32, if such conduits are made of copper. Any suitable quick
connection means is contemplated for easy detachment.
[00014] Because
of the separable connections of both the
hot water heater and the heat pump, when the glass liquid
inner casing 14 is defective, a new hot water heater 10 is
replaced by the disconnection and re-connection of the quick
connectors. The
previous hot water heater can then be
recycled as only the inner casing needs to be changed.
[00015] As hereinshown, only basic elements of the
integrated modular heat pump 11 are illustrated. As
hereinshown, the refrigeration system includes a compressor
40 and an evaporator coil 41 through which ambient air is
pushed through by the fan 25 whereby cooled dehumidified air

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42 is expelled in the space where the heat pump is located or
in conduits to convey it to other spaces in a building or
outside. The
refrigeration system also uses an expansion
valve 43 feeding the condensation coil 36. Such
refrigeration systems are well known in the art.
[00016] It is
also foreseen that the supply conduit 30 may
be located exteriorly of the hot water heater such as
illustrated by phantom lines 30' and easily disconnected from
the inner tank by a suitable fitting (not shown) but obvious
to a person skilled in the art.
[00017] A
controller module 50 is also provided to monitor
water temperature from temperature sensors 51 and 52 located
at predetermined locations inside the inner casing 14 to
monitor water temperature therein. Such is
required to
control the operation of the modular heat pump and the
resistive heating elements 20 and 20' of the inner casing 14
to satisfy user settings. A control pad 53 interfaces with
the controller and permits a user person to set the mode of
operation of the system.
[00018] It is
within the ambit of the present invention to
cover any obvious modifications of the water heater device
and integrated modular heat pump as illustrated and described
herein. For
example, although the modular heat pump 11 is
hereinshown resting on the top wall of the hot water heater
by disconnectable supports 13, it is also foreseen that such
modular heat pump can be suspended from a ceiling or attached
to an adjoining wall. Also, all of the conduits 15, 19, 29
and 32 may be flexible conduits as now commonly utilized in
plumbing and provided with appropriate quick disconnect
connectors to connect to the hot water heater 10. Although
the hot water heater 10 is hereinshown with two resistive
elements, a third resistive element could be incorporated
inside the casing depending on the performance required for
the supply of hot water, such as in commercial applications

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and wherein the hot water reservoir may be of a larger
capacity.

Representative Drawing