Controlled flow heat extraction and recovery apparatus, method and system

Abstract

A controlled flow heat extraction and recovery apparatus using waste heat from a cooling system to heat water to be held in at least one heated water storage tank thereby providing heated water having a purposeful end-use, increasing cooling efficiencies in a cooling system and heating efficiencies in a hot water heating system.

1 . A controlled flow heat extraction and recovery apparatus using waste heat from a refrigeration system to heat water to be held in at least one heated water storage tank thereby providing heated water having a purposeful end-use, increasing cooling efficiencies in a refrigeration system having a condenser and heating efficiencies in a water heating system, the apparatus comprising:
 a heat extraction and recovery vessel having at least one thermostatically controlled outlet and an inlet adapted for connection to a suitable water source; and   the vessel being adapted to enclose at least a portion of the condenser from the refrigeration system, the condenser being immersed in water coming through the inlet from the water source, the thermostatically controlled outlet functioning on demand when heat of a sufficient quantity is transferred from the condenser to the water in the vessel, the thermostatically controlled flow of heated water from the vessel being directed to the heated water storage tank.   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein inlet to the vessel is in a lower portion of the vessel and the outlet is in an upper portion thereof. 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the thermostatically controlled outlet is preset to a specific temperature, the valve opening upon the water in the vessel reaching the preset temperature. 
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein the valve has a proportional opening. 
   
   
       5 . A controlled flow heat extraction and recovery apparatus using waste heat from a refrigeration system to heat water to be held in at least one heated water storage tank thereby providing heated water for a purposeful end-use, increasing cooling efficiencies in a refrigeration system and heating efficiencies in a water heating system, the apparatus comprising:
 a suitable water source;   a refrigeration system having a condenser using a refrigerant;   a vessel having at least one thermostatically controlled outlet and a first inlet for receiving the condenser from the refrigeration system and a second inlet for receiving water from the water source;   a portion of the condenser being positioned in the vessel for transferring heat from the refrigerant within the condenser into water in the tank from the water source; and   the thermostatically controlled outlet controlling the flow of the heated water from the tank to the heated water storage.   
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 5  having a pressure regulator adapted for regulating the pressure of water from the water source into the vessel and through the thermostatically controlled outlet. 
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein the pressure regulator is an elevated tank having a float and a float-controlled valve, the elevated tank being positioned above the vessel for reducing the pressure of water entering the vessel from the water source. 
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein water from the water source is heated in the vessel to or near the temperature of the heated refrigerant from the refrigeration system. 
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein the heat in the refrigerant is transferred from the condenser into water in the vessel thereby cooling the refrigerant in the condenser to or near the temperature of the water from the water source. 
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein the water source is a city water mainline, a well water mainline or some other suitable water source. 
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein water in the vessel being heated by heat transferred from the refrigerant in the condenser and being released by the thermostatically controlled outlet having to a preset temperature. 
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein the condenser coil having radially extending fins to increase the transfer of heat from the refrigerant to water in the vessel. 
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein the at least one heated water storage tank are modular tanks positioned closest a purposeful end use. 
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein the at least one heated water storage tank are large scale centrally located tanks for storing heated water. 
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein the vessel, heated water storage tanks and interconnecting water lines are wrapped with heat insulation. 
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 5  having no pumps, electrical power requirement, blowers, manual valves and/or significant moving parts. 
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 5  being scalable to extract and recover heat from cold storage warehouses, production plants and manufacturing facilities to walk-in freezers. 
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein the heated water storage tanks having a floating insulation disc for preserving heat in the heated water. 
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein the heated refrigerant from the refrigeration system is cooled by transferring heat from the refrigerant in the condenser into water in the vessel, the cooled refrigerant being circulated back to the refrigeration system thereby increasing the efficiency of the refrigeration system. 
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein water from the water source is heated in the vessel to or near the temperature of the heated refrigerant, the heated water being used in the water heating system thereby increasing the efficiency of the water heating system. 
   
   
       21 . A controlled flow heat extraction and recovery method using waste heat from a cooling system to heat water to be held in at least one heated water storage tank thereby providing heated water for a purposeful end-use, increasing cooling efficiencies in a cooling system and heating efficiencies in a water heating system, the method comprising:
 providing a suitable water source;   supplying a refrigeration system having a condenser using a refrigerant;   providing a vessel having at least one thermostatically controlled outlet, a first inlet for receiving the condenser from the refrigeration system and a second inlet for receiving water from the water source;   positioning a portion of the condenser in the vessel for transferring heat from the refrigerant within the condenser into water in the tank from the water source; and   connecting the thermostatically controlled outlet thereby controlling the flow of the heated water from the tank to the heated water storage.   
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 21  wherein water from the water source is heated in the vessel to or near the temperature of the heated refrigerant from the refrigeration system. 
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the heated refrigerant in the condenser is cooled to or near the temperature of the water from the water source. 
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 21  wherein water in the vessel being heated by heat transferred from the refrigerant in the condenser rises and is released by the thermostatically controlled outlet having a preset temperature. 
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the heated refrigerant from the refrigeration system is cooled and circulated back to the refrigeration system thereby increasing the efficiency of the refrigeration system. 
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 21  wherein water from the water source is heated in the vessel to or near the temperature of the heated refrigerant within the condenser, the heated water being used in the water heating system thereby increasing the efficiency of the water heating system. 
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 21  having no pumps, electrical power requirement, blowers, manual valves and/or significant moving parts. 
   
   
       28 . A controlled flow heat extraction and recovery system using waste heat from a refrigeration system to heat water to be held in at least one heated water storage tank thereby providing heated water for a purposeful end-use, increasing cooling efficiencies in a refrigeration system and heating efficiencies in a water heating system, the system comprising:
 a water source;   a refrigeration system having a condenser using a refrigerant;   a vessel having at least one thermostatically controlled outlet, a first inlet for receiving the condenser from the refrigeration system and a second inlet for receiving water from the water source;   a portion of the condenser being positioned in the vessel for transferring heat from the refrigerant within the condenser into water in the tank from the water source; and   the thermostatically controlled outlet controlling the flow of the heated water from the tank to the heated water storage.   
   
   
       29 . The system of  claim 28  operating passively when the heated refrigerant does not exceed a preset temperature of the thermostatically controlled outlet. 
   
   
       30 . The system of  claim 28  to increase the cooling and heating efficiencies at cold storage and food processing plants. 
   
   
       31 . A heat extraction recovery apparatus for use in combination with a condenser coil of a refrigeration unit comprising:
 a water tank having a vessel and at least a portion of the condenser coil contained in the vessel;   a cooler water supply inlet at a lower elevation of the vessel adapted to supply pressurized water to the lower portion of the vessel;   a thermostatically controlled valve at an outlet of a higher elevation of the vessel, the thermostatically controlled valve having an opening threshold correlated to a certain water temperature above the cooler water supply inlet temperature;   so that when the threshold of the thermostatically control valve is reached, water is urged out of the vessel and replaced by water from the cooler water supply inlet until the valve closes.   
   
   
       32 . The apparatus of  claim 31  wherein the thermostatically controlled valve is proportionally openable for controlled flow of heated water from the vessel to promote efficiency in the refrigeration system. 
   
   
       33 . The apparatus of  claim 31  further comprising a heated water storage tank in fluid communication with the output of the thermostatically controlled valve to store heated water from the vessel. 
   
   
       34 . A controlled flow heat extraction and recovery system using waste heat from a refrigeration system to heat water to be held in at least one heated water storage tank thereby providing heated water for a purposeful end-use, increasing cooling efficiencies in a refrigeration system and heating efficiencies in a water heating system, the apparatus comprising:
 a suitable water source;   a refrigeration system having a condenser using a refrigerant;   a vessel having an inlet for receiving water from the water source and at least one thermostatically controlled outlet having a preset temperature for opening;   a portion of the condenser being enclosed within the vessel; and   the water in the vessel being heated by heat transferred from the heated refrigerant in the condenser;   the thermostatically controlled outlet opening when the water in the vessel reaches the preset temperature thereby controlling the flow of heated water from the vessel to the heated water storage tank, the heated water being simultaneously replenished with water from the water source, the thermostatically controlled outlet closing when the water in the vessel is below the preset temperature.   
   
   
       35 . The apparatus of  claim 34  wherein the thermostatically controlled outlet is proportionally openable for controlled flow of heated water from the vessel thereby promoting efficiencies in the refrigeration system and the water heating system.