System for controlled fluid heating using air conditioning waste heat

Abstract

A system is disclosed which utilizes air conditioning waste to heat a second fluid such as swimming pool water. The second condenser for pool water heating is connected in parallel with the air conditioning condenser. An accumulator is connected between the condensers and the expansion valve to absorb fluctuations in refrigerant level due to different operating conditions caused by the pool water heating, thereby ensuring that liquid refrigerant is always supplied to the expansion valve. A controller reads the ambient air temperature at the air conditioning condenser and reads the air conditioning system condensing pressure and uses an algorithm to compute ambient air fan speed at the air conditioning condenser based on these two inputs to maintain a consistent heated pool water temperature. An alternate system includes first and second condensers connected in series with an accumulator connected between the second condenser and the expansion valve and a pressure equalization line connected between the compressor and the accumulator. A controller reads the ambient air temperature at the air conditioning condenser and reads the air conditioning system condensing pressure and uses an algorithm to compute ambient air fan speed at the air conditioning condenser based on these two inputs to maintain a consistent heated pool water temperature.

1 . A heat pump system for refrigeration or air conditioning, and for heating a fluid comprising:
 a compressor for supplying high pressure, high temperature gaseous refrigerant to a first condenser for heat exchange with a first condensing fluid and to a second condenser for heat exchange with a second condensing fluid;   an expansion valve for receiving high pressure liquid refrigerant from said first and said second condensers;   an evaporator for receiving low pressure liquid refrigerant from said expansion valve and supplying low pressure gaseous refrigerant to said compressor;   a controller for adjusting the condensing fluid flow rate of said second condenser based on inputs from a first sensor for reading the condensing fluid condition at the first condenser and from a second sensor reading the ambient condition of the second condensing fluid.   
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said first condenser and said second condenser are connected in parallel. 
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 2  wherein an accumulator is connected between said first and said second condensers for receiving gaseous and or liquid refrigerant, and said accumulator supplies liquid refrigerant to said expansion valve. 
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said first condenser and said second condenser are connected in series, and an accumulator is connected between said second condenser and said expansion valve, and a pressure equalization line is connected between said compressor and said accumulator, and said accumulator supplies liquid refrigerant to said expansion valve. 
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said first sensor reads the condensing fluid exit temperature of said first condenser, and said second sensor reads the ambient air temperature at said second condenser, and said second condensing fluid is ambient air. 
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 5  wherein said controller adjusts the ambient air flow as a percentage of maximum flow in accordance with the following formula: [25+(T ambMP −T amb )K amb ]+[25+(T wSP −T w )K w ]. 
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 6  wherein said ambient air flow rate at said second condenser is adjusted by changing the ambient air fan speed of said second condenser. 
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said first sensor reads the condensing pressure of said refrigeration or air conditioning system, and said second sensor reads the ambient air temperature at said second condenser, and said second condensing fluid is ambient air. 
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 8  wherein said controller adjusts the ambient air flow rate as a percentage of maximum flow rate in accordance with the following formula: [25+(T ambMP −T amb )K amb ]+[25+(P conSP −P act )2.5 K con ]. 
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 9  wherein said ambient air flow rate at said second condenser is adjusted by changing the ambient air fan speed of said second condenser. 
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said first sensor reads the condensing temperature of said refrigeration or air conditioning system, and said second sensor reads the ambient air temperature at said second condenser, and said second condensing fluid is ambient air. 
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 11  wherein said controller adjusts the ambient air flow as a percentage of maximum flow in accordance with the following formula: [25+(T ambMP −T amb )K amb ]+[25+(T conT SP −T conT )K conT ]. 
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 12  wherein said ambient air flow rate at said second condenser is adjusted by changing the ambient air fan speed of said second condenser. 
   
   
       14 . A heat pump system for refrigeration or air conditioning, and for heating a fluid comprising:
 a compressor for supplying high pressure, high temperature gaseous refrigerant to a first condenser for heat exchange with a first condensing fluid and to a second condenser for heat exchange with a second condensing fluid;   said first and second condensers being connected in parallel;   an accumulator for receiving high pressure gaseous and/or liquid refrigerant from said first and second condensers:   an expansion valve for receiving high pressure liquid refrigerant from said accumulator;   an evaporator for receiving low pressure liquid refrigerant from said expansion valve and supplying low pressure gaseous refrigerant to said compressor;   a controller for adjusting the condensing fluid flow rate of said second condenser based on inputs from a first sensor for reading the condensing fluid condition at the first condenser and from a second sensor reading the ambient condition of the second condensing fluid.   
   
   
       15 . A heat pump system for refrigeration or air conditioning, and heating a fluid comprising:
 a compressor supplying high pressure, high temperature gaseous refrigerant to a first condenser for heat exchange with a first condensing fluid;   said first condenser supplying gaseous and/or liquid refrigerant to a second condenser for heat exchange with a second condenser fluid;   an accumulator for receiving high pressure liquid refrigerant from said second condenser;   a pressure equalization line between said compressor and said accumulator:   an expansion valve for receiving high pressure liquid refrigerant from said accumulator;   an evaporator for receiving low pressure liquid refrigerant from said expansion valve and supplying low pressure gaseous refrigerant to said compressor;   a controller for adjusting the condensing fluid flow rate of said second condenser based on inputs from a first sensor for reading the condensing fluid condition at the first condenser and from a second sensor reading the ambient condition of the second condensing fluid.   
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 1  where said first fluid is selected from but not limited to water, milk, beer, oil, or air, and said second fluid is selected from but not limited to air, water, oil, or a water antifreeze mix. 
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 14  where said first fluid is selected from but not limited to water, milk, beer, oil, or air, and said second fluid is selected from but not limited to air, water, oil, or a water antifreeze mix.