Air Source Heat Exchange System and Method Utilizing Temperature Gradient and Water

Abstract

An air source heat exchange system and method in which usable heat is exchanged between a prescribed volume of a fluid heat exchange medium, preferably water, within a heat exchange chamber and ambient air outside the chamber. At least one and preferably a plurality of air source heat exchange chambers are provided, each having a volume for containing the prescribed volume of water dwelled within the chamber. The chamber has a chamber wall constructed of a material enabling effective heat transfer between the water dwelled within the chamber and adjacent ambient air outside the chamber. A circulation system circulates the water along a path of flow passing into and out of the volume of the chamber at a rate of flow so related to the prescribed volume of water that usable heat is transferred through the chamber wall, between the ambient air and the prescribed volume of water dwelled within the chamber.

1 . An air source heat exchange system in which usable heat is exchanged between a prescribed volume of a fluid heat exchange medium dwelled within an air source heat exchange unit and ambient air outside the heat exchange unit, the system comprising:
 at least one air source heat exchange chamber having a volume for containing the prescribed volume of fluid heat exchange medium dwelled within the heat exchange unit;   the chamber having a chamber wall constructed of a material enabling effective heat transfer between the fluid heat exchange medium dwelled within the chamber and adjacent ambient air outside the chamber; and   a circulation system for circulating the fluid heat exchange medium along a path of flow passing into and out of the volume of the chamber at a rate of flow so related to the prescribed volume of fluid heat exchange medium that usable heat is transferred through the chamber wall, between the ambient air and the prescribed volume of fluid heat exchange medium dwelled within the chamber.   
     
     
         2 . The air source heat exchange system of  claim 1  wherein the chamber wall includes an outer surface of extended surface area for being exposed to the ambient air. 
     
     
         3 . The air source heat exchange system of  claim 2  including an air mover for moving the ambient air across the outer surface of the chamber wall. 
     
     
         4 . The air source heat exchange system of  claim 1  wherein the fluid heat exchange medium is water and the circulation system includes a water pump for pumping the water along the path of flow, the path of flow extending between an outlet from the water pump to the chamber, and then from the chamber to an inlet to the water pump. 
     
     
         5 . The air source heat exchange system of  claim 4  wherein the chamber wall includes an outer surface for being exposed to the ambient air, and the air source heat exchange system includes an air mover for moving the ambient air across the outer surface of the chamber wall in response to a temperature difference between the inlet to the water pump and the outlet from the water pump less than a predetermined set value. 
     
     
         6 . The air source heat exchange system of  claim 1  including a plurality of said air source heat exchange chambers interconnected serially such that the fluid heat exchange medium is circulated along the path of flow sequentially from one of the plurality of air source heat exchange chambers to a next consecutive air source heat exchange chamber of the plurality, along the path of flow. 
     
     
         7 . The air source heat exchange system of  claim 6  wherein each air source heat exchange chamber includes a chamber wall having an outer surface of extended surface area for being exposed to the ambient air. 
     
     
         8 . The air source heat exchange system of  claim 7  including an air mover for moving the ambient air across the outer surface of each chamber wall. 
     
     
         9 . The air source heat exchange system of  claim 6  wherein the fluid heat exchange medium is water and the circulation system includes a water pump for pumping the water along the path of flow, the path of flow extending between an outlet from the water pump to the serially connected air source heat exchange chambers, and then from the serially connected air source heat exchange chambers to an inlet to the water pump. 
     
     
         10 . The air source heat exchange system of  claim 9  wherein each chamber wall includes an outer surface for being exposed to the ambient air, and the air source heat exchange system includes an air mover for moving the ambient air across the outer surface of each chamber wall in response to a temperature difference between the inlet to the water pump and the outlet from the water pump less than a predetermined set value. 
     
     
         11 . A refrigeration system including an air source heat exchange system of  claim 1 , the refrigeration system comprising:
 a refrigerator having a back wall, a side wall and a bottom wall; and   wherein the chamber has a thin, wide configuration and includes a lower bottom portion and an upper portion, both the lower bottom portion and the upper portion communicating with one another for containing the fluid heat exchange medium, the lower bottom portion of the chamber being located along the bottom wall of the refrigerator, and the upper portion extending along at least one of the back wall and the side wall of the refrigerator for exposure to ambient air;   the refrigerator including a heat expansion unit located at the lower bottom portion of the chamber, such that upon operation of the refrigeration system, heat is dissipated from the heat expansion unit into the fluid heat exchange medium in the chamber, adjacent the lower bottom portion of the chamber for conduct to the upper portion of the chamber.   
     
     
         12 . The refrigeration system of  claim 11  wherein the fluid heat exchange medium is water and the refrigeration system includes a water pump for circulating the water along a circulation path extending through the lower bottom portion and the upper portion of the chamber. 
     
     
         13 . The refrigeration system of  claim 12  wherein the prescribed volume of fluid heat exchange medium is about three gallons. 
     
     
         14 . The refrigeration system of  claim 13  wherein the thin, wide configuration of the chamber has a thickness of about one-half to one inch. 
     
     
         15 . The refrigeration system of  claim 14  wherein the chamber includes a plurality of baffles within the upper portion of the chamber. 
     
     
         16 . An air source heat exchange method in which useful heat is exchanged between a prescribed volume of a fluid heat exchange medium dwelled within an air source heat exchange unit, and ambient air outside the heat exchange unit, the method comprising:
 providing at least one air source heat exchange chamber having a volume for containing the prescribed volume of fluid heat exchange medium dwelled within the heat exchange chamber, the chamber having a chamber wall constructed of a material enabling effective heat transfer between the fluid heat transfer medium dwelled within the chamber and adjacent ambient air outside the chamber; and   circulating the fluid heat exchange medium along a path of flow passing into and out of the volume of the chamber at a rate of flow so related to the prescribed volume of fluid heat exchange medium that usable heat is transferred through the chamber wall, between the ambient air and the prescribed volume of fluid heat exchange medium dwelled within the chamber.   
     
     
         17 . The air source heat exchange method of  claim 16  wherein the chamber wall includes an outer surface of extended surface area, and the surface area is exposed to ambient air moved across the outer surface of the chamber wall. 
     
     
         18 . The air source heat exchange method of  claim 16  wherein the fluid heat exchange medium is water. 
     
     
         19 . The air source heat exchange method of  claim 18  wherein the volume of fluid heat exchange medium dwelled within the chamber is about four gallons and the rate of flow is about two gallons per minute, per ton. 
     
     
         20 . The air source heat exchange method of  claim 16  including providing a plurality of said air source heat exchange chambers interconnected serially such that the fluid heat exchange medium is circulated sequentially from one of the plurality of air source heat exchange chambers to a next consecutive air source heat exchange chamber of the plurality, along the path of flow. 
     
     
         21 . The air source heat exchange method of  claim 20  wherein the fluid heat exchange medium is water. 
     
     
         22 . The air source heat exchange method of  claim 21  wherein the volume of fluid heat exchange medium dwelled within the chamber is about four gallons and the rate of flow is about two gallons per minute, per ton.