US2013126625A1PendingUtilityA1

Fuel Cell Heat Pump

35
Individually held — no corporate assignee on recordPriority: Nov 18, 2011Filed: Nov 18, 2011Published: May 23, 2013
Est. expiryNov 18, 2031(~5.3 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Mark E. Groskreutz
Y02B30/18F24D 2200/12F24D 17/001F24D 2200/19F25B 27/00F24D 5/02Y02B10/20Y02B10/70Y02B30/52F24F 1/44H01M 8/04014F24F 5/001H01M 8/04089F24D 2200/14F24D 5/12Y02B30/13F24D 17/0047Y02E60/50F24D 19/1051F24D 19/1087
35
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Claims

Abstract

A heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system includes a fuel cell configured to generate electricity and rejected heat, a hydronic coil, and a circulatory loop configured to selectively circulate a fluid between the fuel cell and the hydronic coil.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
1 . A method of operating a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system, comprising:
 operating a fuel cell to generate electricity and rejected heat;   powering a component of the HVAC system using the electricity; and   heating air that is handled by the HVAC system using at least a portion of the rejected heat.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the electricity powers a compressor of the HVAC system. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 directing at least a portion of the rejected heat to a hydronics coil of the HVAC system.   
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 directing at least a portion of the rejected heat to a domestic water heater.   
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 directing at least a portion of the rejected heat to at least one of a hydronics coil of the HVAC system and a domestic water heater via a circulatory loop.   
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 directing at least a portion of the rejected heat to at least one of a hydronics coil of the HVAC system and a domestic water heater in response to a comparison between a fluid temperature setpoint and a temperature of a fluid receiving the rejected heat.   
     
     
         7 . A method of operating a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system, comprising:
 circulating a fluid in a circulatory loop between a fuel cell of the HVAC system and a hydronics coil of the HVAC system;   adding heat to the fluid at the fuel cell;   removing heat from the fluid at the hydronics coil.   
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 7 , further comprising:
 electrically powering at least a portion of the HVAC system using electrical energy generated by the fuel cell.   
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein a compressor of the HVAC system is powered using the electrical energy generated by the fuel cell. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 7 , further comprising:
 circulating the fluid to a domestic water heater.   
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the fluid comprises water. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 7 , further comprising selectively circulating the fluid in response to a comparison between a temperature setpoint and a temperature of the fluid. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 7 , further comprising:
 selectively mixing the fluid with potable water of a domestic water heater.   
     
     
         14 . A heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system, comprising:
 a fuel cell configured to generate electricity and rejected heat;   a hydronic coil; and   a circulatory loop configured to selectively circulate a fluid between the fuel cell and the hydronic coil.   
     
     
         15 . The HVAC system according to  claim 14 , wherein the fuel cell comprises a heat exchanger associated with the circulatory loop. 
     
     
         16 . The HVAC system according to  claim 14 , wherein the fuel cell is configured to consume natural gas. 
     
     
         17 . The HVAC system according to  claim 14 , wherein the circulatory loop is configured to selectively circulate the fluid through a heat exchanger of a domestic water heater. 
     
     
         18 . The HVAC system according to  claim 17 , wherein the HVAC system is configured to circulate the fluid to at least one of the hydronic coil and the domestic water heater in response to a comparison between a temperature setpoint and a temperature of the fluid. 
     
     
         19 . The HVAC system according to  claim 14 , wherein at least a portion of the electricity generated by the fuel cell powers a compressor of the HVAC system. 
     
     
         20 . The HVAC system according to  claim 14 , wherein the fuel cell is configured to consume propane.

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