Heat Pump Energy Supply Optimization Method and System

Abstract

A method of optimizing a heat pump energy supply, comprising: sensing the ambient temperature; and responsive to the sensed ambient temperature, selecting one of a first energy source and a second energy source to provide energy for processing a working fluid of the heat pump, the second energy source different than the first energy source.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A heat pump apparatus comprising:
 a control circuitry;   a first energy source input port arranged to receive energy from a first energy source;   a second energy source input port arranged to receive energy from a second energy source, the second energy source different than the first energy source, each of the first and second energy source input ports arranged to provide energy for processing a working fluid contained within the heat pump apparatus, responsive to the control circuitry; and   an ambient temperature sensor in communication with the control circuitry, the ambient temperature sensor arranged to sense the temperature of the ambient air,   wherein the control circuitry is arranged to alternately select one of the first energy source input port and the second energy source input port to provide energy for processing the working fluid, the selection responsive to the sensed ambient air temperature.   
     
     
         2 . The heat pump apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the control circuitry is arranged to determine the required energy output from each of the first energy source and the second energy source to provide energy for processing the single working fluid, responsive to the sensed ambient temperature, and
 wherein the control circuitry is arranged to determine the cost of operation of the heat pump apparatus by each of the first energy source and the second energy source responsive to the determined required energy output, the selection performed responsive to the determined cost of operation.   
     
     
         3 . The heat pump apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first energy source comprises a source of electricity and the second energy source comprises a combustible material powered water heater. 
     
     
         4 . The heat pump apparatus of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a compressor in electrical communication with the first energy source input port, the compressor arranged to compress the working fluid; and   a heat exchanger in thermal communication with the second energy source input port, the heat exchanger arranged to transfer heat from the combustible material powered water heater to the working fluid.   
     
     
         5 . The heat pump apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a third energy source input port arranged to receive energy from a third energy source, different that the first and second energy sources, the third energy source input port arranged to provide energy for processing the working fluid,
 wherein the control circuitry is further arranged to determine the energy output of the third energy source, the selection performed only in the event that the determined energy output of the third energy source is less than the energy requirements of the heat pump apparatus.   
     
     
         6 . The heat pump apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the third energy source comprises one of a waste heat source and a solar water heater. 
     
     
         7 . The heat pump apparatus of  claim 6 , further comprising a heat exchanger in thermal communication with:
 the second energy source input port; and   the third energy source input port.   
     
     
         8 . The heat pump apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the arrangement of the third energy source input to provide energy for processing the working fluid is responsive to the control circuitry, and
 wherein in the event that the determined energy output of the third energy source is less than the energy requirements of the heat pump apparatus, the control circuitry is further arranged to control the third energy source input port to provide energy for processing the working fluid.   
     
     
         9 . A method of optimizing a heat pump energy supply, the method comprising:
 sensing the ambient temperature; and   responsive to the sensed ambient temperature, selecting one of a first energy source and a second energy source to provide energy for processing a working fluid of the heat pump, the second energy source different than the first energy source.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 determining the required energy output from each of the first energy source and the second energy source to provide energy for processing the working fluid, responsive to the sensed ambient temperature; and   determining the cost of operation of the heat pump by each of the first energy source and the second energy source responsive to the determined required energy output, the selecting performed responsive to the determined cost of operation.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the first energy source comprises a source of electricity and the second energy source comprises a combustible material powered water heater. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the selecting the first energy source comprises providing electric power from the source of electricity to a compressor, and wherein the selecting the second energy source comprises providing heat from the combustible material powered water heater to a heat exchanger. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising determining the energy output of a third energy source, the third energy source different that the first and second energy sources, the selecting performed only in the event that the determined energy output of the third energy source is less that the energy requirements of the heat pump. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the third energy source comprises one of a waste heat source and a solar water heater. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising providing heat from the output of the second and third energy sources to a heat exchanger. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising, in the event that the determined energy output of the third energy source is less than the energy requirements of the heat pump, providing energy output from the third energy source for processing the working fluid. 
     
     
         17 . A non-transitory computer readable medium having instructions stored thereon, which, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform operations, the operations comprising:
 sensing the ambient temperature; and   responsive to the sensed ambient temperature, selecting one of a first energy source and a second energy source to provide energy for processing a working fluid of the heat pump, the second energy source different than the first energy source.   
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 determining the required energy output from each of the first energy source and the second energy source to provide energy for processing the working fluid, responsive to the sensed ambient temperature; and   determining the cost of operation of the heat pump by each of the first energy source and the second energy source responsive to the determined required energy output, the selecting performed responsive to the determined cost of operation.   
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein the first energy source comprises a source of electricity and the second energy source comprises a combustible material powered water heater. 
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 19 , wherein the selecting the first energy source comprises providing electric power from the source of electricity to a compressor, and
 wherein the selecting the second energy source comprises providing heat from the combustible material powered water heater to a heat exchanger.   
     
     
         21 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein the operations further comprise determining the energy output of a third energy source, the third energy source different that the first and second energy sources, the selecting performed only in the event that the determined energy output of the third energy source is less that the energy requirements of the heat pump. 
     
     
         22 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 21 , wherein the third energy source comprises one of a waste heat source and a solar water heater. 
     
     
         23 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 22 , wherein the operations further comprise providing heat from the output of the second and third energy sources to a heat exchanger. 
     
     
         24 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 21 , wherein the operations further comprise, in the event that the determined energy output of the third energy source is less than the energy requirements of the heat pump, providing energy output from the third energy source for processing the working fluid.