Air-handler module and evaporator-expansion module for building structure

Abstract

An apparatus includes an evaporator-expansion module configured to (A) provide electric energy to a building structure, and (B) cooperate with an air-handler module configured to provide thermal energy to a building structure. The evaporator-expansion module includes an evaporator assembly including a heated fluid conduit, a refrigerant conduit, and a thermal buffer. The heated fluid conduit is configured to convey a heated fluid. The refrigerant conduit is configured to convey an evaporator refrigerant. The thermal buffer is configured to be positioned relative to the heated fluid conduit and the refrigerant conduit. This is done in such a way that the thermal buffer transfers thermal energy from the heated fluid that is positioned in the heated fluid conduit to the evaporator refrigerant that is positioned in the refrigerant conduit.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus, comprising:
 an air-handler module configured to provide thermal energy to a building structure; and   an evaporator-expansion module configured to provide electric energy to the building structure; and   the evaporator-expansion module also configured to cooperate with the air-handler module; and   the evaporator-expansion module including:
 an evaporator assembly, including:
 a heated fluid conduit configured to convey, in use, a heated fluid; and 
 a refrigerant conduit configured to convey, in use, an evaporator refrigerant; and 
 the heated fluid conduit being positioned relative to the refrigerant conduit in such a way that the heated fluid conduit, in use, transfers thermal energy from the heated fluid that is positioned in the heated fluid conduit to the evaporator refrigerant that is positioned in the refrigerant conduit. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the heated fluid conduit is configured to receive the heated fluid from a heat-generating assembly.   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the heated fluid conduit includes a plurality of combustion exhaust-gas tubes aligned along a linear direction.   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 an amount of thermal energy from the heated fluid, in use, is transferred to the evaporator refrigerant; and   the evaporator refrigerant, in use, departs from the evaporator assembly and enters an expander assembly, in which the evaporator refrigerant, in use, imparts mechanical energy to the expander assembly, and the expander assembly, in use, turns a generator assembly to produce electricity; and   the evaporator refrigerant departs from the generator assembly and enters a condenser assembly in such a way that thermal energy from the evaporator refrigerant is transferred, at least in part, to an supply air assembly; and   the evaporator refrigerant, in use, departs from the condenser assembly and enters a pump assembly, in which the pump assembly, in use, imparts mechanical energy to the evaporator refrigerant; and   the evaporator refrigerant, in use, departs from the pump assembly and enters the evaporator assembly.   
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the evaporator assembly further includes:
 a thermal buffer; and 
 the thermal buffer is configured to be positioned relative to the heated fluid conduit and the refrigerant conduit in such a way that the thermal buffer, in use, transfers, at least in part, thermal energy from the heated fluid that is positioned in the heated fluid conduit to the evaporator refrigerant that is positioned in the refrigerant conduit. 
   
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein:
 the thermal buffer is configured to:
 limit an amount of heat transfer to the evaporator refrigerant; and 
 limit a temperature of the evaporator refrigerant positioned in the refrigerant conduit; and 
 physically isolate the heated fluid conduit from the refrigerant conduit. 
   
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein:
 an interior of the evaporator assembly is configured to receive the thermal buffer; and   the heated fluid conduit includes spaced-apart tubes configured to extend through the thermal buffer.   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein:
 an evaporator fan is configured to receive a mixture of pre-mixed fuel and air; and   the evaporator fan is configured to be fluidly coupled to an inlet manifold; and   the heated fluid conduit is configured to be fluidly connectable to the inlet manifold; and   the heated fluid conduit is fluidly connected to an outlet manifold.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein:
 a combustion exhaust-gas vent is configured to be fluidly connectable to the outlet manifold.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein:
 a water-vapor drain is configured to extend from the outlet manifold; and   a pressure vent is configured to be coupled to an interior of the evaporator assembly, and the pressure vent is configured to relieve excessive interior pressure of the evaporator assembly.   
     
     
         11 . An apparatus, comprising:
 an evaporator-expansion module configured to provide electric energy to a building structure; and   the evaporator-expansion module also configured to cooperate with an air-handler module, in which the air-handler module is configured to provide thermal energy to the building structure; and   the evaporator-expansion module including:
 an evaporator assembly, including:
 a heated fluid conduit configured to convey, in use, a heated fluid; and 
 a refrigerant conduit configured to convey, in use, an evaporator refrigerant; and 
 the heated fluid conduit being positioned relative to the refrigerant conduit in such a way that the heated fluid conduit, in use, transfers thermal energy from the heated fluid that is positioned in the heated fluid conduit to the evaporator refrigerant that is positioned in the refrigerant conduit. 
 
   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the heated fluid conduit is configured to receive the heated fluid from a heat-generating assembly.   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the heated fluid conduit includes a plurality of combustion exhaust-gas tubes aligned along a linear direction.   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein:
 an amount of thermal energy from the heated fluid, in use, is transferred to the evaporator refrigerant; and   the evaporator refrigerant, in use, departs from the evaporator assembly and enters an expander assembly, in which the evaporator refrigerant, in use, imparts mechanical energy to the expander assembly, and the expander assembly, in use, turns a generator assembly to produce electricity; and   the evaporator refrigerant departs from the expander assembly and enters a condenser assembly in such a way that thermal energy from the evaporator refrigerant is transferred, at least in part, to an supply air assembly; and   the evaporator refrigerant, in use, departs from the condenser assembly and enters a pump assembly, in which the pump assembly, in use, imparts mechanical energy to the evaporator refrigerant; and   the evaporator refrigerant, in use, departs from the pump assembly and enters the evaporator assembly.   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the evaporator assembly further includes:
 a thermal buffer; and 
 the thermal buffer is configured to be positioned relative to the heated fluid conduit and the refrigerant conduit in such a way that the thermal buffer, in use, transfers, at least in part, thermal energy from the heated fluid that is positioned in the heated fluid conduit to the evaporator refrigerant that is positioned in the refrigerant conduit. 
   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the thermal buffer is configured to:
 limit an amount of heat transfer to the evaporator refrigerant; and 
 limit a temperature of the evaporator refrigerant positioned in the refrigerant conduit; and 
 physically isolate the heated fluid conduit from the refrigerant conduit. 
   
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein:
 an interior of the evaporator assembly is configured to receive the thermal buffer; and   the heated fluid conduit includes spaced-apart tubes configured to extend through the thermal buffer.   
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein:
 an evaporator fan is configured to receive a mixture of pre-mixed fuel and air; and   the evaporator fan is configured to be fluidly coupled to an inlet manifold; and   the heated fluid conduit is configured to be fluidly connectable to the inlet manifold; and   the heated fluid conduit is fluidly connected to an outlet manifold.   
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein:
 a combustion exhaust-gas vent is configured to be fluidly connectable to the outlet manifold.   
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein:
 a water-vapor drain is configured to extend from the outlet manifold; and   a pressure vent is configured to be coupled to an interior of the evaporator assembly, and the pressure vent is configured to relieve excessive interior pressure of the evaporator assembly.