Submerged Condensers and Heat Pump Water Heaters Including Same

Abstract

A condenser assembly is disclosed. The condenser assembly can include a condenser coil having a first portion and a second portion. The first portion can be configured to fluidly communicate with a first refrigerant line of a heat pump, and the first portion can have a plurality of windings defining an internal volume. The second portion can be configured to fluidly communicate with a second refrigerant line of the heat pump. The condenser coil can be configured to at least partially insert into an internal volume of a water heater tank.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A condenser assembly comprising:
 a base configured to detachably attach to a receiving port of a water heater, wherein the base comprises threads configured to mate with threads of the receiving port;   a condenser coil attached to the base and having:
 a first portion configured to fluidly communicate with a first refrigerant line of a heat pump, the first portion having a plurality of windings defining an internal volume; and 
 a second portion configured to fluidly communicate with a second refrigerant line of the heat pump. 
   
     
     
         2 . The condenser assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of windings of the first portion form a helix. 
     
     
         3 . The condenser assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the condenser coil is configured to sequentially pass refrigerant through the first portion and the second portion. 
     
     
         4 . The condenser assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the condenser coil is configured to sequentially pass refrigerant through the second portion and the first portion. 
     
     
         5 . The condenser assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the second portion comprises a substantially straight section. 
     
     
         6 . The condenser assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the second portion extends through the internal volume of the first portion. 
     
     
         7 . The condenser assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the second portion extends outside the internal volume of the first portion. 
     
     
         8 . The condenser assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the base comprises an aperture configured to receive a water inlet tube. 
     
     
         9 . The condenser assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the water inlet tube extends through the internal volume of the first portion. 
     
     
         10 . The condenser assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the water inlet tube has a length that is less than or equal to a length of the condenser coil. 
     
     
         11 . The condenser assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the water inlet tube has a plurality of apertures disposed along at least a portion of a length of the water inlet tube. 
     
     
         12 . The condenser assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the water inlet tube has a capped end. 
     
     
         13 . The condenser assembly of  claim 8  further comprising an alignment tab configured to hold the water inlet tube in a predetermined position relative the condenser coil. 
     
     
         14 . The condenser assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the condenser coil comprises an inner wall and an outer wall, the inner and outer walls forming an air gap therebetween. 
     
     
         15 . A water heater comprising:
 a tank;   a first condenser assembly disposed at a first height in the tank; and   a second condenser assembly disposed at a second height in the tank that is different than the first height.   
     
     
         16 . The water heater of  claim 15 , wherein each of the first condenser assembly and the second condenser assembly comprise a base configured to detachably attach to a receiving port of the water heater, wherein the base comprises threads configured to mate with threads of the receiving port. 
     
     
         17 . A water heater comprising:
 a tank; and   a heat pump comprising a refrigerant circuit including a compressor, an evaporator, an expansion valve, a condenser assembly, and a plurality of refrigerant lines, the condenser assembly including a condenser coil comprising:
 a base configured to detachably attach to a receiving port of the water heater, wherein the base comprises threads configured to mate with threads of the receiving port; 
 a first portion configured to fluidly communicate with a first refrigerant line of the plurality of refrigerant lines, the first portion (i) having a plurality of windings defining an internal volume and (ii) being configured to at least partially extend into an internal volume of the tank; and 
 a second portion configured to fluidly communicate with a second refrigerant line of the plurality of refrigerant lines and to at least partially extend into an internal volume of the tank. 
   
     
     
         18 . The water heater of  claim 17  further comprising a receiving port, wherein the condenser assembly is configured to detachably attach to the receiving port. 
     
     
         19 . The water heater of  claim 18 , wherein the receiving port is located in a sidewall of the water heater. 
     
     
         20 . The water heater of  claim 19  further comprising a water inlet configured to discharge incoming water into the internal volume of the first portion.