Compact and centralized heat pump water heater skid package

Abstract

One embodiment provides a compact and centralized heat pump water heater system comprising a modular skid and a master controller for controlling the system. The skid includes a stratified primary storage tank for storing cold water and hot water, and an array of heat pumps for heating the cold water into the hot water. The storage tank is disposed inside the skid. The heat pumps are mounted onto an exterior of the skid. The hot water is supplied to a building structure.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A compact and centralized heat pump water heater system comprising:
 a modular skid including:
 a stratified primary storage tank for storing cold water and hot water, wherein the storage tank is disposed inside the skid; and 
 an array of heat pumps for heating the cold water into the hot water, wherein the heat pumps are mounted onto an exterior of the skid; and 
   a master controller for controlling the system;   wherein the hot water is supplied to a building structure.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the building structure is one of a multi-family residential building, an office, a factory, an industrial space, or a commercial space. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the modular skid further includes:
 a recirculation loop; and   a swing tank, a master mixing valve, and a recirculation pump for maintaining a target temperature of the hot water in the recirculation loop.   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the modular skid further includes:
 a plurality of water connections for connecting to a water supply of the building structure; and   a power connection panel for connecting to a power supply of the building structure.   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the system is delivered pre-engineered and pre-manufactured to a site of the building structure for installation. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the installation comprises:
 connecting the water connections to the water supply of the building structure;   connecting the power connection panel to the power supply of the building structure; and   powering on the master controller to start and run the system.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the modular skid further includes:
 a plurality of piping connections for drainage.   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each heat pump uses carbon dioxide as a refrigerant. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , where the array comprises an even number of heat pumps. 
     
     
         10 . A compact and centralized heat pump water heater system comprising:
 a modular primary skid including:
 a first stratified storage tank for storing cold water and hot water, wherein the first stratified storage tank is disposed inside the primary skid; and 
 a first array of heat pumps for heating the cold water into the hot water, wherein the first array of heat pumps are mounted onto an exterior of the primary skid; 
   a modular secondary skid including:
 at least one additional stratified storage tank for storing the cold water and the hot water, wherein the at least one additional stratified storage tank is disposed inside the secondary skid; and 
 a second array of heat pumps for heating the cold water into the hot water, wherein the second array of heat pumps are mounted onto an exterior of the secondary skid; and 
   a master controller for controlling the system;   wherein the hot water is supplied to a building structure.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the building structure is one of a multi-family residential building, an office, a factory, an industrial space, or a commercial space. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the primary skid further includes:
 a recirculation loop; and   a swing tank, a master mixing valve, and a recirculation pump for maintaining a target temperature of the hot water in the recirculation loop.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the primary skid further includes:
 a plurality of water connections for connecting to a water supply of the building structure; and 
 a first power connection panel for connecting to a power supply of the building structure; and 
   the secondary skid further includes:
 a second power connection panel for connecting to the power supply of the building structure. 
   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the system is delivered pre-engineered and pre-manufactured to a site of the building structure for installation. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the installation comprises:
 connecting the water connections to the water supply of the building structure;   connecting the first power connection panel and the second power connection panel to the power supply of the building structure; and   powering on the master controller to start and run the system.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein each primary and secondary skid further includes:
 a plurality of piping connections for drainage.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein each heat pump uses carbon dioxide as a refrigerant. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 10 , where each array comprises an even number of heat pumps. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the first array comprises a different number of heat pumps than the second array. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein each primary and secondary skid further includes:
 a plurality of inter-skid piping connections for interconnecting the primary skid with the secondary skid.