Refrigeration – Disparate apparatus utilized as heat source or absorber – With vapor compression system
Patent
1998-08-21
2000-07-04
Bennett, Henry
Refrigeration
Disparate apparatus utilized as heat source or absorber
With vapor compression system
622387, 62199, 62200, F25B 2700
Patent
active
060821256
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to an energy management system, and in particular, to a system for monitoring and distributing thermal energy between at least three heat exchangers (heating and cooling devices).
In particular, the present invention relates to an energy management system which for example, may be utilised to provide air cooling whilst simultaneously utilising rejected heat from the air cooling means for heating, for example, water provided in a domestic hot water heater, a swimming pool, or the like. When satisfied, excess energy can be rejected to atmosphere, as necessary.
The present invention also relates to a three way valve device which may be utilised with the energy management system of the present invention, or, in other applications.
The present invention also relates to the use of refrigerant diversion valves within the energy management system, such that, the same circuitry, i.e. flow paths, may be utilised in different configurations, wherein different energy requirements are demanded to circulate the refrigerant through heat exchangers being water, air type and/or the like.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Present day society has grown accustomed to living in a thermally controlled environment, that is, an environment which is "conditioned" by being either heated or cooled to a comfortable level. Not only is the temperature, humidity, etc. of the air controlled, but also, present day society demands the instantaneous provision of "on-tap" hot and cold water, swimming pools heated to a comfortable level, etc. For example, in the domestic situation, it is not uncommon for persons to demand an air conditioned home with a heated pool, etc. Holiday resorts have even more demanding requirements, such as air conditioned rooms, heated swimming pools, refrigerated rooms for containment of foodstuffs, high temperature rooms such as saunas, etc.
Obviously, all these individual components of a domestic, business or resort premises have high demands for energy, which result in high fuel prices. With the increased cost of fuel, and electricity in recent times, such systems have consequently become more and more expensive to operate.
Not only do persons demand such controlled environments, but, they demand different comfort levels in different seasons. That is, the demands of winter and summer, for example, are different.
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
It is the object of the present invention to overcome or substantially ameliorate the above disadvantages.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
There is disclosed herein a heat transfer assembly comprising: heat exchangers; selectively deliver expanding refrigerant thereto; valves and compressor to coordinate circulation of the refrigerant so that compressed refrigerant can be delivered to said third heat exchanger and expanding refrigerant delivered to said first or second heat exchangers, or compressed refrigerant is delivered to said first or third heat exchangers and expanding refrigerant delivered to said second heat exchanger, or compressed refrigerant delivered to said second heat exchanger and expanding refrigerant delivered to said first heat exchanger, or expanding refrigerant is delivered to said third heat exchanger and compressed refrigerant is delivered to said first or second heat exchangers, said valve assembly also being configured to drain refrigerant from any one of said first, second or third heat exchangers, when inoperative, to said compressor.
There is further disclosed herein the heat transfer assembly of claim 1, wherein said valve assembly includes a first, a second and a third valve device, said first valve device coupling said first heat exchanger with said compressor to receive refrigerant from or deliver refrigerant to the compressor, and connecting the second valve device to said compressor so as to deliver compressed refrigerant thereto, said second valve device being connected to said third heat exchanger to deliver compressed refrigerant thereto or to drain refrigerant therefrom for delivery to the compressor,
REFERENCES:
patent: 5058392 (1991-10-01), Jouan et al.
patent: 5560216 (1996-10-01), Holmes
patent: 5680898 (1997-10-01), Rafalovich et al.
patent: 5778696 (1998-07-01), Conner
patent: 5802864 (1998-09-01), Yarbrough et al.
patent: 5906104 (1999-05-01), Schwartz et al.
Bennett Henry
Shulman Mark
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