Apparatus for making hot-water by air conditioner/heater

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to air conditioners and more particularly to an apparatus for making hot-water by air conditioner/heater.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A conventional air conditioner

1

is shown in FIG.

1

. The air conditioner

1

comprises a compressor

11

, a heat recovery device

18

, a heat exchanger (e.g., condenser)

12

, a fan motor

13

, a filter

14

, and a coolant flow controller

15

(all above components are installed outdoors). The air conditioner

1

further comprises a heat exchanger (e.g., evaporator)

16

and a fan motor

17

(both are installed indoors). With this configuration, it is possible to air condition an enclosed space (A

0

). However, the previous design suffered from several disadvantages. For example, the rotating speed of each fan motor is fixed, i.e., it is not adapted to ambient temperature (or outlet temperature) change. As understood that, heat exchange capability of air conditioner is proportional to wind speed which in turn is proportional to motor speed. Thus, heat exchange capability is proportional to motor speed. Hence, the heat exchange capability of the air conditioner is low in nature due to such fixed rotating speed of fan motor, resulting in a waste of energy. Further, the capability of heat dissipation of condenser is always larger than the capability of heat absorption of evaporator. Hence, it is difficult for such conventional air conditioner to operate as heater when desired. Furthermore, the thermal efficiency is unacceptable low even when the air conditioner operates as heater. Moreover, the heat recovery efficiency is very low due to the fixed rotating speed of fan motor as stated above. In addition, there is no arrangement for making hot-water by the air conditioner. Thus, improvement exists.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for making hot-water by an air conditioner/heater, said apparatus comprising an outdoor section including a compressor, a heat recovery means, a heat exchanger, a fan motor, a filter, and a coolant flow controller; an indoor section including a heat exchanger and a fan motor; and a control section for air conditioning, heating, or supplying hot-water to an enclosed space, said control section including a central processing unit (CPU), a directional-control valve, a defrost bypass valve, a plurality of sensors, and a control panel wherein said CPU is operable to compare a plurality of sensed values obtained from said sensors with a plurality of predetermined values, control on-off of said compressor, switch of said directional-control valve, speed selections of said fan motors, and on-off of said defrost bypass valve, said directional-control valve is switched to permit a predetermined coolant to flow through by a selection of an air conditioning or heating mode, said sensors are located on said heat exchanger of said outdoor section, said heat exchanger of said indoor section, said enclosed space, and said heat recovery means respectively for sensing temperatures including outlet temperatures of said heat exchangers of said outdoor and indoor sections, an ambient temperature of said enclosed space, and an temperature of said heat recovery means, said heat recovery means comprises a coil with said coolant flowing through for exchanging heat, further comprising a cold water supply line, a hot-water line both in fluid communication with said heat recovery means, a water pump on said hot-water line, a hot-water reservoir on said hot-water line, the hot-water reservoir having a baffle plate and a sensor, a check valve for controlling output from said hot-water reservoir, and an overflow pipe extended from said bottom of said hot-water reservoir to a predetermined position above said coil in said heat recovery means for transferring hot-water back to said heat recovery means when said check valve is turned off.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1

is a schematic drawing of a conventional air conditioner;

FIG. 2

is a schematic drawing of a first preferred embodiment of air conditioner/heater according to the invention;

FIG. 3

is another schematic drawing of the first preferred embodiment shown in

FIG. 2

;

FIG. 4

is a schematic drawing of a second preferred embodiment of air conditioner/heater according to the invention;

FIG. 5

is another schematic drawing of the second preferred embodiment shown in

FIG. 4

;

FIG. 6

is a schematic drawing of heat recovery device shown in

FIGS. 2

to

5

;

FIG. 7

is a first flow chart of the control process of the invention;

FIG. 8

is a second flow chart of the control process of the invention;

FIG. 9

is a third flow chart of the control process of the invention;

FIG. 10

is a fourth flow chart of the control process of the invention;

FIG. 11

is a fifth flow chart of the control process of the invention;

FIG. 12

is a sixth flow chart of the control process of the invention;

FIG. 13

is a graph illustrating the rotating speed of indoor fan motor versus temperature in air conditioning mode;

FIG. 14

is a graph illustrating the rotating speed of outdoor fan motor versus temperature in air conditioning mode;

FIG. 15

is a graph illustrating the rotating speed of indoor fan motor versus temperature in heating mode;

FIG. 16

is a graph illustrating the rotating speed of outdoor fan motor versus temperature in heating mode;

FIG. 17

is a first graph illustrating the operation of compressor;

FIG. 18

is a second graph illustrating the operation of compressor;

FIG. 19

is a third graph illustrating the operation of compressor;

FIG. 20

is a fourth graph illustrating the operation of compressor;

FIG. 21

is a fifth graph illustrating the operation of compressor; and

FIG. 22

is a sixth graph illustrating the operation of compressor.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to

FIGS. 2 and 3

, there is shown a first preferred embodiment of air conditioner/heater

2

constructed in accordance with the invention. The air conditioner/heater

2

is activated to air condition/heat a single room (i.e., enclosed space) A

1

. That is, this is one-to-one mode. Air conditioner/heater

2

comprises a compressor

21

, a heat recovery device

29

, a heat exchanger

23

, a fan motor

24

, a filter

25

, and a coolant flow controller

26

(all above components are installed outside the enclosed space A

1

). Air conditioner/heater

2

further comprises a heat exchanger

27

and a fan motor

28

(all are installed indoors). The air conditioner/heater

2

is controlled by a central processing unit (CPU)

20

through associated components such as a directional-control valve

22

, a defrost bypass valve SV-a, a plurality of sensors B

1

, C

1

, D

1

, and E

1

, and a control panel F

1

. With this system, it is possible to air condition, heat, or supply hot-water to the enclosed space A

1

(FIG.

2

). CPU

20

may compare sensed values Tie, Tic, Toe, Toc, and Ta obtained from sensors B

1

, C

1

, D

1

and E

1

with default values Ties, Tics, Toes, Tocs, and Tas. Accordingly, CPU

20

may control the on-off of compressor

21

, the switch of directional-control valve

22

(i.e., switch between air conditioning and heating modes), the speed selections of fan motors

24

and

28

, and the on-off of defrost bypass valve SV-a. Directional-control valve

22

may be switched to permit a specific coolant to flow through by the selection of air conditioning/heating mode (i.e., either in the case shown in

FIG. 2

or FIG.

3

). Sensors B

1

, C

1

, D

1

, and E

1

are located on outdoor heat exchanger

23

, indoor heat exchanger

27

, enclosed space A

1

, and heat recovery device

29

respectively for sensing temperatures in order to obtain sensed values Tie, Tic, Toe, Toc, and Ta which are further sent to CPU

20

. Control panel F

1

is operable to set indoor temperature Tas and other functionalities. Defrost bypass valve SV-a is controlled by CPU

20

in the defrost cycle. Sensor B

1

can sense the outlet temperature of outdoor heat exchanger

23

(i.e., sensed values Toe (evaporation temperature of heating cycle) and Toc (condensation temperature of air conditioning cycle)). Sensor C

1

can sense the outlet temperature of indoor heat exchanger

27

(i.e., sensed values Tie (evaporation temperature of air conditioning cycle) and Tic (condensation temperature of heating cycle)). Sensor D

1

can sense the ambient temperature of enclosed space A

1

(i.e., sensed value Ta). Sensor E

1

is located either inside or outside heat recovery device

29

for sensing the temperature thereof (i.e., sensed values Te). The corresponding relationship between sensed values Tie, Tic, Toe, Toc, Ta, and Te and default values Ties, Tics, Toes, Tocs, Tas, and Tes is as follows:

(1) In air conditioning cycle: Ta is corresponding to Tas, Tie is corresponding to Ties, Toc is corresponding to Tocs, and Te is corresponding to Tes.

(2) In heating cycle: Ta is corresponding to Tas, Tic is corresponding to Tics, Toc is corresponding to Tocs, and Te is corresponding to Tes.

As shown, heat recovery device

29

is provided between coolant outlet of compressor

21

and directional-control valve

22

. Coil

291

is provided in heat recovery device

29

for effecting a heat exchange therein. That is, heat carried by coolant is transferred to cold water sent from cold water supply line I in coil

291

. The thus formed hot-water is outputted to hot-water line O. The features of heat recovery device

29

is as follows:

1. Recover exhaust heat in air conditioning cycle.

2. In heating or hot-water making cycle, store the low temperature heat source absorbed by outdoor heat exchanger (e.g., evaporator) and increase the temperature of heat source by the activation of compressor.

3. Supply heat for defrost cycle.

4. Transfer heat to any of other places for fully utilizing the heat.

Also, heat recovery device

29

may recover heat from condensate. Thus, it is possible to optimize the performance of the system by the addition of heat recovery device

29

.

Referring to

FIGS. 4 and 5

, there is shown a second preferred embodiment of air conditioner/heater

3

constructed in accordance with the invention. The air conditioner/heater

3

is activated to air condition/heat a plurality of rooms. That is, this is an one-to-many mode. Air conditioner/heater

3

comprises a compressor

31

, a heat recovery device

39

, a heat exchanger

33

, a fan motor

34

, a filter

35

, and a plurality of coolant flow controllers

362

and

363

(all above components are installed outside enclosed spaces A

2

and A

3

). Air conditioner/heater

3

further comprises a plurality of heat exchangers

372

and

373

and a plurality of fan motors

382

and

383

(all are installed in the enclosed spaces A

2

and A

3

respectively). Similar to the first embodiment, the air conditioner/heater

3

is controlled by a CPU

30

through associated components such as a directional-control valve

32

, a plurality of sensors B

2

, C

2

, C

3

, D

2

, D

3

, and E

2

, and a plurality of control panels F

2

and F

3

. The differences between first and second embodiments are that the number of enclosed space is increased from one to more than one (e.g., A

2

, A

3

, . . . ,An wherein A

2

and A

3

are shown). Coolant flow controller

362

and solenoid-controlled valve SV

2

are located on the path of coolant flow of enclosed space A

2

. Coolant flow controller

363

and solenoid-controlled valve SV

3

are located on the path of coolant flow of enclosed space A

3

. Controls M

2

and M

3

are controlled by CPU

30

for controlling the corresponding enclosed spaces A

2

and A

3

respectively, i.e., CPU

30

may control the activation of sensors B

2

, C

2

, D

2

, C

3

, D

3

, and E

2

, the on-off of solenoid-controlled valves SV

2

and SV

3

, and the operations of fan motors

382

and

383

. Compressor

31

and defrost bypass valve SV-b are also controlled by CPU

30

. Control panels F

2

and F

3

are operable to set indoor temperature Tas and other functionalities in enclosed spaces A

2

and A

3

respectively. Solenoid-controlled valves SV

2

and SV

3

are commanded to control the coolant flow into respective enclosed spaces A

2

and A

3

. The relationship among enclosed spaces A

2

and A

3

, controls M

1

and M

2

, throttle valves K

2

and K

3

, and solenoid-controlled valves SV

2

and SV

3

is as follows:

Control M

2

and solenoid-controlled valve SV

2

are located in enclosed space A

2

; and control M

3

and solenoid-controlled valve SV

3

are located in enclosed space A

3

. Ambient temperatures of enclosed spaces A

2

and A

3

(i.e., sensed values) are Ta

2

and Ta

3

respectively. The sensed values thereof are Tas

2

and Tas

3

respectively. The outlet temperatures in enclosed spaces A

2

and A

3

are Tie

2

and Tie

3

respectively in air conditioning cycle with a default value Ties. The outlet temperatures in enclosed spaces A

2

and A

3

are Tic

2

and Tic

3

respectively in heating cycle with a default value Tics. The outlet temperatures outside enclosed spaces A

2

and A

3

are Toe and Toc respectively with default values Toes and Tocs. The sensed temperature in heat recovery device

39

is Te with a default value Tes. The corresponding relationship between sensed values and default values of respective enclosed spaces is as follows:

A: Ta is corresponding to Tas, Tie is corresponding tc Ties, and Tic is corresponding to Tics;

A

2

: Ta

2

is corresponding to Tas

2

, Tie

2

is corresponding to Ties, and Tic

2

is corresponding to Tics;

A

3

: Ta

3

is corresponding to Tas

3

, Tie

3

is corresponding to Ties, and Tic

3

is corresponding to Tics;

Toe is corresponding to Toes;

Te is corresponding to Tes; and

Toc is corresponding to Tocs.

Referring to

FIG. 6

, a detailed diagram of heat recovery device

29

is shown. Water pump

51

is provided on hot-water line O for pumping hot-water to temporarily store in hot-water reservoir

52

. A baffle plate

521

and a sensor L

1

are provided in hot-water reservoir

52

. A check valve

53

serves to control the on/off of hot-water output. An overflow pipe L is at the bottom of hot-water reservoir

52

. The on/off of pump

51

is controlled by CPU

20

. When a temperature value Tf of hot-water reservoir

52

sensed by sensor L

1

is lower than a temperature value Te of heat recovery device

29

sensed by sensor E

1

(i.e., Tf<Te−X

1

), pump

51

is activated (ON). Otherwise, if Tf≧Te−X

2

and X

1

>X

2

, pump

51

is deactivated (OFF). The joint of overflow pipe L and heat recovery device

29

is above coil

291

within heat recovery device

29

so as to transfer hot-water back to heat recovery device

29

when hot-water supplying is cut off. This hot-water feedback cycle can substantially maintain the temperature of heat recovery device

29

at a constant value.

A bypass line is connected between coolant outlet pipe of compressor

21

and coolant outlet pipe of heat recovery device

29

. A bypass valve SV-c is provided on the bypass line. In air-conditioning cycle, if Te>Tes+Y (Y is a default offset), bypass valve SV-c is open to form a bypass. Note that the temperature of hot-water in heat recovery device

29

is higher than default offset Y at this time. Hence, coolant is blocked from entering heat recovery device

29

since there is no need for heat exchange. If Te<Tes, it means that the temperature of hot-water is lower than temperature default offset Y. Hence, bypass valve SV-c is closed. As a result, coolant is permitted to enter heat recovery device

29

for transferring heat in order to make hot-water therein. In heating cycle, Te>Tes+Y and Tic<Tics, it means that indoor temperature is lower than predetermined temperature. Thus, heating in closed space(s) is necessary. Hence, bypass valve SV-c is closed. As a result, coolant is permitted to enter heat recovery device

29

for preheating. If Te<Tes−Z (Z is a default offset), it means that the temperature of hot-water is lower than predetermined temperature. Hence, bypass valve SV-c is open to form a bypass so as to directly supply heat to enclosed space(s).

Referring to

FIGS. 7

to

12

in conjunction with

FIGS. 13

to

22

, flow charts of the control processes of first to second embodiments of the invention will now be described in detail. In

FIG. 7

sensed values Ta, Tie, Tic, Toe, Toc, and Te obtained from sensors B

1

, B

2

, B

3

, C

1

, C

2

, C

3

, D

1

, D

2

, D

3

, E

1

, and E

2

are sent to CPU

20

(or

30

) for comparison with default values Tas, Ties, Tics, Toes, Tocs, and Tes. Then a determination is made whether it is in air conditioning or heating cycle. If air conditioner/heater is neither in air conditioning nor in heating cycle, process goes to a next step to determine whether Te<Tes. If the result is positive, the process is in a hot-water making cycle and the process jumps to F (FIG.

12

), otherwise stop the indoor fan motors

28

,

382

and

383

and process loops back to the beginning. If air conditioner/heater is in either air conditioning or heating cycle, the process goes to a next step for determining whether the system has switched to air conditioning cycle. If yes, process goes to air conditioning cycle, otherwise process goes to heating cycle. Next, a determination is made whether process is one-to-one or one-to-many with respect to respective cycles (i.e., air conditioning cycle and heating cycle). Then process goes to A, B, C, or D corresponding to one of

FIGS. 8

to

11

based on the result of above determination.

Following is a detailed description of hot-water making operation of the invention (see FIG.

12

). First, activate outdoor fan motors

28

and

38

and compressors

21

and

41

. If Toe>Toes, outdoor fan motors

24

and

34

operate in lowest speed; otherwise, if Toes−X<Toe<Toes, the rotating speeds of outdoor fan motors

24

and

34

are inversely proportional to Toe; otherwise, if Toe<Toes−X, outdoor fan motors

24

and

34

operate in full speed; otherwise, the process loops back to the beginning of F. Then close defrost bypass valves SV-a and SV-b. If Toe<Toes−X

2

(X

2

is a second default offset), close defrost bypass valves SV-a and SV-b for defrosting; otherwise continue to close defrost bypass valves SV-a and SV-b. If Toe>Toes+X

2

, close defrost bypass valves SV-a and SV-b for stopping the defrost cycle. If Te>Tes+X, outdoor fan motors

24

and

34

and compressors

21

and

31

stop since the temperature of hot-water has reached a predetermined value. The process loops back to G (FIG.

7

).

Following is a detailed description of air conditioning operation of the invention wherein switch valves

22

and

32

have switched to air conditioning cycle.

One-to-one Operation Mode (See

FIGS. 2 and 8

)

When ambient temperature of enclosed space Al (i.e., sensed value Ta) is larger than Tas (i.e., Ta>Tas), outlet temperature (i.e., sensed value Tie) of indoor heat exchanger (as an evaporator)

27

is larger than Ties plus X (i.e., Tie>Ties+X), and outlet temperature (i.e., sensed value Toc) of indoor heat exchanger (as a condenser)

23

is smaller than Tocs minus X (i.e., Toc<Tocs X), both indoor fan motor

28

and outdoor fan motor

24

start to operate; otherwise the process jumps to last step in FIG.

8

. When indoor fan motor

28

is operating, if Ta>Tas+X, indoor fan motor

28

operates in full speed; otherwise, if Tas<Ta<Tas+X, the rotating speed of indoor fan motor

28

is proportional to Ta (as indicated by line L

1

-L

2

in FIG.

13

); otherwise, if Ta<Tas, the rotating speed of indoor fan motor

28

is lowest. At the same time when outdoor fan motor

24

is operating, if Toc>Tocs, outdoor fan motor

24

operates in full speed; otherwise, if Tocs−X<Toc<Tocs, the rotating speed of outdoor fan motor

24

is proportional to Toc (as indicated by line L

3

-L

4

in FIG.

14

); otherwise, if Toc<Tocs−X, the rotating speed of outdoor fan motor

24

is lowest (or even stops). Next compressor

21

activates (ON) (see

FIGS. 17

to

22

). Then the process determines whether Ta<Tas−X, Tie<Ties−X, or Toc>Tocs+X. If yes, indoor fan motor

28

operates in lowest speed (or even stops), outdoor fan motor

24

and compressor

21

stop (OFF). If not, the process loops back to the beginning of FIG.

8

.

One-to-many Operation Mode (See

FIGS. 4 and 9

)

(A) When ambient temperature of any of enclosed spaces A

2

and A

3

(i.e., sensed value Tan) is larger than Tas (i.e., Tan>Tas), Tien>Ties+X, and Toc<Tocs−X (where n is 2 or 3), both indoor fan motor

382

(or

383

) and outdoor fan motor

24

start to operate; otherwise the process jumps to last step in FIG.

9

. When indoor fan motor

382

(or

383

) is operating, if Ta>Tas+X, indoor fan motor

382

(or

383

) operates in full speed; otherwise, if Tas<Ta<Tas+X, the rotating speed of indoor fan motor

382

(or

383

) is proportional to Ta (as indicated by line L

1

-

12

in FIG.

13

); otherwise, if Ta<Tas, the rotating speed of indoor fan motor

382

(or

383

) is lowest. At the same time when outdoor fan motor

34

is operating, if Toc>Tocs, outdoor fan motor

34

operates in full speed; otherwise, if Tocs−X<Toc<Tocs, the rotating speed of outdoor fan motor

34

is proportional to Toc (as indicated by line L

3

-L

4

in FIG.

14

); otherwise, if Toc<Tocs−X, outdoor fan motor

34

operate in lowest speed (or even stop). Next compressor

31

activates (ON) (see

FIGS. 17

to

22

). Then the process determines whether Ta<Tas−X or Tie<Ties−X. If yes, solenoid-controlled valve SV

2

(or SV

3

) is closed; otherwise, the process loops back to the beginning of FIG.

9

. The process then determines whether Toc>Tocs+X or all solenoid-controlled valves SV

2

and SV

3

are closed. If not, the process loops back to the beginning of FIG.

9

. If yes, outdoor fan motor

34

and compressor

31

stop (OFF).

Following is a detailed description of heating operation of the invention wherein switch valves

22

and

32

have switched to heating cycle.

One-to-one Operation Mode (See

FIGS. 3 and 10

)

If ambient temperature of enclosed space Al (i.e., sensed value Ta) is smaller than Tas (i.e., Ta<Tas), the outlet temperature of indoor heat exchanger (as evaporator)

27

(i.e., sensed value Tic) is smaller than Tics minus default offset X (i.e., Tic<Tics−X, and the outlet temperature of outdoor heat exchanger (as condenser)

23

(i.e., sensed value Toc) is larger than default value Toes plus a first default offset X

1

(i.e., Toe>Toes+X

1

), in case (a) indoor fan motor

28

starts to operate. If Tic<Tics−X, indoor fan motor

28

operates in lowest speed (or even stops). If Tics−X<Tic<Tics, the rotating speed of indoor fan motor

28

is proportional to Tic (as represented by line L

5

-L

6

in FIG.

15

). If Tic>Tics, indoor fan motor

28

operates in full speed; and in case (b) outdoor fan motor

24

starts to operate. If Toe>Toes, outdoor fan motor

24

operates in lowest speed. If Toes−X<Toe<Toes, the rotating speed of outdoor fan motor

24

is inversely proportional to Toe (as represented by line L

7

-L

8

in FIG.

15

). If Toe<Toes−X, outdoor fan motor

24

operates in full speed. Then compressor

21

begins to operate as fan motors

24

and

28

operate (

FIGS. 17

to

22

), while defrost bypass valves SV-a is off. If Toe<Toes−X

2

(where X

2

is a second default offset), defrost bypass valves SV-a is turned on (ON) to enter into defrost cycle (as represented by dashed line X

2

-X

2

in FIG.

22

). If Toe>Toes+X

2

, defrost bypass valve SV-a is off. If Ta>Tas+X, Tic>Tics+X, or Toe<Toes−X

1

, indoor fan motor

28

operates in lowest speed (or even stop), outdoor fan motors

24

stops, and compressor

21

stops (OFF).

One-to-many Operation Mode (See

FIGS. 5 and 11

)

If ambient temperature of any of enclosed spaces A

2

and A

3

(i.e., sensed value Ta

2

or Ta

3

) is larger than Tas (i.e., Ta

2

<Tas or Ta

3

<Tas), the corresponding indoor outlet temperature (sensed value Tic

2

or Tic

3

) is smaller than default value Tics minus default offset X (i.e., Tic

2

<Tics−X or Tic

3

<Tics−X), and Toe>Toes+X

11

, in case (a) indoor fan motor

382

(or

383

) corresponding to enclosed space A

2

(or A

3

) starts to operate. If Tic<Tics−X, indoor fan motor

382

(or

383

) operates in lowest speed (or even stops). If Tics−X<Tic<Tics, the rotating speed of indoor fan motor

382

(or

383

) is proportional to Tic (as represented by line L

5

-L

6

in FIG.

15

). If Tic>Tics, indoor fan motor

382

(or

383

) operates in full speed; and in case (b) outdoor fan motor

34

starts to operate. If Toe>Toes, outdoor fan motor

34

operates in lowest speed. If Toes−X<Toe<Toes, the rotating speed of outdoor fan motor

34

is inversely proportional to Toe (as represented by line L

7

-L

8

in FIG.

16

). If Toe<Toes−X, outdoor fan motor

34

operates in full speed. Compressor

31

begin to operate as indoor fan motor

382

(or

383

) operates and outdoor fan motor

34

operate (

FIGS. 17

to

22

), while defrost bypass valves SV

2

(or SV

3

) is open and defrost bypass valve SV-b is closed. If Toe<Toes−X

2

, defrost bypass valve SV-b is turned on (ON) to enter into defrost cycle (as represented by dashed line X

2

—X

2

in FIG.

22

). If Toe>Toes+X

2

, defrost bypass valve SV-b is turned off (OFF). If Ta>Tas+X or Tic>Tics+X, the corresponding solenoid-controlled valve SV

2

(or SV

3

) is turned off. If Toe<Toes−X

1

, or all solenoid-controlled valves SV

2

and SV

3

are turned off, outdoor fan motor

34

and compressor

31

stop (OFF).

In brief, the air conditioner/heater of the invention can automatically operate in one of air conditioning, heating, and hot-water supplying modes by outlet temperatures of indoor and outdoor heat exchangers. With this, the operation of the air conditioner/heater is maintained at an optimum, resulting in an increase of operational efficiency as well as energy saving.

While the invention herein disclosed has been described by means of specific embodiments, numerous modifications and variations could be made thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention set forth in the claims.

Number	Name	Date	Kind
4598557	Robinson et al.	Jul 1986	A
4809516	Jones	Mar 1989	A
6123147	Pittman	Sep 2000	A

Apparatus for making hot-water by air conditioner/heater

Information

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Date Filed

Date Issued

Inventors

Original Assignees

Examiners

Agents

CPC

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