Patent Application
20160109154
The present subject matter relates generally to heat pump appliances, or more particularly, to transition members for heat pump water heater appliances.
Water heater appliances generally operate to heat water within the water heater appliance's tank to a set temperature. Heat pump water heaters are gaining broader acceptance as a more economic and ecologically-friendly alternative to electric and gas water heaters. Heat pump water heaters include a sealed system for heating water to the set temperature. The set temperature is generally selected such that heated water within the tank is at least hot enough for showering, washing hands, etc. Sealed systems generally heat water more efficiently than electric heating elements and gas burners.
A typical sealed system includes a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device, and an evaporator operating in a closed loop configuration to manipulate a refrigerant. The condenser may be positioned adjacent to the tank of the water heater such that the refrigerant flowing through may exchange energy with water in the tank of the water heater, heating the water. By contrast, the evaporator of the sealed system may be disposed within a casing that such that an airflow may be provided over the evaporator to increase an efficiency of the sealed system.
In certain climates, it may be beneficial to provide such an airflow from remote ambient locations to further increase an efficiency of the sealed system. For example in warm climates, providing an airflow of relatively warm ambient air over the evaporator may further increase the efficiency of the evaporator. Ductwork may generally be attached to the casing to provide such a functionality. However, existing attachment configurations require the ductwork to be disassembled in order to reach an air filter of the heat pump water heater appliance. Alternatively, existing attachment configurations may require the air filter to be inconveniently positioned at a far end of the ductwork, i.e., at the remote ambient location.
Accordingly, a heat pump water heater appliance that allows for connection to ductwork and relatively easy access to an air filter would be beneficial. Further, a heat pump water heater appliance that allows for connection to ductwork and relatively convenient access to the air filter of the heat pump water heater would be particularly useful.
Aspects and advantages of the invention are set forth below in the following description, or may be obvious from the description, or may be learned through practice of the invention.
In one exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, a heat pump water heater is provided. The heat pump water heater includes a tank defining an interior volume and a sealed system configured for heating water within the interior volume of the tank. The sealed system has an evaporator. The heat pump water heater also includes a casing defining an airflow inlet and an airflow exhaust. The tank and the evaporator of the sealed system are disposed within the casing. Additionally, the heat pump water heater includes a transition member including a first end attached to the casing over the airflow inlet and a second end, the transition member defining a passage between the first end and the second end. Moreover, the heat pump water heater includes a filter tray removably positioned in the passage of the transition member, the filter tray configured to support a filter medium such that the filter medium is positioned in an airflow provided to the airflow inlet of the casing through the passage of the transition member.
In another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, a transition member for a heat pump water heater is provided. The transition member includes a first end defining a generally semicircular shape, the first end configured to be attached to an airflow inlet defined by a casing of the heat pump water heater. The transition member also includes a second end defining a generally circular shape, the second end configured to be attached to airflow ductwork. The transition member defines a passage extending between the first end and the second end. Additionally, the transition member includes a filter tray removably positioned in the passage of the transition member, the filter tray configured to support a filter medium such that the filter medium is positioned in an airflow provided to the airflow inlet of the casing through the passage of the transition member.
These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present disclosure will become better understood with reference to the following description and appended claims. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the disclosure and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the disclosure.
A full and enabling disclosure of the present invention, including the best mode thereof to one skilled in the art, is set forth more particularly in the remainder of the specification, including reference to the accompanying figures, in which:
Reference now will be made in detail to embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the drawings. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the invention, not limitation of the invention. In fact, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. For instance, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be used with another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers such modifications and variations as come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
Reference will now be made to
Water heater appliance 100 includes an outer shell or casing 102. Casing 102 generally surrounds a tank 112 (
Water heater appliance 100 also includes an inlet or cold water conduit 104 and an outlet or hot water conduit 106, each of which are in fluid communication with a chamber or interior volume 114 (
Water heater appliance 100 extends longitudinally between a top portion 108 and a bottom portion 109 along a vertical direction V. Thus, water heater appliance 100 is generally vertically oriented. Water heater appliance 100 can be leveled, e.g., such that casing 102 is plumb in the vertical direction V, in order to facilitate proper operation of water heater appliance 100. A drain pan 110 is positioned at bottom portion 109 of water heater appliance 100 such that water heater appliance 100 sits on drain pan 110. Drain pan 110 sits beneath water heater appliance 100 along the vertical direction V, e.g., to collect water that leaks from water heater appliance 100.
It should be understood, however, that water heater appliance 100 described herein is provided by way of example only and that the present subject matter may additionally or alternatively be used with any other suitable water heater appliance.
As will be explained in greater detail below with reference to
As is also depicted in
Referring now to
Sealed system 120 may include a compressor 122, a first condenser 124, a second condenser 126, and evaporator 128. Additionally, as is generally understood, various conduits may be included to flow refrigerant between the various components of sealed system 120. Compressor 122 and/or evaporator 128 of sealed system 120 may be disposed within casing 102 at top portion 108 of water heater appliance 100 (see
Each condenser 124, 126 may be assembled in a heat exchange relationship with tank 112 in order to heat water within interior volume 114 of tank 112 during operation of sealed system 120. First condenser 124 may be positioned downstream of and in fluid communication with compressor 122, and may be operable to heat the water within interior volume 114 using energy from the refrigerant. For example, the superheated vapor from compressor 122 may enter first condenser 124 wherein it transfers energy to the water within tank 112 and condenses into a saturated liquid and/or liquid vapor mixture. Second condenser 126 may be positioned downstream of and in fluid communication with first condenser 124, and may additionally be operable to heat the water within interior volume 114 using energy from the refrigerant, such as by further condensing the refrigerant.
Sealed system 120 may also include a first throttling device 130 between first condenser 124 and second condenser 126, and/or a second throttling device 132 between second condenser 126 and evaporator 128. Refrigerant, which may be in the form of saturated liquid vapor mixture, may exit first condenser 124 and travel through first throttling device 130 before flowing through second condenser 126. First throttling device 130 may generally expand the refrigerant, lowering the pressure and temperature thereof. The refrigerant may then be flowed through second condenser 126. Similarly, refrigerant, which may be in the form of high quality/saturated liquid vapor mixture, may exit second condenser 126 and travel through second throttling device 132 before flowing through evaporator 128. Second throttling device 132 may generally expand the refrigerant, lowering the pressure and temperature thereof. The refrigerant may then be flowed through evaporator 128, as discussed above.
First and second throttling devices 130, 132 may be any suitable components for generally expanding the refrigerant. For example, in some exemplary embodiments, first and second throttling device 130, 132 may be a Joule-Thomson expansion valve, also known as a “J-T valve.” In other exemplary embodiments, first and second throttling device 130, 132 may be an ejector. In still other exemplary embodiments, a capillary tube, fixed orifice, or other suitable apparatus may be utilized as first and second throttling device 130, 132.
As stated, the water heater appliance 100 may also include upper and lower heating elements 118, 119, which can be any suitable heating elements. For example, upper heating element 118 and/or lower heating element 119 may be an electric resistance element, a microwave element, an induction element, or any other suitable heating element or combination thereof. Lower heating element 119 may also be a gas burner.
Water heater appliance 100 may additionally include a temperature sensor 152. Temperature sensor 152 may be configured for measuring a temperature of water within interior volume 114 of tank 112. Temperature sensor 152 can be positioned at any suitable location within water heater appliance 100. For example, temperature sensor 152 may be positioned within interior volume 114 of tank 112 or may be mounted to tank 112 outside of interior volume 114 of tank 112. Temperature sensor 152 may further be positioned within upper portion 160 or lower portion 162. When mounted to tank 112 outside of interior volume 114 of tank 112, temperature sensor 152 can be configured for indirectly measuring the temperature of water within interior volume 114 of tank 112. For example, temperature sensor 152 can measure the temperature of tank 112 and correlate the temperature of tank 112 to the temperature of water within interior volume 114 of tank 112. Temperature sensor 152 may be any suitable temperature sensor. For example, temperature sensor 152 may be a thermocouple or a thermistor.
Water heater appliance 100 may further include a controller 150 (see also
Controller 150 includes memory and one or more processing devices such as microprocessors, CPUs or the like, such as general or special purpose microprocessors operable to execute programming instructions or micro-control code associated with operation of water heater appliance 100. The memory can represent random access memory such as DRAM, or read only memory such as ROM or FLASH. The processor executes programming instructions stored in the memory. The memory can be a separate component from the processor or can be included onboard within the processor. Alternatively, controller 150 may be constructed without using a microprocessor, e.g., using a combination of discrete analog and/or digital logic circuitry (such as switches, amplifiers, integrators, comparators, flip-flops, AND gates, and the like) to perform control functionality instead of relying upon software.
Referring now to
Moreover, for the exemplary embodiment of
Notably, in certain embodiments, first end 176 of inlet transition member 174 may be attached to casing 102 using existing screw holes and other structure, such that inlet transition member 174 may be configured to retrofit water heater appliance 100 with a length of inlet duct work (not shown).
By contrast with first end 176, second end 178 of inlet transition member 174 generally defines a circular shape. The circular shape of second end 178 of inlet transition member 174 may correspond in size with standard-sized and commercially available ductwork. Accordingly, second end 178 may be easily attached to standard sized ductwork.
A passage 200 is defined by inlet transition member 174 between first and second ends 176, 178 of transition member 174, such that an airflow from inlet ductwork (not shown) may flow through passage 200 to arrive at airflow inlet 170 defined in casing 102. Moreover, filter tray 190 includes a framework 202 configured to support a filter medium (not shown) such that the filter medium is positioned in the airflow provided to airflow inlet 170 of casing 102 through passage 200 of transition member 174. The filter medium supported by framework 202 of filter tray 190 may therefore be positioned to remove unwanted particles and/or other debris in the airflow provided to airflow inlet 170 of casing 102 through passage 200 of transition member 174. In certain embodiments, the filter medium may be a disposable filter medium, or alternatively filter tray 190 may further include permanent filter medium attached to and supported by framework 202 of filter tray 190. Alternatively still, the filter tray 190 may be configured as a disposable filter cartridge supporting the filter medium. In any of the above embodiments, the filter medium may, for example, be configured as one or more layers of a screen material, one or more layers of a fibrous material, pleated paper material, etc. Moreover, as will be discussed in greater detail below with reference to
Referring still to
Referring now to
As shown, the inlet transition member 174 defines a slot 204 for receipt of filter tray 190. Referring particularly to
For the embodiment of
It should be appreciated, however, that inlet transition member 174 and water heater appliance 100 depicted and described above with reference to the FIGS. are by way of example only, and that in other exemplary embodiments inlet transition member 174 and water heater appliance 100 may define any other suitable configuration. For example, in other exemplary embodiments, airflow inlet 170 defined by casing 102 may define a shape other than a semicircular shape, such as a circular shape, and first end 176 of inlet the transition member 174 may define a suitable corresponding shape. Additionally, although transition member 174 is depicted including distinct lower and upper pieces 186, 188, in other exemplary embodiments, inlet transition member 174 may instead be comprised of a single piece, formed integrally (excepting filter tray 190). Moreover, in other exemplary embodiments, slot 204 may not be positioned proximate a middle portion of transition member 174, and instead slot 204 may be positioned proximate to the first end 176 or, alternatively, proximate to the second end 178 of the inlet transition member 174. Alternatively, in still other exemplary embodiments, the inlet transition member 174 may not define slot 204, and instead may include any other suitable construction for supporting filter tray 190 such that filter tray 190 is removably positioned in passage 200 of inlet transition member 174.
It should also be appreciated that in still other exemplary embodiments, the inlet transition member 174 described herein may alternatively be used with any other heat pump appliance, such as a heat pump water chiller appliance.
This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other and examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they include structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal language of the claims.
