Patent Application
20160273802
The subject matter of the present disclosure relates generally to a water heater that uses a sorption based reactor for heating the water.
Water heaters can provide for the heating and storage of water to be used in e.g., a residential or commercial structure. A typical construction includes a water tank that is surrounded by a jacket and is insulated. A heat source is provided for increasing the temperature of water in the tank. The heat source is commonly based on e.g., gas burners or electrically-resistant coils.
In such constructions, heat created from combustion or the resistance to a current flow is provided directly to the water tank. With gas burners, for example, the burner is located just below the bottom wall of the water tank. Combustion of a liquid or gaseous fuel provides heat that is conducted through the wall of the water tank. In the case of electrically-resistant coils, one or more such coils are typically inserted through a wall of the tank and into the water. Heat generated by the resistance to current flow is transferred to the water.
While substantial improvements have been achieved, there is still a need for improvement in water heater efficiency.
One technology that has been proposed for improving water heater efficiency is the use of sorption based water heaters. For such water heaters to be profitable, such need to be simple, robust, highly efficient, affordable and easy to integrate into water systems where conventional water heaters have previously been used.
Many sorption based devices work according to a batch process, which means that they operate intermittently. These sorption based devices usually include two main components: a reactor and another component that acts as either a condenser or evaporator depending on the phase of the process. In these types of devices, during a charging phase, the reactor takes in heat at high temperature and the condenser releases heat at relatively low temperatures. During the discharging phase, the reactor releases heat at low relatively temperatures and the evaporator absorbs heat at much lower temperatures. In each of these two phases, the device needs to exchange heat with the environment or ambient conditions. To supply or release heat at different temperatures using the same component as both a heat exchanger and a condenser, prior sorption based devices often use a complex system of valves, pumps, and pipes that act as an auxiliary system for the sorption device. Thus, these prior devices are typically more complex and have moving parts that result in higher electricity consumption, greater risk of leakage, and increased risk of repair or maintenance.
Accordingly, improvement is needed in sorption based devices and in water heaters using such devices.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a water heater having a sorption based reactor that is integrated into a water tank. The water heater is operated between an adsorption cycle and a desorption cycle. During the endothermic desorption cycle, a primary heat exchanger is used to transfer heat from a condensing primary fluid that was vaporized from the sorbate to water in the tank. A charging heat transfer system supplies heat for the vaporization during endothermic desorption cycle. During the exothermic adsorption cycle, a secondary heat exchanger is used along with a secondary fluid to transfer heat generated by adsorption of the primary fluid to water in the tank. An evaporator provides for vaporization of the primary fluid during the adsorption cycle. Substantial improvements in energy efficiency can be achieved. Additional aspects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the following description, may be apparent from the description, or may be learned through practice of the invention.
In one exemplary embodiment, the present invention provides a water heater that includes a tank having a volume for storing water. The tanks also defines a cavity. A primary heat transfer system is included in which a primary fluid is recirculated. The primary heat transfer system includes a reactor located within the cavity and a sorbate located within the reactor. A primary heat exchanger is positioned within the volume of the tank and is in fluid communication with the reactor to receive vaporized primary fluid that is endothermically desorbed from the sorbate. An evaporator is in fluid communication with the primary heat exchanger to receive primary fluid condensed in the primary heat exchanger. The evaporator is in fluid communication with the reactor to provide primary fluid vaporized by the evaporator to the reactor.
This exemplary water heater also includes a secondary heat transfer system in which a secondary heat transfer fluid is recirculated. The secondary heat transfer system includes an auxiliary heat exchanger positioned within the reactor and configured for transferring heat energy to the secondary fluid. A secondary heat exchanger is positioned within the volume of the tank and configured for transferring heat from the secondary fluid to the water in the tank. The secondary heat exchanger is in fluid communication with the auxiliary heat exchanger and is configured to receive liquid secondary fluid from the auxiliary heat exchanger that is heated by exothermic adsorption of primary fluid by the sorbate. The secondary heat exchanger is also configured to return to the auxiliary heat exchanger liquid secondary fluid that has transferred heat to the water in the tank.
This exemplary water heater also includes a charging heat transfer system in which the charging fluid is recirculated. The charging heat transfer system includes a heater configured for vaporizing the charging fluid and a reactor heat exchanger positioned within the reactor and in fluid communication with the heater. The reactor heat exchanger is configured to receive vaporized charging fluid from the heater and to return condensed charging fluid to the heater.
These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention 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 invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.
A full and enabling disclosure of the present invention, including the best mode thereof, directed to one of ordinary skill in the art, is set forth in the specification, which makes reference to the appended 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.
Schematic representations of an exemplary embodiment of a water heater 100 of the present invention are set forth in the figures. Beginning with
For this exemplary embodiment, water heater 100 also includes a primary heat transfer system 200, a charging heat transfer system 300, an exhaust gas heat transfer system 400, and a secondary heat transfer system 500. Water heater 100 is operated by shifting between two cycles: 1) an adsorption cycle where heat is released from exothermic adsorption of a primary fluid onto a sorbate 206, and 2) a desorption cycle requiring heat for the endothermic desorption of the primary fluid from sorbate 206. A further description of each heat transfer system as well as the structure and operation of water heater 100 in these two cycles now follows.
Continuing with
Primary heat transfer system 200 includes an integrated sorption reactor 202—i.e., reactor 202 is positioned within the cavity 106 of tank 102. In one exemplary embodiment, reactor 202 is positioned with a slight gap 238 between reactor 202 and the inside surface 108 of cavity 106 defined by tank 102. In other embodiments, reactor 202 may be formed integrally with tank 102 such that reactor 202 is embedded within cavity 106. Either construction allows for thermal communication between reactor 202 and tank 102 such that heat can be transferred to water in the volume 104 of tank 102.
A sorbate 206 is located within reactor 202. As used herein, “sorbate” refers to material that can be combined with the primary fluid 216 to create an exothermic reaction. Conversely, the sorbate can be heated to remove the primary fluid 216 in an endothermic reaction. By way of example, sorbate 206 may be a salt such as lithium chloride or lithium bromide while the primary fluid may be a relatively volatile liquid such as water. In still another embodiment, sorbate 206 is at least one metal salt selected from the group consisting of LiCl, LiBr, LiI, MgCl2, MgBr2, MgI2, CaCl2, CaBr2, CaI2, SrI2, KOH, NaOH, ZnCl2, ZnBr2, ZnI2, AlCl3, AlBr3, and AlI3. In another alternative embodiment, sorbate 206 is at least one metal salt selected from the group consisting of MgCl2, MgBr2, LiCl, CaCl2, CaBr2, ZnCl2, and NaOH.
For the exemplary embodiment shown in the figures, sorbate 206 is provided in a plurality of plates 208 positioned in layers along vertical direction V in an alternating manner with a plurality of heat transfer plates 306 of a reactor heat exchanger 304 (
During the desorption cycle, a flow 224 of vaporized primary fluid (i.e., steam) rises to bonnet 204 and exits through reactor outlet 236. Primary heat transfer system 200 includes a primary heat exchanger 210 that is positioned within the volume 104 of tank 102. Primary heat exchanger 210 is in fluid communication with reactor 202 by outlet 236 and thereby receives the flow 224 of vaporized primary fluid created by the endothermic desorption from sorbate 206. The flow 224 of vaporized primary fluid travels through primary heat exchanger 210 and transfers heat to the water in tank 102 as it cools and condenses. The resulting flow 218 of condensed—i.e., liquid-primary fluid 216 flows under the force of gravity vertically down through primary heat exchanger 210, through condensate return leg 214, and into a primary storage vessel 226 where it is collected as a liquid volume of primary fluid 216.
During the desorption cycle, a primary valve 230 remains closed to prevent flow along vapor return leg 232 between reactor 202 and an evaporator 212 and primary storage vessel 226. Both evaporator 212 and primary storage vessel 226 are in fluid communication with primary heat exchanger 210. A primary pump 228 remains off during the desorption cycle.
The desorption cycle is continued until all or a certain portion of primary fluid has been desorbed from sorbate 206. Such determination can be made by monitoring the level PL of primary fluid 216 in primary storage vessel 226 and/or by monitoring the temperature at or near the sorbate 206 in reactor 202. For example, the temperature at or near sorbate 206 would be substantially constant during desorption and then would begin to increase as desorption of the primary fluid is completed.
During an adsorption cycle, primary valve 230 is opened to allow for fluid communication between evaporator 212 and reactor 202. More particularly, opening of primary valve 230 allows a flow 222 of primary fluid in the form of vapor (from evaporator 212) into reactor 202 through reactor inlet 234. Additionally, primary pump 228 is activated. As shown in
Once pumped to evaporator 212, at least a portion of flow 220 of primary fluid is vaporized. For example, in one embodiment, the primary fluid is water that is at or near a vacuum pressure condition within primary heat transfer system 200—thereby increasing its volatility. For example, water might be used as a primary fluid at a pressure of less than about 2 millibars. Under such conditions, the surrounding atmosphere or ambient 50 can provide heat for the vaporization of primary liquid 216 in evaporator 212. A fan 244 can be used to provide a forced air flow (arrows A) to improve heat transfer with the ambient 50. Accordingly evaporator 212 provides a flow 222 of vaporized primary fluid along vapor return leg 232, through an opened primary valve 230, and into reactor 202.
Liquid that is not vaporized in evaporator 212 drains into primary storage vessel 226. For this purpose, evaporator 212 may be elevated along vertical direction V higher than primary storage vessel 226 but lower than primary heat exchanger 210 so as to provide a gravity flow of liquid primary fluid 216 back into primary storage vessel 226. Evaporator 212 may also be placed at non-zero angle θ (
As stated, evaporator 212 is in fluid communication with reactor 202 to provide vaporized primary fluid flow 222 back into reactor 202. Therein, this vaporized primary fluid can undergo exothermic adsorption onto sorbate 206, which generates heat that can be transferred to water in tank 102 by secondary heat transfer system 500 as further described below. Once sorbate 206 is substantially fully saturated by adsorption of the primary fluid, the adsorption cycle is ended by closing primary valve 230 and deactivating primary pump 228. The desorption cycle can then be repeated as described above. The amount of saturation of the sorbate 206 during the adsorption cycle can be determined by monitoring the level PL of primary fluid 216 in primary storage vessel 226 and/or by monitoring the temperature at or near the sorbate 206 in reactor 202.
Turning now to
Notably, as shown in the figures, primary fluid is recirculated within primary heat transfer system 200, charging fluid is recirculated within charging heat transfer system 300, and secondary fluid is recirculated within secondary heat transfers system 500. Each system remains closed in that primary fluid, secondary fluid, and charging fluid are not mixed during the heat transfer operations described. Thus, reactor heat exchanger 304 is positioned with reactor 202 but provides a flow path for charging fluid that is separated from the flow path of primary fluid in reactor 202. While water can be used for primary fluid, charging fluid, and secondary fluid, the pressures within the primary heat transfer system 200 and secondary heat transfer system can be much different so as to determine the level of volatility.
Continuing with
Referring now to
During the desorption cycle, a secondary valve 524 remains closed and a secondary pump 526 remains off. Once the desorption cycle ends, secondary valve 524 is opened and secondary pump 526 is activated. Secondary pump 526 has a secondary pump inlet 526a that is in fluid communication with a secondary storage vessel 516 and a secondary pump outlet 526b that is in fluid communication with a secondary heat exchanger 528.
When activated during the adsorption cycle, secondary pump 526 causes a secondary fluid flow 530 from secondary storage vessel 516 to flow into secondary heat exchanger 528. While travelling through second heat exchanger 528, secondary fluid flow 530 transfers heat to water in tank 102. After exiting secondary heat exchanger 528, secondary fluid flows into a riser 532 of auxiliary heat exchanger 504 that extends upwardly along vertical direction V. Riser 532 provides fluid to a return 533 of auxiliary heat exchanger 504 that feeds secondary fluid back into secondary storage vessel 516.
While travelling through auxiliary heat exchanger 504, heat is transferred to the secondary fluid from the exothermic adsorption of primary fluid onto sorbate 206. Secondary fluid is then collected in secondary storage tank 516 for recirculation to secondary heat exchanger 528 to heat water in tank 102 as previously described.
Accordingly, water heater 100 operates by shifting between a desorption cycle and an adsorption cycle. During the desorption cycle, valves 230 and 524 remain shut while pumps 228 and 526 remain off or inactive. During the adsorption cycle, valves 230 and 524 are both opened while pumps 228 and 526 are activated. In one exemplary embodiment, the operation of the valves and pumps of water heater 100 are controlled by one or more processors or controllers. Such controller may include a memory and one or more 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 100. The memory may represent random access memory such as DRAM, or read only memory such as ROM or FLASH. In one embodiment, the processor executes programming instructions stored in memory. The memory may be a separate component from the processor or may be included onboard within the processor. The controller may be positioned in a variety of locations throughout water heater 100. The controller can also be used to activate heater 302 along with the previously described valves and pumps. The controller may also receive temperature information from one or more temperature sensors. Such temperature information may include e.g., the temperature of water in tank 102 and of the sorbate 106. The controller may also receive fluid level information from storage vessels 226 and 516.
Returning to
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 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 languages of the claims.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/US13/64040 | 10/9/2013 | WO | 00 |
