Title of Invention: Air conditioner having hot and cold water producing circuits

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention is in the field of mechanical engineering and HVAC systems and facilities, especially air conditioners that can provide hot and cold water.

Background Art

[0002] Some patents in the field of building Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) disclose some type of combined cycles in which some components and parts are in common. For example:

[0003] The US. Pat. application No. 20170234550, is related to a heating and cooling package that uses a heat pump to remove heat from the ambient air and transfer the rejected heat to a system. It uses hot water and thus uses waste heat to heat the hot water system. This system uses the same method as a water condenser and cooling tower to discharge heat. If it wants to create heat (heating mode) in the evaporator, it should do a heat pump operation. The condenser gets cold and if it does not turn on the burner, the water in the system freezes. Turning on the cooling cycle (compressor, fan, etc.) along with the burner will cause high energy costs and consumption.

[0004] The US. Pat. application No. 20110314848, is related to the combination of two separate cooling cycles, one of which is the main cycle with A R410 refrigerant and the other cycle is for heating. The water it uses works with R134a refrigerant. The main cycle gives its condenser heat to the evaporator of the second cycle and the heat of the second cycle condenser is transferred to the water in the circulation between the hot water tank and the exchanger through a heat exchanger. In the cycle of the above invention, to adjust the water temperature, the second cycle must be turned on and off together with the compressor. In the said patent, it is not possible to provide hot water immediately.

Summary of Invention [0005] The presented invention is an air conditioner package for providing cold and hot water which is capable of producing instant hot water in hot and cold seasons.

[0006] The invention is an air conditioner that has both hot and cold water producing circuits. It includes a heat source, three independent condensers, a hot water storage tank, a heat exchanger, antifreeze coils, an evaporator, an expansion valve, at least one pump, at least two three-way valves, a compressor, an expansion tank, a control valve, a condenser fan, an exhaust fan, and a main heating coil.

[0007] The cooling water circuit consists of the cooling distribution equipment, which is a combination of the condenser fan and the condenser, the evaporator, the three-way valve, the expansion tank, and the pump. The return water from the cooling distribution equipment is cooled by passing through the evaporator and the three-way valve before reaching the pump. The cooled water then returns to the cooling distribution equipment.

[0008] The heating circuit includes the heating coil, the heat source, the storage tank, the antifreeze coils, the heat exchanger, the three-way valve, the expansion tank, and the pump. The return water from the heat distribution equipment, which is a combination of the exhaust fan and the heating coil, is heated by passing through the main heating coil and then through the antifreeze coils in the hot water tank and the heat exchanger. The hot water reaches the pump through the valve and passes through the three-way valve to supply the required hot water to the heat distribution equipment.

Technical Problem

[0009] The cold generation in condensation refrigeration cycles is as follows: the heat in the evaporator is absorbed by the refrigerant and the refrigerant turns from the liquid phase into vapor and then enters the compressor.

[0010] The compressor condenses the refrigerant gas and increases the temperature and pressure of the refrigerant due to the compression action and then enters the condenser. In the condenser, the refrigerant is cooled by the cooling fluid (water or air depending on the type of condenser) changes from the gas phase to the liquid phase, and then enters the expansion. After the expansion, the pressure of the refrigerant drops sharply, and according to the direct relationship between pressure and temperature, with the decrease in pressure, the temperature also decreases, and finally, with the decrease in temperature, a cold surface is formed in the evaporator, then the refrigerant evaporates in the evaporator and becomes The compressor enters and this cycle continues like this.

[0011 ] Now, if the refrigerant in the condenser is not cooled enough (subcooling of the refrigerant at the end of the condenser), it causes the refrigerant inside the condenser to not turn into a liquid and therefore the pressure of the refrigerant inside the condenser increases, increasing the pressure inside the condenser causes pressure on the compressor and thus increases the electric current and electricity consumption and causes depreciation of the compressor.

[0012] In general, the condensers used in refrigeration cycles are divided into three main categories. 1 - Air condenser 2- Water condenser 3- Evaporative condenser.

[0013] The air condenser is cooled by airflow and is widely used in refrigerators, water coolers, air conditioners, etc.

[0014] The water condenser cools the refrigerant with water and needs a cooling tower pump to circulate the water between the cooling tower and the condenser. In the cooling tower, the water is cooled in a process similar to the water cooler (sprinkling water, air flow by air, etc.). Generally, these condensers are used for chillers in areas with hot and dry weather (in areas where evaporative cooling (water cooler) is possible). Due to the evaporation of water, water is needed in this part of the system. Since water evaporation takes place in this part of the system, it is necessary to compensate and replace the consumed water, but there is no water evaporation in the proposed invention.

[0015] An evaporative condenser is a combination of a cooling tower and an air condenser.

[0016] With the given definitions, the importance of heat removal from the condenser and methods of heat removal from the condenser has been determined. If someone wants to use the heat of the condenser to heat water, it means that the cooling fluid of the condenser is water. [0017] If the condenser heat is transferred to an insulated water tank as time passes and the water inside the tank heats up, the heat transfer from the condenser decreases because the temperature difference or AT between the two fluids in the tank and the fluid in the condenser (refrigerant) decreases, and as a result, the heat transfer rate decreases."

[0018] It should be noted that there are various cooling and heating systems in the market and patent documents, none of which are capable of providing hot water for immediate consumption with a precise temperature adjustment system as details disclosed in this document (common devices, if set to 60 ° C for example, and hot water urgently needed, cannot provide hot water with the requested temperature, in this occasion the temperature of the water at the beginning of the work has is about 20 -25° C). On the other hand, if the cooling and heating system can produce hot water instantly, the efficiency of the cooling system is reduced and it hurts its performance. The above problems have been completely solved by the device disclosed in the present document

Advantageous Effects of Invention

[0019] The cooling and heating package disclosed has the following advantages compared to common equipment:

[0020] - Producing sufficient hot water in hot and cold seasons,

[0021 ] - Ability to supply hot water immediately,

[0022] -Avoiding expensive air conditioning equipment and heating systems to produce hot water, and

[0023] -Significant savings in energy consumption.

Brief Description of Drawings

[0024] [Fig.1 shows the combined circuit includes the cooling, the heating and the instantaneous hot water supply circuit of the air conditioning device

[0025] [Fig.2 shows the cooling circuit of the air conditioning device.

[0026] [Fig.3 shows the heating circuit of the air conditioning device.

[0027] [Fig.4 shows the instantaneous hot water supply circuit of the air conditioning device. Description of Embodiments

[0028] The present invention is related to an air conditioning device with hot water heating of the building in both reserve and immediate forms along with the precise adjustment of the temperature of the stored hot water in the summer season while maintaining the efficiency of the cooling system.

[0029] In the device disclosed in the present invention, the compressors run by an actuator like a motor and circulate the gas in the refrigeration cycle. A condenser is a heat exchanger or cooling coil that condenses the cooling gas in the refrigerant circulation pipes in the network and goes to the evaporator coil under pressure.

[0030] The schematic drawing in Fig. 1 is related to only one of the embodiments of the invention, and the description of the invention explains its embodiments .The description of these embodiments is only to clarify the function of the device, and the drawing doesn't restrict the final form of the equipment.

[0031] The liquid refrigerant removed from the condenser coil passes through the expansion valve (2) and undergoes a severe pressure drop and a decrease in saturation temperature. Then, the evaporator transfers the heat of the water to the refrigerant gas and causes it to evaporate. This advantage is common in some air conditioners. The device disclosed in this document has a combined heating and cooling cycle, with the help of which it was able to solve the problems in the field of separate devices for cooling and heating and can be used as a single package. On the other hand, the refrigeration and heating cycle of this device is also different from the existing combined devices in the previous knowledge, which will be described below.

[0032] The device disclosed in the present document has a combined heating and cooling cycle, which can eliminate the need for separate cooling and heating devices and can be used as a single package.

[0033] The device is a set including a heat source like a burner (16), at least three independent condensers (11 ,14, and 19), each of which has a specific task, a hot water storage tank (22), a heat exchanger (10), a set of antifreeze coils (13) and other thermal-cooling cycle equipment including an evaporator (1), an expansion valve (2), a filter drier(3), a compressor (7), shut-off and flow control valves (9), a safety valve (23), a pump (4), an expansion tank (2), and pipes and connections that are configured to provide hot water to the building both immediately and in reserve.

[0034] For people with average knowledge of art, it is clear that a fan coil as a cooling distribution equipment is a combination of a condenser a fan, and other components. In this document, a fan coil or cooling distribution equipment refers to any combination of a condenser and a fan, for example, condenser 19 and fan 17 or other fans with other condensers.

[0035] This device’s cooling and heating cycle is also different from the combined devices available in the market and patent documents, which will be explained hereinafter.

[0036] Water enters the evaporator(l ) from the water return pipe and is cooled to provide the desired cooling in the cycle, and then enters the cooling distribution equipment (fan coil) through the water supply pipe to create cool air for the comment user.

[0037] As shown in figures 1 &2, the water flow cooling circuit includes the following parts and components: an evaporator(l ), a three-way valve (6), an expansion tank(8), a safety valve (23), a pump (4), a three-way valve (5), the supply of chilled water to the cooling distribution equipment (fan coil) is done through the water supply pipe and the return is done through the water return pipe. The three- way valves in this invention operate automatically using actuators or motors and are used from the type of electric automatic valves preferably.

[0038] In the cooling circuit, the return water from a fan coil (the combination of a condenser and a fan) is sucked by the pump (4) and water enters the device through the return pipe and immediately enters the evaporator (1 ) and is cooled.

[0039] The three-way valve (6) is in a position where path (a) is open to path (b) and path (c) is closed, the cold water reaches the pump and then it reaches the three- way valve (5). The three-way valve (5) is in a position where path (d) is open to path (e) and path (f) is closed. Then the cooled water enters the fan coils from the water supply pipe. In this case, the water inside the storage tank(22) is being heated by the heat emitted from the second condenser (14). [0040] The second condenser (14) transfers the heat absorbed in the evaporator and the compressor's heat to the water inside the tank. In fact, in the summer mood, the second condenser is used to heat the hot water in the storage tank. The third condenser (11 ) is responsible for cooling the cooling system's refrigerant until it reaches the ambient temperature and subcools the refrigerant.

[0041 ] The duty of the first condenser (19) and its fan(17) is to keep the temperature of the water inside the hot water storage tank (22) constant at the temperature set by the user. The command to turn on or off and change the speed of the first condenser fan (17) is done by a sensor that will be placed inside the hot water storage tank (22).

[0042] Heating and cooling equipment can be selected from a variety of common devices available in the market, including fan coils, air conditioners, and air diffusers but is not limited to a specific type.

[0043] Heating circuit:

[0044] As shown in figures 3&4, the return water from the heat distribution equipment (fan coil) is sucked by the pump (4) and enters the device through the water return pipe and enters the main heating coil (20), while passing through the main heating coil (20) by The heat of the burner (16) is heated and then enters the antifreeze coil (13) and gives a small amount of its heat to the water stored in the hot water tank and then reaches the hot water plate exchanger (10). Due to the fact that the hot water valve is closed, the heat in the hot water plate exchanger (10) is not transferred and the water reaches the three-way valve (6) which is located in the suction of the pump. The three-way valve (6) is in a situation where path (c) is open to path (b) and path (a) is closed.

[0045] Finally, the hot water of the heating system reaches the pump and after leaving the pump, it reaches the three-way valve (5). The three-way valve (5) is in a position where path (d) to (e) is open and path (f) is closed. Then, the water of the heating system, heated by the burner in the main heating coil from the water supply pipe, enters the heat distribution equipment (fan coil).

[0046] Heating circuit components:

[0047] Main heating coils (20), an exhaust fan (18), a burner (16), a gas solenoid valve (15), a tank (22), antifreeze coils (13), a safety valve (21 ), a heat exchanger (10), a three-way valve (6), an expansion tank (8), a safety valve (23), a pump (4), a three-way valve (5), and water supply, in which water enters from the heat distribution equipment (fan coil) through water return.

[0048] The hot water supply circuit or instantaneous hot water supply circuit comprises the following components:

[0049] Main heating coil (20), an exhaust fan (18), a burner (16), a solenoid valve (15), a tank (22), an antifreeze coil (13), a safety valve (21 ), a heat exchanger (10), a three-way valve (6), an expansion tank (8), a safety valve (23), a pump (4), and a three-way valve (5).

[0050] In this circuit, the domestic water inlet is interrelated with the cold water inlet to the system. The hot water outlet is related to the reserve and immediate hot water outlet. The three-way valve (6) is in such a way that the path (c) is open to the path (b) and the path (a) is closed, and the three-way electric valve (5) is in such a way that the path (d) to (f) is open and the path (e) It is closed, with this condition, the device continues to work and the hot water is heated immediately by the plate heat exchanger (10).

[0051 ] The difference between the heating circuit and the instantaneous hot water supply circuit is in the way of the valves. The fluid paths through the three-way valves(5 and 6).

[0052] When the intake of hot water consumption is so high that the hot water reserve of the device is exhausted, the device must be able to supply hot water immediately, whether in the winter or in the summer season.

[0053] In this condition, the device stops the cooling and heating process and provides hot water for consumption immediately and momentarily.

[0054] In these conditions, the device continues to work and the hot water consumed is heated immediately by the exchanger (10).

[0055] In this condition, the burner (16) and the pump (4) of the device start working, and in this case, the electric three-way valve (6) is in such a way that path (c) is open to path (b) and path (a) is closed. The electric three-way valve (5) is in such a way that path (d) to (f) is open and path (e) is closed. Under these conditions, the device continues to work and the hot water consumed is heated immediately by the hot water plate exchanger (10).

[0056] The control valve (9) belongs to the water intake of the device and is installed at the beginning of the circulation to fill the path of the cooling and heating system with water.

[0057] The difference between the heating circuit and the instantaneous hot water supply circuit is in the conditions of the valves.

[0058] In one embodiment of this invention, this thermal tank has three separate and independent inputs(valves) and three independent outputs(valves).

[0059] The inlets of the tank(22) comprise at least a water inlet pipe, a refrigerant gas inlet pipe to the second condenser(14), and a hot water inlet pipe to the antifreeze coil (13). The outlets of the tank(22) comprise a hot water outlet pipe stored in the tank, a refrigerant gas outlet pipe from the second condenser (14), and a water outlet pipe from the antifreeze coil(13).

[0060] The second condenser(14) connects with this water tank (22) directly. Since the discharge temperature of the compressor^) is more than 100 °C, the direct entry of refrigerant with this temperature into the second condenser, which is in direct contact with the hot water tank, causes excessive heating of the water inside the water storage tank(22) and makes the temperature of the hot water tank uncontrollable.

[0061 ] To prevent overheating of the water inside the water storage tank (22), the first condenser (19) is installed in the fluid circuit so that when the water temperature inside the tank exceeds the temperature set by the user, the said condenser is activated and the temperature of the outgoing refrigerant reduces to a specified amount.

[0062] In the continuation of the process of adjusting the temperature of the source by the first condenser (19), when the water temperature of the hot water tank is lower than the desired temperature, the fan (17) of the first condenser is turned off and allows the refrigerant to enter the hot water storage tank (22) in the maximum output temperature from the compressor (7). When the temperature of the hot water tank(22) reaches the temperature set by the user, the fan of the first condenser(17) enters the circuit, and throws out the excess heat through the first condenser (19). This excess heat causes the temperature of the hot water tank to exceed the setting temperature made by the user.

[0063] In general, the duty of the first condenser (19) and its fan (17) is to keep the temperature of the water constant inside the hot water tank at the temperature set by the user. To make the device work better, the device can turn on or off by a sensor, and the speed change of the fan of the first condenser (17) by a sensor. The speed of the first condenser fan can also be changed with a sensor.

[0064] In this combined cycle, the purpose of using the second condenser (14) is to transfer the total heat absorbed in the evaporator (1 ) and the heat resulting from the compression of the compressor (7) to the water inside the tank (22). In other words, in the mentioned combined cycle, the heat produced during the cooling process is transferred to the tank (22) by the second condenser (14). This heat or excess heat produced in the condensation refrigeration cycle is used in the device disclosed in the present document to increase the temperature of the water in the tank instead of being discharged to the environment.

[0065] The purpose of using a third condenser(11) is to cool the refrigerant to the ambient temperature. When the temperature of the water inside the tank is heated enough, it is normal that the temperature of the refrigerant coming out of the second condenser is almost close to the temperature of the water in the tank (22). If the temperature of the water inside the tank is lower than the ambient temperature, there is no need to turn on the third condenser fan (12), but if the temperature of the water in the tank (22) is higher than the ambient temperature, the fan(12) of the third condenser should be included in the circuit as a variable speed and the speed the fan (12) should be so high to subcool the refrigerant at the end of the third condenser(11 ). In order to make the device work better, turning on or off the third condenser (11 ) or changing the speed of its fan(12) is controlled by the temperature sensor or the pressure sensor. In one embodiment of this invention, these sensors are placed at the outlet of the third condenser(11 ).

[0066] In general, the purpose of using three condensers (11 ,14, and 19) and variable speed fans (12,17) linked to the first and third condensers (11 and 19) is to supply hot water stored using the heat of the condenser of the cooling cycle in the summer season, without the need for water circulation. The tank between the heat source (condenser) and the hot water tank (without the need to use a circulator pump) so that the water temperature can be adjusted or regulated. It is also possible to keep the temperature of the hot water tank constant by using the heat of the condenser at the temperature set by the user without causing any disturbance in the operation and efficiency of the refrigeration cycle of the device. Then, the refrigerant coming out of the third condenser (11 ) enters the filter drier (3) and the expansion valve (2), which are respectively responsible for absorbing moisture and impurities such as soil as well as reducing the temperature and pressure of the refrigerant liquid. Refrigerant circulated in this cycle and its output is cold water that enters the building facilities.

[0067] In one embodiment of this invention, the fuel of the burner is natural gas, the fuel of the burner is controlled by a valve (15) to control the gas flow rate entering the burner (16), and as a result, the temperature of the water inside the thermal coils is controlled.

[0068] Normally, combustion gases produced in this part of the thermal cycle are discharged into the environment. This gas can be used for pre-heating the water inside the heating coils, which is known in the industry and prior art. The hot water produced by the burner (16), in the continuation of the process, enters the water tank (22) and passes through the antifreeze coil(13) inside the tank.

[0069] The purpose of installing the antifreeze coil(13) in the heating system of the device is to prevent the freezing of the water in the tank (22) in cold seasons, and in general, in the cold seasons, the antifreeze coil(13) is responsible for heating the water stored in the water tank (22) and It controls the temperature to prevent the temperature of the hot water tank (22) from decreasing.

[0070] All electronic equipment, such as valves, sensors, etc., are controlled and adjusted by the control unit (24) of the package.

[0071] The various embodiments of the invention merely provide the detailed technical content of the present invention and its inventive features and do not limit the scope covered by the present invention. Minor changes and various alternatives made by skilled people and specialists in this field based on the information and suggestions of the present invention are all within the scope of this invention.

[0072] The components of the invention and their item numbers are:

[0073] the evaporator(1 ), the expansion valve(2),the filter drier(3),the pump(4), the second three-way valve(5), the first three-way valve(6), the compressor^), the expansion tank(8), the shut-off and flow control valves(8),the heat exchanger(I O), the third condenser(1 1 ), the variable speed fan of the third condenser(12), the antifreeze coil(13), the second condenser(14),the gas solenoid valve(15),the burner(16), the fan of first condenser(17), the exhaust fan for combustion products(18),the first condenser(19),the main heating coil(20),the first safety valve(21 ),the hot water storage tank(22),the second safety valve(23), and the control unit(24).

[0074] The invention is not restricted to the exemplary embodiments by the description of the invention made with reference to exemplary embodiments. The invention rather comprises any novel feature and any combination of features, including, in particular, any combination of features in the claims, even if this feature or this combination is not itself explicitly indicated in the claims or exemplary embodiments.

Industrial Applicability

[0075] The device introduced in this invention is a heating and cooling package with the ability to provide instant hot water in hot and cold seasons which can be used in residential buildings, schools, hospitals and generally any place that needs a multi-purpose device.