Abstract:
It is an object of the subject matter to disclose a water heating device, comprising a vaporizer for vaporizing refrigerant and a compressor for compressing the vaporized refrigerant. The device also comprises a shell; such as a condenser and a volume reducing member positioned within the shell. The member is configured to reduce the cross section area of the volume in which water is heated in the shell. The device may also contain a refrigerant coil positioned adjacent to the volume in which water is heated in the shell; the refrigerant coil contains a refrigerant material received from the compressor, said refrigerant material heats the water in the volume in which water is heated in the shell.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The subject matter relates generally to water heating and more specifically to a method and apparatus for heating water using refrigerant materials 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Effective and efficient production of hot water has become increasingly important, particularly since non-renewal resources are often used to heat water. 
         [0003]    Heat pumps are well known for heating fluids and comprise a vaporizer where a refrigerant in vaporized, typically by heat from air blown over vaporizer coils; a heat exchanger or condenser, where relatively cool fluid is heated upon thermal contact with the relatively hot refrigerant, the refrigerant condensing in the condenser and passing that heat energy to the heated fluid. Heat pumps are efficient because about two thirds of the energy conies from the air and is used to vaporize the refrigerant liquid at the vaporizer is and about one third of the energy is required to compress the refrigerant gas. The energy used to compress the refrigerant (gas) is typically electrical energy while the energy to vaporize the liquid comes from the thermal energy in the (ambient) air. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    It is an object of the subject matter to disclose a water heating device, comprising a vaporizer for vaporizing refrigerant and a compressor for compressing the vaporized refrigerant. The device comprises a condenser having a water inlet, a water outlet a refrigerant coil and a shell. The condenser also comprises a volume reducing member positioned within the shell, said member is configured to reduce the cross section area of the volume in which water is heated in the shell. The condenser is located outside the water storage tank and connected to the water storage tank via a first tube for providing water from the condenser to the water storage tank and a second tube for providing water from the water storage tank to the condenser. 
         [0005]    The device also comprises a refrigerant coil positioned adjacent to the volume in which water is heated in the shell; the refrigerant coil contains a refrigerant material received from the compressor, said refrigerant material heats the water in the volume in which water is heated in the shell. 
         [0006]    In some cases, the volume in which water is heated in the shell is a volume between the shell and the member positioned within the shell. In some cases, the heated water flows in a siphon-like flow between the condenser and a water storage tank. In some cases, the siphon-like flow is achieved by determining a rate of flow between the volume in which water is heated in the. shell. 
         [0007]    In some cases, the device is a part of a split-type water heating device. In some cases, the shell is a sidewall of a condenser. In some cases, the member positioned within the shell provides for local heating of water in a volume adjacent to the side wall of the condenser, said local heating creates a density difference that enables the a siphon flow between the condenser and the water storage tank. 
         [0008]    In some cases, the device is pump-less. In some cases, the refrigerant coil surrounds the shell. 
         [0009]    It is another object of the subject matter to disclose a method of producing hot water, comprising obtaining a heat pump system comprising a condenser with a water inlet, a water outlet and a refrigerant coil: disposing a member positioned within the condenser, said member is configured to reduce the cross section area of the volume in which water is heated in the condenser; creating a siphon flow between the condenser and a water storage tank. 
         [0010]    In some cases, the method comprises allowing the water being heated and rising along the refrigerant coil in the condenser to rise in a siphon-like manner. 
         [0011]    It is another object of the subject matter to disclose a method for heating water at a heat-pump condenser, the method comprising: 
         [0012]    obtaining a water heating device as disclosed above; regulating the flow rate of water entering the heat-pump condenser; providing water at the desired temperature from the heat-pump condenser to the water storage tank. 
         [0013]    In some cases, the water flow between the heat pump and the water storage tank using a siphon flow. In some cases, regulating the flow rate of water is performed outside the water storage tank. 
         [0014]    It is another object of the subject matter to disclose a system for heating water at a heat-pump condenser, comprising: a sensor unit for obtaining information related to a temperature; a regulator for regulating the amount of water entering the heat pump according to a desired temperature; an output tube for providing water at the desired temperature from the heat pump to the water storage tank. In some cases, the regulator is a valve. In some cases, the regulator is a pump. 
         [0015]    It is another object of the subject matter to disclose a water heating device, comprising: a condenser; a volume reducing member positioned within the shell, said member is configured to reduce the cross section area of the volume in which water is heated in the condenser. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0016]    Exemplary non-limited embodiments of the disclosed subject matter will be described, with reference to the following description of the embodiments, in conjunction with the figures. The figures are generally not shown to scale and any sizes are only meant to be exemplary and not necessarily limiting. Corresponding or like elements are optionally designated by the same numerals or letters. 
           [0017]      FIG. 1  shows a split type system for heating water, according to exemplary embodiments of the subject matter; 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  shows a condenser in a split-type heating system, according to exemplary embodiments of the subject matter; 
           [0019]      FIG. 3  shows a condenser having an annular space, according to exemplary embodiments of the subject matter; and, 
           [0020]      FIG. 4  shows an integrated system for heating water according to exemplary embodiments of the subject matter. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0021]    One technical challenge disadvantage of known heat-pumps is the requirement of heating all the water at the water storage tank of home use. Another technical challenge is to avoid the use of a pump to transfer water from condenser heating water to the water storage tank and vice-versa. 
         [0022]    One technical solution of the disclosed subject matter is an air-to-water heat pump that comprises a condenser communicating with a water storage tank. The condenser comprises a shell and a volume reducing member for reducing a volume in which water is heated in the condenser. The volume reducing member reduces the cross section area of the volume in which the water is heated. The volume reducing member is located within the shell. In some exemplary cases, water is heated in a volume created between the shell sidewalls and the volume reducing member. In some cases, water flowing in the volume created between the shell and the volume reducing member flow in a siphon flow between the water storage tank and the condenser of the subject matter, for example a condenser of the water heating device. 
         [0023]    The air-to-water heat pump and the condenser of the subject matter increase the efficiency of hot water production and reduce. the time to a “first shower”. The time for the first shower may be defined as heating a suitable, but not necessarily large, amount of water to an appropriate temperature for showering. 
         [0024]      FIG. 1  shows a split-type system for heating fluid, according to exemplary embodiments of the subject matter. The system  100  is connected to a water storage tank  150 . The system may provide water to the water storage tank  150  using natural flow or siphon flow between the system  100  and the water storage tank  150 . The water storage tank  150  may be a residential water tank. The system  100  comprises a condenser  105  that enables natural flow of water from the condenser  105  to the water storage tank  150  for usage. In some exemplary cases, flow from the condenser to the water storage tank  150  may be performed using a pump (not shown). In a split-type system, the condenser  105  comprises the shell  170  and a volume reducing member  160 . In accordance with the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 1 , water is heated at a volume  165  between the shell  170  and the volume reducing member  160 , for example within the condenser  105 . The shell  170  may be the sidewalls of the condenser  105 . In some exemplary cases, the length of the shell  170  is larger than the length of the volume reducing member  160 . Heated water is outputted from the volume  165  between the shell  170  and the volume reducing member  160  to the water storage tank  150  via a first tube  130 . In sonic exemplary embodiments of the subject matter, a regulator  162  is connected to the first tube between the water storage tank  150  and the condenser  105 . The regulator  162  may be a pump or a valve. Water flows from the water storage tank  150  to the regulator  162  and from the regulator  162  to the condenser  105 . In some cases, the regulator  162  is connected to a second tube  132  fluid outgoing from the water storage tank  150  to the system  100 . 
         [0025]    The system  100  further comprises a compressor  110  providing compressed refrigerant. The compressed refrigerant flows from the compressor  110  to a refrigerant coil  120  via compressor tube  108 . The refrigerant coil  120  may surround the condenser  105 . The refrigerant coil  120  receives the refrigerant from the compressor  110 , said refrigerant heats water in the condenser  105 . The refrigerant coil  120  may reside on the internal wall or the external wall of the volume reducing member  160 . The volume reducing member  160  provides for local heating of water in a volume adjacent to the sidewall of the condenser  105 . Said local heating creates a density difference that enables a siphon flow between the system  100  and the water storage tank  150 . 
         [0026]    The system  100  further comprises a vaporizer  140 . The vaporizer  140  receives the outlet of the refrigerant coil  120 , which is outputted as liquid. The vaporizer vaporizes the liquid outputted from the refrigerant coil  120  via tube  134  to the compressor  110  that sucks the gas from the vaporizer  140 . It can be seen that the system  100  is a closed system in terms of the air and liquid flow in the system  100 . 
         [0027]    The system  100  is connected to the water storage tank  150  using two tithes, The first tube  130  contains fluid outgoing from the system  100  to the water storage tank  150 . The second tube  132  contains water outgoing from the water storage tank  150  to the system  100 . 
         [0028]      FIG. 2  shows a condenser in a natural flow heating system, according to exemplary embodiments of the subject matter. The condenser  200  comprises an inlet  220  in which fluid, such as water, enter the condenser  200 , for example, from a water storage tank. The condenser  200  further comprises an outlet  230  from which fluid exit the condenser  200 , for example to the water storage tank. 
         [0029]    The condenser  200  further comprises a shell and a volume reducing member. Sidewalls  224  and  234  define the shell. Sidewalls  226  and  236  define the volume reducing member. In some exemplary cases, water flows at the condenser  200  at a volume created between the shell and the volume reducing member, for example at a first volume  222  defined between a sidewall  226  of the volume reducing member and sidewall  224  of the shell. Water in the condenser  200  may also flow at a second volume  222  defined between a sidewall  236  of the volume reducing member and a sidewall  234  of the shell. In some other cases, water may flow inside the volume reducing member. 
         [0030]    In some exemplary cases, the water flows at a siphon flow between the condenser  200  and the water storage tank. The water storage tank may be the water storage tank  150 . When water flows at a siphon flaw, the condenser  200  of the disclosed subject matter enables a siphon flow. 
         [0031]    In some cases, the volume in which water is heated is positioned adjacent to a refrigerant coil  250  containing refrigerant material. The refrigerant material in the refrigerant coil  250  is hotter than the water in the condenser and provides thermal contact onto the water. 
         [0032]    In some exemplary cases, the condenser  200  of the water heating device of the disclosed subject matter enables water heating without a pump, as the thermo siphon flow created by the volume reducing member makes the pump unnecessary. It should be noted that the water heating device may also operate using a pump in case of regulating the water flow rate between the heating device and the water storage tank. 
         [0033]      FIG. 3  shows a condenser having an annular space, according to exemplary embodiments of the subject matter. The condenser comprises an inlet  410  from which water flow at inlet tube  405  from the water storage tank. The condenser comprises a base  430  near the inlet  410  and a lower portion  420  near the inlet  410  to which water flows from the inlet tube  405 . The condenser  400  comprises a refrigerant coil  422  containing refrigerant material. The condenser further comprises an outlet  460  from which water flow at outlet tube  465  from the condenser to the water storage tank. The condenser includes a shell  440  and a volume reducing member  425 . The volume reducing member  425  is located inside the shell  440 . The shell  440  and the volume reducing member  425  may be concentric. The length of the volume reducing member  425  is smaller than the length of the shell  440 , as the length is defined in the axis between the inlet  410  and the outlet  460 . In some cases, the shell is the condenser&#39;s sidewalls. In some exemplary cases, the top portion of the volume reducing member  425  is sealed. 
         [0034]    In some exemplary cases, water at the condenser  400  flows at the volume defined between the shell  440  and the volume reducing member  425 . Such flow may be a siphon flow between the condenser and the water storage tank. In some exemplary cases, a pump may be used to regulate the rate flow of water between the condenser and the water storage tank, when the water heating device is a split-type heat-pump. 
         [0035]    The condenser  400  enables a siphon flow between the water heating device and the water storage tank. In some cases, such siphon flow is enabled by the annular space to of the volume between shell  440  and the volume reducing member  425 . The annular space that creates flow between the condenser  400  and the water storage tank enables heat convection of the water inside the condenser  400  instead of heat conduction. 
         [0036]    The volume reducing member  425  may be made of plastic, to decrease the cross-sectional area of the water flow path in the volume between the shell  440  and the volume is reducing member  425 . The volume reducing member  425  provides an increased water flow convection that improves the heat transfer from the refrigerant coil  422  to the water at the volume between shell  440  and the volume reducing member  425 . The improved heat transfer ensures a full condensation of the refrigerant that ensures a relatively low back pressure on the compressor. 
         [0037]      FIG. 4  shows a cross-section of an integrated water heating device having the refrigerant coil inside the shell, according to exemplary embodiments of the subject matter. The heating device of  FIG. 4  comprises an external cover  700 . According to the exemplary embodiment disclosed in  FIG. 4 , the volume in which water is heated is defined between the shell and the member used to reduce the cross section area of the volume in which the water is heated. The water storage tank is defined by sidewalls  710 ,  712 . The volume in which water is heated is defined between sidewalls  710 ,  712  and sidewalls  740 ,  742 . The sidewalls  740 ,  742  are a part of a member used for reducing the cross sectional area of the volume in which water is heated. For example, the water is heated in volume  730  defined between sidewall  710  of the shell and sidewall  740  of the member for reducing the cross section area of the volume in which water is heated. In the exemplary embodiment disclosed in  FIG. 4 , the refrigerant coil  720  is positioned in volume  730 . The water is heated along the refrigerant coil  720  in volume  730  and exits the volume  730  to the storage tank via an outlet tube  743 . The outlet tube  743  is connected to a regulator  745  for regulating water flow rate between the volume  730  and the storage tank. The regulator is connected to the storage tank via a regulator tube  748 . Similarly, the water is heated in volume  732  defined between sidewall  712  of the shell and sidewall  742  of the member for reducing the cross section area of the volume in which water is heated. In the exemplary embodiment disclosed in  FIG. 4 , the refrigerant coil  722  is positioned in volume  732 . The water is heated along the refrigerant coil  722  in volume  732  and its flow is limited by barrier  752 . As a result, water from volume  732  exits the volume  732  via outlet tube  743  of volume  730 . The heating device further comprises a vaporizer and a compressor at a zone  770  separated from the water storage tank. 
         [0038]    The subject matter further discloses a method and system for regulating flow between a heating system and a water storage tank, according to exemplary embodiments of the subject matter. The system and method of the subject matter allow heating a reduced amount of water, for example a “first shower” amount, at a reduced period of time, without the requirement to heat the entire water storage tank. The method for regulating flow in a heating system comprises obtaining data related to temperature. Such data may be obtained by a thermometer. The data related to temperature may be, for example, the temperature in the water storage tank, the temperature outside the water heating device and the like. In some cases, the desired temperature is a constant value and the system only detects the temperature of the water at the storage tank. In some other cases, the system detects the air temperature outside the water storage tank. 
         [0039]    The method further comprises a step of regulating the flow rate of water entering the heat-pump condenser according to the data related to temperature. Alternatively, the method may regulate the flow rate of water outputted from the condenser to the water storage tank. A regulator may regulate the flow rate. Regulation may be increasing or decreasing the flow rate, according to the desired temperature. The regulator may be positioned inside or outside the water storage tank. The regulator may be a valve, a pump or another mechanical module used to regulate fluid flow desired by a person skilled in the art. The valve may be a solenoid valve. 
         [0040]    While the disclosure has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the subject matter. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the disclosed subject matter not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this subject matter, but only by the claims that follow.