HEAT RECUPERATION DEVICE FOR DOMESTIC COOLER SYSTEMS

Abstract: The present device comprises essentially a thermally insulated chamber (5), containing cold water or liquid, and principally the motor (1), the compressor (2) and a condensation coil (4) as used in common home refrigerator. Such chamber may also contain inside the same components as above, but partially submerged.

Description: HEATRECUPERATIONDEVICEFORDOMESTICCOOLERSYSTEMS This invention refers to a HEAT RECUPERATION DEVICE FOR DO- MESTIC COOLER SYSTEMS, such as refrigerators, freezers and air conditioning units, making use of the heat released to the atmosphere during the cooling process to heat water for domestic use, and thus conforming with the aims ' of the ap¬ plied thermodynamics sector, which seeks to effect energy savings in domestic installations; Up until a few decades ago, artificial cooling was used al¬ most exclusively for the conservation of perishable food¬ stuffs, substituting advantageously the most commonly used preservative of such products - principally meat - namely, high priced salts and spices. Even for domestic use, the technical difficulties for generating cold were.such that the few refrigerators to be found in homes were nothing more than cupboards with inefficient thermal insulating walls, fed by ice blocks which were produced and distrib- uted daily by the ice manufacturers. With the increasing expansion and home distribution of electric energy, the domestic refrigerator was conceived, and is widely used today, although electricity is not the only source of en¬ ergy for heat exchangers. One for the cooling systems which is most used today em¬ ploys the thermodynamic compression cycle. With a few exceptions, the normal system is constituted by a closed circuit consisting of two coils connected to a compressor: In the first coil, the fluid employed is compressed to liquefaction and at this stage it is forced through the second coil located inside the cooling chamber. It is well known that during liquefaction fluid liberates heat which, in this case, is released to the atmosphere. In the second coil, at the same time as pressure is being exerted in the first, there occurs a pressure drop, allowing the fluid to evaporate, thus removing heat from the cooling chamber and reducing the temperature. The fluid then returns to the OMPI compressor, restarting the cycle. Even today, the heat which is generated in the cycle is re- p leased to the atmosphere, thus being lost without any prac¬ tical use having been made of it. In the search for means of effecting energy savings, the idea occurred of making use of the heat generated by the operation of domestic e- lectrical appliances which use cooling fluids. As domestic hot water consumption is widespread, such as for washing dishes and clothes, personal hygiene, cleaning, cooking, etc. , the usage of waste heat could represent a cost saving item in water heating, as the source of energy generated by the unit could be hooked up, directly or indirectly, to a water duct or reservoir, thus heating the water instead of just flowing into the surrounding atmosphere. The drawings which are attached to this report give a good indication of what is intended. Figure 1 on sheet 1 shows, by a vertical cut, the device adapted to a normal refriger¬ ator. Figure 2 on sheet 2 , shows -also by vertical cut - a coupling of the general device to any type of appliance, such as refrigerators, freezers or air conditioning units. Figure " 3, sheet 3 (vertical cut) shows a diagram for using heated water away from the heat source. More explicitly. Figure 1 shows the device coupled to a conventional type refrigerator, in which can be seen: The motor (1) and compressor (2) , from which the evaporation (3) and condensation coils (4) come out. The motor (1) , compressor (2) and the condensation coil (4) are surrounded by cold water or any other liquid which enters at tempera¬ ture T^ into a thermally insulated chamber (5) . The water at temperature T, enters the chamber (5) through a valve (6) , is heated by the energy from the motor (1) , the compress sor (2) and the condensation coil (4) , which may be wholly or partially submerged in the water, and leaves through a valve (7) after being heated. The evaporation coil (3) does its normal job of removing heat from the atmosphere to be cooled (8) . A vacuum valve (9) , actuated by the operation of the compressor (2) , controls the flow of fluid through the OMPI coils. The water, heated by the energy released from the liquefaction of the fluid, leaves the chamber (5) through - ι the valve (7) at a temperature T 2 greater than T^ Another valve (10) allows water purging when necessary. Naturally, the motor (1) , compressor (2) and coil (4) must be pro¬ tected from attack by water or the liquid employed. Figure 2 on sheet 2 of the drawing, shows the same ele¬ ments: the motor (1), compressor (2), coils (3) and (4), chambers (5) and (8), and valves (6), (7), (9) and (10) performing the same functions, except that here it is shown as a general coupling to any refrigerating, freezing or air conditioning unit. The operation of the device and the respective notes are the same as those made in the foregoing paragraph. Figure 3 on sheet 3 indicates, in diagram, the use of do¬ mestic hot water, valves (6), (7) and (10) not being shown. It shows the use of the water via a valve (11) in a shower (12) , where heat usage occurs at a distance from the re¬ frigerator, freezer or air conditioning unit. The industrial manufacture of the device is quite simple, materials readily encountered on the market being employed. The cost of its installation is not so high as to invali¬ date the calory gain and the consequent saving in energy.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. HEAT RECUPERATION DEVICE FOR DOMESTIC COOLER SYSTEMS,in tended to heat water or other liquids by using the calorie released at the condensation and liquefaction phases of th fluids employed in domestic cooling appliances, conforming with the aims of the applied thermodynamiσ sector for the purpose of saving energy for heating water or liquids, is characterized by the fact that single or multiple connec¬ tions may be used between the compressor (2) of refrigera- tors, freezers and domestic units and vessels or ducts (5) for water or liquids, for the purpose of heating these fluids with the heat released from the motor (1), compresso (2) and condensation coils (4) of the cooling fluids used in such appliances. The heated water or liquid will then b distributed for domestic use. 2..HEAT RECUPERATION DEVICE FOR DOMESTIC COOLER .SYSTEMS,ac cording to claim 1, is characterized by using calories gen erated at the compression phase in compressors (2) and at the condensation phase in the coils (4) of the cooling fluids used in any domestic cooling system, with the objec tive of heating water or external liquids in chambers (5) by the use of the usual domestic cooling appliances at any distance from the chambers. (5). 3. HEAT RECUPERATION DEVICE FOR DOMESTIC COOLER SYSTEMS, also in accordance with claim 1, is characterized by the use of simple or multiple connections between the com¬ pressors (2) and motors (1) of domestic cooling appliances and by one or more reservoirs (5) and/or ducts for hot water or liquid. 4. HEAT RECUPERATION DEVICE FOR DOMESTIC COOLER SYSTEMS, according to claim 1, is characterized by having a thermal ly insulated chamber (5) - for heating water or liquids as a result of compression of the fluid in the compressor ' (2) and condensation of the fluid in the coil (4) - and by bei coupled to the usual domestic cooling appliances at any di tance. 5. HEAT RECUPERATION DEVICE FOR DOMESTIC COOLER SYSTEMS, al OMPI in accordance with claim 1, is characterized by having a system for connecting water mains at temperature T, to a " 'chamber (5) through a valve (6) and to exit the water at a higher temperature T~ through a valve (7) . 6. HEAT RECUPERATION DEVICE FOR DOMESTIC COOLER SYSTEMS, still according to claim 1, is characterized by allowing the usual domestic heat exchanging appliances, apart from their usual cooling function, by means of a coil (3) , to supply heat from the motor (1) , the compressor (2) and the coil (4) , to obtain hot water or liquid. 7. HEAT RECUPERATION DEVICE FOR DOMESTIC COOLER SYSTEMS, ac¬ cording to claim ' 3, is characterized by allowing total or parcial submersion of the compressors (2) , motors (1) and coils (4) of domestic cooling appliances in the water or liquid to be heated. 8. HEAT RECUPERATION DEVICE FOR DOMESTIC COOLER .SYSTEMS,also in accordance with claim 3, is characterized by allowing total or partial submersion of the cooling system, the coils (4) , motors (1) and compressors (2) in the liquid to be heated by the release of calories in those elements of the system. 9. HEAT RECUPERATION DEVICE FOR DOMESTIC COOLER SYSTEMS, ac¬ cording to claim 4, is characterized by allowing direct or indirect connection of the heating chamber (5) of the domes- tic cooling system to other domestic appliances in which, generally speaking, hot water is desirable, such as in clothes and dish washing machines, faucets, showers, etc. 10. HEAT RECUPERATION DEVICE FOR DOMESTIC COOLER SYSTEMS, also in accordance with claim 4, is characterized by allowing the connection of hot water or liquids to room heating appli¬ ances.

Inventors: PEUSER M
Applicants: PEUSER M
Application year: 1980
Main classification: F25B27
IPC codes: F24D17, F24H4, F25B29