Patent CA-1090599-A (CA)
Inventor: MUELLER PAUL
IPC: F28D20/00
Filed: 1978-08-09
Granted: 1980-12-02
Abstract: Abstract of the Disclosure:         This invention relates to a hot water system which utilizes heat from the refrigerant of a refrigeration system to produce hot water.  The utilized heat consists of the superheat of the refrigerant vapor, the latent heat of condensation, and part of the sensible heat of the liquid refrigerant.  The water passing through a water-cooled con-denser, which is part of the refrigeration system, is heated to a selected temperature by removal of both the superheat of refrigerant vapor, the latent heat of condensation, and part of the sensible heat of the liquid refrigerant as it passes through the condenser.  The condenser has a water inlet and an outlet between which is connected to a hot water storage tank.  As the water in the condenser is heated by absorption of the superheat of the refrigerant vapor, the latent heat of condensation, and part of the sensible heat of the liquid re-frigerant passing therethrough, the heated water rises and flows by convection into the storage tank.  Eventually the storage tank may fill completely with water of a selected temperature.  A temperature responsive flow restriction device, or thermostat, is located between the water outlet of the condenser and the storage tank, which restricts the flow of water below a preselected temperature.  The heated water, being lighter than the balance of the water in the tank, will remain stratified at the top of the tank and may be drawn off as needed.           A condenser is especially designed with greater heat exchange surface than would normally by provided with the refrigeration system so that water at convection flow and at a higher temperature than normal can be used in the condensing unit and yet achieve the necessary absorption of heat from the refrigerant passing through the condenser as required for proper operation of the refrigeration system The condenser generally comprises a lower housing containing multiple layers of coils, the coils having multiple windings oriented generally horizontally to provide the heat exchange surface. The housing has an  inlet and outlet for the passage of water therethrough, said outlet being connected to a vertical riser tube in which is housed the thermostat.   Various refriger-ation components  may be mounted on top of the condenser housing.        In another embodiment  of the  condenser unit a de-superheating   coil is located at the top of the housing to over-lie the top of an inverted can arrangement within the housing. Between the sides of the  housing and the inverted can is located a sheet type heat exchange surface which is preferably pillowed water passages are defined between the sides of the housing and the inverted can arrangement by the layers of heat exchange sheet, and further passages are defined between the windings of the coil at the  top.  The refrigerant flows downwardly through the coil at the  top where it is de-superheated, and then through the side heat exchange sheet where it is condensed, while water entering the bottom of the housing is heated as it moves upwardly by convection flow out of the top of the condenser.        In a third embodiment of the condenser unit, all the separately formed coils of tubing have been eliminated from the heat exchanger and inside the housing which enhances the con-denser's resistance to corrosion   This embodiment is similar to the second embodiment except that an annular collar surrounds the vertical riser tube instead of a tube extending through its interior and the coiled sheet type heat exchanger includes integrally formed tubular shaped passageways along its upper and lower edge which eliminate the need for the separate coils of tubing above and below the inverted can.