US20150300699A1

US20150300699A1 - Heating system

Info

Publication number: US20150300699A1
Application number: US14/441,628
Authority: US
Inventors: Scott Styles
Original assignee: BASILE Martino
Current assignee: SMIT ALISTAIR; BASILE MARTINO
Priority date: 2012-11-09
Filing date: 2013-11-11
Publication date: 2015-10-22
Also published as: GB201220186D0; WO2014072743A1; EP2917662A1

Abstract

A heat exchange system and apparatus comprising: a compressor to compress a refrigerant, a first condenser heat exchanger to which the compressed refrigerant is supplied and at which heat is transferred from the refrigerant to water in a hot water cylinder; an expansion valve that receives cooled liquid refrigerant from the first heat exchanger; a thermodynamic panel including a second heat exchanger heat that receives cool refrigerant from the expansion valve and is in thermal communication with an environmental heat source.

Description

This invention relates to a heat exchange system which is based upon the principle of the heat pump.
Solar panel systems are well established devices for transferring the radiant energy from the Sun to other locations, and such panels, in general, also extract ambient heat from their surroundings. However, they are not currently designed and manufactured so as to be conveniently, and flexibly, integrated into existing heating systems.
Known existing systems whose method of operation is based upon the principle of the heat pump, have their thermodynamic elements built into the hot water cylinder, and are not purchasable without the cylinder. This makes such systems very difficult to install, both due to their size in comparison with the size of the existing cylinder which is to be replaced, and with the dimensions of that cylinder's associated surroundings. Moreover, these existing systems are also known to be limited to providing hot water at a maximum temperature of 55 degrees Celsius
Thus one current system utilises a so-called, thermodynamic block, which is built into a hot water cylinder system, but necessitates that the cylinder be 900 mm wide, which consequently renders it difficult to install within an existing airing cupboard, or other region of a building suitable for the installation of a hot water system.
Consequently, for the system of the present invention, it was decided that it would be advantageous to separate the thermodynamic block from the cylinder, so that the system would be more flexible with respect to installation, and so that it could consequently be placed in a variety of different locations. A further advantage of the apparatus of the present invention is that it can either be connected to an existing cylinder, wherein the existing immersion heater for that cylinder can be retained as part of the new system, or it can be purchased together with a new cylinder.
The present invention also offers the advantage that it provides hot water at 65 degrees Celsius.
There are various types of heat pumps is the market which absorb heat from various sources such as water, ground, stream, outer air, exhaust air and others. In general heat pumps are classified based on where they source their heat. For example ground source heat pumps get their heat from the ground and air source heat pumps get their heat from the air.
Air to water heat pumps currently available in the market make use of a single unit which is typically located outdoors. The heat pump has an evaporator within their outdoor unit and there is a fan that forces the air through the evaporator to absorb the heat. There is also a condenser to transfer heat to the heating medium which in most cases is a water/glycol mix.
According to the present invention, there is provided a heat transfer system method, and apparatus, which are based upon the principles of the heat pump, and the Carnot Cycle.
The system allows the heat energy from the Sun, or the radiated, convected, or conducted, heat from the surrounding environment, to be transferred from thermodynamic panels, into the hot water region of heating systems which utilise other fuels; thereby allowing considerable flexibility in the application of the said system to domestic, commercial, and industrial, hot water systems.
In a first embodiment of the present invention a heat exchanger, allows refrigerant to transfer heat from thermodynamic panels, via a thermodynamic box, to the hot water inside a hot water cylinder according to the operation of the principles of the heat pump. Refrigerant passes through the thermodynamic box under the operation of a compressor pump, and various controls.
According to the present invention there is provided a heat exchange system comprising: a compressor to compress a gaseous refrigerant, a first condenser heat exchanger to which the compressed refrigerant is supplied and at which heat is transferred from the refrigerant to water in a hot water cylinder; an expansion valve that receives cooled liquid refrigerant from the first heat exchanger; a thermodynamic panel including a second heat exchanger heat that receives cool refrigerant from the expansion valve and is in thermal communication with an environmental heat source.
The condenser heat exchanger can have two flow paths in thermal communication with each other, a first flow path for refrigerant and a second flow path for water from the hot water cylinder. Water may be pumped from the hot water cylinder through the second flow path and back to the cylinder by a circulating pump. The condenser heat exchanger may be a block of thermally conductive material with circuitous flow paths formed therein.
One or more of an accumulator or receiver, a filter, a drier, a sight glass or moisture indicator, controller and temperature sensors may be provided as part of the system.
The circulating pump may operates with a with time delay functionality such that it does not start and stop at the same time as the compressor operates.
The condenser heat exchanger may be orientated in a way to self-drain the water therefrom as required. Also an air bleed valve assembly may be is provided to remove air from the system.
More than one thermodynamic panel may be connected. A solenoid valve or actuator and control device may be provided to open/close the refrigeration circuit in a second panel or subsequent panel depending on the conditions.
The second heat exchanger may be a fin-tube evaporator installed outdoors or outdoors. The evaporator may be part of a combined unit. A fan may be provided to pass air over the evaporator.
The present invention also provides heat exchanger apparatus for use in a system as discussed herein the apparatus comprising the compressor; the first condenser heat exchanger; an expansion valve that receives cooled liquid refrigerant from the first heat exchanger; means to pump water to and from the hot water cylinder through the first condenser heat exchanger; and means to connect to the thermodynamic panel in thermal communication with an environmental heat source.
Preferably all the components of the heat exchanger apparatus are mounted inside a single unit or container. This aids retrofitting. The compressor and or the single unit may be mounted in such a way as to absorb or minimise vibration and or to minimise noise.
It will be shown, in the following description, how the present invention can be conveniently and flexibly integrated into domestic, commercial, and industrial, hot water systems, thereby giving rise to a higher level of efficiency in the distribution of heat around buildings, and at reduced cost compared with existing systems.
The operation of the apparatus of the invention is best understood by comparison with the way in which a refrigerator works, and by way of an introductory description of the principles of the heat pump:
A heat pump is a device which transfers heat from a source of low temperature energy to a region of high temperature, by doing work, and this is the principle behind the operation of the refrigerator.
Inside the refrigerator, the working fluid (ore refrigerant) is, at one stage in the process, a vapour; a vapour being a gas at a temperature which is below its critical temperature, so that it can be converted to a liquid by the application of pressure alone. This vapour is compressed by means of a compressor pump and, provided that the accompanying change is adiabatic; and thus takes place without heat entering or leaving the system; the temperature of the vapour rises, due to work being done on it by the compressor. It is then passed to a radiator, where heat is given out to the surroundings when the vapour condenses to a liquid by giving up its latent heat of condensation. The liquid is then expanded into an evaporator which reduces the pressure, and allows work to be done by the liquid, adiabatically wherein it thus takes in latent heat of vaporisation from the surroundings, and once again becomes a vapour. It is in this region of the refrigerator that cooling takes place. The cycle is then repeated, by returning the vapour to the compressor, along a cyclic path.
So, commencing with the evaporation of the refrigerant in the refrigerator, this evaporation is aided by the action of a so-called compressor pump, which pumps vapour out of an evaporator which is located inside the refrigerator, and which consists of several loops of pipe. This pumping out of the refrigerant vapour, thus reduces the pressure inside the pipe, so that the latent heat required for the refrigerant to evaporate is taken from the air surrounding the loops of pipe, and, in turn, from the atmosphere, and hence from the food, inside the refrigerator, so that cooling occurs.
The compressor pump also compresses the refrigerant vapour inside the condenser pipes of the refrigeration system, which are located on the outside of the refrigerator, at the rear, and it is here that the refrigerant gives up its latent heat of condensation to the surrounding atmosphere, by a process of radiation and convection.
The flow of liquid refrigerant back into the evaporator is controlled by means of a valve, which controls the rate at which heat is removed from inside the refrigerator.
In the apparatus of the present invention, and by comparison with the above descriptions of the operation of a refrigerator, the cooling effect which takes place inside the refrigerator, is equivalent to the cooling effect on the ambient environment/atmosphere surrounding the thermodynamic panel, which occurs when refrigerant evaporates inside the pipe network of the panel, and takes in its latent heat of evaporation under the pumping-out effect of the operation of the compressor pump.
The heat extracted from the ambient atmosphere renders the refrigerant gas hotter than was the refrigerant liquid, and so, the hotter, gaseous refrigerant, now compressed enters the first heat exchanger which is in located inside the hot water cylinder or in thermal communication with water from the cylinder, and this heat is thus given up to the water contained within that cylinder.
The now cooler, refrigerant, is in a thermodynamic state known as a saturated liquid, and, after entering a filter, it passes to a throttling device, also known as an expansion valve, where it undergoes an abrupt reduction in pressure, which results in the adiabatic flash evaporation of part of the liquid refrigerant. This, so-called, auto-refrigeration effect which results from the adiabatic flash evaporation lowers the temperature of the liquid and vapour refrigerant mixture, to the extent that it is now colder again, and it now passes back to the thermodynamic panel, wherein the whole cycle is then repeated.
The system of the invention can become the primary means for heating the water, and the existing gas/oil system or any other energy system, can become the secondary, and i.e. back up, heat source.
This arrangement will then allow heating of the water, without having to remove the existing cylinder, which is likely to be in satisfactory condition and not in need of replacement, and this therefore: i) reduces cost; ii) reduces wastage; and iii) reduces installation time, from between approximately one to two days, to between three to four hours. An additional option, when installing the new system, will be to provide extra insulation to the existing cylinder, by way of a cylinder jacket, in order to reduce heat loss.
A major feature of the new system is that the apparatus (“Magic Box”) will not have to be installed next to the existing cylinder; and can, instead, be installed above it, or in any other workable location, or in the loft, or garage, or any out building, and the like, wherein the thermodynamic panels can be located away from the cylinder (up to 15 metres vertically, and 30 metres horizontally).
If the existing cylinder is replaced, then this offers the advantage that a cylinder of a size which is comparable with that of the original cylinder can be installed, and this will be a modern one, provided with good, and modern, insulation.
The new cylinder can also be provided with a secondary coil, wherein the cylinder and hot water tank are purpose built to contain a heat exchange coil which transfers heat to the water in the tank.
The thermodynamic panels of the present invention are of such size that two, relatively smaller panels, can be installed by one Installer, rather than two. Also, during transport, and when being manipulated by the Installer, the panels are consequently less flexible, and so are likely to suffer less damage.
Moreover, by being smaller, there is greater flexibility with respect to installation in various locations. Thus, for instance, the panels can be installed; i) one on top of the other, or ii) side by side; or iii) one on either side of a window, etc.
Existing thermodynamic panels are supplied in sizes of 1.9 m by 0.9 m, and 2 m by 0.8 m, whilst the panels of the present invention are supplied in sizes of 1.4 m by 0.6 m, and 1.0 m by 0.6 m; each having a thickness of 5 mm, wherein each of the panels of either size, can be connected in a side-by-side configuration, or in a one-above-the other, configuration. The weight of a panel which is 1400 mm by 600 mm and is 5 mm thick is 4.2 Kg.
The panels may be manufactured from aluminium which absorbs energy efficiently. For strengthening purposes, the panels have an aluminium alloy reinforcement rib, having ten holes formed around their periphery, for fixing purposes. The technical volume of each panel may be 375 cm³, ±10%, and they are suitable for use with refrigerants such as R410A, R134a, R22, R407C and other known refrigerants.
The means of connection the panels to the refrigerant pipe, is via conventional means such as welding, or the use of brass nuts, using braised or flared joints. Depending on the installer and on the nature of the refrigerant gas utilised installation may need to be carried out by a qualified Installer.
The or each thermodynamic panel does not have to be positioned outside of the premises in which the remainder of the system is installed, and they can, for instance, be installed in a loft, wherein, due to the accompanying condensation of water vapour as a consequence of cooling, condensation trays which collect the water, can be provided. This will be particularly useful if the house/premises, is a listed building, and/or is located in a conservation area, or an area of outstanding natural beauty. When the apparatus of the invention is installed in a loft, it thus represents an excellent opportunity for recycling heat that is otherwise wasted in the loft.
The thermodynamic panels can also be buried in the ground, or placed in a lake or other region, of water, or in a tank of water, or in a greenhouse, in order to extract, and transfer, heat.
Other applications can involve the incorporation of the thermodynamic panels into offices having suspended ceilings, in order to recover otherwise wasted heat, and yet further applications can involve the positioning of the panels in a variety of locations in the home; in food shops; in off licenses; and the like. A range of alternative locations for the panels are thus:

i) Behind fridges, adjacent to their condenser piping.
ii) Adjacent to gas cookers
iii) Adjacent to the ventilation ports on microcomputers
iv) In the region of swimming pools
v) Adjacent to the external vents of air conditioning systems, or similar.

Wherein, all of these applications will aid the recovery of otherwise wasted heat, and will also provide an environmental benefit.
A particular advantage of the invention is that when it is applied to refrigeration systems, there is an accompanying advantage that such systems have been in use since the 1950's, and consequently benefit from technological improvements which necessitate minimal maintenance.
The copper tubing utilised for carrying the refrigerant has been tested, for the purposes of ensuring safety, and of satisfying safety legislation, to a pressure of 240 Bar, without damage; and all pipe runs are well insulated. The copper piping has an outside diameter of 9 mm on entry to the thermodynamic panel, and 16 mm on exit from the panel with a wall thickness which is adequate for safely containing refrigerant.

In order to describe the invention in more detail, reference will now be made to the accompanying diagrams in which:

FIG. 1 represents a two-dimensional schematic view of the main functional components of a first embodiment of the invention, with some components enlarged.

FIG. 2 represents a three-dimensional schematic view of the main functional components of the invention, with some components enlarged.

FIG. 3 represents a two-dimensional schematic view of two of the thermodynamic panels of the invention in a side-by-side configuration, with one part enlarged. Panels may be connected in other configurations such as one-above another.

FIG. 4 represents a three-dimensional schematic view of that component of the apparatus referred to as the Magic Wand, and also shows how this contains both a heat exchange coil, coil and an electric immersion heater element.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of a further embodiment where water is pumped from the cylinder to interact with the hot refrigerant in a self-contained unit also including the compressor.

FIG. 6 is another embodiment similar to FIG. 5 with a different thermodynamic panel.

FIG. 7 is a yet another embodiment similar to FIG. 5 with the thermodynamic panel within the self-contained unit. FIGS. 7 a to 7 c show possible air venting routes.

FIG. 8 shows an arrangement for a gravity fed system similar to that in FIG. 5.

FIG. 9 shows a system with a heat exchange coil in the cylinder and connected for no direct contact between the hot water and the fluid circulating around that heat exchange coil to the condenser heat exchanger 2 and back.

With reference to FIG. 1, which represents a two-dimensional schematic view, a heat transfer system, 1, utilises various items of equipment to transfer a refrigerant material around the system, along the path indicated by the arrows, in order to transfer heat from a thermodynamic panel, 2, to a thermodynamic block, 3, and thence to a hot water cylinder, 4, and then back again to the panel, 2.
With further reference to FIG. 1, liquid refrigerant inside the thermodynamic panel, 2, is converted to a vapour; which is a gas at a temperature below its critical temperature; and this conversion process extracts, from the panel's surroundings, the latent heat required for vaporisation of the refrigerant. This thus creates a cooling effect on the ambient atmosphere surrounding the panel, 2, due to the evaporation of refrigerant inside the pipe network of the panel, which is caused by the pumping-out effect of the operation of the compressor pump, 5, which is located inside the magic box, 3, and which is acting as an evacuator at this stage in the process.
Because the hot refrigerant gas is a vapour; that is, a gas which is below its critical temperature, it can be liquefied by the application of pressure. Because expansion of the refrigerant has occurred, the increase in volume has to be allowed for, and thus, the compressor pump, 5, is connected to a vessel, 6, which provides room in the whole enclosed system, for the refrigerant vapour, which has increased in volume. This vapour can then be compressed by means of the compressor pump, 5, and so that, provided that the accompanying change is adiabatic; and thus takes place without heat entering or leaving the system; the temperature of the vapour can rise, due to work being done on it by the compressor, 5.
The now hot, gaseous refrigerant, is then passed to a heat transfer coil, HTC, generally referred to as a primary heat exchanger coil, which, in this application, is equivalent to the radiator located at the rear of a refrigerator, where the latent heat of condensation of the refrigerant is given out, during compression, to the water, W, in the hot water tank, HWT. This thus results in the heating of the water, which circulates through the hot water tank, HWT, after entering at the cold water inlet, CWI, and leaving via the hot water outlet, HWO. The hot water cylinder, 4, is provided with insulation, INS.
The now cooler, refrigerant, is now in a thermodynamic state known as a saturated liquid. Thus, under the circulatory, pull-push, effect, of the compressor, the now cooler, saturated, liquid refrigerant, enters a filter, 7, and then passes to a throttling device, 8, also known as an expansion valve, where it undergoes an abrupt reduction in pressure, which results in the adiabatic flash evaporation of part of the liquid refrigerant. This so-called, auto-refrigeration effect, which results from the said adiabatic flash evaporation, lowers the temperature of the liquid and vapour refrigerant mixture, to the extent that it is now colder again, and it passes back to the panel, 2, wherein the whole cycle is then repeated, with the now liquid refrigerant able to extract heat from the ambient surroundings, as before, as evaporation occurs.
A display 9 shows the temperature of the hot water in the hot water tank, HWT, via electronic communication with a temperature sensor located at that tank.
With reference to FIG. 2, which represents a three-dimensional schematic view, with some components enlarged, this is similar to FIG. 1, but shows additional components. Thus part of the panel, 2, is shown in enlarged form, and tube, M, is just one of the matrix of tubes present in the panel, 2.
Tube, 10, takes in the cooled, refrigerant, from the outlet of the Block 3, and tube, 11, transfers hot gaseous refrigerant to the block 3. Other parts of the diagram have already been described with reference to FIG. 1, and so, need not be described again.
With reference to FIG. 3, which represents a two-dimensional schematic view, this shows two panels, (equivalent to that numbered 2 above but herein referred to as P1, and P2), in a side-by side configuration, with the region of their means of connection, enlarged. They might be in other configurations such as in a one-above-the-other, configuration.
FIG. 4 represents a three-dimensional view of the Magic Wand of the apparatus, which comprises an outer, heat transfer coil, HTC, and an inner, immersion loop, IL. The heat transfer coil, HTC, contains refrigerant, which passes into the coil via entrance port, 12, and leaves the coil via exit port, 13. The immersion heater loop, IL, has electrical contacts with the electrical supply, at terminals, T1, and T2.
This invention can also work on the same initial principle of an air to water heat pump but takes the concept in a further innovative direction. Having the evaporator unit located indoor or outdoor allows the invention to be installed indoor without need to have glycol in the heating medium.
Installation indoors allows the heating medium to be connected directly into the hot water cylinder without the need of an indirect heat exchanger in the cylinder. The invention therefore also allows the transfer of heat to the hot water with maximum heat transfer capacity.
Air to water heat pumps in the market typically need a heat exchanger inside the hot water cylinder to transfer the heat from the air to water heat pump into the hot water cylinder via this internal heat exchanger in the cylinder. The main reason for the need of this internal heat exchanger is because of the location of the air to water heat pump which is normally housed in the outdoor unit which is exposed to the outside environment. Due to the potential freezing problems the heating medium has to be a water/glycol mixture to stop the freezing of the heat medium.
As the heating medium is a water/glycol mixture the design of the system requires the internal heat exchanger in the hot water cylinder to transfer the heat without mixing it into the water in the cylinder.
Conversely by heating the water in the cylinder directly without the need of a heat exchanger allows the invention to achieve higher temperature levels in the hot water cylinder without the need to increase the condensing pressure and thereby a higher compressor efficiency can be achieved. The invention can also be installed to the heat exchanger coil inside the cylinder as in FIG. 9.
FIG. 5-9 shows various embodiments in which water is drawn from the cylinder and passed through a condenser heat exchanger 2 that forms part of the a single unit 11 including the compressor 1. The compressor which is electrically driven compresses the low pressure refrigerant from the evaporator unit 13 to increase its pressure and therefore the temperature. The condenser 2 which receives the high pressure high temperature refrigerant from the compressor transfers its heat to the heating medium and the refrigerant condenses to become a high pressure liquid.
The Invention also consists of additional auxiliary components which are a receiver, filter and drier which can be a single assembly or individual components. The main function of these components in the invention is to store the refrigerant in the receiver, remove any foreign particles through the filter and absorb the presence of any moisture in the refrigerant with the drier.
Additionally the invention incorporates a sight glass/moisture indicator which enables all the auxiliary components to be monitored as to their performance. The sight glass therefore provides vital information to an engineer so he can diagnose the efficient operation of the refrigeration cycle and whether the right amount of refrigerant is in the system. The sight glass has an in-built moisture indicator which indicates the presence of any moisture in the refrigerant.
One of the features of the invention is that it heats water in cylinder directly. There is a circulating pump 7 within the design of the system. If the hot water in the cylinder is used for domestic use then the invention will have the pump suitable for the potable water such as bronze body, composite body or other materials which are suitable for potable water applications.
The condenser 2 includes a plate heat exchanger. The said plate heat exchanger transfers the heat from the high pressure high temperature refrigerant in the primary circuit of the heat exchanger to the heating medium in the secondary circuit where the heating medium is circulated by the circulating pump from the hot water cylinder.
The condenser can be a plate heat exchanger made from stainless steel or any other material suitable for hot water applications. It can be a shell-tube heat exchanger where the refrigerant can be passed through the tube and the heating medium flows over the tube which sits inside the outer shell.
The invention incorporates a bleed valve assembly 8 in the water circulating pipe which allows the invention to remove trapped air that may have arisen during the installation or servicing of the system. This bleed valve is located in place and orientation that it becomes the highest point of the water circuit so that the air can be removed effectively.
This invention having a bleed valve assembly uniquely allows the invention to be able to be installed in a traditional gravity feed system where the pressure in the water circuit can be very low and the potential problem of air therefore getting trapped in the water circuit is very high and it is very difficult to remove due to the lower pressure in the water circuit.
The presence of this air in the water circuit can be very hazardous potentially causes pump cavitation which could lead to higher condensing pressures in the condenser which in turn decreases the efficiency of the compressor and its life. Inclusion of the bleed valve assembly in the invention eliminates this potential problem.
This invention also has designed a unique and new plumbing installation method to connect the pipe where within all gravity fed hot water cylinders when installing the invention into the system in such a way that it removes air bubbles in the system through the dual vent pipe design as per FIG. 8. The dual vent pipes 19 20 are either two separate branches of pipe going in to the feed tank or the two branches of pipe can be interlinked to have a single pipe going in to the feed tank.
For clarity the feed tank here is generally a vessel which feeds the hot water cylinder and is normally located in the highest place in the house such as the loft. The feed tank receives the water from the main water supply.
The invention can have a “self-drain” capability in the water circuit components such as the plate heat exchanger which is the condenser, water circulating pump and the pipe works connecting all of these components. This is achieved by positioning and locating the components in such a way within the design of the invention such that the water circuit drains itself naturally.
This eliminates the potential problem of freezing the heating medium components in the water circuit where the user has had to drain the system down during the winter time where there is no usage of hot water from the cylinder in the places like holiday homes, mobile homes or others for example.
In the present invention the said compressor can be mounted on a plate with selected anti-vibration mounts that generally accompany a compressor. Additionally the main chassis can be mounted with additional anti-vibration mounts to act as twin layer anti-vibration method to reduce any further possible vibration that may travel to the main chassis of the invention.
When the invention is installed on a wall, additional external anti-vibration mounts are supplied to be installed on the back of the invention between the invention and the wall. The back plate of invention has been uniquely designed to receive these mounts. Having the anti-vibration mounts on the back of the invention with these twin-layer anti-vibrations on the bottom of the compressor within the invention removes any potential vibration travelling into the building.
There are several air to water heat pumps in the market and most of them need a circulating pump to circulate the water from the cylinder to the heat pump. These pumps typically are set by the controller to run before the compressor in the heat pump starts.
Since the present invention has a compressor and a circulating pump this invention includes a controller but uniquely it allows the circulating pump to run before the compressor starts and after the compressor stops with time delay on/off function.
This delay function is significant as it allows the water flowing though the heat exchanger with a circulating pump to remove any residual heat left in the condenser before the compressor operates which starts the compressor smoothly thereby increasing the compressor life.
This invention can have both functions such as delay on and delay off or can have a single function. This function can be achieved either electronically or mechanically.
This invention uses the evaporator to absorb the heat from the environment which either can either be a thermodynamic panel or fin-tube evaporator with or without forced air circulation.
These inventions also incorporate in its design a thermodynamic evaporator panel that can be used as single or multiples depending on the application and the location. This present invention allows operating the two panels in different modes. For example during the winter period both panels can be used to extract the heat in the design and in the summer time it can be optionally selected that only one panel can be used to extract the heat.
Functionality of the dual mode with two panels can be achieved by use of the solenoid valve 14 which can be uniquely operated and controlled by a controlling device as a part of the invention.
Where the evaporator is a fin-tube heat exchanger a fan is used as part of the invention. The fan can be controlled by the controlling device 18 which can be an electronic or mechanical device.
If the fin-tube heat exchanger is used as evaporator this invention allows installation outdoors, typically outside the wall of the building as per FIG. 6 with fan controlling devices
This invention also allows the evaporator (Fin-tube heat exchanger) to be integrated within the main unit with a fan (FIG. 7). When the fin-tube evaporator is used as an integral part of the main unit the fan will have control device to handle different air volume and the different static pressure.
The unique feature of having control device for the fan will allow the main invention to be installed in various locations of the building with a duct to push the cold air out (See FIG. 7 a-7 c).
If the installation is as per FIG. 7 a with shorter ducting then the fan control device can be set to allow the fan to run in lower speed to keep the optimum performance of the whole invention. If the installation is as in FIG. 7 b with long ducting then the fan control can be set to allow the fan to higher speed level to keep the same performance as the smaller ducting.

Claims

1. A heat exchange system comprising: a compressor to compress a refrigerant, a first condenser heat exchanger to which the compressed refrigerant is supplied and at which heat is transferred from the refrigerant to water from a hot water cylinder; an expansion valve that receives cooled liquid refrigerant from the first heat exchanger; a thermodynamic panel including a second heat exchanger heat that receives cool refrigerant from the expansion valve and is in thermal communication with an environmental heat source.

2. A heat exchange system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the condenser heat exchanger has two flow paths in thermal communication, a first flow path for refrigerant and a second flow path for water from the hot water cylinder.

3. A heat exchange system as claimed in claim 2 wherein water is pumped from the hot water cylinder through the second flow path and back to the cylinder by a circulating pump.

4. A heat exchange system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the condenser heat exchanger is a block or thermally conductive material with circuitous flow paths formed therein.

5. A heat exchange system as claimed claim 1 which also includes one or more of and accumulator or receiver, a filter, a drier, a sight glass or moisture indicator.

6. A heat exchange system as claimed in claim 3 wherein the circulating pump operates with a with time delay functionality.

7. A heat exchange system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the condenser heat exchanger is orientated in a way to self-drain the water therefrom as required.

8. A heat exchange system as claimed in claim 1 wherein an air bleed valve assembly is provided to remove the air from the system.

9. A heat exchange system as claimed in claim 1 wherein a solenoid valve or actuator and control device open/close the refrigeration circuit in a second panel depending on the conditions.

10. A heat exchange system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the second heat exchanger is a fin-tube evaporator installed outdoor or as part of a combined unit.

11. A heat exchange system as claimed in claim 10, wherein a fan is provided to pass air over the evaporator.

12. Heat exchanger apparatus for use in a system as claimed in claim 1 comprising the compressor; the first condenser heat exchanger; an expansion valve that receives cooled liquid refrigerant from the first heat exchanger; means to pump water to and from the hot water cylinder through the first condenser heat exchanger; and means to connect to the thermodynamic panel in thermal communication with an environmental heat source.

13. Heat exchanger apparatus as claimed in claim 12 in which all the components are mounted inside a single unit.

14. Heat exchanger apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein the compressor is mounted in such a way as to absorb or minimise vibration or noise.

15. Heat exchanger apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein the single unit is mounted in such a way as to absorb or minimise vibration or noise.