Apparatus for combining air conditioner and pool heater

Abstract

A heat exchange system for use with an air conditioning system having a condenser unit and a water heating system having an evaporator unit is disclosed. The system comprises a housing for locating the evaporator unit of the water heating system and the condenser unit of the air conditioning system above one another and in communication therewith. The housing may have one or more adjustable openings and the system includes a control unit for controlling the opening and closing of the adjustable openings in order to control the transfer of heat from the evaporator unit to the control unit.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to apparatus for combining an existing air conditioning system with an existing pool heater system in order to improve the efficiency of the air condition within the house thereby saving operating expenses in both areas.

PRIOR ART

A preliminary search has brought to light a number of prior patents relating to efficiently heating swimming pools. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,926,008 (Weber) shows a water-cooled condenser coil which is placed in the pool itself. An air conditioning system for a house includes an evaporator within the house, and external compressor, and external air cooled condenser and a fan for the air cooled condenser. Thermostatically controlled valves are provided for connecting the compressor directly to the air-cooled condenser and bypassing the water-cooled condenser when the water body temperature increases to a predetermined level.

In U.S. Pat. No. 5,184,472 (Guilbault) discloses the combination of a pool heater installed on a commercially available residential heat pump in order to add swimming pool heating to the basic functions of the heat pump i.e. heating and cooling of a dwelling.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,560,216 (Holmes) discloses a combination air conditioner and pool heater which utilises a coaxial heat exchanger coil in order to integrate the dwelling air condition with the pool heater.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide apparatus which will enable a conventional dwelling air conditioner to be combined with a swimming pool heat pump system without requiring modification to either the air conditioner or the heat pump system.

The present invention provides a heat exchange system for use with an air conditioning system having a condenser unit and a water heating system having an evaporator unit, the system comprising a housing for locating the evaporator unit of the water heating system and the condenser unit of the air conditioning system above one another and in communication therewith, the housing having one or more adjustable openings and being provided with a control unit for controlling the opening and closing of the adjustable openings in order to control the transfer of heat from the evaporator unit to the control unit.

The present invention comprises a housing within which the evaporator which is part of the heat pump system for the swimming pool is mounted above the condenser unit which is part of the dwelling air condition. The housing is fitted with electrically controlled slats and/or fans and a temperature sensitive control system for promoting the passage of air from the condenser to the evaporator. An advantage of the above arrangement is that because both the heat pump system for heating the pool and the air conditioner for cooling the dwelling are entirely conventional, they can be purchased separately and require no special plumbing or alteration in order to be combined. Additionally, the amount of electricity consumed in order to run both systems is reduced.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows diagrammatically apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a modification to the apparatus shown in FIG. 1.

Before describing the invention in detail, it is thought beneficial to set out the normal components of a conventional domestic air conditioner as well as a conventional heat pump swimming pool heater.

A conventional house air conditioner comprises an evaporator unit inside the building, the evaporator unit comprising an evaporator coil and an internal fan for blowing air across the evaporator coil to discharge cool air into the house. A condensing unit is located outside the building and normally comprises a compressor, an air-cooled coil and an external fan directing air across the air cooled coil. Basically, the air conditioner operates by the evaporator unit inside the building extracting heat from within the house by evaporating a refrigerant fluid such as Freon which is circulated back to the condensing unit located outside the building where the compressor together with the air-cooled coil compresses the Freon vapour into Freon liquid which is then circulated back into the building.

A heat pump water heating system operates in the identical but reversed fashion. In this case, the evaporator unit is located outside the swimming pool in the normal environment and large quantities of warm air are drawn through the evaporator coils by a high powered fan. A refrigerant, such as Freon, inside the evaporator coils absorbs the hat from the drawn-in air changing the Freon liquid into warm Freon gas. The warm Freon gas is then passed through a compressor which compresses or reduces the volume of gas while substantially increasing its temperature. This compressed hot Freon gas is then pumped through the outer casing of a Freon to water heater exchanger where it releases its heat to the water to be heated which is passing through the inner casing of the heat exchanger. The now warm water is released into the pool or spa for re-circulation through the heat pump until the desired temperature is reached. The Freon gas condenses back into a liquid state and is pumped through the system back to the evaporator coils to repeat the cycle.

Turning now to FIG. 1, it will be seen that an evaporator unit 10 of a heat pump swimming pool heater is mounted on a grill 11 and immediately above a condenser unit 12 of a domestic air conditioner. The evaporator 10 and condenser 12 are located within a housing generally indicated by the reference numeral 20. The sidewalls of the housing 20 are provided with adjustable louvers of slats 21 which are controlled by an electronic control system 30 which will be described in more detail later. A top surface of the housing 20 is provided with an electrically operated fan or louvers 22 which once more are connected to the electronic control system 30. The grill 11 permits air flow between the condenser 12 and evaporator 10.

The interior and exterior temperature of the housing 20 is sensed by separate temperature sensing devices and it is preferred to use strip sensors arranged vertically for this purpose. These sensors run the height of the unit both internally and externally and provide temperature control signals to the electronic control unit 30.

The control unit 30 is also responsive as to when the heat pump is required or is operating as well as when the air conditioner is required or operating. It then provides suitable control signals for operating individual louvers or groups of louvers so as to open and close the sidewalls of the housing 20 as well as the fan or louvers in the top surface 22. In this way, when the air conditioner can create air flow at a temperature above the local air temperature in the environment around the housing 20, then the louvers are adjusted to enforce the convection principle within the housing. Conversely, when the air temperature outside the housing is sufficiently high, the louvers can be opened in order to provide additional evaporation in the evaporator 10.

The controlled louvers may be replaced in whole or in part by a fan or fans depending on the efficiency of the existing fans built into the condenser and computer units located in the housing.

FIG. 2 shows a modification to the basic housing 20 shown in FIG. 1 and the same reference numerals are used to refer to the same parts. The control unit is not shown but will be present in practice.

In FIG. 2, an air deflector is located above the heat pump evaporator unit 10. The deflector is in the form of an inverted mushroom-shaped block 24 of material and assists in the flow of colder air circulating back to the lower part of the housing 20.

If desired, a similar block 25 can be provided above the air conditioner condenser 12 in order to promote circulation of hot air up the sides of the evaporator 10 through the grill 11.

It is also preferred to provide an internal baffle or baffles 26 between the condenser 12 and evaporator 10 but spaced therefrom in order to contain hot air as it rises from the condenser 12 and to create an annular passageway between the baffles 26 and the walls of the housing for the colder air as it circulates back to the bottom of the housing.

The baffle or baffles 26 in the vicinity of the evaporator 10 can be provided with electrically controlled louvers 27, if desired.

It will be appreciated that many modifications may be made to the constructions as set out above. For example, the fan or electric louvers 22 shown to be in the top surface of the housing 20 can in fact be located within the housing 20 so that the fan can be used to force air leaving the top of the heat pump evaporator through a duct and back to the bottom of the housing to a position under the air conditioner condenser in order to promote convection within the unit 20 itself. Alternatively, it may be possible to run the fan in reverse so that air from the heat pump evaporator is forced down into the air conditioner condenser.

It is also possible to operate the apparatus according to the present invention including the control unit 30 from a separate power supply for example one that utilises solar or wind power. In this way, the apparatus could be manufactured so as to be totally self contained.

Claims

1. A heat exchange system for use with an air conditioning system having a condenser unit and a water heating system having an evaporator unit, the system comprising a housing for locating the evaporator unit of the water heating system and the condenser unit of the air conditioning system above one another and in communication therewith, the housing having one or more adjustable openings and being provided with a control unit for controlling the opening and closing of the adjustable openings in order to control the transfer of heat from the evaporator unit to the control unit.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the adjustable openings are in the form of louvers.

3. A system according to claim 1, wherein the adjustable openings are in the form of fans.

4. A system according to claim 1, wherein the adjustable openings are in the form of a combination of louvers and fans.

5. A system according to claim 1, wherein the housing is provided with temperature sensors which are connected to the control unit.

6. A system according to claim 1, wherein the housing is provided with a block of material above the evaporator unit to promote the circulation of cooler air exiting the unit.

7. A system according to claim 1, wherein internal baffles are provided for channelling air leaving the condenser unit to be received by the evaporator unit.

8. A system according to claim 7, wherein the internal baffles form an internal passageway between the baffles and the housing for circulation of cooler air.