Waste heat energy recovery system
US4293323A · kind A · utility
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 30, 1979 |
| Grant date | Oct 6, 1981 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 30, 1999 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF25B29/003
- WIPO fieldThermal processes and apparatus
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A heat exchange element is inserted directly into a water heater storage tank of a new or existing water heating system. The heat exchange element is provided with standard pipe thread connections and adapted to be installed in standard threaded openings in conventional tanks. The heat exchange element is an elongate outer tube inserted vertically through the top of the tank having the bottom end of the tube closed, and a concentric inner tube open at the bottom end. The inner tube is connected to the output of a refrigeration or air conditioning system compressor to receive the superheated refrigerant gas. The outer tube is connected to the condenser of the system. The heat from the refrigerant is transferred to the water in the storage tank thereby utilizing energy otherwise wasted. A tempering valve is used with the water storage tank to limit hot water output to a desired temperature.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.