Patent · US Expired

Control of outdoor air source water heating using variable-speed heat pump

US5052186A · kind A · utility

52Cited by
3References
8Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 21, 1990
Grant dateOct 1, 1991
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 21, 2010

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
  • CPC primaryF24H4/04
  • WIPO fieldThermal processes and apparatus
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

An integrated heat pump and hot water system of the type having a variable speed compressor is controlled during a water heating mode, in which outdoor air serves as the heat source. The controlling is carried out on the basis of a field of outside temperature and water temperature. The compressor speed is controlled based on the outdoor air temperature, and the compressor is run at a maximum speed between a minimum outdoor temperature and a low temperature somewhat above the minimum, at minimum speed for outdoor air temperature between a maximum temperature and a high temperature below the maximum temperature, and at a speed that depends linearly on outdoor temperature for intermediate outdoor temperatures. There is a permissible temperature field or envelope bounded by the minimum and maximum outdoor temperatures, by minimum and maximum water temperatures, and by an efficiency floor and a torque limit ceiling.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.