Heat pump water heater and associated control system
US8385729B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 9, 2009 |
| Grant date | Feb 26, 2013 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 13, 2031 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF24H15/429
- WIPO fieldThermal processes and apparatus
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A heat pump water heater has a tank portion, an electric heating structure for adding electrical heat to water stored in the tank, and a heat pump for adding refrigerant heat to the tank water. A control system associated with the water heater has three user-selectable heating modes for heating the tank water during a given heating demand cycle—a first mode that initially heats the tank water with refrigerant heat while the electric heat is locked out for a first predetermined period before supplementing the refrigerant heat if necessary, a second mode similar to the first mode but with a longer electric heat lockout period, and a third mode in which only the electric heat is utilized to satisfy a tank water heating demand. Illustratively, the heat pump is disposed in a compact component arrangement on the top end of the water heater tank.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.