Heat pump water heater
US9151486B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 11, 2011 |
| Grant date | Oct 6, 2015 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 17, 2032 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02B10/70
- WIPO fieldThermal processes and apparatus
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An energy efficient heat pump system capable of operating in extreme low and high temperature environments. The heat pump system includes an evaporator, a heater operatively associated with the evaporator, compressor and condenser. In an exemplary embodiment, the heat pump system may further include a plasma pulse-spark system to facilitate removal of scale deposits. The heater heats an environmental medium prior to the environmental medium exchanging energy with a refrigerant located in an evaporator coil of the evaporator in order to maintain a predetermined minimum temperature differential between the environmental medium when it contacts the evaporator coil and the refrigerant when located in the evaporator coil. The system allows efficient operation at low temperatures.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.