HEATRECUPERATIONDEVICEFORDOMESTICCOOLERSYSTEMS
This invention refers to a HEAT RECUPERATION DEVICE FOR DO- MESTIC COOLER SYSTEMS, such as refrigerators, freezers and air conditioning units, making use of the heat released to the atmosphere during the cooling process to heat water for domestic use, and thus conforming with the aims ' of the ap¬ plied thermodynamics sector, which seeks to effect energy savings in domestic installations;
Up until a few decades ago, artificial cooling was used al¬ most exclusively for the conservation of perishable food¬ stuffs, substituting advantageously the most commonly used preservative of such products - principally meat - namely, high priced salts and spices. Even for domestic use, the technical difficulties for generating cold were.such that the few refrigerators to be found in homes were nothing more than cupboards with inefficient thermal insulating walls, fed by ice blocks which were produced and distrib- uted daily by the ice manufacturers. With the increasing expansion and home distribution of electric energy, the domestic refrigerator was conceived, and is widely used today, although electricity is not the only source of en¬ ergy for heat exchangers. One for the cooling systems which is most used today em¬ ploys the thermodynamic compression cycle. With a few exceptions, the normal system is constituted by a closed circuit consisting of two coils connected to a compressor: In the first coil, the fluid employed is compressed to liquefaction and at this stage it is forced through the second coil located inside the cooling chamber. It is well known that during liquefaction fluid liberates heat which, in this case, is released to the atmosphere. In the second coil, at the same time as pressure is being exerted in the first, there occurs a pressure drop, allowing the fluid to evaporate, thus removing heat from the cooling chamber and reducing the temperature. The fluid then returns to the
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compressor, restarting the cycle.
Even today, the heat which is generated in the cycle is re- p leased to the atmosphere, thus being lost without any prac¬ tical use having been made of it. In the search for means of effecting energy savings, the idea occurred of making use of the heat generated by the operation of domestic e- lectrical appliances which use cooling fluids. As domestic hot water consumption is widespread, such as for washing dishes and clothes, personal hygiene, cleaning, cooking, etc. , the usage of waste heat could represent a cost saving item in water heating, as the source of energy generated by the unit could be hooked up, directly or indirectly, to a water duct or reservoir, thus heating the water instead of just flowing into the surrounding atmosphere. The drawings which are attached to this report give a good indication of what is intended. Figure 1 on sheet 1 shows, by a vertical cut, the device adapted to a normal refriger¬ ator. Figure 2 on sheet 2 , shows -also by vertical cut - a coupling of the general device to any type of appliance, such as refrigerators, freezers or air conditioning units. Figure " 3, sheet 3 (vertical cut) shows a diagram for using heated water away from the heat source.
More explicitly. Figure 1 shows the device coupled to a conventional type refrigerator, in which can be seen: The motor (1) and compressor (2) , from which the evaporation (3) and condensation coils (4) come out. The motor (1) , compressor (2) and the condensation coil (4) are surrounded by cold water or any other liquid which enters at tempera¬ ture T^ into a thermally insulated chamber (5) . The water at temperature T, enters the chamber (5) through a valve
(6) , is heated by the energy from the motor (1) , the compress sor (2) and the condensation coil (4) , which may be wholly or partially submerged in the water, and leaves through a valve (7) after being heated. The evaporation coil (3) does its normal job of removing heat from the atmosphere to be cooled (8) . A vacuum valve (9) , actuated by the operation of the compressor (2) , controls the flow of fluid through the
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coils. The water, heated by the energy released from the liquefaction of the fluid, leaves the chamber (5) through - ι the valve (7) at a temperature T 2 greater than T^ Another valve (10) allows water purging when necessary. Naturally, the motor (1) , compressor (2) and coil (4) must be pro¬ tected from attack by water or the liquid employed. Figure 2 on sheet 2 of the drawing, shows the same ele¬ ments: the motor (1), compressor (2), coils (3) and (4), chambers (5) and (8), and valves (6), (7), (9) and (10) performing the same functions, except that here it is shown as a general coupling to any refrigerating, freezing or air conditioning unit. The operation of the device and the respective notes are the same as those made in the foregoing paragraph. Figure 3 on sheet 3 indicates, in diagram, the use of do¬ mestic hot water, valves (6), (7) and (10) not being shown. It shows the use of the water via a valve (11) in a shower (12) , where heat usage occurs at a distance from the re¬ frigerator, freezer or air conditioning unit. The industrial manufacture of the device is quite simple, materials readily encountered on the market being employed. The cost of its installation is not so high as to invali¬ date the calory gain and the consequent saving in energy.
