초록 ▼

A heat pump system comprising a lower temperature heat exchanger and a higher temperature heat exchanger. The lower temperature heat exchanger is connected to a water supply circuit having a reservoir, the improvement in the system comprising the water flowing through the low temperature heat exchan

A heat pump system comprising a lower temperature heat exchanger and a higher temperature heat exchanger. The lower temperature heat exchanger is connected to a water supply circuit having a reservoir, the improvement in the system comprising the water flowing through the low temperature heat exchanger capable of being cooled to a quasi-stable supercooled liquid state at temperatures below 0°C. Part of the supercooled liquid water flowing from the lower temperature heat exchanger is transformed to ice upon contact with the water in the reservoir. That phase change can be utilized as the source of energy for the heat pump. The heat pump can be used for heating. The cold water/ice mixture can be used for space cooling. The ice obtained by this process is in the form of small ice crystals and can be utilized for separate applications of the system.

대표청구항 ▼

A heat pump system having a heat exchange circuit including a hot side and a cold side and having a hot side heat exchanger (HSHE) and a cold side heat exchanger (CSHE), said CSHE being connected to a water supply circuit, the improvement wherein said CSHE is provided with conduit means through whic

A heat pump system having a heat exchange circuit including a hot side and a cold side and having a hot side heat exchanger (HSHE) and a cold side heat exchanger (CSHE), said CSHE being connected to a water supply circuit, the improvement wherein said CSHE is provided with conduit means through which water flows, a cooling refrigerant externally of said conduit means and in contact therewith, said conduit means having a very small internal diameter as compared to its length whereby said water is capable of being supercooled in its quasi-stable liquid state to temperatures below 0°C. and on a continuous basis in said conduit means of said cold side heat exchanger said conduit means having an isolated area immediately upstream of said cooling refrigerant to thermally isolate said water from said cooling refrigerant to prevent freezing of said water prior to entry into said conduit means in contact with said refrigerant, and wherein said conduit means has an outlet disposed above the water level of a reservoir whereby supercooled water will be released above said water level and a percentage of said supercooled water will form ice crystals only when arriving in contact with water in said reservoir or any object in the path of said released supercooled water.