초록 ▼

The present invention relates to a geothermal water heater system, and methods of heating water for domestic uses utilizing geothermal energy. More specifically, the present invention provides a geothermal heat pump water heater system includes a hot water tank, a cold water tank and at least one wa

The present invention relates to a geothermal water heater system, and methods of heating water for domestic uses utilizing geothermal energy. More specifically, the present invention provides a geothermal heat pump water heater system includes a hot water tank, a cold water tank and at least one water-to-water heat pump. As contemplated, the water-to-water heat pump includes one or more heat exchangers which control heat transfer from water drawn from an outside water source. The outside water source water is supplied to both the hot water tank and the cold water tanks whereupon heat exchangers which comprise a cold water side heat exchanger and a hot water side heat exchanger, allow water entering the cold water tank to be cooled and returned to the cold water tank while water entering the hot water tank is heated and returned to the hot water tank.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A geothermal heat pump water heater system comprising, an open loop system that draws water from an outside water source, a hot water tank, a cold water tank, at least one water-to-water heat pump (WWHP), the water-to-water heat pump comprising one or more heat exchangers tha

What is claimed is: 1. A geothermal heat pump water heater system comprising, an open loop system that draws water from an outside water source, a hot water tank, a cold water tank, at least one water-to-water heat pump (WWHP), the water-to-water heat pump comprising one or more heat exchangers that transfer latent heat from water drawn directly from said outside water source, wherein said water is supplied to both the hot water tank and the cold water tank, said heat exchangers comprising a cold water side heat exchanger and a hot water side heat exchanger, wherein water entering the cold water tank is cooled by the cold water side heat exchanger and returned to the cold water tank to be used for domestic or commercial purposes and wherein water entering the hot water tank is supplied to a hot water side heat exchanger, the heated water being returned to the hot water tank to be used for domestic or commercial purposes. 2. The geothermal heat pump water heater system of claim 1, further comprising a means for providing a supplemental heating capacity for heating water in the cold and hot water tanks. 3. The geothermal heat pump water heater system of claim 2, wherein said supplemental heating is provided to the cold or hot water tanks by a solar collector loop or solar panel. 4. The geothermal heat pump water heater system of claim 1, wherein said water source provides the system with at least three times the volume of the water than the volume of water to be heated. 5. The geothermal heat pump water heater system of claim 1, wherein water entering the cold water tank is supplied to the cold water side heat pump by flow or a circulator and cooled by refrigerant released by an expansion valve. 6. The geothermal heat pump water heater system of claim 1, wherein water entering the hot water tank is supplied to the heat pump by a circulator and is heated by compressed refrigerant before being released by an expansion valve. 7. The geothermal heat pump water heater system of claim 1, wherein, said cold water side heat exchanger captures heat from surrounding air. 8. The geothermal heat pump water heater system of claim 1, wherein the temperature of water returned to the hot and cold water tanks is maintained by an electronic thermal controller. 9. The geothermal heat pump water heater system of claim 1, wherein the system lacks a cold water tank and wherein source water is drawn from an outside water source that flows directly to the heat exchangers the system further comprising, a switch means that activates the heat pump when sufficient water flow exists to collect heat. 10. A geothermal heat pump water heater system comprising, an open loop system that draws water from an outside water source, a hot water tank, a cold water tank and at least one thermoelectric water-to-water heat pump (WWHP), wherein said system draws said water directly from an outside water source, said water being supplied to both the hot water tank and the cold water tank, wherein water entering the cold water tank is cooled by the thermoelectric WWHP and returned to the cold water tank to be used for domestic or commercial purposes and water entering the hot water tank is heated by the thermoelectric WWHP and returned to the hot water tank to be used for domestic or commercial purposes. 11. A method of heating water utilizing geothermal energy comprising, an open loop system that draws water from an outside water source, a hot water tank, a cold water tank, at least one water-to-water heat pump (WWHP), the water-to-water heat pump comprising one or more heat exchangers that transfer latent heat from said water drawn directly from the outside water source, wherein said water entering the heater system is supplied to both the hot water tank and the cold water tank, wherein water entering the cold water tank is supplied to a cold water side heat pump by a circulator and pumped to a cold water side heat exchanger and cooled further by cooled refrigerant released by an expansion valve, the cooled water returning to the cold water tank to be used for domestic or commercial purposes and wherein water entering the hot water tank is supplied to a heat pump by a circulator and is pumped to a hot water side heat exchanger, wherein compressed refrigerant heats the water, the heated water returning to the hot water tank to be used for domestic or commercial purposes. 12. The method of claim 11, further comprising a means for providing a supplemental heating capacity for heating water in the cold and hot water tanks. 13. The method of claim 12, wherein said supplemental heating is provided by a solar collector loop or solar panel. 14. The method of claim 11, wherein the temperature of water returned to the hot and cold water tanks is maintained by an electronic thermal controller. 15. The method of claim 11, wherein the source water is heated in a heater system which lacks a cold water tank and wherein source water is drawn from an outside source that flows directly to the heat exchangers the system further comprising a switch means that activates the heat pump when sufficient water flow exists to collect heat. 16. The method of 11 wherein, said source water is heated utilizing a thermoelectric water-to-water heat pump (WWHP).