PAGE TITLE
Energy-efficient heat pump system
PAGE SUMMARY
Researchers in the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Mechanics at Drexel University have developed an energy-efficient, standalone, single heat pump water heater. Electric heat pump water heaters use about half of the energy of conventional electric resistance or gas water heaters, but they lack widespread market adoption due to the higher initial equipment cost that results from having a backup electric heater. The need for a backup heater precludes their use in cold locations, as the minimum environmental temperature for operation is above 45°F. Lower temperatures impede effective heat transfer to the hot water tank from the heat pump water heater.
In the proposed device by the Cho lab, the heat pump system can operate in a wider range of temperatures due to the addition of an electric heater that heats the environmental medium (i.e., inlet air) prior to contact with the evaporator coil, where the refrigerant is stored. The system may include a plasma pulse-spark system to facilitate the removal of scale deposits on the surfaces of the condenser coil in the heat pump water heater.
APPLICATIONS
TITLE: Applications
Water heaters
Air conditioning units
ADVANTAGES
TITLE:Advantages
Low cost addition of a heating wire to existing system without major design change
Reduces capital cost of heat pump water heater without need for backup electric heater
Increased energy efficiency over lifetime of water heater
Suitable for use in cold climates and no more undersized water heater
Adapts to temperature variations in environment
Removes mineral scale deposit buildup on the surface of condenser coil in water tank
IP STATUS
Intellectual Property and Development Status
United States Issued Patent- 9,151,486
https://patents.google.com/patent/US9151486B2/en
United States Issued Patent- 9,644,850
https://patents.google.com/patent/US9644850B2/en
FIGURES:Figure 1
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Contact Information
Robert Mcgrath
Sr. Associate Vice Provost
rbm26@drexel.edu