4798240 Integrated space heating, air conditioning and potable water heating appliance

Abstract

Space heating and cooling and potable water heating are provided by a single appliance. The housing appliance is divided into four sections: a lower water storage section, a middle hardware section, an upper internal air handling section and a side external air handling section which may protrude through a building wall. A heating medium from a single burner heat exchanger may be directed to either a liquid to air heat exchanger for space heating or to a hot water storage tank for heating potable water. The storage tank contains a heat exchanger for heat transfer from the heating medium to the potable water. A single thermostatic flow control maintains a constant temperature of heating medium directed to either the liquid to air heat exchanger or the storage tank to provide condensation of products of combustion during the space heating mode of operation and part of the water heating mode of operation and yet preclude overheating of the heating medium. As a result of the thermostatic flow control, a low flow rate for higher efficiency is feasible and the flow rate may be varied with changes in the temperature of the stored water. For added efficiency, refrigerant from the air conditioner compressor may pass in heat exchange relationship with the stored water to recover heat of compression by the stored water.