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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Waste heat energy recovery system

Patent ·
OSTI ID:5622090
A heat exchange element is inserted directly into a water heater storage tank of a new or existing water heating system. The heat exchange element is provided with standard pipe thread connections and adapted to be installed in standard threaded openings in conventional tanks. The heat exchange element is an elongate outer tube inserted vertically through the top of the tank having the bottom end of the tube closed, and a concentric inner tube open at the bottom end. The inner tube is connected to the output of a refrigeration or air conditioning system compressor to receive the superheated refrigerant gas. The outer tube is connected to the condenser of the system. The heat from the refrigerant is transferred to the water in the storage tank thereby utilizing energy otherwise wasted. A tempering valve is used with the water storage tank to limit hot water output to a desired temperature.
Assignee:
IFI; EDB-82-071375
Patent Number(s):
US 4293323
OSTI ID:
5622090
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English