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An integrated domestic refrigerator and hot water system
Author(s) -
O'Brien J. M.,
Bansal P. K.,
Raine R. R.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
international journal of energy research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.808
H-Index - 95
eISSN - 1099-114X
pISSN - 0363-907X
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1099-114x(19980625)22:8<761::aid-er402>3.0.co;2-0
Subject(s) - refrigerator car , condenser (optics) , refrigeration , gas compressor , storage water heater , cylinder , process engineering , environmental science , nuclear engineering , engineering , mechanical engineering , automotive engineering , waste management , water heater , light source , physics , optics , inlet
This paper presents a new design of a prototype refrigeration‐cum‐hot water heating system for domestic use. The system uses the heat energy rejected from the compressor and condenser of a vapour‐compression refrigerator by storing it in a heat sink. This energy is then transferred to mains water entering the hot water cylinder, where the water temperature is boosted by an electric resistance heater to a preset temperature for domestic usage. A prototype system of such a configuration was assembled as an integrated unit with the refrigerator adjacent to the water tank. The system is called the Home Energy Centre (HEC). Power consumption and temperature distribution were measured for standing and draw off tests using the unit as a conventional hot water cylinder, refrigerator or as the combined system. A new parameter, ϕ, is defined to compare the system performance as the HEC prototype against its performance when working only as a refrigerator or a water heater. The system performed better as the prototype than it did as a hot water heater, but needs to be improved further to fully explore its expected potential. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.