Hot Water Heater Pre-Heating Apparatus

Abstract

Disclosed is a hot water heater supplement and means of utilizing waste heat from a refrigeration cycle. The apparatus comprises a refrigerator having a compressible refrigerant, a compressor, a condenser, a refrigerant receiver tank, an expansion valve and an evaporator for changing the temperature, pressure and phase of the refrigerant in a standard refrigeration cycle. The condenser is a coaxial, water cooled heat exchanger that receives waste heat from the high temperature, condensing refrigerant. The heated water is pumped into a coaxial heat exchanger within a heat exchange tank, which heats a volume of water within the exchange tank that is then mixed with a hot water heater tank for use in a residence. Cold water is fed into the exchange tank and thus pre-heated before being moved to the hot water heater, which utilizes either a gas or resistance style heating means.

I claim: 
     
         1 ) A hot water preheating system, comprising:
 a refrigerator having a refrigeration cycle that utilizes a compressible material and phase change operation, including a compressor, condenser, expansion valve and evaporator for cooling a refrigerator internal compartment;   a hot water heater for heating incoming water to a desired level;   a preheating exchange tank for accepting an incoming water supply, preheating a quantity of said water supply before sending said preheated water to said hot water heater for further heating;   said refrigerator condenser further comprising a first heat exchanger element for drawing heat from said compressible material, wherein said material undergoes a transition from a vapor to a liquid phase;   a conduit from said first heat exchanger connecting to a circulating pump, said pump circulating a heat exchange material from said first heat exchanger element and through a second heat exchanger element to a return pipe to said first exchanger;   said second heat exchanger element being positioned in said preheating exchange tank for preheating incoming water.   
     
     
         2 ) The device of  claim 1 , wherein said first heat exchanger element further comprises a first coaxial heat exchanger. 
     
     
         3 ) The device of  claim 1 , wherein said second heat exchanger element further comprises a second coaxial heat exchanger.