Heat pump with drainage for low ambient temperature conditions
Heat pumps are often desired to be used over other types of HVAC units given their efficiency. In some cases, this efficiency may be further improved by using condensate that is naturally produced by an indoor coil of the heat pump when in a cooling mode. For example, any accumulate condensate may be “thrown” onto any components of the heat pump using a “slinger ring” attached to a fan inside the unit. However, this condensate accumulation may be problematic in a heating mode of the heat pump because the water may freeze and prevent the fan and/or corresponding motor from properly functioning. Thus, the systems and methods provided herein present a heat pump including a multi-layered basepan including an outdoor coil tray that allows condensate to be routed to the drain platform underneath the unit while limiting the ability of condensate to reach the slinger ring in the heating mode.
1 . A heat pump comprising:
an indoor coil;
an outdoor coil fan;
an outdoor coil;
an outdoor coil tray positioned below the outdoor coil, and positioned between the outdoor coil and the outdoor coil fan; and
a lower drain pan positioned below the outdoor coil tray, the lower drain pan including a temperature-actuated drain valve,
wherein the outdoor coil tray includes a stand pipe configured to drain condensate that accumulates when the condensate exceeds a threshold height in a cooling mode of the heat pump, and
wherein the outdoor coil tray is configured to direct condensate produced by the outdoor coil to the lower drain pan, and wherein the outdoor coil tray is further configured to at least partially separate accumulated condensate from the outdoor coil fan in a heating mode of the heat pump by forming a physical barrier that prevents accumulated condensate in heating mode from entering a fan region.
2 . The heat pump of claim 1 , wherein the outdoor coil tray further comprises one or more perforated holes to allow the condensate to travel through the outdoor coil tray to the lower drain pan.
3 . The heat pump of claim 2 , wherein the outdoor coil tray further comprises a dividing wall, wherein the one or more perforated holes are positioned between the outdoor coil and the dividing wall.
4 . The heat pump of claim 1 , wherein the temperature-actuated drain valve is configured to-cover a drain hole of the lower drain pan in a first position and uncover the drain hole in a second position.
5 . The heat pump of claim 4 , wherein the temperature-actuated drain valve is configured to actuate to the first position when a temperature is less than or equal to a threshold temperature value, and wherein the temperature-actuated drain valve is configured to actuate to the second position when the temperature is greater than or equal to a threshold temperature value, wherein condensate is able to accumulate within the heat pump when the temperature-actuated drain valve is in the first position.
6 . The heat pump of claim 1 , wherein the lower drain pan further comprises one or more resistive heating elements configured to prevent the condensate from freezing when traveling to a drain hole.
7 . The heat pump of claim 1 , wherein the outdoor coil fan further comprises a slinger ring configured to transfer the condensate to the outdoor coil to cool the outdoor coil during a cooling mode of the heat pump.
8 . The heat pump of claim 1 , wherein the stand pipe is configured to drain condensate that accumulates from the lower drain pan, onto the outdoor coil tray, and to a threshold height above the outdoor coil tray in a cooling mode of the heat pump.
9 . A condensate management system of a heat pump comprising:
an outdoor coil tray configured to be positioned below an outdoor coil of the heat pump, wherein the outdoor coil tray is configured to direct condensate produced by the outdoor coil from a first height to a lower drain pan positioned at a second height below the first height, wherein the lower drain pan includes a temperature-actuated drain valve, wherein the outdoor coil tray is further configured to at least partially separate accumulated condensate from an outdoor coil fan in a heating mode of the heat pump by including a dividing wall extending upward from the outdoor coil tray such that the dividing wall prevents accumulated condensate from reaching the outdoor coil fan, and wherein the temperature-actuated drain valve is configured to cover a drain hole of the lower drain pan in a first position and uncover the drain hole in a second position.
10 . The condensate management system of claim 9 , wherein the dividing wall is positioned between the outdoor coil and the outdoor coil fan.
11 . The condensate management system of claim 9 , wherein the temperature-actuated drain valve is configured to actuate to the first position when a temperature is less than or equal to a first threshold temperature value, and wherein the temperature-actuated drain valve is configured to actuate to the second position when the temperature is greater than or equal to a second threshold temperature value, wherein condensate is able to accumulate in the lower drain pan when the temperature-actuated drain valve is in the first position.
12 . A system comprising:
a heat pump comprising:
an indoor coil;
an outdoor coil fan;
an outdoor coil;
an outdoor coil tray positioned below the outdoor coil; and
a lower drain pan positioned below the outdoor coil tray, the lower drain pan including a temperature-actuated drain valve,
wherein the outdoor coil tray is configured to direct condensate produced by the outdoor coil to the lower drain pan, and wherein the outdoor coil tray further comprises a dividing wall positioned between the outdoor coil and the outdoor coil fan and extending upward from the outdoor coil tray such that the dividing wall prevents condensate from accumulating and reaching the outdoor coil fan in a heating mode of the heat pump; and
a drain platform positioned below the heat pump.
13 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the outdoor coil tray further comprises one or more perforated holes to allow the condensate to travel through the outdoor coil tray to the lower drain pan.
14 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the temperature-actuated drain valve is configured to cover a drain hole of the lower drain pan in a first position and uncover the drain hole in a second position.
15 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the temperature-actuated drain valve is configured to actuate to the first position when a temperature is less than or equal to a first threshold temperature value, and wherein the temperature-actuated drain valve is configured to actuate to the second position when the temperature is greater than or equal to a second threshold temperature value, wherein condensate is able to accumulate within the lower drain pan when the temperature-actuated drain valve is in the first position.
16 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the lower drain pan further comprises one or more resistive heating elements configured to prevent the condensate from freezing when traveling to a drain hole.
17 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the outdoor coil fan further comprises a slinger ring configured to transfer the condensate to the outdoor coil to cool the outdoor coil during a cooling mode of the heat pump.
18 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the lower drain pan is sloped towards a drain hole.