Heat Pipes are highly efficient passive heat transfer devices that achieve rapid heat conduction through the principle of phase change. In recent years, they have demonstrated significant energy-saving potential in the combined application of refrigerators and water heaters. The following is an analysis of the application methods and advantages of heat pipe technology in the hot water system of refrigerators
The Application of Heat Pipes in the Recovery of Waste Heat from Refrigerators
Working principle: The heat pipe is filled with working medium (such as Freon), which absorbs heat and vaporizes through the evaporation section (the part in contact with the high-temperature of the compressor). The steam releases heat and liquefies in the condensation section (the part in contact with the water tank), and this cycle achieves efficient heat transfer.
Typical design
Compressor waste heat utilization: The evaporation section of the heat pipe is attached to the compressor casing, and the condensation section is embedded in the water tank wall to directly heat domestic water (such as the indirect contact design between the medium and high-pressure heat dissipation tube and the water tank in patent CN204830665U).
Condenser heat recovery: Some solutions combine heat pipes with the refrigerator condenser to replace traditional air cooling and heat the water flow simultaneously (such as the application of separated heat pipes in the CN2264885 patent).
2. Technological advantages
High-efficiency heat transfer: The thermal conductivity of heat pipes is hundreds of times that of copper, which can quickly transfer the waste heat from compressors and increase the heat recovery rate (experimental data shows that the heat recovery efficiency can reach over 80%).
Safety isolation: The heat pipe physically isolates the refrigerant from the waterway, avoiding the risk of leakage and contamination associated with traditional coiling heat exchangers.
Energy conservation and consumption reduction: Utilizing waste heat can reduce the load on the refrigerator compressor, lowering energy consumption by 10% to 20%, and at the same time, decrease the additional power demand of the water heater.
3. Application Scenarios and cases
Household integrated refrigerator and water heater
As stated in patent CN201607087U, the heat pipe is embedded between the insulation layer and the outer wall of the refrigerator, preheating cold water and reducing the surface temperature of the box body, achieving dual energy conservation.
Commercial cold chain system
The heat pipe system of the large cold storage can recover the waste heat from multiple compressors to supply hot water for employees’ daily use.
Special Function expansion
Combined with magnetized water technology (such as CN204830665U), water heated by heat pipes can enhance the washing effect after being treated by magnets.
4. Challenges and Improvement Directions
Cost control: The processing accuracy requirements for heat pipes are high, and materials (such as aluminum alloy outer wraps) need to be optimized to reduce costs.
Temperature matching: The temperature of the refrigerator compressor fluctuates greatly, so it is necessary to select an appropriate working medium (such as low-boiling-point Freon) to adapt to different working conditions.
System integration: It is necessary to solve the problem of compact layout of heat pipes and refrigerators/water tanks (such as spiral winding or serpentine arrangement).
Post time: Aug-01-2025