US 3,996,759 A · Environment assisted hydronic heat pump system

Abstract

An air conditioning system utilizing one or more water source heat pumps assisted by solar radiation, terrestrial re-radiation and ambient air above predetermined temperature levels; operating primarily in cooperation with a stratified thermal mass in the form of a hot liquid storage tank that is compartmented according to the operational temperatures of high range closed circuit solar energy accumulation, moderate range closed circuit heat pump requirements and low range auxiliary needs, the collection of solar heat being applied to all ranges whereby temperature differential is maximized for solar collection; and operating secondarily in cooperation with a thermal mass in the form of a cold liquid storage tank charged through a cooler means and/or assisted by terrestrial re-radiation and used to provide supplementary cooling capacity for the heat pump when required, whereby the operational water temperature range of the heat pump is maintained for effective functioning of the system.

Claims23

Dependent claims

A solar insolation assisted air conditioning system wherein at least one water source mechanical refrigeration heat pump is operable to condition and to discharge return air from and into a zone to be air conditioned, and including;

heat exchange means for the collection of solar heat into a first liquid heat transfer media, a stratified thermal mass having high heat range to low heat range sections, there being a heat transfer and pump means directing the said first liquid heat transfer media from the heat exchange means into the high heat range section of said stratified thermal mass and therethrough returning the said first liquid heat transfer media to the heat exchange means from the low heat range section of said stratified thermal mass, and there being a water source heat transfer means directing a second liquid heat transfer media through an intermediate moderate heat range section of said stratified thermal mass and through a heat energy exchanging coil of the said water source mechanical refrigeration heat pump.

A solar insolation and re-radiation assisted air conditioning system wherein at least one water source mechanical refrigeration heat pump is operable to condition and to discharge return air from and into a zone to be air conditioned, and including;

heat exchange means for the collection of solar heat into a first liquid heat transfer media, a primary stratified thermal mass having high heat range to low heat range sections, a secondary thermal mass, there being a hot fluid transfer and pump means directing the first liquid heat transfer media from the heat exchange means into the high heat range section of said primary stratified thermal mass and therethrough retaining the said first liquid heat transfer media to the heat exchange means from the low heat range section of said stratified thermal mass, differential control means restricting operation of the hot fluid transfer and pump means within a determined heat range of said first liquid heat transfer media, there being a cold fluid transfer and pump means directing the first liquid heat transfer media from the heat exchange means into said secondary thermal mass and therethrough returning the said first liquid heat transfer media to the heat exchange means, differential control means restricting operation of the cold fluid transfer and pump means within a determined cold range of said first liquid heat transfer media, there being a water source heat transfer and pump means directing a second liquid heat transfer media through an intermediate moderate heat range section of said primary stratified thermal mass and through a heat energy exchanging coil of the said water source mechanical refrigeration heat pump, there being a cooled fluid transfer and pump means directing a third liquid heat transfer media through said secondary thermal mass and through heat energy exchanging coils in the air flow through the said heat pump, and control means restricting operation of the last mentioned cooled fluid transfer and pump means to circulate said liquid on demand.

heat exchange means for the collection of solar heat into a first liquid heat transfer media, a stratified thermal mass having high heat range to low heat range sections, there being a heat transfer and pump means directing the said first liquid heat transfer media from the heat exchange means into the high heat range section of said stratified thermal mass and therethrough returning the said first liquid heat transfer media to the heat exchange means from the low heat range section of said stratified thermal mass, there being a water source heat transfer and pump means directing a second liquid heat transfer media through an intermediate moderate heat range section of said stratified thermal mass and through a heat energy exchanging coil of the said water source mechanical refrigeration heat pump, there being a heat exchanging means for applying heat to and removing heat from the second liquid heat transfer media, and means for extending circulation of the second liquid heat transfer media through said last mentioned heat exchanging means.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Environment assisted hydronic heat pump system

Life of this patent

Environment assisted hydronic heat pump system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims23