Heating and cooling system utilizing solar energy

Abstract

System using solar energy to heat a fluid in a heat storage tank can be utilized in either a heating mode or cooling mode. In the heating mode, several valves are actuated to cause fluid contained in an internal heat exchanger in the heat storage tank to circulate in series circuit with external heat exchange means in communication with the space to be heated. In the cooling mode, the valves are operated to cause the heated fluid in the internal heat exchanger mounted in the heat storage tank to circulate to a heat exchanger mounted in a refrigerant boiler. As the refrigerant boils, vapors are formed which pass through an ejector. The expanded refrigerant vapors are then condensed to liquid in a fan cooled condenser and a portion of the liquid is returned to the refrigerant boiler by a refrigerant circulating pump. The remaining portion of the refrigerant liquid leaving the condenser is delivered to an evaporator which is located in heat exchange relationship with brine or other cooled liquid in a cold storage tank. The surface of the refrigerant in the evaporator is in communication with the ejector. Cooling of the evaporator refrigerant takes place as a result of its vapor pressure being lowered by the vacuum produced in the ejector by the expansion of the vapors from the boiler as they pass through it. The lowered vapor pressure of the refrigerant liquid in the evaporator causes it to boil at a lower temperature, thereby drawing heat from the brine. A heat exchanger in the cold storage tank is connected in series circuit with the external heat exchange means in the space to be cooled.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.