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AssigneeSolar Specialties, Inc.
InventorFrederick A. Weis
Estimating the term…
This invention relates to an improved method and apparatus for preventing overheating of the superheated vapors in a solar heating system using a refrigerant to collect heat from the atmosphere, the improvement consisting of sensing the amount of superheat contained in the superheated vapors leaving the collector and if an overheated condition is detected, bleeding off a portion of the refrigerant mixture entering the collector and mixing it with the overheated vapors to cool them down before they enter the compressor. The apparatus involved includes a thermostatic expansion valve responsive to the temperature of the superheated vapors leaving the collector and associated piping operative upon actuation to bypass a portion of the refrigerant mixture entering the collector around the later and mix it with the overheated vapors before they reach the compressor. The invention also encompasses the use of the improved desuperheating method and apparatus outlined above in such a way that it only becomes functional and operative when the conventional solar system is already activated to deliver the full charge of refrigerant mixture to the collectors.
In a solar heating system wherein a mixture of refrigerant in liquid and vapor form is circulated through a solar collector which takes heat from the atmosphere to convert the refrigerant to a superheated vapor preparatory to delivering it to a compressor, and wherein means responsive to the temperature of the superheated vapor leaving the collector is employed to control the amount of the mixture admitted to the latter, the improved method for reducing any excess superheat contained in the superheated vapors which comprises:
In a solar heating system having a solar collector wherein heat is taken from the atmosphere to convert a refrigerant mixture in liquid and vapor form to a superheated vapor for delivery to a compressor, and wherein a first thermostatic expansion valve responsive to the temperature of the superheated vapor leaving the collector is connected to control the amount of refrigerant mixture admitted to the collector, the improved means for limiting the amount of superheat contained in the vapor fed to the compressor which comprises:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.