Solar boosted heat pump
AssigneeThe University of Melbourne
InventorsWilliam W. S. Charters, Leonard E. Taylor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A solar boosted heat pump for providing heating or cooling including a heat conducting plate which has an uninsulated rear surface and is exposed to the atmosphere and operates as a direct solar and ambient heat absorber when in its cooling mode. A refrigerant fluid carrying tube is provided in heat transfer relationship with the conducting plate which forms a part of a closed refrigerant flow system having a compressor and a heat exchanger in heat exchange relationship with a heat transfer medium. The plate also includes a sensor for varying the speed and/or the displacement of the compressor dependent on the light incident onto or energy on the plate.
Claims14
A solar boosted heat pump for providing heating or cooling for domestic and other purposes, comprising:
- a heat conducting plate having a front surface which in operation is exposed to the sun and atmosphere, said plate having an uninsulated rear surface which in operation is exposed to the atmosphere, and said plate having at least one refrigerant fluid carrying plate tube in heat transfer relationship therewith;
- a closed refrigerant flow system, said tube forming part of said closed refrigerant flow system and having an inlet and an outlet;
- said plate operating as a direct solar and ambient heat absorber when the pump is in its heating mode and as a radiator when the pump is in its cooling mode;
- and,
- said refrigerant flow system also including a compressor and a heat exchanger in heat exchange relationship with a heat transfer medium;
- said plate includes sensing means for varying the speed and/or displacement of said compressor depending on the light incident onto or energy on said plate.
A solar boosted heat pump for providing heating or cooling for domestic and other purposes, comprising:
- a heat conducting plate having a front surface which in operation is exposed to the sun and atmosphere, said plate having an uninsulated rear surface which in operation is exposed to the atmosphere, and said plate having at least one refrigerant fluid carrying plate tube in heat transfer relationship therewith;
- a closed refrigerant flow system, said tube forming part of said closed refrigerant flow system and having an inlet and an outlet;
- said plate operating as a direct solar and ambient heat absorber, said refrigerant flow system including a compressor and a heat exchanger in heat exchange relationship with a heat transfer medium;
- and
- said plate including sensing means for varying the speed and/or displacement of said compressor dependent on the light incident onto or energy on said plate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.