HEAT PUMP WITH INTEGRAL SOLAR COLLECTOR

• US 20120247134A1
• Filed: 08/04/2010
• Published: 10/04/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Echogen Power Systems, LLC
• Original Assignee: Echogen Power Systems, LLC
• Inventors: Gurin, Michael H.
• Granted Patent: US 9,316,404 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 62/129
• CPC Class Codes: F24D 11/02 using heat pumps
• CPC Class Codes: F24D 2200/14 Solar energy
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 27/002 using solar energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/20 Solar thermal
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/70 Hybrid systems, e.g. uninterruptible or back-up power supplies integrating renewable energies
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 30/12 Hot water central heating systems using heat pumps

Abstract

The present invention generally relates to heat pumps that utilize at least one solar receiver operating with the same working fluids. In one embodiment, the present invention relates to a hybrid solar heat pump comprised of at least one microchannel heat exchanger with integral solar absorber, at least one compression device as the heat pump for concurrent compression to a higher pressure and mass flow regulator of the working fluid, and at least one working fluid accumulator with the entire system operating with the same working fluid.

Claims

1. A heat pump system comprising:

at least one working fluid;

at least one heat pump having an inlet and an outlet designed to receive and utilize the at least one working fluid;

at least one solar collector having an inlet and an outlet designed to receive and utilize the at least one working fluid, wherein the inlet of the at least one solar collector is in fluid communication via the at least one working fluid with the outlet of the at least one heat pump; and

at least one thermal sink having an inlet and an outlet designed to receive and utilize the at least one working fluid, wherein the inlet of the at least one thermal sink is in fluid communication via the at least one working fluid with the outlet of the at least one solar collector, and wherein the outlet of the at least one thermal sink is in fluid communication via the at least one working fluid with the inlet of the at least one heat pump,

wherein the heat pump system contains a first temperature sensor and a first pressure sensor in fluid communication with the at least one working fluid, the first temperature sensor and the first pressure sensor being located between the at least one heat pump and the at least one solar collector,

wherein the heat pump system contains a second temperature sensor in fluid communication with the at least one working fluid, the second temperature sensor being located between the at least one solar collector and the least one thermal sink, and

wherein the heat pump system contains a third temperature sensor in fluid communication with the at least one working fluid, the third temperature sensor being located between the at least one thermal sink and the at least one heat pump.

2. The heat pump system of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one expander having an inlet and an outlet configured to receive and utilize the at least one working fluid, wherein the inlet of the at least one expander is in fluid communication via the at least one working fluid with the outlet of the at least one thermal sink; and

at least one condenser having an inlet and an outlet configured to receive and utilize the at least one working fluid, wherein the inlet of the at least one condenser is in fluid communication via the at least one working fluid with the outlet of the at least one expander, and wherein the outlet of the at least one condenser is in fluid communication via the at least one working fluid with the inlet of the at least one heat pump.

3. The heat pump system of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one expansion valve having an inlet and an outlet designed to receive and utilize the at least one working fluid, wherein the inlet of the at least one expansion valve is in fluid communication via the at least one working fluid with the outlet of the at least one thermal sink; and

at least one evaporator having an inlet and an outlet designed to receive and utilize the at least one working fluid, wherein the inlet of the at least one evaporator is in fluid communication via the at least one working fluid with the outlet of the at least one expansion valve, and wherein the outlet of the at least one evaporator is in fluid communication via the at least one working fluid with the inlet of the at least one heat pump.

4. The heat pump system of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one fluid accumulator having an inlet and an outlet designed to receive and utilize the at least one working fluid, wherein the inlet of the at least one fluid accumulator is in fluid communication via the at least one working fluid with the outlet of the at least one thermal sink; and

at least one control valve having an inlet and an outlet designed to receive and utilize the at least one working fluid, wherein the inlet of the at least one control valve is in fluid communication via the at least one working fluid with the outlet of the at least one fluid accumulator, and wherein the outlet of the at least one control valve is in fluid communication via the at least one working fluid with the inlet of the at least one heat pump.

13. The heat pump system of claim 1, wherein the at least one working fluid comprises a supercritical fluid.

14. The heat pump system of claim 1, wherein the at least one working fluid is selected one or more organic refrigerants, one or more inorganic gases, or suitable combinations of two or more thereof.

15. The heat pump system of claim 1, wherein the at least one working fluid is selected R134, R245, pentane, butane, CO₂, H₂O, He₂, or any suitable combination of two or more thereof.

16. The heat pump system of claim 1, wherein the at least one working fluid is selected from a supercritical fluid that contains less than about weight percent hydrogen.

17. The heat pump system of claim 1, wherein the at least one working fluid is selected from a supercritical fluid that contains less than about 2.5 weight percent hydrogen.

18. The heat pump system of claim 1, wherein the at least one working fluid is selected from a supercritical fluid that contains less than about 1 weight percent hydrogen.

19. The heat pump system of claim 1, wherein the at least one working fluid is selected from a supercritical fluid that contains less than about 0.5 weight percent hydrogen.

20. The heat pump system of claim 1, wherein the at least one working fluid is selected from a supercritical fluid that contains less than about 0.1 weight percent hydrogen.

21. The heat pump system of claim 1, wherein the at least one working fluid is selected from a supercritical fluid that contains zero weight percent hydrogen.

22. The heat pump system of claim 1, wherein the heat pump is selected from a turbo pump or a positive displacement pump.

25. The heat pump system of claim 2, further comprising:

a first pressure sensor located between the at least one heat pump and the at least one solar collector and in fluid communication with the at least one working fluid; and

a fourth temperature sensor and a second pressure sensor in fluid communication with the at least one working fluid, the fourth temperature sensor and the second pressure sensor being located between the at least one expander and the at least one condenser.

26. The heat pump system of claim 3, further comprising a fourth temperature sensor and a second pressure sensor in fluid communication with the at least one working fluid, the fourth temperature sensor and the second pressure sensor being located between the at least one expansion valve and the at least one evaporator.

5. A heat pump system comprising:

at least one working fluid;

at least one heat pump having an inlet and an outlet designed to receive and utilize the at least one working fluid;

at least one solar collector having an inlet and an outlet designed to receive and utilize the at least one working fluid, wherein the inlet of the at least one solar collector is in fluid communication via the at least one working fluid with the outlet of the at least one heat pump; and

at least one working fluid inventory storage system, wherein the at least one working fluid inventory storage system is in fluid communication with both the at least one heat pump and the at least one solar collector, wherein the at least one working fluid inventory storage system is designed to working in a bi-directional manner, and wherein the at least one working fluid inventory storage system comprises;

at least one bi-directional expansion valve having an inlet and an outlet designed to receive and utilize the at least one working fluid, wherein the inlet of the at least one bi-directional expansion valve is in fluid communication via the at least one working fluid with both the outlet of the at least one heat pump and the inlet of the at least one solar collector;

at least one bi-directional condenser having an inlet and an outlet designed to receive and utilize the at least one working fluid, wherein the inlet of the at least one bi-directional condenser is in fluid communication via the at least one working fluid with the outlet of the at least one bi-directional expansion valve; and

at least one bi-directional fluid accumulator having an inlet and an outlet designed to receive and utilize the at least one working fluid, wherein the inlet of the at least one bi-directional fluid accumulator is in fluid communication via the at least one working fluid with the outlet of the at least one bi-directional condenser,

wherein the heat pump system contains a first temperature sensor in fluid communication with the at least one working fluid, the first temperature sensor being located between the at least one heat pump and the at least one solar collector,

wherein the heat pump system contains a second temperature sensor in fluid communication with the at least one working fluid, the second temperature sensor being located downstream of the at least one solar collector,

wherein the heat pump system contains a third temperature sensor in fluid communication with the at least one working fluid, the third temperature sensor being located between the at least one bi-directional expansion valve and the at least one bi-directional fluid accumulator, and

wherein the heat pump system contains a first pressure sensor in fluid communication with the at least one working fluid, the first pressure sensor being located between the at least one bi-directional expansion valve and the at least one bi-directional fluid condenser.

6. A heat pump system comprising:

at least one working fluid;

at least one heat pump having an inlet and an outlet designed to receive and utilize the at least one working fluid;

at least one solar collector having an inlet and an outlet designed to receive and utilize the at least one working fluid, wherein the inlet of the at least one solar collector is in fluid communication via the at least one working fluid with the outlet of the at least one heat pump via at least one first valve;

at least one first thermal sink/condenser having an inlet and an outlet designed to receive and utilize the at least one working fluid, wherein the inlet of the at least one first thermal sink/condenser is in fluid communication via the at least one working fluid with the outlet of the at least one heat pump via at least one second valve;

at least one fluid accumulator having an inlet and an outlet designed to receive and utilize the at least one working fluid, wherein the inlet of the at least one fluid accumulator is in fluid communication via the at least one working fluid with the outlet of the at least one heat pump via at least one third valve;

at least one thermal sink/heat exchanger combination having an inlet and an outlet designed to receive and utilize the at least one working fluid, wherein the inlet of the at least one thermal sink/heat exchanger combination is in thermal communication, or fluid communication, via the at least one working fluid with the outlet of the at least one solar collector, and wherein the outlet of the at least one thermal sink/heat exchanger combination is in thermal communication, or fluid communication, via the at least one working fluid with the inlet of the at least one first thermal sink/condenser; and

at least one second thermal sink/condenser having an inlet and an outlet designed to receive and utilize the at least one working fluid, wherein the inlet of the at least one second thermal sink/condenser is in fluid communication via the at least one working fluid with the outlet of the at least one first thermal sink/condenser, and wherein the inlet of the at least one second thermal sink/condenser is in fluid communication via the at least one working fluid with the outlet of the at least one fluid accumulator pump via at least one fourth valve.

7. A heat pump system comprising:

at least one working fluid;

at least one heat pump having an inlet and an outlet designed to receive and utilize the at least one working fluid;

at least one thermal sink having an inlet and an outlet designed to receive and utilize the at least one working fluid, wherein the inlet of the at least one thermal sink is in fluid communication via the at least one working fluid with the outlet of the at least one heat pump via at least one first valve;

at least one heat exchanger/pump combination, wherein the at least one heat exchanger/pump combination is in thermal communication, or fluid communication, with the at least one thermal sink;

at least one solar collector having an inlet and an outlet designed to receive and utilize the at least one working fluid, wherein the inlet of the at least one solar collector is in fluid communication via the at least one working fluid with the outlet of the at least one thermal sink; and

at least one evaporator having an inlet and an outlet designed to receive and utilize the at least one working fluid, wherein the inlet of the at least one evaporator is in fluid communication via the at least one working fluid with the outlet of the at least one solar collector via at least one second valve, and wherein the outlet of the at least one evaporator is in fluid communication via the at least one working fluid with the inlet of the at least one heat pump,

wherein the heat pump system contains a first temperature sensor and a first pressure sensor in fluid communication with the at least one working fluid, the first temperature sensor and the first pressure sensor being located between the at least one heat pump and the at least thermal sink,

wherein the heat pump system contains a second temperature sensor in fluid communication with the at least one working fluid, the second temperature sensor being located between the least one thermal sink and the at least one solar collector, wherein the heat pump system contains a third temperature sensor in fluid communication with the at least one working fluid, the third temperature sensor being located between the at least one solar collection and the at least one evaporator, and

wherein the heat pump system contains a fourth temperature sensor and a second pressure sensor in fluid communication with the at least one working fluid, the fourth temperature sensor and the second pressure sensor being located between the at least one evaporator and the at least one heat pump.

8. A heat pump system comprising:

at least one working fluid;

at least one heat pump designed to receive and utilize the at least one working fluid;

at least one thermal sink designed to receive and utilize the at least one working fluid, wherein the at least one thermal sink is in fluid communication via the at least one working fluid with the at least one heat pump via at least one first bidirectional valve;

at least one solar collector designed to receive and utilize the at least one working fluid, wherein the at least one solar collector is in fluid communication via the at least one working fluid with the at least one thermal sink via a bi-directional connection, and wherein the at least one solar collection is in fluid communication via the at least one working fluid with the at least one heat pump via the first bidirectional valve; and

at least one evaporator designed to receive and utilize the at least one working fluid, wherein the at least one evaporator is in fluid communication via the at least one working fluid with both the at least one thermal sink and the at least one solar collector via the combination of at least one second bi-directional valve and at least one valve, and wherein the at least one evaporator is in fluid communication via the at least one working fluid with the at least one heat pump.

9. A heat pump system comprising:

at least one working fluid;

at least one heat pump designed to receive and utilize the at least one working fluid;

at least one solar collector designed to receive and utilize the at least one working fluid, wherein the at least one solar collector is in fluid communication via the at least one working fluid with the at least heat pump via at least one first valve;

at least one liquid desiccant generator/heat exchanger combination designed to receive and utilize the at least one working fluid, wherein the at least one liquid desiccant generator/heat exchanger combination is in thermal communication, or fluid communication, via the working fluid with the at least one solar collector;

at least one condenser designed to receive and utilize the at least one working fluid, wherein the at least one condenser is in fluid communication via the at least one working fluid with the at least one heat pump via at least one second valve, and wherein the at least one condenser is in thermal communication, or fluid communication, via the working fluid with the at least one liquid desiccant generator/heat exchanger combination;

at least one fluid accumulator designed to receive and utilize the at least one working fluid, wherein the at least one fluid accumulator is in fluid communication via the at least one working fluid with the at least one condenser via at least one third valve;

at least one geothermal heat sink/heat exchanger combination designed to receive and utilize the at least one working fluid, wherein the at least one geothermal heat sink/heat exchanger combination is in thermal communication, or fluid communication, via the at least one working fluid with the at least one condenser, and wherein the at least one geothermal heat sink/heat exchanger combination is in thermal communication, or fluid communication, via the at least one working fluid with the at least one fluid accumulator via at least one third valve; and

at least one evaporator designed to receive and utilize the at least one working fluid, wherein the at least one evaporator is in thermal communication, or fluid communication, via the at least one working fluid with the at least one geothermal heat sink/heat exchanger combination via at least one fourth valve, and wherein the at least one evaporator is in fluid communication via the at least one working fluid with the at least one heat pump.

10. A heat pump system comprising:

at least one working fluid;

an upper loop comprising;

at least one pump;

at least one solar collector;

at least one turbine; and

at least one condenser,

wherein the at least one pump, the at least one solar collector, the at least one turbine and the at least one condenser are all designed to receive and utilize the at least one working fluid and are all in fluid communication via the at least one working fluid and together form the upper loop; and

a lower loop comprising;

at least one heat pump;

at least one condenser;

at least one evaporator,

wherein the at least one heat pump, the at least one condenser and the at least one evaporator are all designed to receive and utilize the at least one working fluid and are all in fluid communication via the at least one working fluid and together form the lower loop, and

wherein the bottom loop is in fluid communication with the top loop via at least two valves.

12. A heat pump system comprising:

at least one working fluid;

at least one photovoltaic cell;

at least one heat pump;

at least one hot water device; and

at least one condenser,

wherein the at least one photovoltaic cell, the at least one heat pump, the at least one hot water device and the at least one condenser are all designed to receive and utilize the at least one working fluid and are all in fluid communication, or thermal communication, or both via the at least one working fluid, or a combination of the at least one working fluid and at least one heat exchanger, and

wherein the heat pump system has a by-pass circuit designed to permit the by-pass of the at least one hot water device or to permit the control of the heat pump system when no cooling is needed, or both.

11. The heat pump system of claim 12, wherein the at least one photovoltaic cells comprises

at least two photovoltaic cells.

23-24. -24. (canceled)