Heat transfer system particularly applicable to solar heating installations
First Claim
1. A system for transferring heat from a source at high temperature to a sink at relatively lower temperature wherein the sink is located at an elevation below the source, comprising an evaporator in heat exchange relationship with said source, a condenser in heat exchange relationship with said sink, vapor conduit means connecting the top portion of said evaporator directly to said condenser, a check valve, conduit means connecting said check valve to said condenser, a liquid transfer tank positioned above said evaporator and provided with means for intermittently transferring the liquid accumulated in said transfer tank to said evaporator in response to the volume of the liquid in said transfer tank, liquid conduit means connecting said check valve to said transfer tank, and a volatile fluid within the system.
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Abstract
The present invention relates to a heat transfer system particularly applicable to solar heating installations and consisting of an evaporator located near the heat source which may be a solar heat collector panel and a condenser that is located at an elevation lower than that of the evaporator and which may function to heat hot water for storage. The source heat is transferred to a volatile fluid within the evaporator that absorbs the heat with an increase in temperaure and a change of state from liquid to vapor. The vapor is conveyed to the condenser wherein the fluid liberates its latent heat while changing from vapor to liquid phase. The condensed liquid drains from the condenser to a trap which may be used, if desired, to regulate the flow of liquid through a check valve and further piping to a transfer tank located above the evaporator. The fluid in the transfer tank is maintained at a lower temperature than that of the evaporator as a result of being insulated from the heat source. A dual level control system is employed within the trasfer tank such that as the level of liquid therein rises above an upper limit the drain valve is opened permitting transfer of liquid to the evaporator. When the liquid level drops below the lower limit the drain valve is closed, at which time the cycle begins anew. The system is hermetically closed containing only the liquid and vapor of the selected volatile fluid.
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Citations
15 Claims
- 1. A system for transferring heat from a source at high temperature to a sink at relatively lower temperature wherein the sink is located at an elevation below the source, comprising an evaporator in heat exchange relationship with said source, a condenser in heat exchange relationship with said sink, vapor conduit means connecting the top portion of said evaporator directly to said condenser, a check valve, conduit means connecting said check valve to said condenser, a liquid transfer tank positioned above said evaporator and provided with means for intermittently transferring the liquid accumulated in said transfer tank to said evaporator in response to the volume of the liquid in said transfer tank, liquid conduit means connecting said check valve to said transfer tank, and a volatile fluid within the system.
- 9. A system for transferring heat with the use of a volatile fluid from a source of high temperature to a sink at a relatively lower temperature, comprising an evaporator in heat exchange relationship with said source, a condenser in heat exchange relationship with said sink, a conduit for vapor directly connecting said evaporator and said condenser, a check valve, a conduit for liquid directly connecting said check value and said condenser, a liquid transfer tank, flow operated dual level control means for operatively connecting said transfer tank to said evaporator in response to liquid within said transfer tank exceeding an upper level and disconnecting the connection between said transfer tank and said evaporator as the level of liquid in said transfer tank drops below a lower level, and conduit means connecting said check valve to said transfer tank.
Specification