Solar heat pump

• US 5,228,310 A
• Filed: 09/01/1992
• Issued: 07/20/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/1984
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Leonard B. Vandenberg
• Original Assignee: Leonard B. Vandenberg
• Inventors: Vandenberg, Leonard B.
• Primary Examiner(s): BENNETT, HENRY A
• Application Number:
  US07/939,097
• Time in Patent Office: 322 Days
• Field of Search: 62/500, 62/235.1, 62/100, 62/116, 62/238.4, 126/432, 126/433, 126/435, 126/417, 126/421, 126/428, 237/2 B
• US Class Current: 62/235.1
• CPC Class Codes: F24D 11/0221 combined with solar energy
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 1/08 using vapour under pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 27/005 in compression type systems
• 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

Abstract

A heat transfer system combining a solar collector and a vapor jet compressor pump. The solar collector provides two streams of heated vapor, one at a relatively high temperature and one at a relatively low temperature. The high temperature vapor provides the motive vapor for the vapor jet compressor pump. The vapor jet compressor pump entrains the lower temperature vapor and acts as a heat pump effectively pumping its temperature to a higher temperature useful for space heating. The solar energy supply may be supplemented by an auxiliary convention energy source and the vapor jet compressor pump may be supplemented by a self-energized circulation pump.

Claims

1. A method for using solar energy to heat space, comprising the steps of:

(a) collecting solar energy in a high-temperature vapor and a low-temperature vapor;

(b) expanding the high-temperature vapor in a first vapor jet compressor pump;

(c) compressing and condensing the low-temperature vapor in a second vapor jet compressor pump; and

(d) passing at least some discharge from at least one of said vapor jet compressor pumps through a discharge heat exchanger disposed within a heat transfer loop.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the first vapor jet compressor pump and the second vapor jet compressor pump are the same vapor jet compressor pump.