Direct expansion solar collector-heat pump system

Patent · Tue Jan 17 04:00:00 EST 1989

OSTI ID:6309293

Franklin, J L

A combined solar collector-heat pump system is described comprising a heat absorbing panel, the panel comprising a single generally flat reflective surface member and a plurality of long, narrow, generally flat metallic plates, of substantially the same widths. The plates are parallel to each other and laterally spaced apart and spaced from the reflective surface member by distances which are of the same order of magnitude as the widths of the plates. The metallic plates are directly exposed to the ambient atmosphere, each of the plates having a front face directly exposed to solar radiation and a rear face positioned to receive solar radiation reflected from the reflective surface member, both the faces being highly absorptive of solar radiation and the reflective member having an absorptivity for solar radiation which is low compared to that of the plates. The system also includes conduit for fluid in direct heat exchange relation with each of the metal plates, a compressor, an inlet line connecting a first end of each of the conduit means with the suction side of the compressor, a condenser, means for extracting heat from the condenser, and an outlet line connecting the high pressure side of the compressor with the first end of the condenser.

• Assignee: Sigma Research, Inc., Redmond, WA
• Patent Number(s): US 4798056
• OSTI ID: 6309293
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
140901* -- Solar Thermal Utilization-- Space Heating & Cooling
141000 -- Solar Collectors & Concentrators
ABSORPTIVITY
AIR CONDITIONERS
COMPRESSORS
CONDENSERS
DESIGN
ELEMENTS
ENERGY SYSTEMS
EQUIPMENT
EXPANSION
FLUIDS
HEAT PUMPS
HEATING SYSTEMS
METALS
OPERATION
OPTICAL PROPERTIES
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
PLATES
RADIATIONS
REFLECTIVITY
SOLAR ABSORBERS
SOLAR AIR CONDITIONERS
SOLAR COLLECTORS
SOLAR COOLING SYSTEMS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
SOLAR HEATING SYSTEMS
SOLAR RADIATION
SOLAR-ASSISTED HEAT PUMPS
STELLAR RADIATION
SURFACE PROPERTIES
WORKING FLUIDS