Heat pump having a timer activated furnace

Patent · Tue Dec 23 04:00:00 EST 1980

OSTI ID:6482463

Franchina, A

A heating system for a building having a conventional gas furnace which includes a combustion chamber for heating air passing from a cold-air return to a hot-air duct is disclosed. The gas furnace includes an exhaust shack for exhausting hot gases from the combustion chamber externally of the building. The heating system includes a heat pump comprising a housing having a condenser for heating air passing thereby from the cold-air return to the hot-air duct. The gas furnace and heat pump are served by a single blower. The heat pump also includes an evaporator located externally of the building for drawing heat from the atmosphere. A timer is included to turn the furnace on when the heat pump has operated for a predetermined time in response to a demand for heat from a dwelling thermostat. The heating system includes a conduit connecting the exhaust stack to the evaporator such that exhaust gases from the gas furnace combustion chamber will be directed past the evaporator for permitting the recapture of stack heat for heating the building. The heating system includes a solar panel for heating air passed therethrough and a circuit for using the solar warmed air to warm the ambient air at the evaporator. A heat storage chamber is provided wherein air warmed by the solar panel may be stored for future use when the amount of solar warm air available exceeds the amount needed for heating the building.

• Assignee: IFI; EDB-81-090923
• Patent Number(s): US 4240404
• OSTI ID: 6482463
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
140901* -- Solar Thermal Utilization-- Space Heating & Cooling
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
320100 -- Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization-- Buildings
AIR CONDITIONERS
AIR HEATERS
BUILDINGS
DESIGN
ELECTRONIC CIRCUITS
ENERGY SYSTEMS
EQUIPMENT
FURNACES
GAS FURNACES
HEAT PUMPS
HEATERS
HEATING
HEATING SYSTEMS
SOLAR AIR CONDITIONERS
SOLAR AIR HEATERS
SOLAR COLLECTORS
SOLAR COOLING SYSTEMS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
SOLAR HEATING
SOLAR HEATING SYSTEMS
SOLAR SPACE HEATING
SOLAR-ASSISTED HEAT PUMPS
SPACE HEATING
THERMAL ENERGY STORAGE EQUIPMENT
TIME DEPENDENCE
TIMING CIRCUITS