Method and apparatus for using solar energy to augment a refrigerant heating and cooling system

Patent · Tue Sep 28 00:00:00 EDT 1982

OSTI ID:6595483

Jones, R D

An uninsulated tank-type solar collector for a reverse refrigeration-cycle heating system is mounted in ambient air and contains a mass of water and/or ice having a refrigerant expansion coil immersed therein. At least one of the walls of the tank contacts ambient air on one surface, and the mass of water and/or ice on the other surface. Thus, the mass of water and/or ice exchanges or transfers heat from the ambient air by conduction to the expansion coil. During transition from water to ice, the freezing water liberates large amounts of energy as ''heat of fusion'' which is absorbed by the expansion coil.

• Assignee: Solar Energy Of Colorado Inc
• Patent Number(s): US 4351161
• OSTI ID: 6595483
• Resource Relation: Patent File Date: Filed date 24 Nov 1980; Other Information: PAT-APPL-209981
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
SOLAR-ASSISTED HEAT PUMPS
DESIGN
ABSORPTION REFRIGERATION CYCLE
EXPANSION
FUSION HEAT
GAS COMPRESSORS
HEAT EXCHANGERS
HEAT TRANSFER
ICE
REFRIGERANTS
SOLAR COLLECTORS
SOLAR COOLING SYSTEMS
SOLAR SPACE HEATING
SOLAR WATER HEATING
TANKS
THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY
VAPOR CONDENSATION
AIR CONDITIONERS
COMPRESSORS
CONTAINERS
ENERGY SYSTEMS
ENERGY TRANSFER
ENTHALPY
EQUIPMENT
FLUIDS
HEAT PUMPS
HEATING
HEATING SYSTEMS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
SOLAR AIR CONDITIONERS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
SOLAR HEATING
SOLAR HEATING SYSTEMS
SPACE HEATING
THERMODYNAMIC PROPERTIES
TRANSITION HEAT
WATER HEATING
WORKING FLUIDS
140901* - Solar Thermal Utilization- Space Heating & Cooling
141000 - Solar Collectors & Concentrators