Patent Publication Number: US-2004045699-A1

Title: Heat recovery system

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001] 1. Field of the Invention.  
       [0002] The present invention relates to improvements in heating and cooling systems and more particularly to a system using up to the entire roof of a home or building as a solar collector by isolating a portion of the attic and utilizing a blower, evaporator and filter to draw heated air over the evaporator coil, exhausting the heat in various ways and returning it to be recycled.  
       [0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art.  
       [0004] Numerous attempts have been made to utilize the heat that builds in the attic of a home or building in a meaningful way to improve heating and cooling efficiency or produce power for other uses. A common approach has been to utilize solar panels for the generation of heat and energy from the sun, but usually these panels must be placed on the roof of the structure in order to operate in the most efficient manner possible. Solar panels are very expensive, and the placement of numerous panels on the roof of a structure detracts from the structure&#39;s appearance to a considerable degree.  
       [0005] Other attempts to utilize the heat normally building in the attic of a home involve costly additions to the home or significant modification to existing structure, in order to attempt to improve the heating and cooling capacity. Even then increased efficiencies are not significant. Numerous other attempts to improve certain features of the heating or cooling portions of a heat pump unit have been attempted. See for example U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,005,583; 4,030,312 and 4,163,369. These dwell on the improvement of certain features to provide, for example, increased efficiency in the heating capacity of an air-to-air heat pump system in cold weather. No significant improvements have been yet found that will utilize the high temperatures normally experienced in the attics of homes during hot weather or other energy saving activities that can be associated therewith. It is to this critical need that the present invention is directed.  
       OBJECTIVES AND BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006] From the foregoing, it is apparent that a primary objective of the present invention is to provide an improvement in heating and cooling systems that include all of the advantages of prior art devices and more and none of the disadvantages.  
       [0007] Another objective of the present invention is to provide a system for improved heating and cooling capabilities that can be retrofitted to existing heating and cooling systems.  
       [0008] Yet another objective of the present invention is to provide an improved heating and cooling system that will advantageously utilize the accumulated heat energy normally found in the attics of homes and buildings particularly during the hot summer months and especially in the space between roof rafters, the roof inside surface and a barrier material attached to the free inside edges of the roof rafters.  
       [0009] A further objective of the present invention is to provide a system of the type described which is less expensive than the utilization of solar panels to convert heat energy into other usable energy forms.  
       [0010] Yet a further objective of the present invention is to provide an improvement in a heating and cooling system of the type described which can be used to bring the temperature of air in the attic of a residence or building near the temperature of the outside air thereby making the attic a more user friendly location throughout the year.  
       [0011] Still another further objective of the present invention is to provide a heating and cooling system of the type described which can be used with a heat exchanger to pre-heat water for household needs and swimming pools.  
       [0012] Yet another objective of the present invention is to provide a heating and cooling system of the type described that can be used in conjunction with a heat engine to drive a compressor or a generator and produce electric current for residential or other use.  
       [0013] From these objectives it can be seen that the present invention includes a -heating and cooling system that utilizes the roof of a home or building as a solar collector. A heat barrier is secured to the free inside edges of the roof rafters to reflect radiant heat into air spaces formed between the rafters, the attic side of the roof and the heat barrier materials. A loft or upper attic floor is built in the upper portion of the attic that is also covered with the heat barrier material. Thus airflow channels are formed between the rafters of the roof, the heat barrier materials and the inside surface of the roof. A liquid refrigerant is moved under pressure through a heated evaporated coil where it becomes a heated vapor under pressure that can be used in various ways.  
       [0014] In one embodiment, the loft is separated transversely into two sections, and the sections are connected by a ducting system that includes a filter, an evaporator and a blower. The blower produces airflow through the filter and through the evaporator coil through the balance of the duct system and into the second separated portion of the loft. Airflow continues down selected formed channels between rafters, barrier material and inside roof to the boxed in eave where it moves to the other end and flows up the selected formed channels between rafters, barrier material and inside roof to the first separated portion of the loft to be re-circulated by the blower. This closed loop system can be used in conjunction with a conventional air-to-air heat pump system, with portions of such a system or with other well known devices such as heat exchangers and heat engines.  
       [0015] In a second embodiment, the attic loft is divided longitudinally, and two separate systems like the first embodiment are installed. The system on the hotter roof slope in this embodiment runs until the other roof slope temperature reaches a higher temperature. The first system then shuts down, and the second system commences.  
       [0016] The present invention is easily applied to existing heat pump installations where it can supplement or replace the existing heat pump system when conditions are appropriate, or it can be bypassed to let the conventional system operate in its usual way.  
       [0017] Thus there has been outlined the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description that follows may be better understood and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. In that respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its arrangement of the components set forth in the following description and illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways.  
       [0018] It is also to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting in any respect. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the concept upon which this disclosure is based may readily be utilized as a basis for designing other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of this development. It is important that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent methods and products resulting therefrom that do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The application is neither intended to define the invention, which is measured by its claims nor to limit its scope in any way.  
       [0019] Thus, the objects of the invention set forth above, along with the various features of novelty, which characterize the invention, are noted with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific results obtained by its use, reference should be made to the following detailed specification taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like Characters of reference designate like parts throughout the several views.  
       [0020] The drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. They illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with their description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.  
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0021]FIG. 1 shows a end elevation cutaway view of a house or building having a southern sloop roof with a loft or upper floor added above the normal attic floor, Air spaces are made between the rafters just under the roof decking which have a heat barrier under the air space under that insulation these air spaces are open from the boxed end eves to the small air space above the upper attic floor. FIG. 1 has enough heat absorbed from the sun to heat with out boosting.  
     [0022]FIG. 2 shows a end elevation cutaway of a house or building like FIG. 1 but needing the heat absorbed from the roof boosted to be hot enough to use for heat.  
     [0023]FIG. 3 shows a end elevation cutaway of a house or building having a eastern and western sloop roof like FIG. 2 but needing the heat absorbed from the roof boosted to be hot enough to use for heat.  
     [0024]FIG. 4 shows a support drawing and will be in detailed drawings.  
     [0025]FIG. 5 shows a support drawing and will be in detailed drawings.  
     [0026]FIG. 6 shows a support drawing and will be in detailed drawings.  
     [0027]FIG. 7 shows a support drawing and will be in detailed drawings.  
     [0028]FIG. 8 shows a support drawing and will be in detailed drawings.  
     [0029]FIG. 9 shows a end cutaway of house or building having a southern sloop roof. With the system placed above the upper attic floor to save attic space. Ref. FIG. 8 is a overhead view of this house or building.  
     [0030]FIG. 10 shows a support drawing and will be in detailed drawings.  
     [0031]FIG. 11 shows a house or building FIG. 9 but having a eastern and western sloop roof ref. FIG. 10 is a overhead view of this house or building.  
     [0032]FIG. 12 shows drawing of a heat recovery system using my liquid pressure boosting method ref. FIG. 200, with a heat source, a heat engine, a mechanical device driven by said heat engine and a condensing unit.  
     [0033]FIG. 200 shows a new method of increasing the pressure on a liquid refrigerant, when using refrigerant  22  with this method for every one cubic foot of vapor the compressor pumps to 396.19 PSI into the top of our tank we can draw 62 40 lbs. of liquid refrigerant  22  from the bottom of our tank at 396.19 PSI.  
     [0034]FIG. 300 shows a new method of harnessing energy from a heat source. A heat engine/compressor that when supported by a system such as discussed in FIG. 2, is a every efficient engine using  90 % full power on each stroke, and a rotating valve system that robs no power from the engine to operate.  
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS  
     [0035]FIG. 1 thermostat  38  calling for heat and attic censer  26  senses that there is adequate heat in space  7  to heat the house or building starts blower  16 . for 3 minutes then blower  16  stays on by censer  19  and blows air through A coil  17  through water to air heat exchanger  37  through supply ducting system  21  through supply registers  22  through return air register  24  through return air ducting system  26  through reversing valve  3  through attic ducking  2  through attic air handler  20  through air space above the upper attic floor behind insulation  31  down through small air spaces between the rafters  6  picking up heat from roof  28  through boxed end eve through duct  4  through reversing valve  3  through filter  32  to blower  16  to be recycled.  
     [0036]FIG. 2 heating cycle Thermostat  38  calling for heat turns on blower  1  and blower  16 . Ref. FIG. 4 thermostat turns on compressor  1 , hot water isolation switch  40 , reversing valve  20  and fan  35 . Blower  1  blows air through attic ducting  2  through air reversing valve  3  through duct  4  to boxed end eves through boxed end eves and up through the small air spaces under roof between roof and heat barrier and between rafters through small air space in loft  7  above the upper attic floor and down through duct  8  through filter through evaporator coil  9  installing heat from roof, Compressor  1  draws vapor through line  2  through reversing valve  3  from the top of tank  4  reducing the head pressure on the liquid in bottom of tank  4  allowing liquid from condensing unit  36  to flow through check valve  6  through line  8  through check valve  9  into bottom of tank  4 , compressor  1  compresses this vapor through reversing valve  3  to the top of tank  5  increasing the head pressure on the liquid in the bottom of tank  5  forcing the liquid out through check valve  10  through check valve  12  to pressure tank  13  and line  14  ref. FIG. 2 through line  13  through expansion valve  10  Through hot evaporator coil  9  and out as hot vapor under pressure through line  18  to condensing unit  15  ref. FIG. 4 through line  15  to heat engine  300  inlet ports and Rotating valve system inlet ports, exhausting out through line  18  to condensing unit  36  where heat is removed by fan  35  and out as a liquid through check valve  6  through line  8  through check valve  9  to tank  4  to be recycled. Pressure from line  15  also inters through line  34  through reversing valve  35  through line  36  through reversing valve  20  through line  37  to compressor inlet ports. Compressor  300  compresses this vapor to a higher pressure and temperature and out through line  19  through reversing valve  20  through line  21  through reversing valve  22  through line  23  ref. FIG. 2 through line  23  through condenser  17  where heat is removed by blower  16  Blowing through evaporator coil THROUGH water to air heat exchanger  37  through supply ducting system  21  out supply registers  22  returning air register  24  through return ducking system  26  through air reversing valve  3  through filter  32  to blower  16  to be recycled.  
     [0037] When ref. FIG. 2 thermostat  38  is satisfied, Ref FIG. 5 hot water isolation switch turns on blower  1 , fan  35 , compressor  1 , reversing valve  20 , and reversing valve  22 . Blower  1  blows air through attic ducting  2  through air reversing valve  3  through duct  4  to boxed end eves through boxed end eves and up through the small air spaces under roof between roof and heat barrier and between rafters through small air space in loft  7  above the upper attic floor and down through duct  8  through filter through evaporator coil  9  installing heat from roof, ref FIG. 5 Compressor  1  draws vapor through line  2  through reversing valve  3  from the top of tank  4  reducing the head pressure on the liquid in bottom of tank  4  allowing liquid from condensing unit  5  to flow through check valve  6  through line  8  through check valve  9  into bottom of tank  4 , compressor  1  compresses this vapor through reversing valve  3  the top of tank  5  increasing the head pressure on the liquid in the bottom of tank  5  forcing the liquid out through check valve  10  through check valve  12  to pressure tank  13  and line  14  ref. FIG. 2 through line  13  through expansion valve  10  through hot evaporator coil  9  and out as a hot vapor under pressure through line  18  to condensing unit  15  ref. FIG. 5 through line  15  to heat engine  300  intake ports and rotating valve systems inlet ports and through line  34  through reversing valve  35  through line  36  through reversing valve  20  through line  37  to intake ports of compressor  300 . Exhausting out through line  18  to condensing unit  36  where heat is removed by fan  35  and out as liquid through check valve  6  through line  8  through check valve  9  to tank  4  to be recycled. Compressor  300  compresses this vapor to a higher pressure and temperature and out through line  19  through reversing valve  20  through line  21  through reversing valve  22  through line  28  to refrigerant to water heat exchanger condenser  29  out as a liquid through line  30  through line  14  ref. FIG. 2A through line  13  through expansion valve  10  through evaporator  9  to be recycled. Ref. FIG. 6 water is pumped by pump  7  turning CW through line through line  6  ref. FIG. 5 to inlet  41  of refrigerant to water heat exchanger  29  where water is heated and out through out let  42  ref. FIG. 6 through line  5  through check valve  11  through the insulated tank system to Pump  7  to be recycled. This cycle stops when censer  4  on last water storage tank senses that it is almost as hot as ref. FIG. 5 censer  43  on refrigerant to water heat exchanger, or thermostat calls for heating again.  
     [0038]FIG. 2 Cooling cycle Thermostat  38  calling for cooling turns on blower  1  and blower  16 . Ref. FIG. 7 turns on compressor  1 , reversing valve  35  and hot water isolation switch.  
     [0039] Blower  1  blows air through attic ducting  2  through air reversing valve  3  through duct  4  to boxed end eves through boxed end eves and up through the small air spaces under roof between roof and heat barrier and between rafters through small air space in loft  7  above the upper attic floor and down through duct  8  through filter through evaporator coil  9  installing heat from roof, ref FIG. 7 Compressor  1  draws vapor through line  2  through reversing valve  3  from the top of tank  4  reducing the head pressure on the liquid in bottom of tank  4  allowing liquid from condensing unit  36  to flow through check valve  6  through line  8  through check valve  9  into bottom of tank  4 , compressor  1  compresses this vapor through reversing valve  3  to the top of tank  5  increasing the head pressure on the liquid in the bottom of tank  5  forcing the liquid out through check valve  10  through check valve  12  to pressure tank  13  and line  14  ref. FIG. 2B through line  13  through expansion valve  10  through hot evaporator coil  9  and out as a hot vapor under pressure through line  18  to condensing unit  15  ref. FIG. 7 through line  15  to heat engine  300  inlet ports and Rotating valve system inlet ports exhausting out through line  18  to condensing unit  36  where heat is removed by fan  35  and out as liquid through check valve  6  through line  8  through check valve  9  to tank  4  to be recycled. Liquid from line  14  ref. FIG. 2B through line  25  through expansion valve  40  through evaporator coil  17  where heat is picked up by blower  16  through line  23  ref. FIG. 7 through line  23  to reversing valve  22  through line  21  through reversing valve  20  through line  37  to inlet ports of compressor  300 . Compressor  300  compresses this vapor to a higher pressure and temperature and out through line  18  to condenser  36  where heat is removed and out as liquid through check valve  6  through line  8  through check valve  9  to tank  4  to be recycled, ref. FIG. 2B blower  16  blows through evaporator coil  17  water to air heat exchanger  37  through supply ducking system  21  out supply registers  22  returning through return air register  24  through return ducking system  26  through reversing valve  3  through filter  32  to blower  16  to be recycled.  
     [0040] When ref. FIG. 2 thermostat  38  is satisfied, ref. FIG. 5 hot water isolation switch turns on compressor  1 , fan  35 , reversing valve  20  and reversing valve  22 , ref. FIG. 2B blower  1 .  
     [0041] Blower  1  blows air through attic ducting  2  through air reversing valve  3  through duct  4  to boxed end eves through boxed end eves and up through the small air spaces under roof between roof and heat barrier and between rafters through small air space in loft  7  above the upper attic floor and down through duct  8  through filter through evaporator coil  9  installing heat from roof, ref. FIG. 5 Compressor  1  draws vapor through line  2  through reversing valve  3  from the top of tank  4  reducing the head pressure on the liquid in bottom of tank  4  allowing liquid from condensing unit  36  to flow through check valve  6  through line  8  through check valve  9  into bottom of tank  4 , compressor  1  compresses this vapor through reversing valve  3  to the top of tank  5  increasing the head pressure on the liquid in the bottom of tank  5  forcing the liquid out through check valve  10  through check valve  12  to pressure tank  13  and line  14  ref. FIG. 2B through line  13  through expansion valve  10  through hot evaporator coil  9  and out as a hot vapor under pressure through line  18  to condensing unit  15  ref. FIG. 5 through line  15  to heat engine  300  inlet ports and rotating valve systems inlet ports and through line  34  through reversing valve  35  through line  36  through reversing valve  20  through line  37  to intake ports of compressor  300 . Exhausting out through line  18  to condensing unit  36  where heat is removed by fan  35  and out as a liquid through check valve  6  through line  8  through check valve  9  to tank  4  to be recycled. Compressor  300  compresses this vapor to a higher pressure and temperature and out through line  19  through reversing valve  20  through line  21  through reversing valve  22  through line  28  to refrigerant to water heat exchanger condenser  29  out as a liquid through line  30  through line  14  ref. FIG. 2b trough line  13  through expansion valve  10  through evaporator coil  9  to be recycled.  
     [0042] Ref. FIG. 6 water is pumped by pump  7  turning CW through line through line  6  ref. FIG. 6 to inlet  41  of refrigerant to water heat exchanger  29  where water is heated and out through out let  42  ref. FIG. 6 through line  5  through check valve  11  through the insulated tank system to Pump  7  to be recycled. This cycle stops when censer  4  on last water storage tank senses that it is almost as hot as ref. FIG. 5 censer  43  on refrigerant to water heat exchanger  29  or ref. FIG. 2 thermostat  38  calls for cooling again.  
     [0043]FIG. 3 shows a house or building with both a eastern and western roof sloop by placing a gate  45  in duct  8  using the eastern sloop first, actuator  44  moves gate to the western sloop when that becomes the hotter side. The rest of system operates the same as FIG. 2  
     [0044]FIG. 4 shows support drawing used with heating cycle.  
     [0045]FIG. 5 shows support drawing used with heat water cycle.  
     [0046]FIG. 6 shows a drawing of a insulated tank storage system.  
     [0047]FIG. 7 shows a drawing of used with cooling cycle.  
     [0048]FIG. 8 shows an overhead view of drawing FIG. 9 where the system is placed in the loft or upper floor above the standard attic floor. when thermostat  38  calls for heat, Ref. FIG. 8 blower  8  blows air into the first independent area  3  down through the small air spaces  4 , 5  and  6  to the boxed end eves and up through the small air spaces  11 , 12  and  13  picking up heat from the roof all way and into the second independent area  2  through Filter  10  through evaporator coil  9  Appling heat that the roof absorbed from the sun. The air spaces between the rafters have just under the air space a heat barrier under that insulation. The rest of the system operates like the system in FIG. 2.  
     [0049]FIG. 10 shows an overhead view of drawing FIG. 11 which is like FIG. 9 except FIG. 11 has a eastern and western sloop roof. Ref. FIG. 11 thermostat  38  calling for heat, ref. FIG. 10 blower  1  blows down through half the rafters by sensor  14  to the boxed end eves and back up the other half through filter  3  through evaporator coil  2  Appling heat that the roof absorbed from the sun. When sensor  13  becomes hotter than sensor  14  actuators  6  turn threaded rods through threaded nuts  7  fastened gates  4  closing eastern side and opening the western side. the rest of the system operates like the system in FIG. 2.  
     [0050]FIG. 12 A liquid refrigerant pressure boosting system as seen in FIG. 200 item  1 , attic system or other heat source item  2 ,heat engine item  3 , outside air condenser or other source of cooling condenser item  4 , electric AC or DC generator, pump, blower, fan or compressor item  5 .  
     [0051]FIG. 200 Compressor  1  draws vapor through line  2  through reversing valve  3  from tank  4  reducing the head pressure on liquid refrigerant in bottom of tank  4  allowing liquid refrigerant to flow in to tank  4  from outside condenser through line check valve  6  through line  7 . Compressor  1  also pumps this vapor through reversing valve  3  to tank  5  increasing the head pressure on liquid refrigerant in bottom of tank  5  causing liquid refrigerant to flow out through check valve  8  and check valve  12  to pressure tank  13  to line  14  pressure tank  13  keeps constant pressure on liquid. When liquid refrigerant becomes low in tank  5  float valve  16  in bottom of tank  5  sends signal to reversing valve  3  causing valve to shift. Ref. FIG. 200A now compressor  1  draws vapor through reversing valve  3  from top of tank  5  reducing the head pressure on liquid refrigerant in bottom of tank  5  allowing liquid refrigerant to flow in to the bottom of tank  5  from outside condenser through line  7  through check valve  12 , Compressor  1  also compresses this vapor through reversing valve  3  to tank  4  increasing the head pressure on liquid in bottom of tank  4  causing liquid refrigerant to flow out through check valve  11  and check valve  12  TO pressure tank  13  to line  14 . When liquid refrigerant in the bottom of tank  4  becomes low float valve  15  in bottom tank  4  sends signal to reversing valve  3  causing valve to shift back to normal position to recycle.  
     [0052] Ref. FIG. 300 with hot vapor under pressure supplied to ports  1 ,  1 A,  11 ,  11 A,  17  and  17 A and condenser pressure available to ports  8 ,  8 A,  22  and  22 A. Pressure will enter through inlet port  1  through drilled passage in housing through lined up drilled passage way in piston assemble  2  through drilled passage way in housing  3  applying pressure to valve pistons  4  and  5  move them in, exhausting through drilled passage way  6  in housing through line up drilled passage way  7  in piston assemble through drilled passage way in housing to outlet port  8 . Because valve pistons cannot rotate because of ant-rotation pins  25 , piston  4  by twisted shaft  9  turns valve  12  60 deg. to line up with inlet open port  11  to large face of piston  13  and piston  5  by twisted shaft  10  turns valve  21  60 deg. to line up with exhaust port  22  to large face of piston  20 , exhausting to outside condenser, pressure on large face of piston  13  moves piston assembly  14  to the right, pressure through inlet port  17  through inlet reed valve  18  applies pressure to small face of piston  20  helping to move piston assemble  14  to the right. This movement applies pressure to the vapor before the small face of piston  13  forcing it out through outlet reed valve  15  to outlet port  16 . When piston is within 5% of full travel to the right drilled passage way  2  in piston assembly  14  starts to line up with drilled passage way in housing exhaust port  8 A and drilled passage way  7  in piston assembly  14  starts to line up with drilled passage way in housing inlet port  1 A, which are fully lined up at full travel.  
     [0053] Ref, FIG. 300A pressure will inter through inlet port  1 A through drilled passage in housing through lined up drilled passage way  7  in piston assemble  14  through drilled passage way in housing  6  applying pressure to valve pistons  4  and  5  move them out, exhausting through drilled passage way  3  in housing, through line up drilled passage way  2  in piston assemble  14  through drilled passage way in housing to outlet port  8 A. Because valve pistons cannot rotate because of antrotation pins  25 , piston  5  by twisted shaft  10  turns valve  21  back  60  deg. to line up with inlet port  11 A to large face of piston  20  and piston  4  by twisted shaft  9  turns valve  12  back  60  deg. to line up with outlet port  22 A, to large face of piston  20  exhausting to outside condenser. Pressure on large face of piston  20  moves piston assembly  14  to the left pressure through inlet port  17 A through inlet reed valve  24  applies pressure to small face of piston  13  helping to move piston assemble  14  to the left. This movement applies pressure to the vapor before the small face of piston  20  forcing it out through outlet reed valve  23  to outlet port  16 A. When piston is within 5% of full travel to the left drilled passage way  7  in piston assembly  14  starts to line up with drilled passage way in housing to outlet port  8 , and drilled passage way  2  in piston assemble  14  starts to line up with drilled passage way in housing to inlet port  1  which are fully lined up at full travel. To recycle