Patent ID: 12196457

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In the summary of the invention, provided above, and in the descriptions of certain preferred embodiments of the invention, reference is made to particular features of the invention, for example, method steps. It is to be understood that the disclosure of the invention in this specification includes all possible combinations of such particular features, regardless of whether a combination is explicitly described. For instance, where a particular feature is disclosed in the context of a particular aspect or embodiment of the invention, that feature can also be used, to the extent possible, in combination with and/or in the context of other particular aspects and embodiments of the invention, and in the invention generally.

This invention stretches across two well-known industries, the heating and cooling industry and the solar industry. This invention describes new systems and methods of solar thermal reactions with refrigerants in order to dramatically reduce the need of mechanical and electrical energy to move along the refrigeration circuit. Accordingly, this will significantly reduce the electrical energy required for the heating and cooling cycles of a refrigeration circuit or heat pump.

Also, the present systems and methods described herein will reduce the need for fossil fuel combustion as a form of heating a structure. The systems and methods, which utilize sun rays and heat as a sort of fuel to cool a building, overcome the obstacles which cause a building temperature to rise and will instead be used be utilized to cool the building. The warmer and sunnier it is outside, the more efficient the present cooling system will be which is the opposite of the operation of conventional cooling systems.

With respect to heating a building, the present systems and methods use the sun rays and thermal energy in the environment, no matter how cold, to heat a building utilizing a refrigeration cycle or heat pump process. The conventional systems are enhanced by the present improvements described herein which assist the heat pump cycle to heat a building without the need for fossil fuels. This in turn reduces greenhouse gases caused by the combustion of fossil fuels that are used to typically heat a building. Furthermore, the present systems and methods significantly reduce thermal pollution caused by the same combustion processes.

The thermal cell panel system for heating and cooling and associated methods disclosed herein use the sun and environmental thermal energy along with a typical heat pump or air conditioning condensing unit with a variable speed compressor and associated sensors. The system and method detects the outside temperatures, humidity, and weather conditions and interfaces those to the system's internal pressures, temperatures etc., in order to achieve maximum efficiencies. This process resembles artificial environmental intelligence. In addition, the heat pump and the thermal cell panel system are fabricated in one complete and enclosed unit.

Referring now toFIG.1, a schematic of a typical heating and cooling system is illustrated and designated10. The system10includes a condenser unit10positioned outside the building14. The condenser unit10includes a compressor16, a condenser coil18, and a fan20. The compressor16comprises a pump that moves refrigerant between an evaporator coil24and the condenser coil18to chill the indoor air. The condenser coil18releases collected heat into the outside air. The fan20blows air over the condenser coil18to help dissipate the heat outside the building14. Coolant lines22run from the condenser unit10to the evaporator coil24inside the building14and back to the condenser unit10. A blower26is positioned to circulate air over the evaporator coil24in order to disperse the chilled air inside the building14. A typical gas furnace28is also illustrated inFIG.1that is used for heating the building14through the combustion of natural gas and the blower26can be used to disperse the heated air inside the building14.

A schematic of a thermal cell panel system for heating and cooling in accordance with the present invention is illustrated inFIG.2and generally designated100. The system100includes a plurality of solar thermal cell chambers102and a piping network104for a flow of the refrigerant through the plurality of solar thermal cell chambers102. The piping network104includes an inlet106and outlet108to each of the solar thermal cell chambers108.

A plurality of pressure valves110, that are optional and are not required for maximum performance, are in fluid communication with each inlet106, and each of the pressure valves110may be configured to selectively open and close the flow of refrigerant105through a respective solar thermal cell chamber108in response to a pressure of the refrigerant105within the respective solar thermal cell chamber108.

The system includes a compressor112having a motor114coupled to a variable frequency drive (“VFD”)115. The compressor112is coupled to the piping network104upstream of the plurality of solar thermal cell chambers108and the VFD115is configured to adjust a speed of the motor114in response to the pressure of the refrigerant105within the plurality of solar thermal cell chambers108.

The system100also includes a condenser coil116coupled to the piping network104downstream of the plurality of solar thermal cell chambers108. A fan117blows air over the condenser coil116to help dissipate the heat of the refrigerant105. In addition, an evaporator coil118is coupled to the piping network104downstream of the condenser coil116and upstream of the compressor112.

Referring now toFIGS.3A and3B, a reverse flow of refrigerant105through the system100is known as the heat pump cycle. The refrigerant105is allowed to absorb heat from the cold air and then flow through the pipes128of the plurality of solar thermal cell chambers102. This results in increasing the temperature of the refrigerant105even further from external forces allowing a heat pump115to absorb heat efficiently during the coldest winter conditions. The system100reduces the need to use fossil fuels as a combustion source to heat a structure114and releases virtually no thermal pollution or cause greenhouse gas emissions from operation.

Furthermore, the system100is dramatically more efficient than any source of combustion and will significantly reduce the cost of heating a building114. The system100is a relatively simple and inexpensive retro fit to a conventional heat pump115or air conditioning condensing unit12. In addition, the system100installs virtually identically to a conventional heat pump115or condensing unit12and works with practically any furnace or air handler. The system100reduces the need for the furnace28to use combusted fossil fuels but utilizes the blower section26of these components making the combustion chambers obsolete.

Referring now toFIG.4, the piping network104may also include an inlet manifold120coupled to the inlet106a,106b,106cof the respective solar thermal cell chamber108a,108b,108c. In addition, an outlet manifold122may be coupled to the outlet124a,124b,124cof the respective solar thermal cell chamber108a,108b,108c, and a bypass126in fluid communication with the inlet manifold120and outlet manifold122. The bypass126is configured to direct a fluid flow from the inlet manifold120to the outlet manifold122to bypass the plurality of solar thermal cell chambers108when the pressure valves110are closed. As stated above, the pressure valves110are optional and are not required for maximum performance. The solar thermal cell chambers108a,108b,108c, which hold gained thermal energy for extended and prolonged periods of time 12-24 hours in many cases with no direct solar or thermal gain.

The piping network104includes pipes128through each of the thermal cell chambers108and the pipes128may have heat sink aluminum sleeves130. The pipes128and the heat sink aluminum sleeves130may also be coated with a thermal absorbing material132. Sensors125a,125b,125chaving pressure and/or temperature capabilities are within each solar thermal cell chamber108a,108b,108c, and may be in communication with the respective pressure valve110a,110b,110c. As stated above, the pressure valves110a,110b,110care optional and are not required for maximum performance. Once the temperature exceeds the corresponding refrigerant pressure, the respective pressure valve110a,110b,110care opened. In addition, the sensors125a,125b,125care in communication with the compressor112in order to adjust a speed of the motor114in response to the pressure of the refrigerant.

Referring now toFIG.5, a housing152for each of the solar thermal cell chambers108is insulated140and has an interior surface144coated with a reflective material146. In a particular aspect, the solar thermal cell chambers108have a U-shaped bottom portion142to reflect solar energy to the pipes128and tempered glass148secured over a top portion to retain heat with the solar thermal cell chamber108. The solar thermal cell chambers may also have a plurality of drain holes150and the piping128may comprises copper piping.

As explained above, the thermal cell chambers108include a series of pipes128running a circuit through the housings152which may be lined with highly reflective material146, which is many times more reflective mirrored film than any other ever developed. Each pipe128running through the thermal cell chambers108may be fitted with a heat sink aluminum sleeve130. The sleeve130may be made of any material with high thermal transfer properties.

The heat sink sleeves130and pipes128may also be coated with a compound or coating132, which has been specifically developed to absorb many spectrums of solar rays and absorb energy from those rays into thermal energy and into the pipes128. The U-shaped bottom portion142and pipes128may be encased in a highly insulated housing152to collect and maintain the thermal energy collected. The tempered glass covering148may be comprised of carbon filtered ultra, clear glass with little or no light refraction properties. The high temperature double wall insulated housing152may also have drain holes150and thermal expansion release holes154. The use of specialized reflective films and coatings applied to the heat sinks and pipes directs all phases and rays of solar activity into thermal heat gain on the specialized coated materials, even in direct sunshine and through clouds in which certain rays are found.

Referring now toFIG.6, a method of operating a thermal cell panel system comprising a plurality of solar thermal cell chambers, a piping network for a flow of a refrigerant through the plurality of solar thermal cell chambers for heating and cooling, and a compressor having a motor coupled to the piping network upstream of the plurality of solar thermal cell chambers, is disclosed. The method is generally designated200and begins at202. The method includes adjusting a speed of the motor, at204, in response to a pressure of the refrigerant within the respective solar thermal cell chamber.

The method also includes, at206, recirculating the refrigerant though the piping network from the condenser through the plurality of solar thermal cell chambers, to a condenser coil coupled to the piping network downstream of the plurality of solar thermal cell chambers, to an evaporator coil coupled to the piping network downstream of the condenser coil, and returning to the condenser. The method ends at208.

As explained above, the refrigerant105from the heat pump or condensing coil116is diverted from the compressor112prior to the condensing coils116through the panel and piping circuit described above. The refrigerant105flows through the series of pipes128and after it is compressed by variable speed compressor112, the refrigerant105flows through the solar thermal cell chamber108described above. The warm high pressure refrigerant105flows through the hot pipes128and the pressure in the refrigerant105dramatically rises. The reaction by the gas causes an increase in pressure ahead of the compressor112is detected and the compressor112can significantly reduce its speed and compression which in turn reduces the electrical use.

The system100and method200described herein has little or nothing to do with a transfer of heat, which is the key component to conventional solar collection. The present invention describes the warm refrigerant105flowing through an even warmer chamber (i.e., the solar thermal cell chamber108), in order to cause a state change reaction forcing an increase in the pressure of the refrigerant105but pulling very little thermal energy away from the heated solar thermal cell chamber108.

In addition, the system100and method200can be applied to many forms of HVAC equipment including but not limited to P-TAC units, window units, roof top units, residential and commercial units, industrial units, etc. For example, a window unit160is shown inFIG.7with the solar thermal cell chambers102. Further, the system100and method can be used in pool heaters, water heaters, fluid and solid heating systems etc.

Accordingly, this allows the reaction to continue much longer than a conventional solar collection system in which the heat is transferred to a colder liquid in an effort to transfer the collected thermal energy. This new system and method described herein in which there is a pressure increase but little if any thermal transfer lasts much longer than any solar based unit because the heat is stored inside the insulated solar thermal cell chamber108allowing for optimal use well after the sun is no longer shining on the system.

Even on cloudy days, certain spectrums of the sun are absorbed to increase the pressure and collect the thermal energy within the solar thermal cell chamber108. This system100can reduce the electrical consumption dramatically when compared to conventional cooling methods. Using this system100when it is sunnier and the outdoor conditions are warmer can have even more dramatic savings as the pressure from external forces will be greater. This is specifically when cooling capacity is at its greatest. One of the important factors of the system100is being able to exploit the characteristic that the rising pressure of the refrigerant105causes little or no absorption of heat. This factor is significant as a refrigeration cycle is an equilibrium of heat absorbed and heat released. In other words, heat cannot be added to a refrigeration cycle or the equilibrium will be altered. The system100operates on using thermal energy for a pressure increase and not thermal transfer.

In general, the foregoing description is provided for exemplary and illustrative purposes; the present invention is not necessarily limited thereto. Rather, those skilled in the art will appreciate that additional modifications, as well as adaptations for particular circumstances, will fall within the scope of the invention as herein shown and described and of the claims appended hereto.