Patent ID: 8820315

Claim:
Apparatus for maximizing thermal energy collection in a solar collection system independent from the electric utility grid or external energy provider comprising: one or more solar collectors for solar energy collection; a heat dissipater having an inlet upstream from, and fluidly and thermally connected, to the solar collectors and an outlet downstream from the solar collectors, the heat dissipater forming a bypass around the solar collectors for cooling any portion of a working fluid flowing therethrough; a heat exchange circuit having the working fluid circulating therein and being fluidly and thermally connected between an outlet downstream of the solar collectors and a point of use and between the point of use and an inlet upstream of the heat dissipater; a solar powered pump for substantially continuously pumping the working fluid through the heat exchange circuit during solar energy collection; and a three-way valve connecting the heat dissipater and the solar collectors for mixing the working fluid downstream of the heat dissipater and the solar collectors, the three-way valve self-modulating between open and closed in response to a condition of the mixed working fluid at the three-way valve so as to alter the rate of fluid flowing through the heat dissipater and balancing the flow of working fluid from the heat dissipater and the solar collectors during solar energy collection by the solar collectors, the valve closing in response to the condition being at or below a maximum preset operating condition for preventing working fluid in the heat dissipater from exiting the heat dissipater and for directing the entirety of the flow of the working fluid through the solar collectors; and opening in response to the condition exceeding the maximum preset operating condition for cooling at least a portion of the working fluid flowing through the heat dissipater, the cooled working fluid being returned through the three-way valve to the heat exchange circuit for mixing with heated working fluid exiting the solar collectors for maintaining the working fluid at or below the maximum preset operating condition.