Patent ID: 8790451

Claim:
A system for utilizing solar thermal energy for integrated home utility supply, the system comprising: an air collector coupled to a solar module disposed outside a building to collect external air carrying thermal energy generated from the solar module; an energy transfer module comprising a first heat exchanger disposed in a first pathway between a first air inlet and a first air outlet, the first air inlet being coupled to the air collector for receiving a first air stream carrying a portion of the thermal energy, the first heat exchanger being configured to process the first air stream and output a second air stream by carrying at least partially the portion of the thermal energy; an air conditioning module comprising a second heat exchanger disposed in a second pathway between a second air inlet and a second air outlet, the second air inlet being coupled to interior space of the building for drawing a third air stream characterized by a first humidity and a first temperature; and an air processor comprising a desiccant material coupled to both the energy transfer module and the air conditioning module, the air processor being configured to cycle the desiccant material alternatively in the first pathway located after the first heat exchanger and in the second pathway located before the second heat exchanger; wherein the desiccant material absorbs moisture from the third air stream in the second pathway to form a fourth air stream toward the second heat exchanger, and alternatively releases the moisture to the second air stream in the first pathway to form a fifth air stream toward the first air outlet, the second heat exchanger processes the fourth air stream to form a sixth air stream characterized by a second humidity and a second temperature towards the second air outlet, the second humidity is no greater than the first humidity and the second temperature is lower than the first temperature.