Patent ID: 8726682

Claim:
A hybrid multi-source heat pump system, comprising: a heat pump; a solar/air heat exchanger; a ground heat exchanger; a plumbing network that hydraulically interconnects said heat pump, said solar/air heat exchanger and said ground heat exchanger, wherein a heat transfer fluid circulates through said plumbing network; temperature sensors for monitoring temperatures of said heat transfer fluid in said solar/air heat exchanger and said ground heat exchanger; at least one pump for circulating said heat transfer fluid through said plumbing network; valves disposed within said plumbing network that can selectively isolate said solar/air heat exchanger, and said ground heat exchanger within said plumbing network; a systems controller coupled to said temperature sensors, said valves, and said at least one pump, wherein said systems controller operates in multiple modes of operation, wherein said multiple modes of operation include; a first mode where said solar/air heat exchanger is isolated and said heat transfer fluid circulates only between said heat pump and said ground heat exchanger; a second mode where said ground heat exchanger is isolated and said heat transfer fluid circulates only between said solar/air heat exchanger and said heat pump; a third mode of operation where said heat transfer fluid circulates between said solar/air heat exchanger, said ground heat exchanger, and said heat pump, wherein said heat transfer fluid is preheated by said solar/air heat exchanger and more completely heated by said ground heat exchanger; a fourth mode of operation where said heat transfer fluid circulates between said solar/air heat exchanger, said ground heat exchanger, and said heat pump, wherein said heat transfer fluid is preheated by said ground heat exchanger and more completely heated by said solar/air heat exchanger; and a fifth mode of operation where said heat pump is isolated and said heat transfer fluid circulates only between said solar/air heat exchanger and said ground heat exchanger.