Supplemental heat and heat transfer subsystems for solar air conditioning systems

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storage unit by means of heating the air which is blown

SUPPLEMENTAL, HEAT AND HEAT TRANSFER through a rock pile, thereby circulating the air around SUBSYSTEMS FOR SOLAR AR CONDITIONING the tank of liquid in which is contained the liquid heat SYSTEMS storage medium. Where minimual auxillary heat is de Reference is hereby made to my copending U.S. Pat. 5 sired, as with a conventional oil or electric furnace, Application Ser. No. 540,866, filed Jan. 14, 1975. such an indirect heat transfer for the auxillary heat of combustion into the heat storage unit may suffice.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Where part-time sub-systems, such as fireplaces or coal With energy declining and energy demands rising, the furnaces are employed, it may be much more desirable need for heating and cooling systems, independent or 10 to create a surplus of heat for a short period of time, and nearly independent of central electrical power sources to use such surplus for heating the storage medium, as becomes ever-increasing. Heretofore, some success has well as, to a certain extent, the living space; but to insure been obtained with solar heat; but the major disadvan all the while that all of such surplus heat is utilized. tage in solar heating systems for shelters is that demands In recent years, fireplaces have been improved to for heat and/or cold in the shelter is heaviest when the 15 some extent in efficiency as an immediate source of supply of solar energy is at its natural ebb. Heat from heat, Warm air circulation systems have been provided the sun must be stored for use when the sun is not shin whereby a large measure of the heat potential is circu ing. Wind, as a source of energy cannot be depended lated to the living space of a shelter. Further improve upon as a source of heat during periods of calm. The ments in fireplace efficiency have not been sought be wind and sun are indeed weather-sensitive energy 20 cause without heat storage facilities, additional heat sources. A source of energy which is not weather-sensi served no useful purpose. Present day heat storage facil tive may become weather-sensitive, to a certain extent, ities do not lend themselves well to the utilization of this by the harnessing means employed. For example, an major home controlled heat source.

evaporator-condenser system which takes heat from the BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION outside atmosphere, releasing it into the shelter, will 25 operate more efficiently during the day when the out Briefly, this invention comprises a supplemental heat side atmosphere is warmer than it will during the night ing and dual function heat transfer sub-system for a when the outside temperature is much lower. solar heating system for a shelter. The sub-system in Convenience controlled non-weather-sensitive heat cludes a heating unit having a combustion area. sources are not always available on a constant basis. For 30 Around, adjacent or proximate to the combustion area example, a fireplace may be conveniently operated for is a first direct heat transfer means for the heat of com only about three hours during most evenings. An oven bustion to the liquid storage medium. An adjustably may be operated for another two hours. An incinerator regulated means is also provided for a second direct for disposal of trash or garbage may operate for yet heat transfer between the liquid heat storage medium another hour. Ultimately, all or most of these readily 35 and the living space. Also provided is means for circu available "controlled' heat sources should be fully uti lating the liquid heat storage medium to and from the lizable in home air conditioning systems without signifi area or point of first direct heat transfer to and from the cant loss of heat to the outside atmosphere. heat storage unit so that the heating unit may function To permit continuity of air conditioning, therefore, to transfer heat to the living space when there is no for periods of low energy-producing weather and/or 40 combustion in the combustion area.

inconvenient controlled heat operation of weather-sen Included within the concept, albeit not essential sitive sources and/or convenience-controlled non thereto are means for providing yet a third direct heat weather-sensitive-sources, one should look to a heat transfer of the heat of combustion to the living space and/or cold storage facility. This facility, or unit, may itself.

be fully integrated into the auxiliary heat source, or it 45 This combination permits the fireplace, for example, may be remote thereto. Most desirable is a direct heat to be used with a high degree of efficiency, to some transfer between the heat of combustion in an auxillary extent for immediate heat for the living space, and to a heating source and the liquid in the heat storage unit. greater or lesser extent of the remainder for heat stor Also, desirable is a direct heat transfer relationship be age. It also permits the heating unit to operate as a tween the heat of combustion in the auxillary unit and 50 radiator or spaceheater during periods when there is no the living space. The former is not easily attainable with combustion in the combustion area. respect to shelters built before the onset of the realiza In the detailed description, reference will be made to tion that solar heat must eventually be utilized; and in the drawing in which:

such systems, heat storage units will ordinarily be re FIG. 1 is a semi-schematic perspective of the first mote from auxillary heat systems. 55 embodiment of this invention is suitable for use as a Remote or not, auxiliary or supplemental heat sub fireplace insert for a fireplace of the prior art; systems should provide wherever possible, the most FIG. 2 is a perspective semi-schematic view of the efficient heating means for the living space and/or the second embodiment of this invention which is suitable liquid heat storage medium, wherever stored; and of for use as a fireplace insert for a prior art fireplace; course it must be possible to direct the heat, on an as 60 FIG. 3 is a perspective semi-schematic view of a required basis, to either. free-standing fireplace suitable for use in the sub-system Prior supplemental heating systems have accom of this invention;

plished heating of the living space and/or heating of the FIG. 4 is a perspective semi-schematic view of yet heat storage medium, but not in the sense that both were another embodiment of this invention which comprises direct heat transfers, in which maximum efficiency is 65 a free-standing fireplace-type heating unit; most easily attained. FIG. 5 is a perspective semi-schematic heating unit in In U.S. Pat. No. 3,812,903, for example, auxillary heat which the unit itself is combined with the heat storage is applied indirectly to the liquid in the hot or cold unit;

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FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view of the combustion tion, its speed may be adjusted. A third direct heat area of the heating unit shown in FIG. 5. transfer between the heat of combustion is provided by DEFINITIONS radiant panel 15. Of course the speed at which pump 8 is operated will control the amount of heat transfer

By weather sensitive energy harnessing means is 5 between the heat of combustion and the liquid heat meant any energy harnessing means for heating and storage medium. Liquid lines 16 and 17 are for connec cooling wherein, because of the source of the energy, or tion to primary solar heating and cooling sources not the method of collecting the energy, weather becomes a shown.

substantial factor. The weather sensitivity of solar heat Referring now in detail to FIG. 2, heating unit 21 collectors and windmills, for example, is readily appar O comprises liquid-filled dual function heat exchangers 24 ent and the energy source itself, may be classified as and dual function heat exchange lines 23 defining com weather sensitive. Certain energy harnessing systems bustion area 22. Radiant panels 25 face living space 26, also have substantial inherent weather sensitivity, as for and are heated by the liquid storage medium in heat example, evaporator-condensor systems in which heat exchangers 24. Pump 27 provides the circulation of is removed from the living space and discharged into 5 liquid heat storage unit 28 via liquid line 29, the pump the ambient atmosphere, as in present day convential air providing continuous circulation of the liquid through conditioning systems, which function much more effi both heat exchangers, the liquid heat exchange line 23, ciently during the cooler night hours than during the and return through liquid line 291. Liquid lines 292 are warmer daytime hours. Some conventional evaporator connected to solar heat collectors 294 with storage unit condenser systems are used for heating, and it is well 28. Pump 29 provides circulation. The first direct heat known that such systems remove heat from the outside transfer of the heat of combustion to the liquid heat ambient atmosphere and release heat in the living space. storage medium takes place primarily in heat exchange These systems are even more weather-sensitive because lines 23. The second direct heat transfer between the their efficiency dwindles to a very low percentage at liquid heat storage medium and the living space takes about 20 degrees fahrenheit. Such systems, in most 25 place primarily through radiant panels 25 of heat ex climates, can be made to operate much more efficiently changers 24. Of course, when there is no fire in the during the warmer daytime hours than during the combustion area, heat exchange lines 23 will also serve cooler nights. to provide heat transfer between the liquid heat storage By air conditioning system is meant any system for medium and the living space.

conditioning air for temperature and/or humidity by 30 Referring now in detail to FIG. 3, combustion area 36 means of heating and cooling. of heating unit 31 is defined by base 32 and inner wall By direct heat transfer relationship is meant that heat 33. Between inner wall 33 and radiant panel 35 is liquid or cold is passed directly from one medium or its con jacketed space 34. Liquid lines 39 and pump 311 pro tainer wall to another medium without the necessity of vide circulation between heating unit 31 and liquid heat any intermediate transmission means. A combustion 35 storage 312. Heating Unit 31 is provided with flue 37 chamber surrounded by water is in direct heat transfer and damper 313. Pump 315 circulates the liquid be relationship with the water. Such relationship may be tween solar collectors 316 and heat storage 312 via entirely radiant or it may involve convection, forced air liquid lines 314. The first direct heat transfer between or conduction as well. the heat of combustion and the liquid storage medium 40 takes place between combustion area 36 and the liquid

DETALED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED

EMBODIMENTS in jacketed space 35 through innerwall 33. The second direct heat transfer means between the liquid heat stor

Referring now in detail to FIG. 1, heating unit 1 age medium and living space 38 is provided by radiant comprises dual function liquid heat exchange lines 3 panel 35. The amount of heat radiated by radiant panel between liquid-air heat exchangers 4 defining combus 45 35 is controlled by the speed of pump 311. tion area 2. The first direct heat transfer means is pro Referring now in detail to FIG. 4. Combustion area vided by lines 3 to which liquid is supplied from liquid 44 of heating unit 41 is defined by interior radiant panels heat storage unit 5 through liquid lines 6 and 7, with a 42 and hearth 407. Within the interior radiant panels 42 force provided by pump 8. The heated liquid in lines 3 and exterior radiant panels 43 is jacketed liquid space 45 runs through liquid coils 9 in heat exchangers 4, provid 50 which also surrounds a portion of flue 403. Flue 403 is ing liquid-air transfer, the warm air being circulated also provided with damper 402. Liquid lines 404 pro into the living space through warm air registers 11, and vide liquid circulation between liquid heat storage 406 returned through intake vent 13. The force of such and heat unit 41, employing pump 405 for circulation. circulation is furnished by an intake blower in blower An auxillary optional forced air circulation system is housing 12. Air passage 14 between heat exchangers 4 55 provided by air passage 46 with heat transfer discs 48. provides for equalization of air pressure. One wall of air Air enteres the liquid-air heat transfer system through passage 14 is radiant panel 15. Liquid is also circulated air intake register 401, and with the force of blower 47 by liquid lines 16 from heat storage unit 5, to and from is circulated through air passage 46 and out through solar collectors 18. As explained above, liquid heat warm air discharge register 49. Solar collectors also exchange lines 3 provide the first direct transfer of the 60 heat the liquid which is circulated through liquid lines heat of combustion to the liquid storage medium. They 408 by pump 409. The first direct heat transfer between also provide a second direct heat transfer between the the area of combustion and the liquid heat storage me liquid heat storage medium and living space 10. Liquid dium takes place through interior radiant panels 42. air heat exchangers 4 supplement the heat transfer be There are two "second' heat transfer means between tween the liquid heat storage medium and living space 65 the liquid storage medium and living space. The first is 10 and such supplemental heat transfer is adjustably through exterior radiant panel 43, and the second is regulated in the sense that the intake blower in housing through the warm air passage 46, furnishing warm air in 12, may or may not be placed in operation, and in opera a supplemental second direct heat transfer means. The

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second heat transfer is adjustably regulated by the speed In the preferred embodiments showing (except as to of pump 405 and as well, as by the speed of blower 47. the embodiment of FIG. 5, where solar heating sources Referring now in detail to FIGS. 5 and 6. Heating are not shown) solar collectors are shown as the weath unit 501 comprises as an integral part thereof, heat stor er-sensitive energy harnessing means. Of course, there age tank 517 which is located within living space 518. are other such harnessing means usable in accordance Within tank 517, as shown more clearly at FIG. 6, is with this invention, either alternatively or supplemen combustion area 502 with convection conduits for the tary, including but not limited to windmills, and solar or conveyance and circulation of liquid 525. Also shown at electrically powered heat pumps, and air conditioning FIG. 6 are ash pit 527 with ash pit door 512, as well as systems.

damper 528. Liquid heat storage tank 517 is equipped O Having thus described my invention and several pre with fluid lines 522 for source and supply connections ferred embodiments thereof, I desire to claim my letters for external radiators or other supplemental heat dis patents is:

semination means. Fluid lines 520 and 521 are connected 1. A heating unit for space ambiant to said unit and for to solar heating sources not shown. Pressure relief valve 15 liquid medium heat storage comprising: 523 prevents possible explosion of the tank. Tank 517 is 1. a combustion area;

surrounded by insulation 524, except where the surface 2. a liquid circulating space providing circulation of the tank is provided with insulated doors 506, or access to a first and second direct heat transfer where there are louver registers 507 or 510. When insu means;

lated doors 506 are opened, radiant panel 504 and heat 3. means proximate to said combustion area for a first ing exchange fins 505 are exposed, thereby providing 20 direct transfer of heat of combustion from the area direct heat transfer to living space 518. Usable with or of combustion to the liquid medium in said circulat without the direct radiant heat transfer provided when ing space;

insulated doors 506 are open or partly open is a blower 4. Variably adjustable insulation shielding means for system powered by blower 509 in which, during the 25 providing and controlling a second direct radiant heating mode, air enters through self closing louvered heat transfer between the liquid medium within said registers 507, and circulates around tank 517 to blower circulating space and the ambiant space. 509, thence, through duct 516 into plenim chamber 508 5. means proximate to the combustion area for a third where the air is forced downwardly through plenim direct heat transfer of heat of combustion to the distributer 524 between heat exchange fins 505 and out 30 ambiant space including radiant heat of combustion; self closing louver register 510. Blower 509 is preferably 6. positive means, independent of combustion control, thermostaticly controlled so that in the normal heating first heat transfer control and third heat transfer mode, insulated doors 506 remain closed, regardless of control and notwithstanding any inherent variable whether or not there is combustion in combustion area affect on amounts of heat in storage by the weather 502. Combustion area 502 is provided with insulated 35 for substantially variably adjusting the amount of hinged hearth-cover 511 which will normally be closed heat transferred by way of the second heat transfer when there is no fire in the combustion area. When whereby heat in excess of the comfort requirements heating unit 501 is in the cooling mode, the direction of of the living space may be conserved under variable air circulation is reversed. In the cooling mode, there conditions of weather and varying amounts of heat will be condensation on radiant panels 504, and there 40 in storage without substantially diminishing the fore, provisions for drainage are required. Ridge 513 combustion potential for heat generation, the trans circumscribes a drain collection surface from which fer potential for first direct heat transfer and the water is drained through drains 514 and 515. transfer potential for the third direct heat transfer. Of course insulated doors such as those shown in 7. feed and return means whereby liquid medium may FIG. 5 may be used in connection with heating units not 45 be returned from the liquid circulating space to heat combined with liquid heat storage units, but it is ordi storage and fed from heat storage to the liquid cir narily unnecessary to use insulating doors to contain the culating space;

heat in remote heating units because, when there is no 8, circulation means within said circulating space combustion in the combustion area, radiant heating will whereby the liquid medium may circulate between stop if there is no distribution of liquid to and from 50 the first and second direct heat transfer means, liquid storage. Where heating units are separate from whereby the temperature of space ambiant to the storage units, therefore, shielding such as insulated unit may be regulated, to the extent permitted by doors will ordinarily not be employed. the potential of the second direct heat transfer and In the preferred embodiments of FIGS. 1-4, pumps the heat in storage, in the presence of and in the are shown as a part of the circulation means between 55 absence of combustion in the combustion area, and the heat storage and the heating unit. This is because the without substantially dimmishing the heat generat heat storage shown is below the heating unit. It is recog ing and storage potential of the first direct heat nized, of course, that wherever the heat storage unit can transfer, employing the liquid heat storage medium be so located that convection may serve alternately or at varying temperatures by variably adjusting heat supplementary to the pump, this is most desirable. Ordi 60 transfer between the liquid heat storage medium narily, however, unless the heat storage is combined and the living space.

with the heating unit, as shown at FIGS. 5 and 6, circu 2. The heating unit of claim 1 wherein the third direct lation by convection cannot be employed alternatively heat transfer means is substantially adjustably regulated. or supplementary to circulation by pump unless the heat 3. The heating unit of claim 2 wherein the third direct storage unit is generally in the position and form of a 65 radiant heat transfer means is substantially adjustably vertically standing tank in which case the heating unit regulated by removal and replacement of insulation will preferably be combined therewith rather than re shielding between the combustion area and the ambiant space.

mote thereto.

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4. The heating unit of claim 1 wherein positive means 5. positive means, independent of combustion conrol, (6) for adjusting the second direct heat transfer means first heat transfer control and third heat transfer includes regulating means for the volume of circulation control and notwithstanding any inherent variable flow of the liquid medium to and from the area of first affect on amounts of heat in storage by the weather direct heat transfer whereby the liquid medium may be via the weather-sensitive energy harnessing means, drawn off from the area of the second direct heat trans for substantially variably adjusting the amount of fer and replaced with liquid medium at a substantially heat transferred by way of the second heat transfer different temperature. whereby the heat in excess of the comfort require 5. The heating unit of claim 1 further including heat ments of the living space may be conserved under storage means proximate to said circulating space O variable conditions of weather and varying wherein the second direct heat transfer means is sub amounts of heat in storage without substantially stantially independently adjustably regulated by re diminishing the combustion potential for heat gen moval and replacement of insulating shielding between eration, the transfer potential for first direct trans the heat storage means and the ambiant space. fer, the transfer potential for the third direct heat 6. The heating unit of claim 1 further including means 15 transfer and the maximum potential of the weather for forced air circulation whereby air is circulated from sensitive energy harnessing means. the living space around at least a portion of the unit and 6. means for circulating the liquid heat storage me back to the living space. dium to and from the first direct heat transfer to and 7. The heating unit of claim 1 wherein the second 20 from heat storage.

direct heat transfer means comprises radiant and forced 7. means for circulating the liquid heat storage me air circulation heat transfer. dium to and from heat storage, to and from the 8. The heating unit of claim 1 wherein the heat stor second direct heat transfer.

age unit is also alternately a cold storage unit and the Whereby, in combination, the temperature of the living liquid heat storage medium is also alternately a liquid space may be regulated, to the extent permitted by the cold storage medium; the means for first direct heat 25 inpotential storage, of the second direct heat transfer and the heat in the presence of and in the absence of com transfer, in the absence of combustion, also alternatively provides means for transferring cooling from the cold tially bustion in the combustion area, and without substan storage medium to the ambiant space; the means for dimminishing the heat generating and storage providing a second direct heat transfer between the 30 potential means or of the weather-sensitive energy harnessing the first direct heat transfer, employing the liquid heat storage medium and the ambiant space also alternately provides a means whereby controlled cool liquid heat storage medium at varying temperatures resulting from the weather sensitive energy harnessing ing may be transferred from the liquid heat storage means by variably adjusting heat transfer between the medium to the ambiant space; the positive means for liquid heat adjusting the second heat transfer is alternately a means 35 11. The storage medium and the living space. sub-system of claim 10 wherein the third of adjusting transfer of cool to the ambiant space; and direct heat transfer means is variably substantially ad where the means for circulating liquid heat storage justably regulated.

medium to and from the first direct heat transfer to and from the heat storage also alternately provides a means means 12. The sub-system of claim 10 further including whereby the first direct heat transfer means may be ing between for removal and replacement of insulation shield employed as required to transfer cooling from the liquid the combustion area and the living space. heat storage medium to the ambiant space. 13. The sub-system of claim 10 wherein positive means (5) for adjusting 9. The heating unit of claim 1 further including liquid means includes heat storage the second direct heat transfer storage means. means and means for vari ably adjustable removal 10. A supplemental heating and dual function heat 45 shielding between the heat storage and replacement of insulation transfer sub-system for a solar heating and air condition space. means, and the living ing system for a shelter having a living space, the solar 14. The sub-system of claim 10 wherein positive system including weather-sensitivity energy harnessing means means, a liquid heat storage medium and liquid heat means (5) for adjusting the second direct heat transfer includes regulating means for the volume of storage, the sub-system comprising: 50 circulation flow of the liquid medium to and from the 1. combustion area, 2, means proximate to said combustion area for a first area medium of first direct heat transfer, whereby the liquid may be drawn off from the area of the second direct transfer of heat of combustion from the com direct heat transfer and replaced with liquid medium at bustion area to the liquid heat storage medium a substantially different temperature. whereby, in the presence of combustion, heat of 55 15. The sub-system of claim 10 further including combustion may be transferred from the combus means for forced air circulation whereby air is circu tion area to the liquid heat storage medium, and, in lated from the living space around at least a portion of the absence of combustion, stored heat may be the unit and back to the living space.

transferred to the living space from the liquid heat 16. The sub-system of claim 10 wherein the second storage medium; direct heat transfer means comprises means for radiant 3. Variably adjustable insulation shielding means and forced air circulation heat transfer. proximate to the combustion area and first heat 17. The sub-system of claim 10 further including a transfer means for a second direct radiant heat means for cooling the liquid heat storage medium transfer between the liquid heat storage medium wherein the heat storage is alternately a cold storage and the living space; 65 and the liquid heat storage medium is alternately a liq 4. means proximate to the combustion area for a third uid cold storage medium; the means for first direct heat direct heat transfer of heat of combustion to the transfer, in the absence of combustion, also alternatively living space including radiant heat of combustion; provides means for transferring cooling from the cold

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storage medium to the living space; the means for pro store heat and, in the absence of first direct heat trans viding a second direct heat transfer between the liquid fer, circulating the heated liquid from storage to the site heat storage medium and the living space also alter of the first direct heat transfer for controlled heating of nately provides a means whereby controlled cooling the living space as required through direct heat transfer. may be transferred from the liquid heat storage medium 5 19. The method of claim 18, where heating a living to the living space; the positive means for adjusting the space and storage of heat also includes alternately cool second heat transfer is alternately a means of adjusting ing a living space and storage of cool, further including transfer of cool to the living space; and where the means alternately intermittently cooling the liquid heat storage for circulating liquid heat storage medium to and from medium from a controlled source of cooling in a first the first direct heat transfer to and from the heat storage 10 also alternately provides a means whereby the first alternative direct heat transfer from the liquid to the direct heat transfer means may be employed as required source of cooling, alternately cooling the living space in to transfer cooling from the liquid heat storage medium aliquid, second direct heat transfer from the living space to the the second direct heat transfer being controlled to the living space. independently of control of said cooling source, alterna 18. The method of heating a living space from a con 15 trolled heat source and storage of heat in liquid storage tively intermittently circulating the cooled liquid dur comprising the steps of intermittently heating a liquid in ing the first alternative direct heat transfer to liquid a first direct heat transfer from the controlled heat storage to thereby store cool, and, in the absence of first source to the liquid, heating the living space as required and first alternative direct heat transfer, circulating the for comfort and conservation during heating of the 20 cooled liquid from storage to the original point of cool liquid and during intervals in heating of the liquid by ing for intermittent alternate controlled cooling of the way of said first direct heat transfer in a second direct living space by direct heat transfer as required. heat transfer between said liquid and said living space, 20. The method of claim 18 wherein said control of and a third direct heat transfer between said heat source said second direct heat transfer includes by means of and said living space, said second heat transfer being varying said circulation of the heated liquid to and from controlled by an insulation shield which is substantially liquid storage.

variably and independently of but coordinated with 21. The method of claim 18 wherein said control of control of said controlled heat source, said third heat said second direct heat transfer includes by means of transfer, and variations in the amount of heat in said varying radiant heat surface exposure to the living liquid storage, circulating the heated liquid during the 30 space.

first direct heat transfer to liquid storage to thereby