초록 ▼

A thermal energy storage and transfer system includes solar energy collector means disposed to receive incident solar energy, thermal energy exchange means disposed in a utilization area, three water storage tanks, one of which is at least three times larger than the other two storage tanks. Water i

A thermal energy storage and transfer system includes solar energy collector means disposed to receive incident solar energy, thermal energy exchange means disposed in a utilization area, three water storage tanks, one of which is at least three times larger than the other two storage tanks. Water is selectively circulated through a first circulation loop between the solar collector and one small tank for transferring solar energy from the collector; through a second circulation loop between the second small tank and the utilization area; and through a third circulation loop between the large tank and the two smaller tanks. A heat pump is coupled between the two smaller storage tanks for transferring thermal energy between those two tanks. The ever varying demand/supply ratio associated with available solar energy and the demands in the utilization area are accommodated by switching the storage system as a function of the sensed enthalpy－the integrated effect of the varying demand/supply ratio－of the storage system.

대표청구항 ▼

A thermal energy storage and transfer system comprising solar energy collector means disposed to receive incident solar energy, thermal energy exchange means disposed in a utilization area, first fluid storage means, second fluid storage means, first fluid circulation means to circulate fluid betwee

A thermal energy storage and transfer system comprising solar energy collector means disposed to receive incident solar energy, thermal energy exchange means disposed in a utilization area, first fluid storage means, second fluid storage means, first fluid circulation means to circulate fluid between said solar collector means and said first storage means for transferring thermal energy by mass flow from said collector means to said first fluid storage means, second fluid circulation means to circulate fluid between said thermal energy exchange means and said second storage means for transferring thermal energy by mass flow from said second fluid storage means to said thermal energy exchange means, main fluid storage means of larger capacity that either said first or second storage means, third circulation means to circulate fluid between said main fluid storage means and said first and second storage means for transferring thermal energy by mass flow between said first, second and main fluid storage means, heat pump means coupled to said first and second storage means for transferring thermal energy between said first and second storage means, said heat pump means including a compressor, an evaporator and a condenser, a cold side fluid circulation loop coupled to one of said fluid storage means, a hot side fluid circulation loop coupled to another of said fluid storage means, cold side heat exchanger means external to said main fluid storage means for transferring heat between said evaporator and said cold side fluid circulation loop, and hot side heat exchange means external to said main fluid storage means for transferring heat between said condenser and said hot side fluid circulation loop, and control circuitry for operating said system in a plurality of modes including a first mode responsive to a relatively low temperature of fluid in said main fluid storage means in which supplemental energy is applied to said thermal energy exchange means during intervals of the absence of solar energy, a second mode responsive to a relatively high temperature of the fluid in said main fluid storage means in which said third circulation means is operated to transfer thermal energy by mass flow between said first, second and main fluid storage means; and a third mode responsive to a temperature of the fluid in said main fluid storage means intermediate said relatively low and relatively high temperatures in which said first and second fluid circulation means and said heat pump means are operated concurrently.