초록 ▼

Prior inventions in 2-tank solar heat-storage systems, generally speaking, provide for solar-produced heat stored in a first tank. Therefore STORED solar heat is limited to that one tank. Backup heat is produced and stored in a second tank. In the present invention, SOLAR-PRODUCED heat from said fir

Prior inventions in 2-tank solar heat-storage systems, generally speaking, provide for solar-produced heat stored in a first tank. Therefore STORED solar heat is limited to that one tank. Backup heat is produced and stored in a second tank. In the present invention, SOLAR-PRODUCED heat from said first tank flows to said second tank. No pump is used. No pump-control is used. No valve is used. Flow is automatic, by natural thermosyphon action when the temperature in said first tank exceeds the temperature in said second tank. AND, the EFFECTIVE storage of solar-produced heat is much greater. Moreover, heat from said second tank, which usually contains the backup heater(s), does not flow from said second tank back to said first tank. There is no reverse flow and no waste of backup heat energy when the temperature in said second tank exceeds that in said first tank. In order to achieve these desirable results the second tank may be placed at a higher elevation, and the plumbing connections are made so as to automatically transfer the heat one way only. Stratification assures that hot water is on tap, and also assures that solar heat is applied to the coldest water, which can be heated with greatest efficiency of solar heat collection. Also, the hot/warm liquid from stored solar heat and/or the backup heater is used and/or circulated in a unique manner and with apparatus which delivers warm and/or hot water to several points of use at different temperature levels and flow rates.

대표청구항 ▼

Multiple-tank heat storage and backup-heat combination means comprising tanks having tops and bottoms and upper areas and lower areas, a first of said tanks being a fluid heat-storage tank and first heat-producing means to impart heat to increase the temperature of fluid in said first storage tank,

Multiple-tank heat storage and backup-heat combination means comprising tanks having tops and bottoms and upper areas and lower areas, a first of said tanks being a fluid heat-storage tank and first heat-producing means to impart heat to increase the temperature of fluid in said first storage tank, a second of said tanks being a backup fluid heat-storage tank and first backup heat-producing means located at a level lower than the top of said second heat-storage tank to impart heat to increase the temperature of fluid in the upper area of said second heat-storage tank, first fluid-conduit means interconnecting the upper areas of said storage tanks, second fluid-conduit means interconnecting the lower areas of said storage tanks, natural thermosyphon forces causing fluid-flow from said first tank to said second tank when the temperature is higher in said first tank than in said second tank, said storage tanks and said fluid-conduit means being arranged and interconnected to limit reverse thermosyphon-flow to that liquid which is higher than said first backup heat-producing means, a third fluid-conduit connected to the second fluid-conduit means to permit fluid-flow in to the lower area of said first tank, or the lower area of said second tank, or both, and a fourth fluid conduit connected to the first fluid-conduit means to permit fluid-flow out from the upper area of said first tank, or the upper area of said second tank, or both, said first backup heat-producing means being in said second (backup-heat) tank, said first backup heat-producing means being located at a level substantially as high as the top of said first tank.