Abstract: An apparatus for heating a domestic water supply including a glass-lined storage tank for the domestic water supply and having a domestic water inlet port, a domestic water outlet port, and a heat-exchanging coil mounted therein. A heating tube is connected to the heat-exchanging coil to contain a recirculating fluid supply. The heat-exchanging coil within the glass-lined storage tank has a double-wall construction with a non-metallic outer wall in contact with a metallic inner wall. The double-wall prevents mixing of the domestic water supply with the recirculating fluid supply. The apparatus also includes a recirculating fluid heater positioned externally of the glass-lined storage tank to heat recirculating fluid to a temperature sufficient to heat the domestic water supply by heat transfer from the recirculating fluid in the heat-exchanging coil to the domestic water supply in the glass-lined storage tank.

Abstract: A solar heat storage and heat pump system includes an insulated heat storage vessel filled by a liquid heat storage medium. A first heat exchanger is deeply immersed in the storage vessel, with solar panel means operatively connected by a pair of delivery and return conduits to the first heat exchanger for delivery of solar-heated liquid to the first heat exchanger, and return. A second heat exchanger is shallowly immersed in the vessel, and a heat pump is operatively connected by a pair of conduits to the second heat exchanger for pumped circulating delivery of heat storage liquid to said heat pump for use in both heating and cooling operation.

Abstract: An apparatus for heating a domestic water supply including a glass-lined storage tank to contain the domestic water supply. A combustible fuel burner is positioned to heat the domestic water supply within the glass-lined storage tank. A solar heating tube is connected to supply solar heated fluid to a heat transfer coil mounted within the glass-lined storage tank. The heat transfer coil has a double-wall including a non-metallic outer wall in contact with a metallic inner wall, both walls being sealed to prevent mixing of the domestic water supply with the solar heated fluid. A sensor is positioned to sense the temperature of the solar heated fluid as it is delivered to the heat transfer coil.

Abstract: A solar thermal water heating system including a solar collector unit, first and second heat exchangers, and a drain back tank, ordered respectively in vertically descending relation. The solar energy collector comprises a plurality of heat absorbing modules formed by deforming two plates into intimate contact with parallel metallic pipes disposed intermediate the plates. The uppermost surface of the pair of plates is provided with a black body coating to emit infrared radiation when sunlight is incident thereon. A glazing is provided over such black body surface to freely transmit incident light to the black body surface but to reflect infrared heat energy emitted by the black body surface. A pump for pumping fluid from the drain back tank to the solar collector unit is positioned horizontally adjacent the drain back tank. The first heat exchanger is vertically disposed within the water storage tank for conducting heat to potable water within the storage tank.

Abstract: A solar water heating system includes a water storage tank to which a hot water outlet pipe and a cold water inlet pipe are connected. A solar-collector unit is mounted below the water storage tank. A downcomer pipe connects the water storage tank and the lower portion of the solar-collector unit. A return pipe connects the upper portion of the solar-collector unit and the water storage tank. A tube member is installed in the water storage tank and interconnects the downcomer pipe and the return pipe. The solar-collector unit, the downcomer pipe, the return pipe, and the tube member form a loop that is filled with deionized water.

Abstract: The present invention is a hot tub heater system. The hot tub heater system is comprised of a hot tub having water within. The hot tub heater system is also comprised of means for heating the water within the hot tub. The heating means comprises a hot water heater which heats a body of water within a tank and means for transferring heat from the water within the tank to the water of the hot tub without any intermixing. Preferably, the heat transferring means comprises a piping assembly which acts as a heat exchanger. The piping assembly can be a variety of different forms. The present invention allows a hot tub to be heated inexpensively with a domestic hot water heater.

Abstract: A steam generator having two vaporization chambers filled with molten metal salts for sequential flash evaporation of preheated atomized water through multiple vaporization tubes in said respective chambers. The molten metal salts are heated by secondary solar thermal input from lens assemblies and primary heat input from U-shaped hot air heating tubes within said vaporization chambers supplied by gas fired tube burners. Steam vapor generated by initial vaporization chamber is re-circulated to the secondary chamber outputting super heated steam. The molten metal vaporization chambers are encased in a single pressure vessel with re-circulation of condensate and multiple heat exchangers within.

Abstract: A solar roofing panel system for use in residential and commercial buildings employing conventional metal roofing components. The system collects and supplies thermal energy from the sun to heat the interior thereof and also is capable of providing solar generated electricity for powering the normal complement of household appliances. The system can also be adapted to provide a thermal energy source for absorption cooling for commercial applications such as supermarkets or the like. The system employs an air-to-liquid system in the preferred embodiment. The alternative embodiment has an air-to-air heat exchange system.

Abstract: A solar energy based domestic hot water system which employs a columnar-type heat exchanger designated as a thermal booster having two columns, through one of which passes extremely warm water coming from the output of a solar collector to prewarm colder water coming from the solar storage tank and passing through the second of which columns, on its way to the conventional electric or gas domestic hot water heater. The thermal booster warms the water in the second column primarily during periods when no hot water faucet in the hot water delivery system is in an actuated condition. Optionally a coil heater exchanger may be disposed in the upper section of the storage tank to warm entering cold water from the cold water inlet source prior to its passage through the second pipe as above on its route to the domestic hot water heater. Operation of the system requires minor modification of the domestic hot water heater of the system at its input pipe and by the inclusion of an extra value controlled outlet.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for converting solar energy into heat wherein a solar collector includes a plurality of mutually-coupled solar energy collector elements (1) coupled to a heat transfer fluid circuit, each collector element including a collector channel (3) located on the bottom of a collector chamber (37) delimited by a transparent cover, the collector chamber normally being connected to a high temperature reservoir (12) via connecting lines (10, 11), until a control valve arrangement (18) is reversed and the collector channel is disconnected from the high temperature reservoir and connected to a low temperature reservoir (13) for heat pump (26) operation when the temperature of the circulating heat transfer fluid falls below a predetermined minimum value detected by a temperature sensor (35) associated with the collector channel.