Abstract: A heat transfer system for effecting heating and cooling at maximum system operating cost efficiency in both modes of operation. In a preferred embodiment, a solar collector is utilized to transfer radiant heat from the sun to a heat storage medium, such as water, which is circulated through a water coil of an indoor heat exchanger. A conventional heat pump has an indoor refrigerant coil supported in the same heat exchanger in thermal contact with the water coil. During heating or cooling, air is passed through the heat exchanger and the heat pump is used to supplement the circulating water when the water is insufficient for heating or cooling purposes.The heat exchanger is formed by interpositioning the water carrying coil and the refrigerant carrying coil in thermal contact with each other through the use of common coil fins for the separate fluid carrying conduits.

Abstract: An improved engine cooling system is combined with an automotive air conditioning system for utilizing otherwise waste heat from an engine to vaporize refrigerant fluid which is condensed and pumped back to the engine in a closed cycle. In a cooling mode, vaporized refrigerant is conveyed via a jet ejector to the automobile radiator, a condensed portion of the refrigerant fluid being drawn by the ejector through a throttling valve and a conditioner air coil to provide evaporative cooling. In a heating mode, the vaporized refrigerant is conveyed directly to the conditioner air coil, which then serves as a condenser to provide condensation heating. The partially condensed refrigerant is further condensed at the radiator and then pumped back to the engine.

Abstract: A system for utilizing latent heat stored in a crystallizable liquid heat storage medium subject to super-cooling, wherein the storage medium is continuously circulated past a heat exchanger positioned in the upper portion of an enclosed space containing a body of such storage medium to effect super-cooling thereof, then past a bed of seed crystals in the lower portion of such space to effect partial crystallization thereof, and then back past the heat exchanger.

Abstract: This invention combines a hot water heater which conventionally supplies hot water for household use, a hot air furnace and an air conditioning evaporator coil conventionally provided in the plenum of the furnace as a component of a central air conditioning system, by means of pipes from the hot water heater to the air conditioning evaporator coil. Hot water heated by the hot water heater circulates through the evaporator coil which becomes the heat source for the air moving through the furnace and ductwork throughout the house. Valve means are provided in the water pipe lines to isolate the hot water heater from the air conditioning evaporator coil when the coil is used as a component of the air conditioning system during the summer months. Valve means are provided in the air conditioning lines to isolate the coil from the air conditioning compressor and condensor unit during the winter months.

Abstract: An air conditioning system, particularly well suited for use in a multi-zoned building, includes an air conditioning unit for each zone. These air conditioning units can be either all reversible cycle air cooling and heating units or a mix of reversible cycle units and air cooling only units. Each unit, regardless of whether it is a reversible cycle or cooling only unit, has a refrigerant-water contacted coil and a refrigerant-air contacted coil. The refrigerant-water contacted coil of all the units are interconnected by a closed loop water circulation circuit. At least one of these units has air ducts for passing out-of-doors air across its refrigerant-air contacted coil and into the building zone served by it.

Abstract: An air conditioning system for building utilizes a vertically aligned, generally straight conduit rain tower for scrubbing and pumping air between the exhaust air conduit system and the supply air conduit system in conjunction with an evaporative water chiller utilizing a venturi to create a vacuum in the water chiller for low temperature vaporization of return water. Gravity flow of water through the venturi is used to create the suction head.

Abstract: Efficiency of an open-cycle air conditioning apparatus and method for heating and cooling is improved and the economy of external power is increased both with respect to cost and energy consumption by providing a combination of a primary heater and a secondary heater for heating the regeneration stream for regenerating the desiccant means in the air conditioning apparatus. The thermal source for the primary heater may utilize waste heat or solar energy which is transferred to a solid phase thermal storage means by a gaseous phase heat exchange medium. The thermal energy may be transferred from the thermal storage means to the regeneration stream of the open-cycle air conditioning apparatus either directly by passing the air stream over the solid phase thermal storage means or indirectly by passing liquid in an enclosed system through the solid phase thermal storage means and the regeneration stream.

Abstract: An air conditioning system comprising a heat exchanger using the conduction principle to impart a portion of the heating or cooling from the air exhausted from a building or facility to a make-up air supply and a heat pump which provides supplemental heating or cooling for the make-up air supply to bring it to the desired temperature for use in the building or facility.

Abstract: A ventilating system which affords recuperative heat exchange between the supply air and the spent air and which incorporates a refrigerating machine as a heat pump which may be operated either to supplement the recuperative heat exchange or to cool the supply air without recuperative heat exchange between the supply air and the spent air. The system includes a heat exchanger in the supply-air duct and a second heat exchanger in the spent-air duct. The two heat exchangers are interconnected in a fluid circuit so that during the heating season, the fluid is heated by the spent air to warm the supply air. When the refrigerating machine is operting as a heat pump, the fluid discharged from the supply-air heat exchanger is passed through the evaporator and the fluid passing from the spent-air exchanger to the supply-air exchanger is passed through the condenser.

Abstract: An air heating and cooling system for a building includes an expansion type refrigeration circuit and a vapor power circuit. The refrigeration circuit includes two heat exchangers, one of which is communicated with a source of indoor air from the building and the other of which is communicated with a source of air from outside the building. The vapor power circuit includes two heat exchangers, one of which is disposed in series air flow relationship with the indoor refrigeration circuit heat exchanger and the other of which is disposed in series air flow relationship with the outdoor refrigeration circuit heat exchanger. Fans powered by electricity generated by a vapor power circuit alternator circulate indoor air through the two indoor heat exchangers and circulate outside air through the two outdoor heat exchangers.

Abstract: A combined heating and cooling system for a building is described. The system includes a heating circuit and a cooling circuit. The circuits are coupled to heat energy storage reservoirs. Each reservoir defines an elongate flow path along which water can flow in the form of a column. Using heat from the heating circuit, one or more of the reservoirs can be charged with hot water which is stored in the reservoir(s). The stored hot water is subsequently used to boost the temperature in the heating circuit. Similarly, water cooled by the cooling circuit can be stored in other reservoir(s) for subsequent use in boosting the cooling action of the cooling circuit. A heating system or a cooling system may also be provided.

Abstract: An air conditioning system utilizing one or more water source heat pumps assisted by solar radiation, terrestrial re-radiation and ambient air above predetermined temperature levels; operating primarily in cooperation with a stratified thermal mass in the form of a hot liquid storage tank that is compartmented according to the operational temperatures of high range closed circuit solar energy accumulation, moderate range closed circuit heat pump requirements and low range auxiliary needs, the collection of solar heat being applied to all ranges whereby temperature differential is maximized for solar collection; and operating secondarily in cooperation with a thermal mass in the form of a cold liquid storage tank charged through a cooler means and/or assisted by terrestrial re-radiation and used to provide supplementary cooling capacity for the heat pump when required, whereby the operational water temperature range of the heat pump is maintained for effective functioning of the system.

Abstract: A ventilating unit has separate passages connecting internal and external environments, and a reversible heat pump with evaporator in one passage and condenser in the other passage. Separate reversible axial flow fans are located in the two passages. Two ventilating modes are provided, in each of which the fans are moving air in opposite directions through the passages. When the internal environment is relatively warm, the incoming air passes over the evaporator and the outgoing air over the condenser, and vice versa when the internal environment is relatively cool. Special fan design facilitates direction reversal, and also variable speed operation. The unit also has an additional inlet with a heater, and control means are adapted to provide a recirculation mode in which the recirculated air is heated thereby.

Abstract: There is provided a method and apparatus for heating tap water and radiator water by means of a heat pump, and complementarily also by means of a conventional fuel fired furnace. The condensor unit of the heat pump is divided into two heat exchangers. The first heat exchangers takes care of the superheat, and some of the condensation heat of the coolant vapor of the heat pump, and heats the tap water to a temperature which is higher than the condensation temperature. The second heat exchanger condensor heats the radiator water to a temperature corresponding to the condensation temperature of the coolant vapor.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an integrated thermal energy control system for heating and cooling simultaneously or separately a plurality of hot or cool working units, the hot and cool working units corresponding to hot and cold appliances and energy units customarily performing a supporting fuction in a dwelling design or being an appliance customarily used in a structure or a household. To heat or cool these working units, a heat pump is provided and has associated therewith a primary fluid circuit means having a working fluid for heating and cooling a fluid contained in two heat exchangers, the heat exchangers being referred to as a hot heat exchanger or a heat transfer tank and a cool heat exchanger or a cool transfer tank.