Heating system using otherwise wasted heat and method of use

Abstract

A flexible heat exchanger is incorporated into a ridge vent to form an assembly. The heat exchanger operates by collecting thermal energy (heat) from heated air exhausting from the attic space via the ridge vent. Air in the attic space is typically heated by the solar energy falling on the roof. Heat from this air is transferred through the wall of heat exchange tubes integrated into the ridge vent. The flow of heated air around the outside of the tubes is driven by the column of heated air that forms in the attic space, similar to the draft in a chimney. The chimney effect in the attic space circulates the flow of outside air into the soffit vents through the attic space where it is heated and then exhausted out the ridge vent, passing by and around the tubes before it exits.

1 . An energy recovery assembly for attachment to a roof of a structure having an interior air space beneath the roof and a vent opening through the roof communicating with the interior air space to permit air within the interior space to exit the interior space through the vent opening by convection, said heat recovery assembly comprising:
 an elongated flexible support, said support having a central portion between lateral side portions, said central portion being configured to laterally span said vent opening with said side portions fixable to the roof on opposite sides of the vent opening;   a plurality of flexible heat exchange tubes secured to the central portion of said support, said heat exchange tubes arranged to permit air flowing through the vent opening to be in direct contact with said heat exchange tubes,   wherein said energy recovery assembly is capable of being rolled and unrolled lengthwise and installed over the vent opening so that air flow through the vent opening transfers energy from the air to a working fluid circulating in said heat exchange tubes.   
     
     
         2 . The energy recovery assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of heat exchange tubes comprise a plurality of longitudinally extending tubes arranged in laterally spaced, substantially parallel relationship. 
     
     
         3 . The energy recovery assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said support web and said heat exchange tubes are constructed of plastic. 
     
     
         4 . The energy recovery assembly of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said plurality of heat exchange tubes is connected to at least one other of said heat exchange tubes to form a fluid flow path approximately twice a length of said energy recovery assembly. 
     
     
         5 . The energy recovery assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said support has a top surface and a bottom surface and said plurality of heat exchange tubes are suspended beneath said bottom surface so that air flows between said support and said heat exchange tubes. 
     
     
         6 . The energy recovery assembly of  claim 1 , where in said support is a flexible air permeable web or mesh material that conforms to the roof when installed. 
     
     
         7 . The energy recovery assembly of  claim 1 , comprising receptacles attached to said support and configured to receive and hold said plurality of heat exchange tubes in a substantially fixed position with respect to said support. 
     
     
         8 . A heat exchange assembly for attachment to a structure defining an interior air space and including an elongated vent opening having a length and communicating with the interior air space to permit air within the interior space to exit the interior space through the vent opening by convection, said exchange assembly comprising:
 a plurality of continuous, flexible, open ended heat exchange tubes of indeterminate length;   one or more supports, each including a central section between a pair of outer sections, said heat exchange tubes engaged with the central section of said supports at predetermined intervals along the length of said heat exchange tubes to maintain said heat exchange spaced from each other across said central section to permit air flow between said heat exchange tubes; and   a plurality of connectors securable to the open ends of at least two of said heat exchange tubes to define a fluid flow path having a length at least twice the length of said elongated vent,   wherein said heat exchange assembly is capable of being rolled and unrolled lengthwise and installed with said outer portions engaged to said structure on laterally opposite sides of said elongated vent to suspend said heat exchange tubes in direct contact with air flow exiting said interior air space.   
     
     
         9 . The heat exchange assembly of  claim 8 , wherein said plurality of heat exchange tubes are substantially parallel and substantially equally spaced across said central section. 
     
     
         10 . The heat exchange assembly of  claim 8 , wherein said support and said heat exchange tubes are constructed of plastic. 
     
     
         11 . The heat exchange assembly of  claim 8 , wherein said one or more supports comprise a single, longitudinally extending, air permeable mesh or web. 
     
     
         12 . The heat exchange assembly of  claim 8 , wherein said supports are positionable in a shape that conforms to the shape of a structure adjacent a vent in which the outer portions are disposed at dihedral angle relative to one another. 
     
     
         13 . An integrated roof ridge vent and heat exchange assembly for attachment to a roof of a structure having an interior air space beneath the roof and a vent opening through the roof communicating with the interior air space to permit air within the interior space to exit the interior space through the vent opening by convection, said heat recovery assembly comprising:
 an elongated flexible support of indeterminate length having a top surface and a bottom surface, said support having a central portion between a pair of lateral side portions configured to permit air flow therethrough, said lateral side portions having a thickness greater than said central portion; and   a plurality of flexible heat exchange tubes extending the indeterminate length of said elongated flexible support and secured adjacent the bottom surface of said central portion in spaced apart relationship to each other and spaced from said bottom surface to permit air flowing through the vent opening to flow around said heat exchange tubes,   wherein said integrated roof ridge vent and heat exchange assembly is capable of being rolled and unrolled lengthwise and installed spanning the vent opening so that air exiting the interior air space must flow past the heat exchange tubes.   
     
     
         14 . The integrated roof ridge vent and heat exchange assembly of  claim 13 , wherein said integrated roof ridge vent and heat exchange assembly is supplied as a continuous spiral roll. 
     
     
         15 . The integrated roof ridge vent and heat exchange assembly of  claim 13 , wherein said lateral side portions have a convoluted shape which defines open spaces to permit air flow between said top and bottom surfaces in a direction laterally away from said central portion. 
     
     
         16 . The integrated roof ridge vent and heat exchange assembly of  claim 13 , wherein said lateral side portions include an air permeable filter media which is secured to at least an outer lateral edge of said support to resist weather and insect penetration between said top and bottom surfaces. 
     
     
         17 . An energy recovery system adapted for use on a structure with a roof having an interior air space beneath the roof and a vent opening through the roof communicating with the interior air space to permit air within the interior space to exit the interior space through the vent opening by convection, said heat recovery system comprising:
 a first heat exchange assembly comprising:
 an elongated support, said support having a central portion and lateral side portions, said central portion being configured to laterally span said vent opening with said side portions fixed to the roof on opposite sides of the vent opening; 
 a plurality of heat exchange tubes secured to the central portion of said support, said heat exchange tubes arranged to permit air flowing through the vent opening to be in direct contact with said heat exchange tubes, 
 wherein said energy recovery assembly is installed over the vent opening so that air flow through the vent opening transfers energy from the air to a working fluid circulating in said heat exchange tubes; 
   a first temperature sensor arranged in said air space to detect a temperature of the air in said air space and produce a first temperature signal corresponding to the temperature of the air in said air space;   a fluid delivery loop defining a fluid flow path for a working fluid and including a circulation pump, said fluid delivery loop in fluid communication with said plurality of heat exchange tubes;   a second heat exchange assembly in fluid communication with said fluid delivery loop and arranged to transfer heat energy from said working fluid to a storage medium;   a second temperature sensor arranged to detect the temperature of said storage medium and generate a second temperature signal corresponding to the temperature of said storage medium; and   a controller arranged to compare said first and second temperature signals and activate said circulation pump when said first temperature exceeds said second temperature by a predetermined temperature differential ΔT.