Passive heating, cooling, and ventilation system

Abstract

A ventilation system includes a turbine positioned on a building structure, wherein the turbine is configured to create a low pressure area in the building structure. A first air flow path is positioned between the turbine and an interior of the building structure, and a second air flow path is positioned between the turbine and a thermal source. The ventilation system further includes a means for independently controlling a rate of air flow within the first and second air flow paths.

1 . A ventilation system comprising:
 a turbine positioned on a building structure, wherein the turbine is configured to create a low pressure area in the building structure;   a first air flow path positioned between the turbine and an interior of the building structure;   a second air flow path positioned between the turbine and a thermal source; and   means for independently controlling a rate of air flow within the first and second air flow paths.   
     
     
         2 . The ventilation system according to  claim 1 , wherein the low pressure area is created from a rotation of the turbine due to wind outside of the building structure. 
     
     
         3 . The ventilation system according to  claim 2 , wherein the rate of air flow within the first air flow path is due primarily to a difference between the low pressure area and a high pressure area within the building structure. 
     
     
         4 . The ventilation system according to  claim 3 , wherein the thermal source comprises a solar collector. 
     
     
         5 . The ventilation system according to  claim 4 , wherein the solar collector comprises:
 a lower vent configured to draw air from within the building structure;   a transparent surface configured to collect solar radiation and heat air within the second air flow path; and   an upper vent configured to transmit the heated air into the low pressure area.   
     
     
         6 . The ventilation system according to  claim 2 , further comprising an air inlet configured to draw air from below the building structure, wherein the air located below the building structure is cooler than air within the low pressure area. 
     
     
         7 . The ventilation system according to  claim 2 , wherein air flow through the turbine is increased by hot air flowing within the second air flow path that is heated by the thermal source. 
     
     
         8 . The ventilation system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a chimney configured to absorb solar heat to increase the rate of air flow to the turbine. 
     
     
         9 . The ventilation system according to  claim 8 , further comprising a reflective roof surface configured to increase an amount of solar heat that is absorbed by the chimney. 
     
     
         10 . The ventilation system according to  claim 8 , further comprising a trombe wall positioned between the chimney and the thermal source, wherein the trombe wall is configured to absorb solar heat passing into the building structure. 
     
     
         11 . The ventilation system according to  claim 10 , further comprising one or more mirrors positioned adjacent a transparent surface of the trombe wall, wherein the one or more mirrors are configured to increase an effective collection area of the transparent surface. 
     
     
         12 . The ventilation system according to  claim 1 , wherein the turbine comprises a heat-absorbing surface configured to increase air flow through the turbine. 
     
     
         13 . The ventilation system according to  claim 1 , wherein the means for independently controlling the rate of flow within the first and second air flow paths is configured to direct the air flow from the second air flow path into an interior of the structure. 
     
     
         14 . The ventilation system according to  claim 1 , wherein the turbine contains at least one bearing, and wherein the second air flow path terminates above the at least one bearing. 
     
     
         15 . The ventilation system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a screened mesh positioned within the turbine to prevent entry of foreign objects. 
     
     
         16 . A method, comprising:
 converting wind power into a rotation of a wind turbine, wherein the wind turbine is positioned on a building structure;   creating a low pressure region within the building structure and below the wind turbine;   directing airflow through a first air flow path positioned between a vent of the building structure and the low pressure region;   directing airflow through a second air flow path positioned between a thermal source and the low pressure region; and   independently controlling the airflow within the first and second air flow paths.   
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the vent is configured to draw air into the first air flow path from an interior of the building structure. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the air flow in the second air flow path improves combustion of the thermal source. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 16 , further comprising connecting the first airflow path to the second airflow path, wherein the air flow in the second airflow path comprises heated air directed from the thermal source into the first airflow path. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 16 , further comprising heating water in a heat exchanger, wherein the thermal source comprises a solar collector configured to transmit solar heat to the water. 
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 20 , wherein a water tank is connected to the heat exchanger, and wherein the method further comprises:
 circulating water from the water tank to the heat exchanger and back to the water tank through convection; and   pressurizing the water tank by gravity flow of water from a secondary tank.   
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein the water tank is thermally insulated, and wherein the method further comprises opening a door adjacent the water tank to heat an interior of the building structure. 
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 20 , further comprising focusing solar radiation onto a focused area on the heat exchanger, wherein a position of the focused area on the heat exchanger varies according to an angle of incident sunlight. 
     
     
         24 . The method according to  claim 23 , wherein the solar collector comprises a transparent surface configured to focus the solar radiation, and wherein the method further comprises increasing an effective collection area of the transparent surface by configuring one or more mirrors adjacent the transparent surface to reflect the sunlight to the heat exchanger. 
     
     
         25 . The method according to  claim 24 , wherein the transparent surface comprises one or more Fresnel lenses. 
     
     
         26 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the thermal source is located in a composting toilet.