Improvements to thermodynamic solar heat transfer systems

Abstract

The invention describes improvements to heat transfer systems applied to buildings, particularly those commonly referred to as Themodynamic or Solar Themodynamic.

1 . A heat transfer system suitable for generating hot water in at least one area of a building comprising:
 at least one heat transfer panel for taking in heat from an environment to convert a refrigerant fluid from a liquid into a vapor;   a heat pump for compressing refrigerant vapor from the panel into hot refrigerant vapor; and   a condenser for transferring heat from the hot refrigerant vapor to a water supply;   wherein the system further comprises means for diverting the hot refrigerant vapor into the panel.   
     
     
         2 . A heat transfer system as claimed in  claim 1  further comprising a temperature sensor. 
     
     
         3 . A heat transfer system as claimed in  claim 1  further comprising a humidity sensor. 
     
     
         4 . A heat transfer system as claimed in  claim 1  further comprising a means for controlling the means of diversion of hot refrigerant vapor into the panel. 
     
     
         5 . A heat transfer system as claimed in  claim 4  wherein the control means activates the diversion means in response to readings from the sensor or sensors. 
     
     
         6 . A heat transfer system as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the control means is an electronic control unit or other computing device. 
     
     
         7 . A heat transfer system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the refrigerant fluid used is R-134a and reaches a temperature of up to approximately 90 degrees centigrade when in the hot refrigerant vapor phase. 
     
     
         8 . A heat transfer system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the panel is an aluminum roll-bonded panel comprising refrigerant channels with walls having a thickness. 
     
     
         9 . A heat transfer system as claimed in  claim 8  wherein the wall thickness of the refrigerant panel is sufficient to withstand pressures of at least approximately 20 bar. 
     
     
         10 . A heat transfer system as claimed in  claim 8  wherein the wall thickness of the refrigerant panel is sufficient to withstand pressures of at least approximately 25 bar. 
     
     
         11 . A heat transfer system as claimed in  claim 8  wherein the wall thickness of the refrigerant panel is substantially greater than 0.7 mm. 
     
     
         12 . A heat transfer system as claimed in  claim 8  wherein the wall thickness of the refrigerant panel is at least approximately 0.9 mm. 
     
     
         13 . A heat transfer system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the water supply is heated to a maximum of at least approximately 65 degrees centigrade. 
     
     
         14 . A heat transfer system as claimed in  claim 13  further comprising a tank acting as a condenser for the hot refrigerant gas and in which a water supply is heated by the hot refrigerant gas and stored, wherein the tank further comprises a coil in which a second water supply is in turn heated by the stored hot water within the tank. 
     
     
         15 . A heat transfer system as claimed in  claim 14  wherein the first water supply is used within a heating circuit in a building, and the second water supply is used as a hot water source. 
     
     
         16 . A heat transfer system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the panel is designed so that refrigerant fluid may take a number of different paths through the channels in the panel. 
     
     
         17 . A heat transfer system as claimed in  claim 16  wherein the panel is further designed so that each different possible path is of substantially the same length. 
     
     
         18 . A heat transfer system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the environment is an external environment. 
     
     
         19 . A heat transfer system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the environment is a room or other area within a building. 
     
     
         20 . A heat transfer system suitable for generating hot water in at least one area of a building comprising:
 at least one heat transfer panel for taking in heat from an environment to convert a refrigerant fluid from liquid into a vapor;   a heat pump for compressing refrigerant vapor from the panel into hot refrigerant vapor; and   a condenser for transferring heat from the hot refrigerant vapor to a water supply;   wherein the environment is a room or other area within a building.   
     
     
         21 . A heat transfer system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the means for diverting hot refrigerant vapor into the panel is a fluid control valve. 
     
     
         22 . A heat transfer system as claimed in  claim 21  wherein the fluid control valve is a 4-way valve. 
     
     
         23 . A tank for use in a heat transfer system, which may act as a condenser for hot refrigerant gas and in which a water supply is heated by the hot refrigerant gas and stored comprising:
 a coil in which a second water supply is in turn heated by the stored hot water within the tank.