Water/swimming pool pump using solar thermal technology enhancing the overall efficiency

Abstract

A heating system is described that uses solar thermal technology in the heating cycle using the compression principle to reduce the electrical consumption of the compressors, thereby increasing the efficiency of systems being used for heating with an increased refrigerant flow. Thermal energy provided from solar thermal energy collectors may be used. The rate of efficiency of the total heating system depends heavily on the size and construction of the heat exchanger array and the pipework to and from these heat exchangers. The system uses proper dimensioning, components in the pipework, and logic groups with sensors and actuators attached in that pipework to increase energy efficiency.

1 - 12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . A heating system for heating a water using solar energy, the system comprising: one or more solar thermal energy collectors, a heat exchanger, a condenser, a compressor, and one or more refrigerant pipes that connect the foregoing components of the heating system in a cycle, wherein a refrigerant flows through the one or more refrigerant pipes from the one or more solar thermal energy collectors to the heat exchanger, from the heat exchanger to the condenser, from the condenser to the compressor, and from the compressor back to the one or more solar thermal energy collectors. 
     
     
         14 . The heating system of  claim 13 , wherein the one or more refrigerant pipes comprise a first pipe that connects the one or more solar thermal energy collectors to the heat exchanger, a second pipe that connects the heat exchanger to the condenser, a third pipe that connects the condenser to the compressor, and a fourth pipe that connects the compressor to the one or more solar thermal energy collectors. 
     
     
         15 . The heating system of  claim 13 , wherein the heat exchanger increases the temperature of the refrigerant arriving from the one or more solar thermal energy collectors by heating the surrounding liquid coming into contact with the heat exchanger. 
     
     
         16 . The heating system of  claim 13 , wherein the compressor is a fixed speed compressor. 
     
     
         17 . The heating system of  claim 13 , wherein the compressor is a variable speed compressor. 
     
     
         18 . The heating system of  claim 13 , where the heating system comprises more than one heat exchanger. 
     
     
         19 . The heating system of  claim 14 , further comprising at least a first 4-way valve, wherein the one or more refrigerant lines further comprises a fifth pipe that connects the at least first 4-way valve to the one or more solar thermal energy collectors so that the refrigerant flowing from the condenser bypasses the compressor. 
     
     
         20 . The heating system of  claim 14 , further comprising at least a second 4-way valve, wherein the one or more refrigerant lines further comprises a sixth pipe that connects the at least second 4-way valve to the heat exchanger so that the refrigerant flowing from the compressor bypasses the one or more solar thermal energy collectors. 
     
     
         21 . The heating system of  claim 19 , further comprising at least a second 4-way valve, wherein the one or more refrigerant lines further comprises a sixth pipe that connects the at least second 4-way valve to the heat exchanger so that the refrigerant flowing from the compressor bypasses the one or more solar thermal energy collectors. 
     
     
         22 . The heating system of  claim 21 , wherein the at least first 4-way valve and at least second 4-way valve are connected to a logic controller that is connected to one or more sensors. 
     
     
         23 . The heating system of  claim 19 , further comprising a refrigerant pump to which the fifth pipe is connected. 
     
     
         24 . The heating system of  claim 19 , further comprising one or more one-way valves. 
     
     
         25 . A heating system for heating a water using solar energy, the system comprising:
 one or more solar thermal energy collectors;   a heat exchanger connected to the one or more solar thermal energy collectors;   a condenser connected to the heat exchanger;   a compressor connected to the condenser at an in-flow and to the one or more solar thermal energy collectors at an out-flow;   one or more refrigerant pipes that connect the foregoing components of the heating system in a cycle, wherein a refrigerant flows through the cycle of the heating system through the one or more refrigerant pipes; and   at least a first 4-way valve, wherein the one or more refrigerant lines further comprises a pipe that connects the at least first 4-way valve to the one or more solar thermal energy collectors so that the refrigerant flowing from the condenser bypasses the compressor.   
     
     
         26 . The heating system of  claim 25 , further comprising at least a second 4-way valve, wherein the one or more refrigerant lines further comprises a pipe that connects the at least second 4-way valve to the heat exchanger so that the refrigerant flowing from the compressor bypasses the one or more solar thermal energy collectors. 
     
     
         27 . The heating system of  claim 25 , wherein the one or more refrigerant pipes comprise a first pipe that connects the one or more solar thermal energy collectors to the heat exchanger, a second pipe that connects the heat exchanger to the condenser, a third pipe that connects the condenser to the compressor, a fourth pipe that connects the compressor to the one or more solar thermal energy collectors, and the pipe that connects the at least first 4-way valve to the one or more solar thermal energy collectors. 
     
     
         28 . The heating system of  claim 26 , wherein the at least first 4-way valve and at least second 4-way valve are connected to a logic controller that is connected to one or more sensors for measuring temperature or pressure or both at various locations in the cycle. 
     
     
         29 . A method for heating water using thermal energy, the method comprising the steps of:
 (a) reducing energy consumption by a compressor in a heating system by increasing mass flow and temperature of refrigerant by heating the refrigerant using one or more solar thermal energy collectors to capture solar radiation to heat the refrigerant, wherein the heating system comprises the one or more solar thermal energy collectors, a heat exchanger, a condenser, the compressor, and one or more refrigerant pipes that connect the foregoing components of the heating system in a cycle; and   (b) moving the refrigerant through the heating system so that the refrigerant flows through the one or more refrigerant pipes from the one or more solar thermal energy collectors to the heat exchanger, from the heat exchanger to the condenser, from the condenser to the compressor, and from the compressor back to the one or more solar thermal energy collectors to complete the cycle.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein step (a) of the method further comprises the step of:
 (c) further reducing energy consumption by the compressor by bypassing the compressor using at least a first 4-way valve so that the refrigerant flows from the condenser directly to the one or more solar thermal energy collectors without passing through the compressor.   
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the 4-way valve is controlled by a logic controller comprising sensors for measuring pressure or temperature or both at various locations in the cycle. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein step (a) of the method further comprises the step of:
 (d) using the logic controller, decreasing flow through the compressor as controlled by the logic controller and 4-way valve as mass flow is increased is increased by the one or more solar thermal energy collectors and heat exchanger.