Thermal pressurization chambers with sequentially controlled operation for use in an air conditioning unit

Abstract

A solar power refrigerant heating device for use in an air conditioning system includes an intake passageway and a plurality of intake valves are in fluid communication with the intake passageway. A plurality of heating chambers are in fluid communication with respective ones of the plurality of intake valves. A plurality of discharge valves are in communication with respective ones of the plurality of heating chambers. A solar powered temperature control device is in thermal communication with the heating chambers for converting solar energy into heat and selectively applying the heat to the heating chambers. The intake valves, the discharge valves, and the solar powered temperature control device are operatively connected to facilitate sequential receipt of refrigerant from the intake passageway into the heating chambers, heating of the received refrigerant within the heating chambers, and discharge of the refrigerant from the heating chambers according to a prescribed operational sequence.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A solar power refrigerant heating device for use in an air conditioning system, the heating device comprising:
 an intake passageway adapted to receive refrigerant from a refrigerant source;   a plurality of intake valves in fluid communication with the intake passageway at respective positions along the intake passageway;   a plurality of heating chambers in fluid communication with respective ones of the plurality of intake valves;   a plurality of discharge valves in communication with respective ones of the plurality of heating chambers; and   a solar powered temperature control device in thermal communication with the plurality of heating chambers and being configured to convert solar energy into heat and selectively apply the heat to each of the plurality of heating chambers;   wherein the plurality of intake valves, the plurality of the discharge valves, and the solar powered temperature control device are operatively connected to facilitate sequential receipt of refrigerant from the intake passageway into the plurality of heating chambers, heating of the received refrigerant within the plurality of heating chambers, and discharge of the refrigerant from the plurality of heating chambers according to a prescribed operational sequence.   
     
     
         2 . The heating device recited in  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of intake valves are one-way valves configured to allow fluid flow from the intake passageway to a respective one of the plurality of heating chambers. 
     
     
         3 . The heating device recited in  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of discharge valves are one-way valves configured to allow fluid flow out of a respective one of the plurality of heating chambers. 
     
     
         4 . The heating device recited in  claim 1 , wherein the solar powered temperature control device includes a solar panel and an electric heating element, the solar panel being configured to generate electricity used to power the electric heating element. 
     
     
         5 . The heating device recited in  claim 1 , wherein the solar powered temperature control device includes a solar thermal heat collector. 
     
     
         6 . The heating device recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a discharge passageway in fluid communication with the plurality of discharge valves. 
     
     
         7 . The heating device recited in  claim 1 , wherein the solar powered temperature control device is configured to provide selective cooling to each of the plurality of heating chambers. 
     
     
         8 . An air conditioning system comprising:
 a heating device comprising:
 an intake passageway adapted to receive refrigerant from a refrigerant source; 
 a plurality of intake valves in fluid communication with the intake passageway at respective positions along the intake passageway; 
 a plurality of heating chambers in fluid communication with respective ones of the plurality of intake valves; 
 a plurality of discharge valves in communication with respective ones of the plurality of heating chambers; and 
 a solar powered temperature control device in thermal communication with the plurality of heating chambers and being configured to convert solar energy into heat and selectively apply the heat to each of the plurality of heating chambers; 
 wherein the plurality of intake valves, the plurality of the discharge valves, and the solar powered temperature control device are operatively connected to facilitate sequential receipt of refrigerant from the intake passageway into the plurality of heating chambers, heating of the received refrigerant within the plurality of heating chambers, and discharge of the refrigerant from the plurality of heating chambers according to a prescribed operational sequence; 
   a condenser unit in communication with the heating unit to receive refrigerant from the heating unit, the condenser being configured to cool refrigerant to facilitate transition of the refrigerant from a gas phase to a liquid phase; and   an expansion valve in communication with the condenser, the expansion valve being configured to facilitate reduction of pressure of the refrigerant as the refrigerant passes through the expansion valve.   
     
     
         9 . The air conditioning system recited in  claim 8 , wherein each of the plurality of intake valves are one-way valves configured to allow fluid flow from the intake passageway to a respective one of the plurality of heating chambers. 
     
     
         10 . The air conditioning system recited in  claim 8 , wherein each of the plurality of discharge valves are one-way valves configured to allow fluid flow out of a respective one of the plurality of heating chambers. 
     
     
         11 . The air conditioning system recited in  claim 8 , wherein the solar powered temperature control device includes a solar panel and an electric heating element, the solar panel being configured to generate electricity used to power the electric heating element. 
     
     
         12 . The air conditioning system recited in  claim 8 , wherein the solar powered temperature control device includes a solar thermal heat collector. 
     
     
         13 . The air conditioning system recited in  claim 8 , further comprising a discharge passageway in fluid communication with the plurality of discharge valves. 
     
     
         14 . The air conditioning system recited in  claim 8 , wherein the solar powered temperature control device is configured to provide selective cooling to each of the plurality of heating chambers. 
     
     
         15 . A method of using solar power in an air conditioning system, the method comprising the steps of:
 receiving solar energy at a solar powered temperature control device configured to convert solar energy into thermal energy;   receiving refrigerant from a refrigerant source at an intake passageway; and   facilitating sequential receipt of refrigerant from the intake passageway into a plurality of heating chambers, heating of the received refrigerant within the plurality of heating chambers by the solar powered temperature control, and discharge of the refrigerant from the plurality of heating chambers according to a prescribed operational sequence.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the step of facilitating sequential receipt of refrigerant from the intake passageway into the plurality of heating chambers includes sequential opening and closing of a plurality of one-way valves positioned along the intake passageway in communication with respective ones of the plurality of heating chambers. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein step of discharging the refrigerant from the plurality of heating chambers includes discharging of the refrigerant into a single discharge passageway in communication with each of the plurality of heating chambers. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising the step of generate electricity from the received solar energy to power an electric heating element. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising the step of cooling the plurality of heating chambers in accordance with the prescribed operational sequence. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the heating of the received refrigerant within the plurality of heating chambers results in a prescribed increase in fluid pressure of the refrigerant.