Solar energy heating and cooling apparatus and method

Claim 1

A system for heating and cooling an enclosed space from solar radiation comprising: solar energy collector means for receiving a fluid and heating said fluid from said solar radiation; control means of said system being connected to said collector means, said control means having at least a heating mode and cooling mode of operation; conduit means connecting to said collector means; valving means in said conduit means operated by said control means; a single energy storage tank being connected by said conduit means and valving means to receive said fluid from said collector means therein, said single energy storage tank storing said fluid in either heated or cooled state as regulated by said control means; said system for heating including: at least two heat exchanger means connected by said conduit means and valving means for heating air from said enclosed space circulated therethrough, and for heating an energy storage fluid in said energy storage tank from heated fluid received from said collector means; said system for cooling including: jet compressor means connected by said conduit means and valving means to receive pressurized and vaporized fluid from said collector means, said jet compressor means discharging into condenser means; evaporative means receiving liquified fluid from said condenser means via said conduit means and said valving means, said evaporator means vaporizing said fluid in response to a low pressure drawn therein by said jet compressor means via said conduit means, said evaporator means thereby cooling said air from said enclosed space and said energy storage fluid in said energy storage tank; control means operable to actuate said jet compressor means to provide cooling as required during sunlight hours and to store said energy storage fluid in said single energy storage tank for recovery during cooler hours when said jet compressor means is not required for cooling purposes, first circulation means for moving said fluid through said conduit means and valving means to said collector means.

Claim 2

A system for heating and cooling an enclosed space from solar radiation comprising: solar energy collector means for receiving a fluid and heating said fluid from said solar radiation; control means of said system being connected to said collector means, said control means having at least a heating mode and cooling mode of operation; conduit means connecting to said collector means; valving means in said conduit means operated by said control means; a single energy storage tank being connected by said conduit means and valving means to receive said fluid from said collector means therein, said single energy storage tank storing said fluid in either heated or cooled state as regulated by said control means; said system for heating including: at least two heat exchanger means connected by said conduit means and valving means for heating air from said enclosed space circulated therethrough, and for heating an energy storage fluid in said energy storage tank from heated fluid received from said collector means; said system for cooling including: jet compressor means connected by said conduit means and valving means to receive pressurized and vaporized fluid from said collector means, said jet compressor means discharging into condenser means; evaporative means receiving liquified fluid from said condenser means via said conduit means and said valving means, said evaporator means vaporizing said fluid in response to a low pressure drawn therein by said jet compressor means via said conduit means, said evaporator means thereby cooling said air from said enclosed space and said energy storage fluid in said energy storage tank; control means operable to actuate said jet compressor means to provide cooling as required during sunlight hours and to store said energy storage fluid in said single energy storage tank for recovery during cooler hours when said jet compressor means is not required for cooling purposes, first circulation means for moving said fluid through said conduit means and valving means to said collector means.

Claim 9

A method of heating and cooling an enclosed space from solar energy consisting of the following steps: heating a fluid in a solar energy collector means; controlling flow of said fluid from said collector means in response to at least a heating mode and a cooling mode by valving means and conduit means; regulating pressure of said fluid from said collector means during said cooling mode by pressure regulating valve means; discharging said pressurized fluid from said pressure regulating valve means through a jet compressor into condenser means; drawing a low pressure in evaporator means by said jet compressor, said evaporator means being connected to said condenser means by expansion valve means; cooling of air being circulated from said enclosed space by said evaporator means during said cooling mode; first storing of excess cooling in an energy storage tank during said cooling mode via said conduit means and said cooling means connecting said energy storage fluid of said energy storage tank to said evaporator means; second storing of excess heating in said energy storage tank during said cooling mode via said conduit means connecting said energy storage fluid to said energy storage tank and to said solar energy collector means; moving said heated fluid from said collector means via said valving means and conduit means to heat exchanger means during said heating mode; heating air circulated from said enclosed space across said heat exchanger means during said heating mode; third storing of excess heating in said energy storage tank during said heating mode via said conduit means and said valving means connecting said energy storage tank to said fluid received from and heated by said collector means; and returning said fluid to said collector means.

Claim 10

A method of heating and cooling an enclosed space from solar energy consisting of the following steps: heating a fluid in a solar energy collector means; controlling flow of said fluid from said collector means in response to at least a heating mode and a cooling mode by valving means and conduit means; regulating pressure of said fluid from said collector means during said cooling mode by pressure regulating valve means; discharging said pressurized fluid from said pressure regulating valve means through a jet compressor into condenser means; drawing a low pressure in evaporator means by said jet compressor, said evaporator means being connected to said condenser means by expansion valve means; cooling of air being circulated from said enclosed space by said evaporator means during said cooling mode; first storing of excess cooling in an energy storage tank during said cooling mode via said conduit means and said cooling means connecting said energy storage fluid of said energy storage tank to said evaporator means; second storing of excess heating in said energy storage tank during said cooling mode via said conduit means connecting said energy storage fluid to said energy storage tank and to said solar energy collector means; moving said heated fluid from said collector means via said valving means and conduit means to heat exchanger means during said heating mode; heating air circulated from said enclosed space across said heat exchanger means during said heating mode; third storing of excess heating in said energy storage tank during said heating mode via said conduit means and said valving means connecting said energy storage tank to said fluid received from and heated by said collector means; and returning said fluid to said collector means.