Temperature conditioning system suitable for use with a solar energy collection and storage apparatus or a low temperature energy source

Claim 2

A temperature conditioning system comprising: refrigeration storage means containing a refrigerant separated into a liquid phase and a gaseous phase; a load pump having an inlet portion and an outlet portion, the inlet portion being connected to the portion of the refrigerant storage means containing the liquid refrigerant; a load evaporator connected in a heat exchanging relationship with a refrigeration load, the load evaporator having an inlet portion and an outlet portion, the inlet portion being connected to the outlet portion of the load pump and the outlet portion being connected to the refrigerant storage means; a drive pump having an inlet portion and an outlet portion, the inlet portion being connected to the portion of the refrigerant storage means containing the liquid refrigerant; a drive evaporator connected in a heat exchanging relationship with a heat source, the drive evaporator having an inlet portion and an outlet portion, the inlet portion being connected to the outlet portion of the drive pump; an ejector having a drive inlet portion connected to the outlet portion of the drive evaporator, a suction inlet portion connected to the portion of the refrigerant storage means containing the gaseous refrigerant, a mixing portion in fluid communication with the drive and suction inlet portions, and a diffuser portion in fluid communication with the mixing portion; and a condensor connected in a heat exchanging relationship with a heat sink, the condensor having an inlet portion and an outlet portion, the inlet portion being connected to the diffuser portion of the ejector and the outlet portion being connected to the refrigerant storage means.

Claim 3

The temperature conditioning system of claim 1 wherein the refrigerant storage means comprises: an expansion tank containing refrigerant separated into a liquid phase and a gaseous phase.

Claim 4

The temperature conditioning system of claim 2 wherein the refrigerant storage means further comprises: an expansion valve connected between the outlet portion of the condensor and the expansion tank.

Claim 5

The temperature conditioning system of claim 3 wherein the refrigerant storage means further comprises: a surge tank containing refrigerant interposed between the outlet portion of the condensor and the expansion valve.

Claim 6

The temperature conditioning system of claim 4 wherein the drive pump is further characterized as having the inlet portion thereof connected to the portion of the surge tank containing the liquid phase of the refrigerant.

Claim 7

The temperature conditioning system of claim 4 wherein the drive pump is further characterized as having the inlet portion thereof connected to the portion of the expansion tank containing the liquid phase of the refrigerant.

Claim 8

The temperature conditioning system of claim 6 defined further to include: means interposed between the surge tank, the expansion tank and the inlet to the drive pump for selectively adjusting the relative amounts of liquid refrigerant being drawn from the expansion tank and the surge tank into the drive pump.

Claim 9

The temperature conditioning system of claim 1 further comprising: a blower connected between the suction inlet portion of the ejector and the portion of the refrigerant storage means containing the gaseous refrigerant; and blower control means responsive to the pressure in the portion of the refrigerant storage means containing the gaseous refrigerant, the blower control means actuating the blower in response to a pressure exceeding a predetermined pressure.

Claim 10

The temperature conditioning system of claim 1 further comprising: a pressure control valve interposed between the diffuser portion of the ejector and the inlet portion of the condensor; and pressure control means responsive to the temperature and pressure in the condensor, the pressure control means actuating the pressure control valve to maintain a predetermined relationship between said temperature and pressure.

Claim 11

The temperature conditioning system of claim 1 wherein the ejector is further defined to include a cooling jacket connected in heat exchanging relationship with at least a portion of the diffuser portion of said ejector, the cooling jacket being interposed between the drive pump and the inlet portion of the drive evaporator.

Claim 12

The temperature conditioning system of claim 1 further comprising: a preheater comprising a heat source portion connected in a heat exchanging relationship with a heat sink portion thereof, the heat source portion being interposed between the diffuser portion of the ejector and the inlet portion of the condensor, and the heat sink portion being interposed between the outlet portion of the drive pump and the inlet portion of the drive evaporator.

Claim 13

The temperature conditioning system of claim 1 further comprising: a subcooler comprising a heat source portion connected in a heat exchanging relationship with a heat sink portion thereof, the heat source portion being interposed between the outlet portion of the condensor and the refrigerant storage means, and the heat sink portion being interposed between the drive pump and the inlet portion of the drive evaporator.

Claim 14

The temperature conditioning system of claim 1 further comprising: a superheater comprising a heat sink portion connected in a heat exchanging relationship with a heat source, the heat sink portion being interposed between the outlet portion of the drive evaporator and the drive inlet portion of the ejector.

Claim 15

The temperature conditioning system of claim 1 wherein the refrigerant is selected from the group consisting of trichloromonofloromethane, dichloromonofluromethane, trichlorotrifluroethane, and dichlorohexafluropropane.

Claim 16

The temperature conditioning system of claims 1 or 13 wherein the heat source is a solar energy collection and storage apparatus providing a heat transfer fluid.

Claim 17

The temperature conditioning system of claim 15 wherein the solar energy collection and storage includes an improved heat transfer fluid storage system comprising: a first insulated, heat transfer fluid storage tank; a second insulated, heat transfer fluid storage tank; and fluid flow control means responsive to the temperature of the heat transfer fluid in each of the first and second storage tanks, the fluid flow control means providing flow of the heat transfer fluid from the one of the first and second storage tanks containing the higher temperature heat transfer fluid for return to the other of said storage tanks.

Claim 18

The temperature conditioning system of claim 16 wherein the first and second storage tanks of the heat transfer fluid storage system are further characterized as forming respective end portions of an elongated heat transfer fluid reservoir having a substantially fluid impermeable, insulating barrier interposed between said end portions and in relative sealing engagement with the inner periphery thereof, the barrier being movable between said ends in response to differences in the fluid pressures exerted thereon.

Claim 19

In a heat utilization apparatus employing a storage system and a heat transfer fluid, the storage system comprising: a first insulated, heat transfer fluid storage tank; a second insulated, heat transfer fluid storage tank; and fluid flow control means responsive to the temperature of the heat transfer fluid in each of the first and second storage tanks, the fluid flow control means providing flow of the heat transfer fluid from the one of the first and second storage tanks containing the higher temperature heat transfer fluid to the heat utilization apparatus for return to the other of said storage tanks.

Claim 20

In a heat utilization apparatus employing a storage system and a heat transfer fluid, the storage system comprising: a first insulated, heat transfer fluid storage tank; a second insulated, heat transfer fluid storage tank; and fluid flow control means responsive to the temperature of the heat transfer fluid in each of the first and second storage tanks, the fluid flow control means providing flow of the heat transfer fluid from the one of the first and second storage tanks containing the higher temperature heat transfer fluid to the heat utilization apparatus for return to the other of said storage tanks.

Claim 21

The heat utilization apparatus of claim 18 wherein the first and second tanks of the heat transfer fluid storage system are further characterized as forming respective end portions of an elongated heat transfer fluid reservoir having a substantially fluid impermeable, insulating barrier interposed between said end portions and in relative sealing engagement with the inner periphery thereof, the barrier being movable between said ends in response to differences in the fluid pressures exerted thereon.

Claim 22

A temperature conditioning system which comprises: a primary heat source; refrigerant storage means containing a refrigerant separated into a liquid phase and a gaseous phase; a heat extraction pump having an inlet portion and an outlet portion, the inlet portion being connected to the portion of the refrigerant storage means containing the liquid refrigerant; a secondary heat source; a heat extraction evaporator connected in a heat exchanging relationship with the secondary heat source, the heat extraction evaporator having an inlet portion and an outlet portion, the inlet portion being connected to the outlet portion of the heat extraction pump and the outlet portion being connected to the refrigerant storage means; a drive pump having an inlet portion and an outlet portion, the inlet portion being connected to the portion of the refrigerant storage means containing the liquid refrigerant; a drive evaporator connected in a heat exchanging relationship with the primary heat source, the drive evaporator having an inlet portion and an outlet portion, the inlet portion being connected to the outlet portion of the drive pump; an ejector having a drive inlet portion connected to the outlet portion of the drive evaporator, a suction inlet portion connected to the portion of the refrigerant storage means containing the gaseous refrigerant, a mixing portion in fluid communication with the drive and suction inlet portions, and a diffuser portion in fluid communication with the mixing portion; a condensor connected in a heat exchanging relationship with a heat sink, the condensor having an inlet portion and an outlet portion, the inlet portion being connected to the diffuser portion of the ejector and the outlet portion being connected to the refrigerant storage means; an expansion valve means operatively connected to and in fluid communication with the refrigerant storage means and the outlet portion of the condensor; and expansion valve control means operatively connected to the expansion valve means and the inlet of the secondary heat source for controlling the expansion valve means to maintain a temperature within the refrigerant storage means lower than the inlet temperature of the secondary heat source.

Claim 23

A temperature conditioning system which comprises: a primary heat source; refrigerant storage means containing a refrigerant separated into a liquid phase and a gaseous phase; a heat extraction pump having an inlet portion and an outlet portion, the inlet portion being connected to the portion of the refrigerant storage means containing the liquid refrigerant; a secondary heat source; a heat extraction evaporator connected in a heat exchanging relationship with the secondary heat source, the heat extraction evaporator having an inlet portion and an outlet portion, the inlet portion being connected to the outlet portion of the heat extraction pump and the outlet portion being connected to the refrigerant storage means; a drive pump having an inlet portion and an outlet portion, the inlet portion being connected to the portion of the refrigerant storage means containing the liquid refrigerant; a drive evaporator connected in a heat exchanging relationship with the primary heat source, the drive evaporator having an inlet portion and an outlet portion, the inlet portion being connected to the outlet portion of the drive pump; an ejector having a drive inlet portion connected to the outlet portion of the drive evaporator, a suction inlet portion connected to the portion of the refrigerant storage means containing the gaseous refrigerant, a mixing portion in fluid communication with the drive and suction inlet portions, and a diffuser portion in fluid communication with the mixing portion; a condensor connected in a heat exchanging relationship with a heat sink, the condensor having an inlet portion and an outlet portion, the inlet portion being connected to the diffuser portion of the ejector and the outlet portion being connected to the refrigerant storage means; an expansion valve means operatively connected to and in fluid communication with the refrigerant storage means and the outlet portion of the condensor; and expansion valve control means operatively connected to the expansion valve means and the inlet of the secondary heat source for controlling the expansion valve means to maintain a temperature within the refrigerant storage means lower than the inlet temperature of the secondary heat source.

Claim 24

The temperature conditioning system of claim 20 wherein the refrigerant storage means comprises: an expansion tank containing refrigerant separated into a liquid phase and a gaseous phase.

Claim 25

The temperature conditioning system of claim 21 wherein the refrigerant storage means further comprises: a surge tank containing refrigerant interposed between the outlet portion of the condensor and the expansion valve.

Claim 26

The temperature conditioning system of claim 22 wherein the drive pump is further characterized as having the inlet portion thereof connected to the portion of the surge tank containing the liquid phase of the refrigerant.

Claim 27

The temperature conditioning system of claim 22 wherein the drive pump is further characterized as having the inlet portion thereof connected to the portion of the expansion tank containing the liquid phase of the refrigerant.

Claim 28

The temperature conditioning system of claim 24 defined further to include: means interposed between the surge tank, the expansion tank and the inlet to the drive pump for selectively adjusting the relative amounts of liquid refrigerant being drawn from the expansion tank and the surge tank into the drive pump.

Claim 29

The temperature conditioning system of claim 20 further comprising: a blower connected between the suction inlet portion of the ejector and the portion of the refrigerant storage means containing the gaseous refrigerant; and blower control means responsive to the pressure in the portion of the refrigerant storage means containing the gaseous refrigerant, the blower control means actuating the blower in response to a pressure exceeding a predetermined pressure.

Claim 30

The temperature conditioning system of claim 20 further comprising: a pressure control valve interposed between the diffuser portion of the ejector and the inlet portion of the condensor; and pressure control means responsive to the temperature and pressure in the condensor, the pressure control means actuating the pressure control valve to maintain a predetermined relationship between said temperature and pressure.

Claim 31

The temperature conditioning system of claim 20 wherein the ejector is further defined to include a cooling jacket connected in heat exchanging relationship with at least a portion of the diffuser portion of said ejector, the cooling jacket being interposed between the drive pump and the inlet portion of the drive evaporator.

Claim 32

The temperature conditioning system of claim 20 further comprising: a preheater comprising a heat source portion connected in a heat exchanging relationship with a heat sink portion thereof, the heat source portion being interposed between the diffuser portion of the ejector and the inlet portion of the condensor, and the heat sink portion being interposed between the outlet portion of the drive pump and the inlet portion of the drive evaporator.

Claim 33

The temperature conditioning system of claim 29 further comprising: a subcooler comprising a heat source portion connected in a heat exchanging relationship with a heat sink portion thereof, the heat source portion being interposed between the outlet portion of the condensor and the refrigerant storage means, and the heat sink portion being interposed between the drive pump and the inlet portion of the drive evaporator.

Claim 34

The temperature conditioning system of claim 20 further comprising: a superheater comprising a heat sink portion connected in a heat exchanging relationship with a heat source, the heat sink portion being interposed between the outlet portion of the drive evaporator and the drive inlet portion of the ejector.

Claim 35

The temperature conditioning system of claim 20 wherein the refrigerant is selected from the group consisting of trichloromonofloromethane, dichloromonofluromethane, trichlorotrifluroethane, and dichlorohexafluropropane and combinations thereof.

Claim 36

The temperature conditioning system of claims 20 or 31 wherein the heat energy source is a energy generation, collection and storage apparatus providing a heat transfer fluid.

Claim 37

The temperature conditioning system of claim 33 wherein the energy generation collection and storage apparatus includes an improved heat transfer fluid storage system comprising: a first insulated, heat transfer fluid storage tank; a second insulated, heat transfer fluid storage tank; and fluid flow control means responsive to the temperature of the heat transfer fluid in each of the first and second storage tanks, the fluid flow control means providing flow of the heat transfer fluid from the one of the first and second storage tanks containing the higher temperature heat transfer fluid for return to the other of said storage tanks.

Claim 38

The temperature conditioning system of claim 34 wherein the first and second storage tanks of the heat transfer fluid storage system are further characterized as forming respective end portions of an elongated heat transfer fluid reservoir having a substantially fluid impermeable, insulating barrier interposed between said end portions and in relative sealing engagement with the inner periphery thereof, the barrier being movable between said ends in response to differences in the fluid pressures exerted thereon.