Thermally powered, gravitationally assisted heat transfer systems

Claim 2

A thermally powered heat transfer system having a first and a second cycle of operation, comprising: first and second closed loop heat transfer means including respectively a first and a second refrigerant, a first and a second condenser means for transferring heat from the first and second refrigrant to a first and a second heat sink, and a first and a second heat exchanger means for transferring heat from a first and a second heat source to the first and second refrigerants; compressor means for said first and second closed loop heat transfer means including a first chamber, a second chamber and a free piston common to both chambers, said first chamber being at a higher elevation than the second, said compressor means being powered by energy derived from the first heat source and gravity acting on said free piston for compressing the second refrigerant in the second chamber and for causing the second condenser means to transfer heat from the second refrigerant to the second heat sink during each first cycle of operation and being powered by energy derived from the second heat source acting on said free piston for compressing the first refrigerant in the first chamber and causing the first condenser means to transfer heat from the first refrigerant to the first heat sink during each second cycle of operation; and control means for causing the system to change its cycle of operation substantially at the completion of each cycle.

Claim 3

The thermally powered heat transfer system of claim 1 in which the free piston includes a liquid and a pair of flexible diaphragms.

Claim 4

The thermally powered heat transfer system of claim 2 in which the free piston is a solid.

Claim 5

The thermally powered heat transfer system of claim 2 in which the elevation of the first chamber above the second is variable.

Claim 6

The thermally powered heat transfer system of claim 4 in which the refrigerants in the first and second heat transfer means are the same material.

Claim 7

The thermally powered heat transfer system of claim 5 in which the heat sinks are evaporative coolers.

Claim 8

The thermally powered heat transfer system of claim 6 in which one of the heat sources includes means for producing heat from solar energy.

Claim 9

A thermally powered heat transfer system having a first and a second cycle of operation, comprising: first and second closed loop heat transfer means including respectively a first and a second refrigerant, a first and a second condenser means for transferring heat from the first and second refrigerants to a first and a second heat sink, and a first and second heat exchanger means for transferring heat from a first and a second heat source to the first and second refrigerants; first compressor chamber means between the first heat exchanger means and the first condenser means and through which the first refrigerant passes; a second compressor chamber means between the second heat exchanger means and the second condenser means through which the second refrigerant passes; means for mounting the first compressor chamber means at a higher elevation than the second; free piston means common to both chamber means; during each first cycle of operation of the system the first refrigerant expanding as a result of heat transferred to it from the first heat source, and together with gravity acting on the free piston means for compressing the second refrigerant in the second compressor chamber means and for causing the second condenser means to transfer heat from the compressed second refrigerant to the second heat sink; during each second cycle of operation of the system the second refrigerant expanding as a result of heat transferred to it from the second heat source, acting on the free piston for compressing the first refrigerant in the first chamber means and causing the first condenser means to transfer heat from the compressed first refrigerant to the first heat sink; and control means for causing the system to change its cycle of operation substantially at the completion of each cycle.

Claim 10

A thermally powered heat transfer system having a first and a second cycle of operation, comprising: first and second closed loop heat transfer means including respectively a first and a second refrigerant, a first and a second condenser means for transferring heat from the first and second refrigerants to a first and a second heat sink, and a first and second heat exchanger means for transferring heat from a first and a second heat source to the first and second refrigerants; first compressor chamber means between the first heat exchanger means and the first condenser means and through which the first refrigerant passes; a second compressor chamber means between the second heat exchanger means and the second condenser means through which the second refrigerant passes; means for mounting the first compressor chamber means at a higher elevation than the second; free piston means common to both chamber means; during each first cycle of operation of the system the first refrigerant expanding as a result of heat transferred to it from the first heat source, and together with gravity acting on the free piston means for compressing the second refrigerant in the second compressor chamber means and for causing the second condenser means to transfer heat from the compressed second refrigerant to the second heat sink; during each second cycle of operation of the system the second refrigerant expanding as a result of heat transferred to it from the second heat source, acting on the free piston for compressing the first refrigerant in the first chamber means and causing the first condenser means to transfer heat from the compressed first refrigerant to the first heat sink; and control means for causing the system to change its cycle of operation substantially at the completion of each cycle.

Claim 11

A thermally powered heat transfer system of claim 8 in which the free piston includes a liquid.

Claim 12

The thermally powered heat transfer system of claim 9 in which the free piston further includes flexible diaphragm means.

Claim 13

The thermally powered heat transfer system of claim 10 in which the elevation of the first compressor chamber above the second compressor chamber is adjustable.

Claim 14

The thermally powered heat transfer system of claim 8 in which the free piston is a solid.

Claim 15

The thermally powered heat transfer system of claim 11 in which the first and second refrigerants are the same.

Claim 16

The thermally powered heat transfer system of claim 13 in which the heat sinks are evaporative coolers.

Claim 19

evaporating the first refrigerant from a first collector within a first evaporator using heat from the first source; 2. compressing the second refrigerant in the second chamber using the evaporated first refrigerant and gravity acting on the free piston as the sources of energy; 3. transfering heat from the compressed second refrigerant to the second heat sink to liquify the second refrigerant; 4. collecting the liquified second refrigerant in a second collector; and 5. initiating the second cycle of operation when substantially all the second refrigerant capable of being forced out of the second chamber has been forced out of the second chamber; and B. during each second cycle of operation of: 1. evaporating the second refrigerant from a second collector within a second evaporator using heat from the second heat source; 2. compressing the first refrigerant in the first chamber using the evaporated second refrigerant acting on the free piston as the source of energy; 3. transfering heat from the compressed first refrigerant to a first heat sink to liquify the first refrigerant; 4. collecting the liquid refrigerant in the first collector; and

Claim 20

evaporating the first refrigerant from a first collector within a first evaporator using heat from the first source; 2. compressing the second refrigerant in the second chamber using the evaporated first refrigerant and gravity acting on the free piston as the sources of energy; 3. transfering heat from the compressed second refrigerant to the second heat sink to liquify the second refrigerant; 4. collecting the liquified second refrigerant in a second collector; and 5. initiating the second cycle of operation when substantially all the second refrigerant capable of being forced out of the second chamber has been forced out of the second chamber; and B. during each second cycle of operation of: 1. evaporating the second refrigerant from a second collector within a second evaporator using heat from the second heat source; 2. compressing the first refrigerant in the first chamber using the evaporated second refrigerant acting on the free piston as the source of energy; 3. transfering heat from the compressed first refrigerant to a first heat sink to liquify the first refrigerant; 4. collecting the liquid refrigerant in the first collector; and

Claim 21

initiating the first cycle of operation when substantially all the first refrigerant capable of being forced out of the first chamber has been forced out of the first chamber.

Claim 22

initiating the first cycle of operation when substantially all the first refrigerant capable of being forced out of the first chamber has been forced out of the first chamber.