摘要 |
The present invention divides the traditional fill-loop heat pump compression (heating) and expansion (refrigeration) process into two separate half-loop processes. The two (half-loop) processes occur separately and are separated by physical distance and/or by time. The two processes are connected by either physical storage means and/or by pipeline means such that low pressure refrigerant and high pressure refrigerant are stored between cycles and/or transported between cycles. In operation, a refrigerant is compressed to provide heat to a location, the compressed refrigerant is then stored/transported to where/when a cooling process is needed whereupon the refrigerant is expanded to provide refrigeration, the expanded refrigerant is then stored/transported to where/when a heating process is needed. The result of this invention is a significant reduction in energy required to heat and cool buildings, a reduction in fossil fuel consumption (and concomitant carbon dioxide gas emission pollution), a reduction in thermal pollution (and concomitant global warming), and a reduction in the cost of heating and cooling buildings.
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