Method and apparatus for using solar energy to augment a refrigerant heating and cooling system

摘要

An uninsulated tank-type solar collector for a reverse-refrigeration-cycle heating system is mounted in ambient air and contains a mass of water and/or ice having a refrigerant expansion coil immersed therein. At least one of the walls of the tank contacts ambient air on one surface, and the mass of water and/or ice on the other surface. Thus, the mass of water and/or ice exchanges or transfers heat from the ambient air by conduction to the expansion coil. During transition from water to ice, the freezing water liberates large amounts of energy as "heat of fusion" which is absorbed by the expansion coil.