Solar Powered Heating and Air Conditioning

Abstract

A solar powered system for providing heat, power and air condition. According to at least one aspect of the invention, there is described a system for using solar power and solar heat to heat a liquid that can be used to control heat, power, cooling, and humidity in a structure to provide an autonomous building that is independent of power grids. The solar system can utilize a desiccant cycle to cool liquid which can be used for air conditioning. An advanced recycling system can use water in stages (i.e., “gray water”) to efficiently use and recycle scarce water with a limited amount of power requirements.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is a continuation-in part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11 / 948,029, filed Nov. 30, 2007, which is incorporated herein by reference. This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application 61 / 021,356, filed Jan. 16, 2008, which is also incorporated herein by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for using solar power to heat, power and cool a structure.[0004]2. Description of the Prior Art[0005]Interest in solar power continues to accelerate in the face of global warming, concern over the long term availability of petroleum and the pressures of rising energy prices. Tapping even a portion of available solar power has the potential to reduce reliance on petroleum and to hopefully reduce pressures on the national energy grid by distributing power generating sources more locally. Additionally, using solar power in rem...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The invention is a system that uses solar power and solar heat to heat a liquid that can be used to control heat, power, cooling, and humidity in a structure. The system includes an air conditioning system that uses a desiccant system to cool the structure. The system also recycling system that uses gray water for other purposes in an energy efficient manner. The invention provides an energy efficient structure that is self-sufficient and can provide heat, air conditioning, and electricity without being dependent on power grids."

Problems solved by technology

One drawback to solar power, however, is that it tends to have low thermal efficiencies and the amount of area that a home would need to break even for the year on energy requirements is very high.

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