Energy transformation and storage system for heating and cooling

Abstract

The invention described herein represents a significant improvement in the efficiency of heating and cooling processes for applications such as buildings. Multiple energy input means, energy storage, and energy transformation steps are described and integrated to optimize efficiency in many scenarios. An integrated single axle energy transformation system is provide and a microcontroller system for selecting between twelve modes of operation.

1 ) A thermal energy transfer system comprising;
 a refrigerant pump selected from the group consisting of; a refrigerant compression pump and a refrigerant expansion pump,   an air compression pump,   a compressed air storage vessel,   an energy source selected from the group consisting of; electricity, solar electromagnetic radiation, wind, and moving water,   and wherein in a first operating mode, said selected energy source drives the selected refrigerant pump to perform a thermal energy transfer process selected from the group consisting of; heating a space, and cooling a space,   and wherein in a second operating mode, said selected energy source drives said air compression pump to compress air for storage in said air storage vessel,   and wherein in a third operating mode, the stored compressed air is released from said storage vessel providing a kinetic energy which drives said selected refrigerant pump to perform a thermal energy transfer process selected from the group consisting of; heating a space, and cooling a space.   
   
   
       2 ) The thermal energy transfer system of  claim 1  wherein in said third operating mode, said released air passes through and motivates said air compression pump which transfers energy from said stored compressed air to drive said selected refrigerant pump to perform said selected thermal transfer process. 
   
   
       3 ) The thermal energy transfer system of  claim 1  wherein during their respective operating times said air compression pump and said selected refrigerant pump share a common drive axis of rotation. 
   
   
       4 ) The thermal energy transfer system of  claim 3  wherein a rotating axle is provided which shares said common axis of rotation and when transitioning between two of the said operating modes, a controlled transition is selected from the group consisting of said refrigerant pump is selectively controlled to either begin to rotate with said rotating axle or to stop rotating with said rotating axle, said air pump is selectively controlled to either being to rotate with said rotating axle or to stop rotating with said rotating axle, and said energy source is an electric motor having electromagnetic induction means which selectively are controlled to either begin to actively motivate said axle to rotate utilizing induction or to passively rotate with said rotating axle without electromagnetic induction. 
   
   
       5 ) The thermal energy transfer system of  claim 1  wherein
 electricity is selected as the energy source and an electric motor is provided to utilize electricity, a kinetic energy input means is provided to utilize a second energy source selected from the group consisting of; said solar electromagnetic radiation, said wind, and said moving water,   and a means to switch between electricity energy and the second energy source is provided,   wherein the selected refrigerant pump can be selectively driven alternately by either electricity or by kinetic energy.   
   
   
       6 ) The thermal energy transfer system of  claim 1  wherein
 an electric motor is provided,   and a kinetic energy input means is provided,   and said second operating mode is selected and comprises a means to switch between running on either a first energy source or a second selected energy source to selectively drive said air compression pump,   the first selectable energy source being said electricity to drive said motor to drive said air compression pump to compress air for storage in said air storage vessel,   the second selected energy source being one selected from the group consisting of; said solar electromagnetic radiation, said wind, and said moving water,   and wherein said second selected energy source provides kinetic energy to drive said kinetic energy input means to drive said air compression pump to compress air for storage in said air storage vessel.   
   
   
       7 ) The thermal energy transfer system of  claim 1  wherein a refrigerant storage vessel is provided and in a fourth operating mode said selected refrigerant pump operates to causes a refrigerant to be placed into said refrigerant storage vessel and during a fifth operating mode said refrigerant is to removed from said refrigerant vessel to perform a thermal transfer function comprising one selected from the group consisting of; a space heating process and a space cooling process. 
   
   
       8 ) A thermal energy transfer system comprising;
 an axle having an axis of rotation,   an electromagnetic induction means sharing said axis of rotation and selected from the group consisting of an electric motor, and an electric generator,   a refrigerant pump sharing said axis of rotation and selected from the group consisting of; a refrigerant compression pump, and a refrigerant evaporation pump,   and also sharing the axis of rotation one energy transformation means selected from the group consisting of, an air compressor, a compressed air powered motor, and a kinetic energy input gear in communication with a kinetic energy source selected from the group consisting of solar electromagnetic radiation, wind, and moving water.   
   
   
       9 ) thermal energy transfer means of  claim 8  wherein said axle is caused to rotate, and a microcontroller is provided to selectively switch between operating states selected from the group consisting of; said selected refrigerant pump is selectively controlled to either begin to rotate with said rotating axle or to stop rotating with said rotating axle, an air compressor is selected and said air compressor is selectively controlled to either being to rotate with said rotating axle or to stop rotating with said rotating axle, said electric motor having electromagnetic induction means which selectively are controlled to either begin to actively motivate said axle to rotate utilizing induction or to passively rotate with said rotating axle without electromagnetic induction, and said electric generator having electromagnetic induction means which selectively are controlled to either begin to rotate with said axle to produce electricity or to passively rotate with said rotating axle without producing electricity. 
   
   
       10 ) thermal energy transfer means of  claim 8  wherein;
 an electric motor is selected, and a microcontroller is provided, and wherein said microcontroller selectively switches between said selected refrigerant pump being driven by said electric motor and said selected refrigerant pump being driven by a selected kinetic energy input gear, and   wherein in either case said driving of said refrigerant pump is utilized in a thermal transfer process to heat or cool a space.   
   
   
       11 ) thermal energy transfer means of  claim 8  wherein;
 an electric motor is selected, and an air pump is selected, a kinetic energy input ear is provided, and a microcontroller is provided and wherein said microcontroller selectively switches between said air pump being driven by said electric motor and said air pump being driven by said kinetic energy input gear, and wherein in either case said driving of said air pump produces a stored energy in the form of compressed air.   
   
   
       12 ) thermal energy transfer means of  claim 11  wherein;
 said compressed air is released and energy there from drives said selected refrigerant pump to perform a thermal transfer process to heat or cool a space.   
   
   
       13 ) A thermal energy transfer means comprising,
 an air pump,   a refrigerant pump,   an air storage vessel,   a pressure transfer piston,   a refrigerant,   a liquid refrigerant storage vessel,   a gas refrigerant storage vessel,   and wherein said air pump operates to cause a pressure change within said air storage vessel, said pressure change being transferred by said pressure transfer piston from said air storage vessel to said gas refrigerant vessel to draw refrigerant from said liquid refrigerant storage vessel into said gas refrigerant storage vessel, said drawing of said refrigerant causing a liquid to gas phase change that absorbs thermal energy.   
   
   
       14 ) thermal energy transfer means of  claim 13  wherein,
 said pressure change within said air storage is caused to reverse such that air flows in the opposite direction and energy from said reverse air flow powers said refrigerant pump to draw refrigerant from said gas refrigerant storage vessel into said liquid refrigerant storage vessel, said drawing of said refrigerant causing a gas to liquid phase change that emits thermal energy.