Room-to-Room Heat Pump

Abstract

A system, method, and device for transferring thermal energy between areas of a structure so as to maintain occupant comfort while minimizing the difference between indoor and outdoor temperatures, thereby minimizing thermal losses from the structure. The device operates effectively in the heating season and cooling season, when outdoor temperatures are cold and hot, respectively.

1 . An apparatus for moving heat from a first room of a building to a second room within said building for a first period of time and at a second period of time moving heat from said second room to said first room, said apparatus comprising:
 A cooling air intake vent located inside of said first room,   An evaporator fan for drawing cooling air from said cooling air intake vent across an evaporator and expelling said cooling air back into said first room,   A compressor for circulating coolant through said evaporator to a condenser through coolant tubing,   A condenser fan drawing warming air from the second room across the condenser and expelling said warming air back into the second room, wherein heat is transferred from said first room to said second room during the first period of time, and   A value coupled to said coolant tubing that allows the coolant to reverse direction, thus transferring heat from said second room to said first room at the second period of time.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the first room is an unoccupied room during the first period of time. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the second room is an occupied room during the first period of time. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a second evaporator in a third room connected via the coolant tubing, wherein the tubing incorporates values for directing said coolant to either the evaporator or the second evaporator. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a second condenser in a third room connected via the coolant tubing, wherein the tubing incorporates values for directing said coolant to either the condenser or the second condenser. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising directing said coolant through valves to a heat exchanger at a thermal storage unit connected via the coolant tubing. 
     
     
         7 . A method for moving heat from a first room of a building to a second room within said building for a first period of time and at a second period of time moving heat from said second room to said first room, said method comprising:
 Drawing cooling air in from a cooling air intake vent located inside of said first room,   Moving the cooling air with an evaporator fan from the cooling air intake vent across an evaporator,   Expelling the cooling air back into said first room,   Circulating coolant with a compressor through coolant tubing from said evaporator to a condenser,   Drawing warming air with a condenser fan from the second room across the condenser,   Expelling said warming air back into the second room,   Wherein heat is transferred from said first room to said second room during the first period of time, and   Transferring heat from said second room to said first room at the second period of time, the transfer utilizing a value coupled to said coolant tubing that allows the coolant to reverse direction.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the first room is an unoccupied room during the first period of time.