A system for electromagnetically transferring heat from one region to another region. To cool one region in a chamber, antennas in the chamber to be cooled preferably have a broad beam to collect thermal radiation as much as possible within the chamber. Antennas to be used for heat pumping are preferably of high directivity where the antenna beam is pointed to a cold region such as the zenith of the sky. The system for electromagnetic heating is similar to that for electromagnetic cooling except heat flow is reversed. Here, the antennas outside a chamber have a highly focused beam to a hot area, such as the sun. The collected heat is channeled into an area to be heated by low-directivity antennas within an enclosed volume to be heated.

The present invention relates to a mobile generator device (1) having at least one alignable solar panel (2a, 2b), wherein the solar panel (2a, 2b) can be moved in a transport position (TP) and at least one operating position (BP). The invention is characterized in that the generator device (1) has a housing shell (3a) with a peripheral area (4), wherein the solar panel (2a) is hinged to the housing shell (3a) so that the solar panel (2a) is in the transport position (TP) within the housing shell (3a) and does not project over the peripheral area (4). Moreover, the invention relates to a cooling system having the mobile generator device (1) according to the invention and a control, and a cooling device, in particular a freezer, having at least one cooling circuit, wherein the cooling circuit has a compressor, an evaporator, and a condenser. The cooling system according to the invention is characterized in that the power supply of the cooling system is provided by the mobile generator device (1) and the control regulates the cooling system in dependence of the power supply.

According to some aspects of the invention a heat pump includes first and second heat extraction units to extract heat from first and second heat sources in first and second temperature ranges, respectively, where the second temperature range is, on average, higher than the first temperature range. A fluid via defines a pathway through which the working fluid flows serially from the first heat extraction unit to the second heat extraction unit to the thermal storage unit. A pressure reduction stage is coupled to the via and serially disposed on the fluid circuit between the thermal store and the first heat extraction unit. In addition, either a compressor or a recuperator (or both) are coupled to the via and disposed on the fluid circuit between the first heat extraction unit and the second heat extraction unit.

A system for a heat pump that allows the heat pump to work efficiently in extreme cold weathers. The system includes an evaporator influid communication with an expansion valve, the expansion valve can receive a liquid refrigerant from a condenser of the heat pump. The evaporator contains a pool of liquid refrigerant and an electric resistance heating source dipped in the pool of liquid refrigerant. The electric resistance heating source can heat the liquid refrigerant of the pool to generate vapors and thus maintaining a desired pressure within the heat pump.

Embodiments of the present invention reduce the amount of energy required to operate air-conditioners and refrigerators by providing a vapor-compression system that harnesses a low- or no-cost source of energy, namely, heat, and uses the harnessed heat to power a new kind of compressor, called a “burst compressor” and a new kind of pump, called a “vapor pump.” The heat-driven burst compressor pressurizes the refrigerant, while also providing “push and pull” vapor refrigerant to the vapor pump. The vapor pump, actuated by the high pressure refrigerant in gaseous form provided by the burst compressor, is configured to pump a combination of gaseous, vaporous and liquid refrigerant out of the receiver tank and inject that low pressure refrigerant mix into the burst compressor, where it is heated to change the state of the refrigerant to a heated, pressurized gas. Then the heated, pressurized gas is released in bursts into the other components of the vapor compression cycle. Thus, embodiments of the present invention use heat to provide cold. Because of this arrangement, vapor-compression systems constructed and arranged to operate according to embodiments of the present invention are able to provide air-conditioning and/or refrigeration much more efficiently and with much less expense than traditional vapor compression systems for air-conditioning and refrigeration.

The air conditioning system with solar-powered subcooling system includes a main cooling system having an evaporator, a compressor, a condenser, and an expansion valve configured to operate in a conventional vapor compression refrigerant cycle. The subcooling system includes a compressor, a condenser, and an expansion valve, the compressor being powered by at least one rechargeable battery connected to a photovoltaic solar panel. The main system and the subcooling system are linked by a heat exchanger having a primary coil in the main system between the condenser and the expansion valve and a secondary coil in the subcooling system disposed between the expansion valve and the compressor. The main system and the subcooling system may use the same type of refrigerant, or different refrigerant types. The additional cooling provided to the refrigerant in the main system by subcooling increases the efficiency of the air conditioning system.

A refrigeration and/or heat transfer device includes a heating section and cooling section, a release member, and a one-way check valve affixed together in a continuous loop so working fluid may flow in one direction therein. The heating section absorbs heat and transfers such heat to the working fluid, thereby heating, expanding and increasing pressure upon the working fluid therein. The pressurized working fluid is released in a regulated manner from the heating section to the cooling section, thereby carrying the heat away. The released working fluid cools and transfers its heat to the surroundings within the cooling section. As released working fluid enters the cooling section, such fluid displaces already cooled working fluid, pushing such fluid through the one-way check valve back into the heating section to absorb heat. The working fluid may undergo a phase change or remain in a single phase throughout to enhance heat transfer.

A solar distillation system for producing a distillate and providing cooling for a structure or appliance, and a method of using the system to produce a distillate and cool a structure or appliance. The system includes a distillate cooling coil, a secondary cooling coil, an expansion valve which is capable of controlling an amount of a coolant that flows through each of the coils. The system also includes a compressor, a plurality of sensors including a temperature sensor and a distillate flow sensor, and a controller which receives input from the sensors and controls the activity of the compressor and expansion valve. The system is capable of producing distillate at night in the absence of solar radiation.

A simple, cost effective system and method for flexibly managing heat pump source fluid is disclosed. The source fluid flow-manager significantly enhances heat pump efficiency by selectively coupling it to renewable energy resources via geothermal, solar, and ambient air thermal exchanges. The sophisticated interconnection of these thermal exchanges also reduces installation costs. A preferred embodiment of the source fluid flow-manager consists of three T-port valves, two pumps and a plurality of connection points, and operates in at least twelve modes. These modes selectively interconnect source fluid flow between fluid utilizing units, such as heat pumps, and a variety of thermal exchange and/or storage units, such as hot or cold underground thermal storage-and-exchange regions, dry coolers and solar thermal collectors. The valves and pumps are controlled by a programmed controller, guided by input from flow meters and thermometers. Operational modes are matched to thermal need, and to system and environmental status.

A solar distillation system for producing a distillate and providing cooling for a structure or appliance, and a method of using the system to produce a distillate and cool a structure or appliance. The system includes a distillate cooling coil, a secondary cooling coil, an expansion valve which is capable of controlling an amount of a coolant that flows through each of the coils. The system also includes a compressor, a plurality of sensors including a temperature sensor and a distillate flow sensor, and a controller which receives input from the sensors and controls the activity of the compressor and expansion valve. The system is capable of producing distillate at night in the absence of solar radiation.