Inventors:
Donald M. McCarson - Pisgah Forest NC
International Classification:
F25B 1300
F25B 2500
F24J 302
Abstract:
A heating and cooling system is provided having an indoor heat exchanger, an outdoor heat exchanger, a refrigerant compressor, an auxiliary heat exchanger in parallel with the outdoor heat exchanger, a solar collector unit, with the auxiliary heat exchanger disposed within a fluid contained in a storage tank wherein the fluid is heated by circulation through the solar collector. Heat from the solar collector is utilized to heat an interior space as long as the temperature of the fluid is sufficient and thereafterwards the heat pump system is utilized for supplying heat as needed. When the efficiency of the heat pump system is substantially impaired due to low ambient conditions, the auxiliary heat exchanger is utilized to supplement heat capacity to the heat pump system.