Cost-Effective Potential of Optimumly Designed Heat Pumps for the Collection, Storage, and Distribution of Solar Energy

摘要

Various solar heat pump configurations are reviewed and the assisted or series configuration identified as the concept having the greatest potential for economic acceptance. This study is not limited to consideration of commercially available units, but examines the system impact that would result from the development of vapor compression equipment specially tuned to the collection and distribution of solar energy. Major impacts on the solar collector and energy storage elements are identified and reviewed. Solar collectors of crude and inexpensive design, including some passive-like structures, are found to be acceptable in performance and highly desirable economically. Also uninsulated in-the-ground storage is found to be beneficial gaining energy from the ground in winter and dissipating it in summer. (ERA citation 04:025962)