Solar heater with underground masonry or rock storage - uses above ground collectors to heat working fluid which heats air for circulation through rock storage medium

摘要

The solar heater uses the ground to insulate an underground heat storage medium in addition to using conventional flat collectors to gather solar heat for immediate usage. The collectors are placed above the ground, and the heat exchangers placed below ground. Heat is extracted from the collector working fluid and used to heat air which is force circulated through stacked masonry or rock in an underground chamber. Various fans ensure circulation of air through the storage and into room heating and water heating circuits. Supplementary electric heaters are incorporated in the air ducts to permit supplementary or off peak electric heating of the storage medium.