With respect to the description of the "normal" or conventional heating/cooling system of the type described and improved herewithin, reference may be made to the drawings of this particular case. FIG. 1, for example, shows many of the elements of the "normal" or conventional steam powered heating cooling system with a heat exchanger for the former and an absorption machine for the latter. In FIG. 2, there is seen, schematically, the structure and function of a conventional absorption machine, such relevant to normal system operation.
A conventional heating system of the type with respect to which the subject improvements are made typically has:
(1) A boiler,
(2) A heat source for such boiler (a burner in said boiler);
(3) A steam-liquid heat exchanger;
(4) A steam trap following the heat exchanger,
(5) A condensate tank for the vent line to atmosphere; and
(6) Work to be heated.
There is also present, in said conventional heating system:
(7) A steam supply line from the boiler to the heat exchanger;
(8) A condensate return line from the heat exchanger to the trap to the condensate tank;
(9) A return line from the condensate tank to the boiler;
(10) An outlet supply line from the heat exchanger to the work;
(11) A return line from the work to the heat exchanger,
(12) A condensate return pump on the return line from the condensate tank to the boiler; and
(13) A system circulation pump positioned on one of (a) the return line from the work to the heat exchanger and (b) the said outlet supply line from the heat exchanger to the work.
A conventional or typical cooling system which is steam powered typically has:
(1) A boiler;
(2) A heat source for said boiler;
(3) An absorption machine having a generator section and an absorber section;
(4) A steam trap for this generator section of the absorption machine;
(5) A condensate tank with a vent line to atmosphere; and
(6) Work to be heated.
There is also, in said standard or conventional cooling system:
(7) A steam supply line from the boiler to the generator section of the absorption machine;
(8) A condensate return line from the generator section of the absorption machine through the steam trap to the condensate tank;
(9) A return line from the condensate tank to the boiler;
(10) An outlet supply line from the absorption section of the absorption machine to the work,
(11) A return line from the work to the absorption section of the absorption machine;
(12) A condensate return pump on the return line from the condensate tank to the boiler; and
(13) a system circulation pump positioned on one of (a) return line from the work to the absorption section of the absorption machine and (b) the said outlet supply line from the absorption section of the absorption machine to the work.
The described heating/cooling system is typically integrated into a single system as may be seen in FIG. 1 (and somewhat FIG. 2) when one abstracts from FIG. 1, particularly, but not exhaustively, the vacuum pump on the condensate tank overhead line, the pressure differential switch with its sensor and control connections, as well as the sensor connections for the boiler burner connecting to the indoor/outdoor reset control. It is important to realize that, in the above, the isolation valves for the heat exchanger and absorption machine are not listed. These, however, may be seen in FIG. 1 where they are later herein described and are essentially the same as in the standard system to shift from summer to winter operation and vice versa. Neither are shown all the valving of the lines of the "normal" or standard system.
In a "normal" or conventional steam powered heating/cooling system, the boiler burner is controlled by pressure controls on the boiler and a pressure (typically) of 12 psig is maintained continuously in the boiler. This, in turn, pressurizes the steam supply pipes to a control valve with respect to the heat exchanger or at the absorption machine. Such control valve, in winter operation, for the heat exchanger, throttles the volume of steam supplied to the heat exchanger to control the leaving water temperature therefrom to be pumped through the heat exchange coils of the work. Air blown through the latter heat the work space. In winter operation the isolation valves direct the water on the liquid side of the system through the heat exchanger, while isolating the absorption machine.
In summer operation, the isolation valves are changed to divert the normal system water supply to the work to and through the absorption machine. At this time, the steam control valve modulates the volume of steam employed to generate chilled water. The temperature of the leaving, chilled water from the absorption machine controls the steam valve.
Referring to both systems, the circulation pump on the water filled side of the system circulates the water through either the heat exchanger or absorption machine and the heating or cooling coils of the work. The steam traps keep the steam from passing into the condensate return system until the steam has given up its latent heat and is changed back to water (condensate).
Such condensate is transferred to the condensate return system by the pressure difference between the supply of 12 psig steam and the return system vented to atmosphere at 0 psig. The condensate tank accumulates the water and, because the boiler is at 12 psig, the condensate return pump is used to pump the water back into the boiler to be made into steam again. At 12 pounds of steam, the temperature of the steam is at about 244.degree. F. and the condensate return will be at 200.degree. F. or more.