US 11,885,509 B2
Thermal solar assisted water heating system
Robert Leckinger, Chico, CA (US); and Alexander P. Ward, Chico, CA (US)
Assigned to FAFCO INCORPORATED, Chico, CA (US)
Filed by FAFCO INCORPORATED, Chico, CA (US)
Filed on Oct. 28, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/513,837.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/107,298, filed on Oct. 29, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0136711 A1, May 5, 2022
Int. Cl. F24D 19/10 (2006.01); F24D 17/00 (2022.01); F24D 17/02 (2006.01); G06Q 50/06 (2012.01)
CPC F24D 19/106 (2013.01) [F24D 17/0021 (2013.01); F24D 17/0068 (2013.01); F24D 17/02 (2013.01); F24D 19/1063 (2013.01); F24D 2200/02 (2013.01); F24D 2200/14 (2013.01); F24D 2200/32 (2013.01); F24D 2220/0207 (2013.01); G06Q 50/06 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A solar thermal assisted water heating system comprising:
a thermal collector comprising a plurality of fluid channels configured to collect heat from a surface of a photovoltaic module;
a drain-back tank coupled to the thermal collector;
a first pump coupled to the drain-back tank and configured to pump fluid from the drain-back tank to the thermal collector;
a first heat exchanger configured to receive the fluid from the thermal collector;
a heat pump coupled to the first heat exchanger and configured to remove heat from the fluid and to heat water with the removed heat;
a bypass valve configured to prevent the fluid pumped by the first pump from flowing through the thermal collector when the bypass valve is active; and
a controller configured to activate the bypass valve when a temperature difference between the thermal collector and the drain-back tank is below a first threshold value.