Air conditioning system with discharged heat driving compression of system refrigerant

1. A system for producing cooled air, wherein at least a portion of the cooled air is re-circulated, comprising:

a first set of apparatus in fluid communication along a first line for carrying refrigerant, the first set of apparatus comprising:

a first heat exchanging apparatus configured to transfer heat from the re-circulated air to refrigerant in the first line in order to evaporate the refrigerant and provide cooled air for occupant comfort;

a second heat exchanging apparatus configured to transfer heat from a source, the source having a higher temperature than, and being other than, the re-circulated air, to refrigerant in the first line in order to raise the refrigerant temperature prior to compression, the second heat exchanging apparatus not being configured to provide cooling air for occupant comfort; and

apparatus for compressing the refrigerant in the first line; and

a second set of apparatus in fluid communication along a second line for carrying an energy recovery fluid, the second set of apparatus comprising:

a third heat exchanging apparatus for transferring heat from the refrigerant in the first line to the energy recovery fluid in the second line; and

expansion apparatus, operationally responsive to pressure of the energy recovery fluid in the second line, to provide an operational force to the apparatus for compressing the refrigerant in the first line.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the second heat exchanging apparatus is for transferring heat comprising heat from a natural source.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the second heat exchanging apparatus is for transferring heat comprising solar heat.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the solar heat comprises heated air located in a residential structure attic.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the second heat exchanging apparatus is for transferring heat comprising heat from a non-combustible source.

6. The system of claim 1 :

wherein the first set of apparatus further comprises condensing apparatus for causing a phase change of the refrigerant in the first line from a vapor to a liquid; and

wherein the condensing apparatus communicates heat from the refrigerant in the first line to the third heat exchanging apparatus.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the first heat exchanging apparatus is for causing a phase change of the refrigerant in the first line from a liquid to a vapor.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the second heat exchanging apparatus is for transferring sufficient heat into the vapor so as to cause, via the third heat exchanging apparatus, at least a 90 degree Fahrenheit temperature of the energy recovery fluid in the second line.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the apparatus for compressing receives the refrigerant in the first line, in a vapor phase, coming from the second heat exchanging apparatus.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the second set of apparatus further comprises apparatus for transferring solar heat to the energy recovery fluid.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the refrigerant comprises propane.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein the energy recovery fluid comprises propane.

13. The system of claim 1 :

wherein the refrigerant comprises propane; and

wherein the energy recovery fluid comprises propane.

14. The system of claim 1 wherein the apparatus for compressing comprises compressor apparatus responsive to both electricity for compressing the refrigerant and to the operational force for compressing the refrigerant.

15. The system of claim 1 wherein the first set of apparatus is part of a heat pump system.

16. The system of claim 1 :

wherein the second set of apparatus comprises a pump for circulating a fluid along a path in the second set of apparatus; and

wherein the first set of apparatus comprises an energy exchange device for providing an operational force to the pump in response to a change in pressure of refrigerant circulating in the first set of apparatus.

17. A method of operating a system for producing cooled air, wherein at least a portion of the cooled air is re-circulated, comprising:

circulating a refrigerant through a first set of apparatus in fluid communication along a first line for carrying the refrigerant, the first set of apparatus comprising:

a first heat exchanging apparatus for transferring heat from the re-circulated air to refrigerant in the first line in order to evaporate the refrigerant and provide cooled air for occupant comfort;

a second heat exchanging apparatus for transferring heat from a source in order to raise the temperature of the refrigerant before compression, the source having a higher temperature than, and being other than, the re-circulated air, to refrigerant in the first line and the second heat exchanging apparatus not being configured to provide cooling air for occupant comfort; and

apparatus for compressing the refrigerant in the first line; and

circulating an energy recovery fluid through a second set of apparatus in fluid communication along a second line for carrying the energy recovery fluid, the second set of apparatus comprising:

a third heat exchanging apparatus for transferring heat from the refrigerant in the first line to the energy recovery fluid in the second line; and

expansion apparatus, operationally responsive to pressure of the fluid in the second line, to provide an operational force to the apparatus for compressing the refrigerant in the first line.

18. The system of claim 1 wherein the second heat exchanging apparatus is coupled between the first heat exchanging apparatus and the apparatus for compressing.