초록 ▼

A vapor compression air conditioning (cooling and heating) system adapted for operation to reduce the consumption of electric power during peak periods of demand for power is characterized by four refrigerant circuits. A first circuit includes a compressor, a first heat exchanger and a second heat e

A vapor compression air conditioning (cooling and heating) system adapted for operation to reduce the consumption of electric power during peak periods of demand for power is characterized by four refrigerant circuits. A first circuit includes a compressor, a first heat exchanger and a second heat exchanger. A second circuit comprises the compressor, the first heat exchanger and a third heat exchanger. A third circuit comprises the third heat exchanger, a refrigerant pump and a thermal energy storage unit characterized by a tank having a thermal energy storage medium disposed therein. A fourth circuit includes the thermal energy storage unit, the refrigerant pump and a fourth heat exchanger. The first heat exchanger is an outdoor heat exchanger. The second and fourth heat exchangers are indoor heat exchangers in heat transfer relationship with the fluid (e.g., indoor supply air) to be cooled or heated. A first refrigerant, preferably a compressible phase change fluid, is circulated in the first and second circuits by the compressor. A second refrigerant, preferably an incompressible liquid, is circulated in the third and fourth circuits. The system is operable in plural cooling and heating modes to provide load leveling between vapor compression heating and cooling using the compressor and heating and cooling using the thermal energy storage unit, to achieve reduced power consumption during peak electrical power demand periods.

대표청구항 ▼

An air conditioning system, comprising: a compressor for compressing a first refrigerant, the first refrigerant being a compressible phase change fluid; a first heat exchanger operably connected to said compressor; a second heat exchanger operably connected to said first heat exchanger and to said c

An air conditioning system, comprising: a compressor for compressing a first refrigerant, the first refrigerant being a compressible phase change fluid; a first heat exchanger operably connected to said compressor; a second heat exchanger operably connected to said first heat exchanger and to said compressor, said second heat exchanger being in heat exchange relationship with a supply air stream for an indoor space, said compressor being operable to circulate the first refrigerant between said first heat exchanger and said second heat exchanger, whereby the supply air stream is cooled; a thermal energy storage unit including a tank having a thermal energy storage medium disposed therein; a third heat exchanger operably connected to said tank, said compressor and sail first heat exchanger, said compressor being operable to circulate the first refrigerant between said first heat exchanger and said third heat exchanger, whereby a second refrigerant in heat exchange relationship with the first refrigerant in said third heat exchanger is cooled, the second refrigerant being a substantially incompressible liquid; a fourth heat exchanger operably connected to said third heat exchanger, said fourth heat exchanger being in heat exchange relationship with the supply air stream; a refrigerant circulation device for circulating the second refrigerant between said third heat exchanger and said tank, whereby the storage medium is cooled, said refrigerant circulation device being further operable to circulate the second refrigerant between said third heat exchanger and said fourth heat exchanger, whereby the supply air stream is cooled; and a control device adapted to effect flow of the first refrigerant through a first circuit comprising said compressor, said first heat exchanger and said second heat exchanger, and through a second circuit comprising said compressor, said first heat exchanger and said third heat exchanger, said flow control device being operable to effect flow of the second refrigerant through a third circuit comprising said third heat exchanger, said refrigerant circulation device and said tank, and through a fourth circuit comprising said third heat exchanger, said refrigerant circulation device and said fourth heat exchanger, said system being selectively operable in a first operating mode wherein the first refrigerant flows through said second circuit and the second refrigerant flows through said third circuit to cool the storage medium, in a second operating mode wherein the first refrigerant flows through said first circuit to cool the supply air stream with said second heat exchanger, in a third operating mode wherein the second refrigerant flows through said fourth circuit to cool the supply air stream with said fourth heat exchanger, and in a fourth operating mode wherein the first refrigerant flows through said first circuit and the second refrigerant flows through said fourth circuit to cool the supply air stream with both said second heat exchanger and said fourth heat exchanger.