초록 ▼

Refrigerant management control is provided for an air conditioning system (10) with cool thermal energy storage. The system includes a compressor (18), a condensing unit (12), a temporary refrigerant storage vessel (28), a storage module (14) containing a thermal energy storage medium (35), a liquid

Refrigerant management control is provided for an air conditioning system (10) with cool thermal energy storage. The system includes a compressor (18), a condensing unit (12), a temporary refrigerant storage vessel (28), a storage module (14) containing a thermal energy storage medium (35), a liquid refrigerant pump (42) associated with the storage module, expansion means (62) and an evaporator (16) operatively interconnected. The system is operable in a shift cooling mode, direct cooling mode, and storage medium cooling mode. Before the system is operable in the shift cooling mode, the system is operated in a first transitory mode wherein the storage module (14) is utilized as a heat sink to draw refrigerant from the condensing unit (12), temporary refrigerant storage vessel (28) and evaporator (16) into the storage module (14). Before the system is operable in the direct cooling mode, the system is operated in a second transitory mode wherein the compressor (18) is operated to draw refrigerant into the condensing unit (12) and temporary refrigerant storage vessel.

대표청구항 ▼

An air conditioning system comprising a compressor, a condensing unit, a temporary refrigerant storage vessel, a storage module containing a thermal energy storage medium, a liquid refrigerant pump associated with the storage module, expansion means, and an evaporator operatively interconnected, sai

An air conditioning system comprising a compressor, a condensing unit, a temporary refrigerant storage vessel, a storage module containing a thermal energy storage medium, a liquid refrigerant pump associated with the storage module, expansion means, and an evaporator operatively interconnected, said system further comprising: first isolation means for isolating the compressor, condensing unit and temporary refrigerant storage vessel to allow the system to be operated in a shift cooling mode, wherein the storage module is utilized as a condenser coil, said system further including means for actuating the liquid refrigerant pump to circulate refrigerant between the storage module and evaporator when the system is operated in the shift cooling mode; second isolation means for isolating the storage module to allow the system to be operated in a direct cooling mode, wherein the evaporator is utilized for space cooling, excess refrigerant being stored in the temporary refrigerant storage vessel when the system is operated in the direct cooling mode; third isolation means for isolating the evaporator to allow the system to be operated in a storage medium cooling mode, wherein the storage module is utilized as an evaporator for cooling the storage medium, excess refrigerant being stored in the temporary refrigerant storage vessel when the system is operated in the storage medium cooling mode; interconnection means for temporarily interconnecting the condensing unit, temporary refrigerant storage vessel, storage module and evaporator, to allow the system to be operated in a first transitory mode, wherein the compressor and the liquid refrigerant pump are off and the storage module is utilized as a heat sink to draw refrigerant from the condensing unit, temporary refrigerant storage vessel and evaporator into the storage module, the system being operated in the first transitory mode before the system is operable in the shift cooling mode; and fourth isolation means for temporarily inhibiting the flow of refrigerant to the storage module and evaporator to allow the system to be operated in a second transitory mode, wherein the compressor is operated to draw refrigerant into the condensing unit and temporary refrigerant storage vessel, the system being operated in the second transitory mode before the system is operable in the direct cooling mode.