Thermal gradient fluid header for multiple heating and cooling systems
First Claim
1. Apparatus for increasing efficiency of heating and cooling systems for buildings and other facilities, said apparatus comprising:
- an elongate thermal gradient header having at least one zone containing fluid at a relatively higher temperature and at least one zone containing fluid at a relatively lower temperature; and
a plurality of heating/cooling systems that draw said fluid from said thermal gradient header and discharge said fluid back thereto, each of the heating/cooling systems having an intake connected to a first one of the zones of the header that contains said fluid at a temperature closer to an optimal intake temperature of the heating/cooling system, and a discharge connected to a second of said zones that contains said fluid at a temperature that is closer to an optimal discharge temperature of said system.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and method for increasing efficiency of heating/cooling systems in buildings and other facilities. An elongate pipe filled with water or other fluid medium forms a thermal gradient header having temperature zones that are progressively warmer towards one end and cooler towards the other. The heating/cooling systems are connected to the header so as to draw circulating fluid from zones that are closest in temperature to the optimal intake temperature of each system, and to discharge fluid back to the header at zones that are closest to the temperature to the optimal output temperature of each system. The heating/cooling systems may be, for example, air conditioning systems, water heating systems, ice making systems, and so on; the facility may be a single building or comprise multiple buildings. The pipe forming the thermal gradient header may be routed back and forth in the facility to define a series of legs at different temperatures, with the intake and output lines of each system being connected to that leg having the temperature closest to optimum. Additional lines and control valves may enable the systems to draw from/discharge to different legs under different operating conditions, such as at different seasons. The system maximizes efficiency by allowing each system to take advantage of the thermal output of other systems. A boiler or other source of makeup heat may be connected to the thermal gradient header if necessary, and any excess heat may be supplied from the header a thermal ground field for later use or may be rejected as necessary.
37 Citations
29 Claims
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1. Apparatus for increasing efficiency of heating and cooling systems for buildings and other facilities, said apparatus comprising:
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an elongate thermal gradient header having at least one zone containing fluid at a relatively higher temperature and at least one zone containing fluid at a relatively lower temperature; and a plurality of heating/cooling systems that draw said fluid from said thermal gradient header and discharge said fluid back thereto, each of the heating/cooling systems having an intake connected to a first one of the zones of the header that contains said fluid at a temperature closer to an optimal intake temperature of the heating/cooling system, and a discharge connected to a second of said zones that contains said fluid at a temperature that is closer to an optimal discharge temperature of said system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method for increasing efficiency of heating and cooling systems for buildings and other facilities, said method comprising the steps of:
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providing an elongate thermal gradient header having at least one zone containing a fluid at a relatively higher temperature and at least one zone containing said fluid at a relatively lower temperature; and supplying said fluid from the thermal gradient header to a plurality of heating/cooling systems, the step of supplying said fluid from the thermal gradient header to said plurality of heating/cooling systems comprising drawing said fluid from said thermal gradient header for each heating/cooling system from a first one of the zones that contains said fluid at a temperature closer to an optimal intake temperature of that system, and then discharging said fluid from the system to a second of the zones of the header that contains the fluid at a temperature that is closer to an optimal discharge temperature of that system. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification