AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM WITH ICE STORAGE
First Claim
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1. An air conditioning system comprising:
- a condenser;
an evaporator configured to remove thermal energy from a water flow through the evaporator via a refrigerant flow through the evaporator;
a refrigerant conduit configured to convey a refrigerant flow through the evaporator and the condenser; and
an ice storage tank fluidly connected to the refrigerant conduit such that the refrigerant flow is flowable through the ice storage tank to transfer thermal energy between the refrigerant flow and a volume of frozen water disposed in the ice storage tank.
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Abstract
An air conditioning system includes a condenser and an evaporator configured to remove thermal energy from a water flow through the evaporator via a refrigerant flow through the evaporator. A refrigerant conduit is configured to convey a refrigerant flow through the evaporator and the condenser. An ice storage tank is fluidly connected to the refrigerant conduit such that the refrigerant flow is flowable through the ice storage tank to transfer thermal energy between the refrigerant flow and a volume of frozen water disposed in the ice storage tank.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. An air conditioning system comprising:
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a condenser; an evaporator configured to remove thermal energy from a water flow through the evaporator via a refrigerant flow through the evaporator; a refrigerant conduit configured to convey a refrigerant flow through the evaporator and the condenser; and an ice storage tank fluidly connected to the refrigerant conduit such that the refrigerant flow is flowable through the ice storage tank to transfer thermal energy between the refrigerant flow and a volume of frozen water disposed in the ice storage tank. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method of operating an air conditioning system comprising:
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urging a refrigerant flow along a refrigerant pathway and through a compressor; conveying the refrigerant flow through a condenser disposed along the refrigerant pathway; flowing at least a portion of the refrigerant flow through an ice storage tank via an ice tank pathway; and freezing a volume of phase change material disposed in the ice storage tank via the refrigerant flow thus storing cooling energy in the ice storage tank. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of operating an air conditioning system comprises:
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conveying a refrigerant flow through a refrigerant conduit to an ice storage tank, the ice storage tank containing a volume of frozen phase change material therein; transferring thermal energy from the refrigerant flow to the volume of frozen phase change material, thereby cooling the refrigerant flow; urging the refrigerant flow from the ice storage tank to an evaporator; conveying a water flow to the evaporator via a water pathway; transferring thermal energy from the water flow to the refrigerant flow via the evaporator, thereby cooling the water flow; and conveying the water flow to a chiller to cool a desired space via the chiller. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification