OPTIMIZED HEATING AND COOLING SYSTEM

• US 20140166232A1
• Filed: 05/25/2012
• Published: 06/19/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Board of Trustees of The University of Illinois
• Original Assignee: Board of Trustees of The University of Illinois
• Inventors: Al-Hallaj, Said, Murad, Sohail
• Granted Patent: US 9,784,509 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 165/11.1
• CPC Class Codes: F24T 10/10 with circulation of working fluids through underground channels, the working fluids not coming into direct contact with the ground
• CPC Class Codes: F24T 10/15 using bent tubes; using tubes assembled with connectors or with return headers
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 30/06 characterised by the source of low potential heat
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 20/021 the latent heat storage material and the heat-exchanging means being enclosed in one container F28D20/023 - F28D20/028 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 27/00 Control arrangements or safety devices specially adapted for heat-exchange or heat-transfer apparatus control arrangements in general G05
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/10 Geothermal energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/14 Thermal energy storage

Abstract

An optimized heating and cooling system including a thermal mass, thermal energy transport conduits to deliver thermal energy to the thermal mass including one or more phase change materials (PCMs), at least one heat exchanger to exchange the thermal energy from a energy input into heat transfer fluid that is pumped through the thermal mass. The system also includes a controller in electronic communication with a temperature sensor, a throttle and a pump. A desired building temperature profile, a daily temperature forecast, the electricity rates, the thermal characteristics of the PCMs are entered into or obtained by the controller and the controller uses that information to optimize the energy use to avoid using the heating and cooling system during peak electricity demand time, or uses the rate structure to determine the operation sequence that results in the most efficient use of energy or least cost.

Claims

1. A heating and cooling system comprising;

a thermal mass including at least one phase change material disposed therein;

a plurality of conduits disposed within said thermal mass and allowing passage of a heat transfer fluid through said conduits wherein said heat transfer fluid and said conduits are configured to deliver thermal energy to said thermal mass and said phase change material;

a heat exchanger in thermal communication with said conduits;

an energy source for generating thermal energy wherein said thermal energy is transferred to said heat transfer fluid in said conduits by said heat exchanger; and

a controller configured to monitor a plurality of operating and environmental parameters of said heating and cooling system and to optimize an aspect of performance of said heating and cooling system.

2. The heating and cooling system of claim 1 wherein said aspect of performance is a daily energy consumption.

3. The heating and cooling system of claim 1 wherein said aspect of performance is a daily cost of operation.

4. A heating and cooling system comprising;

a lower fluid loop having a first heat exchanger in thermal communication with a geothermal source and disposed to transfer thermal energy between said geothermal source and a fluid in said lower loop;

an upper loop having a circulating fluid flowing within, said circulating fluid of said upper loop being in thermal communication with said fluid in said lower loop such as to transfer thermal energy between said circulating fluid in said upper loop and fluid in said lower loop;

a thermal mass, said thermal mass containing a phase change material configured to store thermal energy;

a circulating conduit embedded in said slab to transfer thermal energy between phase change materials and said circulating fluid in said upper loop; and

a controller configured to monitor a plurality of operating and environmental parameters of said heating and cooling system and to optimize a daily energy consumption or a daily cost of operation of said heating and cooling system.