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Air conditioning system with thermal energy storage and load leveling capacity

  • US 5,467,812 A
  • Filed: 08/19/1994
  • Issued: 11/21/1995
  • Est. Priority Date: 08/19/1994
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. An air conditioning system comprising:

  • a compressor for compressing a refrigerant;

    a first heat exchanger operably connected to said compressor;

    a second heat exchanger operably connected to said first heat exchanger and said compressor, said compressor being operable to circulate refrigerant between said first heat exchanger and said second heat exchanger, whereby fluid in heat exchange relationship with said second heat exchanger is cooled;

    a thermal energy storage unit comprising a tank having a thermal energy storage medium disposed therein and a third heat exchanger disposed in said medium, said third heat exchanger being operably connected to said compressor and said first heat exchanger, said compressor being operable to circulate refrigerant between said third heat exchanger and said first heat exchanger to cool said medium;

    a fourth heat exchanger operably connected to said third heat exchanger;

    refrigerant circulation means for circulating refrigerant between said third heat exchanger and said fourth heat exchanger, whereby fluid in heat exchange relationship with said fourth heat exchanger is cooled; and

    flow control means interposed in said system for selective operation to effect refrigerant flow through a first circuit comprising said compressor, said first heat exchanger and said second heat exchanger, a second circuit comprising said compressor, said first heat exchanger and said third heat exchanger and a third circuit comprising said third heat exchanger, said refrigerant circulation means and said fourth heat exchanger, whereby said system is selectively operable in a first operating mode wherein refrigerant flows through said first circuit to cool fluid in heat exchange relationship with said second heat exchanger, in a second operating mode wherein refrigerant flows through said second circuit to cool said thermal energy storage medium, in a third operating mode wherein refrigerant flows through said third circuit to cool fluid in heat exchange relationship with said fourth heat exchanger, and in a fourth operating mode wherein refrigerant flows simultaneously through said first and third circuits to cool fluid in heat exchange relationship with said second heat exchanger and fluid in heat exchange relationship with said fourth heat exchanger.

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