Systems and methods implementing robust air conditioning systems configured to utilize thermal energy storage to maintain a low temperature for a target space

• US 9,441,861 B2
• Filed: 10/21/2015
• Issued: 09/13/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Axiom Cloud Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Axiom Exergy, Inc.
• Inventors: Diamond, Anthony, Robbins, Amrit
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Len
• Assistant Examiner(s): VAZQUEZ, ANA M
• Application Number:
  US14/919,288
• Publication Number:
  US 20160084536A1
• Time in Patent Office: 328 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 5/0017 using cold storage bodies, e.g. ice
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 13/00 Compression machines, plants or systems, with reversible cycle defrosting cycles F25B47/02
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2339/047 Water-cooled condensers
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2400/24 Storage receiver heat
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 29/003 of the compression type system
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 41/00 Fluid-circulation arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 49/02 for compression type machines, plants or systems
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 6/00 Compression machines, plants or systems, with several condenser circuits
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 16/00 Devices using a combination of a cooling mode associated with refrigerating machinery with a cooling mode not associated with refrigerating machinery
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/14 Thermal energy storage

Abstract

Systems and methods in accordance with embodiments of the invention implement air conditioning systems that are operable to establish/maintain a desired temperature for a target space and simultaneously establish/maintain a temperature lower than the desired temperature for the target space for an included cold thermal energy storage unit. In one embodiment, an air conditioning system includes: a condensing unit; a liquid pressurizer and distributor ensemble; a cold thermal energy storage unit; a target space; and a suction gas/equalizer; where the listed components are operatively connected by piping such that vapor compression cycles can be simultaneously implemented that result in the cooling of the cold thermal energy storage unit and the target space; and the air conditioning system is configured such that the simultaneous implementation of vapor compression cycles results in cooling the cold thermal energy storage unit to a greater extent relative to the target space.

Claims

1. An air conditioning system comprising:

a condensing unit;

a liquid pressurizer and distributor ensemble;

a cold thermal energy storage unit;

a target space; and

a suction gas pressurizer and distributor ensemble;

wherein;

the condensing unit, the liquid pressurizer and distributor ensemble, the cold thermal energy storage unit, the target space, and the suction gas pressurizer and distributor ensemble are operatively connected by piping such that vapor compression cycles can be simultaneously implemented that result in the cooling of the cold thermal energy storage unit and the target space;

the air conditioning system is configured such that when vapor compression cycles are simultaneously implemented that result in the cooling of the cold thermal energy storage unit and the target space, the cold thermal energy storage unit can be cooled to a temperature lower than that of the target space; and

the air conditioning system is configured such that, in a discharge mode, the liquid pressurizer and distributor ensemble is operable to iteratively circulate a refrigerant between the cold thermal energy storage unit and the target space so as to cool the target space without relying on any compression of any vapor phase refrigerant downstream of the target space during said circulation of said refrigerant.

2. The air conditioning system of claim 1, wherein:

the cold thermal energy storage unit comprises a first expansion device;

the target space comprises a second expansion device; and

the first expansion device is operable to reduce the temperature of received working fluid to a greater extent than the second expansion device.

3. The air conditioning system of claim 1, wherein the suction gas pressurizer and distributor ensemble comprises:

at least one of;

a pressure regulator and a compressor; and

a flow control apparatus operable to controllably direct vapor phase working fluid to adjoined structures.

4. The air conditioning system of claim 1, wherein the cold thermal energy storage unit comprises a phase change material encased in thermal insulation.

5. The air conditioning system of claim 1, wherein the condensing unit comprises a compressor and condenser in series, and wherein the condensing unit is operable to direct received vapor phase working fluid through the compressor to compress the vapor phase working fluid, and then direct the compressed vapor phase working fluid through the condenser to condense the vapor phase working fluid, such that the condensing unit can output the corresponding liquid phase working fluid.

6. The air conditioning system of claim 1, wherein the liquid pressurizer and distributor ensemble comprises a pump that is operable to alter the pressure of received liquid phase working fluid, and a flow control apparatus operable to controllably direct received liquid phase working fluid to adjoined structures.

7. The air conditioning system of claim 1, wherein the condensing unit is operable to output heated vapor phase working fluid.

8. The air conditioning system of claim 7, wherein the condensing unit comprises an integrated heating source and is thereby operable to output heated vapor phase working fluid.

9. The air conditioning system of claim 8, wherein the integrated heating source is a gas powered heater.

10. The air conditioning system of claim 7, further comprising piping configured to direct heated vapor phase working fluid that is output by the condensing unit to the target space.

11. The air conditioning system of claim 10, wherein the condensing unit is configured to output heated vapor phase working fluid such that when the heated vapor phase working fluid is directed by the piping to the target space, the heated vapor phase working fluid condenses into a liquid phase working fluid.

12. The air conditioning system of claim 7, further comprising:

a discharge gas distributor; and

a hot thermal energy storage unit;

wherein the discharge gas distributor, the hot thermal energy storage unit, the liquid pressurizer and distributor ensemble, and the target space are operatively connected by piping such that heated vapor phase working fluid output by the condensing unit can be circulated, using the discharge gas distributor, to the target space and/or the hot thermal energy storage unit.

13. The air conditioning system of claim 12, wherein the condensing unit is configured to output heated vapor phase working fluid such that when the heated vapor phase working fluid is directed by piping to the target space and/or the hot thermal energy storage unit, the heated vapor phase working fluid condenses into a liquid phase working fluid.

14. The air conditioning system of claim 13, wherein the hot thermal energy storage unit comprises a thermal storage medium encased in thermal insulation.

15. The air conditioning system of claim 12, further comprising:

a second condensing unit;

a second liquid pressurizer and distributor ensemble;

a second target space;

a second discharge gas distributor; and

a condenser;

wherein;

the condensing unit and the second condensing unit are operatively connected by piping to the condenser;

the second condensing unit, the second liquid pressurizer and distributor ensemble, the second target space, and the cold thermal energy storage unit are operatively connected by piping such that vapor compression cycles can be simultaneously implemented that result in the cooling of the cold thermal energy storage unit and the target space; and

the second condensing unit, the second discharge gas distributor, the second target space, and the hot thermal energy storage unit are operatively connected by piping such that a working fluid can be heated and circulated through the target space to heat it.

16. The air conditioning system of claim 1, further comprising:

a hot thermal energy storage unit that is operable to act as a heat source;

wherein;

the hot thermal energy storage unit and the target space are operatively connected by piping; and

the hot thermal energy storage unit is configured to receive liquid phase working fluid, and heat it so that it outputs vapor phase working fluid that thereafter be directed to the target space to heat it.

17. The air conditioning system of claim 16, wherein the air conditioning system is configured such that the vapor phase working fluid that is output by the hot thermal energy storage unit and thereafter directed to the target space, transmits heat to the target space and thereby condenses.

18. The air conditioning system of claim 1, wherein the condensing unit is configured to be operable only on received vapor phase working fluid that is within a distinct pressure range, and the suction gas pressurizer and distributor ensemble is configured to output vapor phase working fluid that is within the distinct pressure range.

19. The air conditioning system of claim 1, wherein the cold thermal energy storage unit comprises a phase change material within a circuit that interfaces with the piping via a heat exchanger.

20. The air conditioning system of claim 1, further comprising:

a second condensing unit;

a second liquid pressurizer and distributor ensemble;

a second target space; and

a condenser;

wherein;

the condensing unit and the second condensing unit are operatively connected by piping to the condenser; and

the second condensing unit, the second liquid pressurizer and distributor ensemble, the second target space, and the cold thermal energy storage unit are operatively connected by piping such that vapor compression cycles can be simultaneously implemented that result in the cooling of the cold thermal energy storage unit and the target space.