Systems and methods implementing robust air conditioning systems configured to utilize thermal energy storage to maintain a low temperature for a target space
First Claim
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;
wherein the cold thermal energy storage unit comprises;
first and second expansion devices disposed in fluid communication on either end of a liquid/gas separator, anda volume of phase change material encased in thermal insulation interconnected with the second expansion device; and
the air conditioning system is configured such that when the 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
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.
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Accused Products
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.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. An air conditioning system comprising:
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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; wherein the cold thermal energy storage unit comprises; first and second expansion devices disposed in fluid communication on either end of a liquid/gas separator, and a volume of phase change material encased in thermal insulation interconnected with the second expansion device; and the air conditioning system is configured such that when the 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 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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification