Thermal energy storage and cooling system with isolated external melt cooling

Abstract

Disclosed are a method and device for a refrigerant-based thermal energy storage and cooling system with isolated external melt cooling. The disclosed embodiments provide a refrigerant-based ice storage system with increased reliability, lower cost components, and reduced power consumption compared to a single phase system such as a glycol system.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION[0001]This application is based upon and claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application No. 60 / 822,034, entitled “Thermal Energy Storage and Cooling System with Isolated External Melt Cooling”, filed Aug. 10, 2006, the entire disclosure of which is hereby specifically incorporated by reference for all that it discloses and teaches.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]With the increasing demands on peak demand power consumption, ice storage has been utilized to shift air conditioning power loads to off-peak times and rates. A need exists not only for load shifting from peak to off-peak periods, but also for increases in air conditioning unit capacity and efficiency. Current air conditioning units having energy storage systems have had limited success due to several deficiencies including reliance on water chillers that are practical only in large commercial buildings and have difficulty achieving high-efficiency. In order to commercialize advanta...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0007]An embodiment of the present invention may also comprise a method of providing cooling with a refrigerant-based thermal energy storage and cooling system comprising the steps of: providing cooling to a primary heat exchanger by evaporating a high-pressure refrigerant in the primary heat exchanger that is constrained within a tank containing a fluid capable of a phase change between liquid and solid; freezing a portion of the fluid and form ice within the tank; delivering a liquid portion of the fluid to a primary side of an intermediate heat exchanger; transferring cooling from the primary side of the intermediate heat exchanger to a second refrigerant loop containing a second refrigerant through a secondary side of the intermediate heat exchanger; returning the liquid portion of the fluid to the tank; cooling the liquid portion of the fluid with the ice within the tank; delivering the second refrigerant to a load heat exchanger; transferring cooling from the second refrigerant to a load heat exchanger to provide load cooling; returning the second refrigerant to the secondary side of the intermediate heat exchanger; cooling the second refrigerant with the primary side of the intermediate heat exchanger.

Problems solved by technology

Current air conditioning units having energy storage systems have had limited success due to several deficiencies including reliance on water chillers that are practical only in large commercial buildings and have difficulty achieving high-efficiency.

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