Baseline electrical load operation for a climate control system of a commercial building
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Solution Overview
Problem
Commercial buildings face significant electrical load fluctuations in climate control systems, particularly due to peak cooling demands, leading to unused reserved capacity that could be monetized or utilized more efficiently.
Innovation Solution
A climate control system incorporating a thermal energy storage (TES) assembly and a controller to adjust chiller output and distribute low-temperature fluid through heat exchangers, optimizing electrical load by supplementing chiller capacity and flattening demand over a 24-hour period.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If chiller capacity is increased to meet peak cooling demands, then cooling reliability is improved, but electrical load and operating costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-cools water during off-peak hours when electrical load is lower and stores it in thermal energy storage tanks. This preliminary cooling action allows the system to meet peak cooling demands without requiring oversized chillers to run at full capacity during peak periods, thereby reducing overall electrical load while maintaining cooling reliability
Solution Approach 2:
Thermal energy storage tanks serve as an intermediary between the chiller and the cooling load. The stored cold water acts as a buffer that can be deployed during peak periods to supplement chiller capacity, reducing the need for continuous high-capacity chiller operation and lowering electrical load requirements
2Power
If thermal energy storage assembly is added to supplement chiller capacity, then cooling capacity is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The thermal energy storage system uses standard water tanks and heat exchangers that can serve multiple functions: storing cold water for peak periods, pre-cooling water during off-peak periods, and potentially serving as part of the building's general thermal management system. This multi-functionality justifies the added complexity by providing versatile cooling solutions
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically manages the interaction between the chiller and thermal storage through control logic that monitors temperature, storage levels, and electrical load conditions. The system self-regulates when to charge or discharge the thermal storage without requiring complex manual intervention, thereby managing complexity through automation
3Loss of energy
If electrical load is reduced by using thermal storage, then operating costs are improved, but loss of time in cooling response may increase
Solution Approach 1:
The control system continuously monitors cooling load demands, thermal storage levels, and chiller performance, dynamically adjusting the discharge rate of stored cold water and chiller operation. This feedback mechanism ensures that cooling response time requirements are met while optimizing electrical load reduction and operating costs
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system reduces overall electrical load requirements by optimizing chiller operation and TES distribution, allowing for additional capacity to be utilized or monetized, and maintaining consistent cooling performance.
Implementation Method 1
a heat exchanger that is coupled to the interior space heat exchange circuit such that the heat exchanger is upstream of the chiller along the interior space heat exchange circuit. The heat exchanger is configured to receive a flow of the low-temperature fluid from the source to cool the working fluid
Data Source
AI summary
An embodiment of a climate control system for conditioning an interior space includes an interior space heat exchange circuit that is configured to circulate a working fluid to cool an airflow that is directed to the interior space. In addition, the climate control system includes a chiller that is configured to cool the working fluid. Further, the climate control system includes a thermal energy storage (TES) assembly further including a source of low-temperature fluid and a heat exchanger that is coupled to the interior space heat exchange circuit such that the heat exchanger is upstream of the chiller along the interior space heat exchange circuit. The heat exchanger is configured to receive a flow of the low-temperature fluid from the source to cool the working fluid to thereby supplement an output cooling capacity of the chiller.