# US 2014/0150475 A1 · Thermal Energy System and Method of Operation > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0150475 A1 - Document ID: US20140150475A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/003,726 - Filed: 2012-03-08 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2011-03-08 - Assignees: Greenfield Master Ipco Limited - Inventors: Dmitriy Zaynulin; Graeme Ogilvie; Kevin Stickney; Gregory Davis - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140150475A1 ## CPC - F25B 9/008: {the refrigerant being carbon dioxide} - F25B 6/00: Compression machines, plants or systems, with several condenser circuits - F25B 6/04: arranged in series - F25B 25/005: {using primary and secondary systems} - F25B 27/00: Machines, plants or systems, using particular sources of energy (F25B30/06 takes precedence) - F25B 30/02: of the compression type - F25B 41/20: Disposition of valves, e.g. of on-off valves or flow control valves (expansion valves F25B41/31) - F25B 49/02: for compression type machines, plants or systems - F25B 2309/061: with cycle highest pressure above the supercritical pressure - F25B 2339/047: Water-cooled condensers - F25B 2400/22: Refrigeration systems for supermarkets - F25B: REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS ## Abstract A thermal energy system comprising a first thermal system in use having a cooling demand, and a heat sink connection system coupled to the first thermal system, the heat sink connection system being adapted to provide selective connection to a plurality of heat sinks for cooling the first thermal system, the heat sink connection system comprising a first heat exchanger system adapted to be coupled to a first remote heat sink containing a working fluid and a second heat exchanger system adapted to be coupled to ambient air as a second heat sink, a fluid loop interconnecting the first thermal system, the first heat exchanger system and the second heat exchanger system, at least one mechanism for selectively altering the order of the first heat exchanger system and the second heat exchanger system in relation to a fluid flow direction around the fluid loop, and a controller for actuating the at least one mechanism. An alternative embodiment has a heating demand and uses heat sources. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A thermal energy system comprising a first thermal system in use having a cooling demand, and a heat sink connection system coupled to the first thermal system, the heat sink connection system being adapted to provide selective connection to a plurality of heat sinks for cooling the first thermal system, the heat sink connection system comprising a first heat exchanger system adapted to be coupled to a first remote heat sink containing a working fluid and a second heat exchanger system adapted to be coupled to ambient air as a second heat sink, a fluid loop interconnecting the first thermal system, the first heat exchanger system and the second heat exchanger system, at least one mechanism for selectively altering the order of the first heat exchanger system and the second heat exchanger system in relation to a fluid flow direction around the fluid loop, and a controller for actuating the at least one mechanism. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A thermal energy system according to claim 1 wherein the first heat exchanger system is adapted to be coupled to a plurality of boreholes comprising the remote heat sink. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) A thermal energy system according to claim 2 wherein the boreholes are comprised in a closed loop geothermal energy system. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A thermal energy system according to claim 1 wherein the second heat exchanger system is a condenser, gas cooler or sub-cooler coupled to ambient air. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A thermal energy system according to claim 1 further comprising a first temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of the first heat sink and a second temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of the second heat sink. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) A thermal energy system according to claim 5 wherein the controller is adapted to actuate the at least one mechanism by employing the measured temperatures of the first and second heat sinks as control parameters. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) A thermal energy system according to claim 6 wherein the controller is adapted to actuate the at least one mechanism at least partly based on a comparison of the measured temperatures of the first and second heat sinks ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A thermal energy system according to claim 1 wherein the heat sink connection system is configured to provide substantially unrestricted flow between the heat sinks ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A thermal energy system according to claim 1 wherein the fluid loop has an input and an output connected to the first thermal system, and the at least one mechanism is adapted to be actuatable to switch the fluid loop between a first fluid loop configuration in which the first heat exchanger system is upstream of the second heat exchanger system in the direction of fluid flow around the loop from the input to the output and a second fluid loop configuration in which the second heat exchanger system is upstream of the first heat exchanger system in the direction of fluid flow around the loop from the input to the output. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A thermal energy system according to claim 1 wherein the first thermal system comprises a commercial or industrial refrigeration system which utilizes a vapour-compression Carnot cycle. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) A thermal energy system comprising a commercial or industrial refrigeration system according to claim 10 which utilizes carbon dioxide as a refrigerant. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) A thermal energy system according to claim 11 further comprising a first pressure regulating valve on a downstream side of the second heat exchanger system. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) A thermal energy system according to claim 12 further comprising a bypass of the pressure regulating valve on the downstream side of the second heat exchanger system. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) A thermal energy system according to claim 11 further comprising a pressure regulating valve on a downstream side of the first heat exchanger system. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) A thermal energy system according to claim 1 wherein the at least one mechanism comprises a plurality of switchable valve mechanisms being actuatable for selectively altering the order of the first heat exchanger system and the second heat exchanger system in a fluid flow direction around the fluid loop. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) A thermal energy system according to claim 15 wherein the controller is adapted simultaneously to actuate the plurality of switchable valve mechanisms. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) A thermal energy system according to claim 1 wherein the first heat exchanger system comprises a plurality of first heat exchangers. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) A thermal energy system according to claim 1 wherein the second heat exchanger system comprises a plurality of second heat exchangers. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) A thermal energy system according to claim 1 wherein the heat sink connection system further comprises at least one additional heat exchanger system adapted to be coupled to at least one additional heat sink. ### Claim 20 A method of operating a thermal energy system, the thermal energy system comprising a first thermal system, the method comprising the steps of; (a) providing a first thermal system having a cooling demand; (b) providing a first heat exchanger system coupled to a first remote heat sink containing a working fluid; (c) providing a second heat exchanger system to be coupled to ambient air as a second heat sink; (d) flowing fluid around a fluid loop interconnecting the first thermal system, the first heat exchanger system and the second heat exchanger system to reject heat simultaneously to the first and second heat sinks; and (e) selectively altering the order of the first heat exchanger system and the second heat exchanger system in relation to a fluid flow direction around the fluid loop. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) A method according to claim 20 wherein step (e) is carried out by selectively switching valve mechanisms connecting the first and second heat exchanger systems into the fluid loop. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) A method according to claim 21 wherein the valve mechanisms are two-way valves each having at least three ports. ### Claim 23 (depends on 20) A method according to claim 20 further comprising the step of measuring the temperature of the first heat sink and the temperature of the second heat sink and in step (e) the measured temperatures of the first and second heat sinks are employed as control parameters for controlling the order of the first and second heat exchanger systems in the fluid flow direction of the fluid loop. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) A method according to claim 23 wherein the order of the first and second heat exchanger systems in the fluid flow direction of the fluid loop is controlled at least partly based on a comparison of the measured temperatures of the first and second heat sinks ### Claim 25 (depends on 20) A method according to claim 20 wherein the first heat exchanger system is coupled to a plurality of boreholes comprising the remote heat sink. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) A method according to claim 25 wherein the boreholes are comprised in a closed loop geothermal energy system. ### Claim 27 (depends on 20) A method according to claim 20 wherein the second heat exchanger system is a condenser, gas cooler or sub-cooler coupled to ambient air. ### Claim 28 (depends on 20) A method according to claim 20 wherein the fluid loop has an input and an output connected to the first thermal system, and in step (e) switchable valve mechanisms connecting the first and second heat exchanger systems to the first thermal system are actuated simultaneously to switch the fluid loop between a first fluid loop configuration in which the first heat exchanger system is upstream of the second heat exchanger system in the direction of fluid flow around the fluid loop from the input to the output and a second fluid loop configuration in which the second heat exchanger system is upstream of the first heat exchanger system in the direction of fluid flow around the fluid loop from the input to the output. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) A method according to claim 28 wherein in the first fluid loop configuration the first heat exchanger system is arranged to provide primary cooling and condensing of the fluid and the second heat exchanger system is arranged to provide sub-cooling of the fluid. ### Claim 30 (depends on 28) A method according to claim 28 wherein the first fluid loop configuration is selected when a measured temperature of ambient air as the second heat sink is below a particular threshold in relation to a measured temperature of the working fluid of the first heat sink. ### Claim 31 (depends on 28) A method according to claim 28 wherein in the second fluid loop configuration the second heat exchanger system is arranged to provide primary cooling and condensing of the fluid and the first heat exchanger system is arranged to provide sub-cooling of the fluid. ### Claim 32 (depends on 28) A method according to claim 28 wherein the second fluid loop configuration is selected when a measured temperature of ambient air as the second heat sink is higher than a particular threshold in relation to the measured temperature of the working fluid of the first heat sink. ### Claim 33 (depends on 20) A method according to claim 20 wherein the first thermal system comprises a commercial or industrial refrigeration system applying the vapour-pressure Carnot cycle and employing carbon dioxide as a refrigerant. ### Claim 34 (depends on 33) A method according to claim 33 wherein in step (d) the carbon dioxide initially passes through the second heat exchanger system and rejects heat to the second heat sink under transcritical conditions without condensing the carbon dioxide in the second heat exchanger system. ### Claim 35 (depends on 34) A method according to claim 34 further comprising regulating the pressure of the carbon dioxide on a downstream side of the second heat exchanger system so as to provide a constant pressure during an initial heat rejecting phase of step (d). ### Claim 36 (depends on 34) A method according to claim 34 further comprising regulating the pressure of the carbon dioxide on a downstream side of the first heat exchanger system so as to provide a constant pressure during an second heat rejecting phase of step (d). ### Claim 37 (depends on 20) A method according to claim 20 wherein the first heat exchanger system comprises a plurality of first heat exchangers. ### Claim 38 (depends on 20) A method according to claim 20 wherein the second heat exchanger system comprises a plurality of second heat exchangers. ### Claim 39 (depends on 20) A method according to claim 20 further comprising providing at least one additional heat exchanger system coupled to at least one additional heat sink, the fluid loop interconnecting the first thermal system, the first heat exchanger system, the second heat exchanger system and the at least one additional heat exchanger system to reject heat simultaneously to the first and second heat sinks and to the at least one additional heat sink. ### Claim 40 A thermal energy system comprising a first thermal system in use having a heating demand, and a heat source connection system coupled to the first thermal system, the heat source connection system being adapted to provide selective connection to a plurality of heat sources for heating the first thermal system, the heat source connection system comprising a first heat exchanger system adapted to be coupled to a first remote heat source containing a working fluid and a second heat exchanger system adapted to be coupled to ambient air as a second heat source, a fluid loop interconnecting the first thermal system, the first heat exchanger system and the second heat exchanger system, at least one mechanism for selectively altering the order of the first heat exchanger system and the second heat exchanger system in relation to a fluid flow direction around the fluid loop, and a controller for actuating the at least one mechanism. ### Claim 41 (depends on 40) A thermal energy system according to claim 40 wherein the first heat exchanger system is adapted to be coupled to a plurality of boreholes comprising the remote heat source. ### Claim 42 (depends on 41) A thermal energy system according to claim 41 wherein the boreholes are comprised in a closed loop geothermal energy system. ### Claim 43 (depends on 40) A thermal energy system according to claim 40 wherein the second heat exchanger system is an evaporator coupled to ambient air. ### Claim 44 (depends on 40) A thermal energy system according to claim 40 further comprising a first temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of the first heat source and a second temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of the second heat source. ### Claim 45 (depends on 44) A thermal energy system according to claim 44 wherein the controller is adapted to actuate the at least one mechanism by employing the measured temperatures of the first and second heat sources as control parameters. ### Claim 46 (depends on 45) A thermal energy system according to claim 45 wherein the controller is adapted to actuate the at least one mechanism at least partly based on a comparison of the measured temperatures of the first and second heat sources. ### Claim 47 (depends on 40) A thermal energy system according to claim 40 wherein the heat source connection system is configured to provide substantially unrestricted flow between the heat sources. ### Claim 48 (depends on 40) A thermal energy system according to claim 40 wherein the fluid loop has an input and an output connected to the first thermal system, and the at least one mechanism is adapted to be actuatable to switch the fluid loop between a first fluid loop configuration in which the first heat exchanger system is upstream of the second heat exchanger system in the direction of fluid flow around the loop from the input to the output and a second fluid loop configuration in which the second heat exchanger system is upstream of the first heat exchanger system in the direction of fluid flow around the loop from the input to the output. ### Claim 49 (depends on 40) A thermal energy system according to claim 40 wherein the first thermal system comprises a commercial or industrial heat pump system which utilizes a vapour-compression heat pump cycle. ### Claim 50 (depends on 49) A thermal energy system comprising a commercial or industrial heat pump system according to claim 49 which utilizes carbon dioxide as a working fluid. ### Claim 51 (depends on 50) A thermal energy system according to claim 50 further comprising a first pressure regulating valve on a downstream side of the second heat exchanger system. ### Claim 52 (depends on 51) A thermal energy system according to claim 51 further comprising a bypass of the pressure regulating valve on the downstream side of the second heat exchanger system. ### Claim 53 (depends on 50) A thermal energy system according to claim 50 further comprising a pressure regulating valve on a downstream side of the first heat exchanger system. ### Claim 54 (depends on 40) A thermal energy system according to claim 40 wherein the at least one mechanism comprises a plurality of switchable valve mechanisms being actuatable for selectively altering the order of the first heat exchanger system and the second heat exchanger system in a fluid flow direction around the fluid loop. ### Claim 55 (depends on 54) A thermal energy system according to claim 54 wherein the controller is adapted simultaneously to actuate the plurality of switchable valve mechanisms. ### Claim 56 (depends on 40) A thermal energy system according to claim 40 wherein the first heat exchanger system comprises a plurality of first heat exchangers. ### Claim 57 (depends on 40) A thermal energy system according to claim 40 wherein the second heat exchanger system comprises a plurality of second heat exchangers. ### Claim 58 (depends on 40) A thermal energy system according to claim 40 wherein the heat source connection system further comprises at least one additional heat exchanger system adapted to be coupled to at least one additional heat source. ### Claim 59 A method of operating a thermal energy system, the thermal energy system comprising a first thermal system, the method comprising the steps of; (a) providing a first thermal system having a heating demand; (b) providing a first heat exchanger system coupled to a first remote heat source containing a working fluid; (c) providing a second heat exchanger system to be coupled to ambient air as a second heat source; (d) flowing fluid around a fluid loop interconnecting the first thermal system, the first heat exchanger system and the second heat exchanger system to receive heat simultaneously from the first and second heat sources; and (e) selectively altering the order of the first heat exchanger system and the second heat exchanger system in relation to a fluid flow direction around the fluid loop. ### Claim 60 (depends on 59) A method according to claim 59 wherein step (e) is carried out by selectively switching valve mechanisms connecting the first and second heat exchanger systems into the fluid loop. ### Claim 61 (depends on 60) A method according to claim 60 wherein the valve mechanisms are two-way valves each having at least three ports. ### Claim 62 (depends on 59) A method according to claim 59 further comprising the step of measuring the temperature of the first heat source and the temperature of the second heat source and in step (e) the measured temperatures of the first and second heat sources are employed as control parameters for controlling the order of the first and second heat exchanger systems in the fluid flow direction of the fluid loop. ### Claim 63 (depends on 62) A method according to claim 62 wherein the order of the first and second heat exchanger systems in the fluid flow direction of the fluid loop is controlled at least partly based on a comparison of the measured temperatures of the first and second heat sources. ### Claim 64 (depends on 59) A method according to claim 59 wherein the first heat exchanger system is coupled to a plurality of boreholes comprising the remote heat source. ### Claim 65 (depends on 64) A method according to claim 64 wherein the boreholes are comprised in a closed loop geothermal energy system. ### Claim 66 (depends on 59) A method according to claim 59 wherein the second heat exchanger system is an evaporator coupled to ambient air. ### Claim 67 (depends on 59) A method according to claim 59 wherein the fluid loop has an input and an output connected to the first thermal system, and in step (e) switchable valve mechanisms connecting the first and second heat exchanger systems to the first thermal system are actuated simultaneously to switch the fluid loop between a first fluid loop configuration in which the first heat exchanger system is upstream of the second heat exchanger system in the direction of fluid flow around the fluid loop from the input to the output and a second fluid loop configuration in which the second heat exchanger system is upstream of the first heat exchanger system in the direction of fluid flow around the fluid loop from the input to the output. ### Claim 68 (depends on 67) A method according to claim 67 wherein in the first fluid loop configuration the first heat exchanger system is arranged to provide primary eating and evaporating of the fluid and the second heat exchanger system is arranged to provide sub-heating of the fluid. ### Claim 69 (depends on 67) A method according to claim 67 wherein the first fluid loop configuration is selected when a measured temperature of ambient air as the second heat sink is above a particular threshold in relation to a measured temperature of the working fluid of the first heat source. ### Claim 70 (depends on 67) A method according to claim 67 wherein in the second fluid loop configuration the second heat exchanger system is arranged to provide primary heating and evaporating of the fluid and the first heat exchanger system is arranged to provide sub-heating of the fluid. ### Claim 71 (depends on 67) A method according to claim 67 wherein the second fluid loop configuration is selected when a measured temperature of ambient air as the second heat source is lower than a particular threshold in relation to the measured temperature of the working fluid of the first heat source. ### Claim 72 (depends on 59) A method according to claim 59 wherein the first thermal system comprises a commercial or industrial heat pump system applying the vapour-pressure heat pump cycle and employing carbon dioxide as a working fluid. ### Claim 73 (depends on 59) A method according to claim 59 wherein the first heat exchanger system comprises a plurality of first heat exchangers. ### Claim 74 (depends on 59) A method according to claim 59 wherein the second heat exchanger system comprises a plurality of second heat exchangers. ### Claim 75 (depends on 59) A method according to claim 59 further comprising providing at least one additional heat exchanger system coupled to at least one additional heat source, the fluid loop interconnecting the first thermal system, the first heat exchanger system, the second heat exchanger system and the at least one additional heat exchanger system to receive heat simultaneously from the first and second heat sources and from the at least one additional heat source.