Thermal storage systems
OwnerRobert T. Tamblyn, James W. S. Rose +2inventors
InventorsRobert T. Tamblyn, James W. S. Rose, Paul N. Silverthorne, Gordon K. Broadhead
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Abstract
Disclosed are suitably structured storage tanks which substantially eliminate blending problems in thermal storage systems. More particularly is disclosed floatable baffle and flexible diaphragm means for preventing blending of different temperatures of water in a storage tank. Also disclosed is a thermal storage system wherein the tanks are at the base of a building and which includes the use of energy conserving turbines to further enhance the benefits of thermal storage. Direct pumping entry of the storage water at a low pressure is permitted into the load circuit which is at a substantially higher pressure and the turbine conserves energy required in the pumping.
Claims8
A system for conditioning a load to a first predetermined temperature wherein said load is in a closed water piping circuit, including:
- pump means for pumping water about said circuit;
- heat transfer means for conditioning water in said circuit prior to said load to a second predetermined temperature in order to condition said load to said first predetermined temperature;
- thermal storage means including means for separating said thermal storage means into variable volume chambers, said chambers including a first chamber capable of storing water substantially at a third predetermined temperature and a second chamber capable of storing return water at a fourth temperature;
- means for selectively withdrawing water at said third temperature from said first chamber and introducing it into said circuit in order to maintain said second predetermined water temperature;
- means for permitting a substantially equivalent amount of return water to flow into said second chamber from said circuit at said fourth temperature;
- said means for separating said thermal storage means into said first and second variable volume chambers preventing blending of water at said substantially third predetermined temperature with water at said fourth temperature and varying the volume of said first and second chambers in response to water withdrawn therefrom and flowing thereinto;
- and
- means for selectively regenerating said first chamber with water at said substantially third predetermined temperature so that said thermal storage means may contain substantially all water at said substantially third predetermined temperature.
An air conditioning system for a building, said system including heat pump means including evaporator means, clean condenser means and tower condenser means;
- a chilled water circuit including said evaporator means, chilled water pump means and heat exchange means for selectively cooling areas of said building to a predetermined temperature;
- a heating water circuit including said clean condenser means, heating water pump means, auxiliary heating means and heat exchange means for selectively heating areas of said building to a predetermined temperature, said clean condenser reclaiming heat in the building for said heating water circuit;
- a water tower circuit including said tower condenser means, water tower pump means and a cooling tower, said water tower circuit removing unwanted heat from the building;
- thermal storage means including at least two storage tanks, each tank having means for separating the tank into first and second variable volume chambers and preventing blending of water between the respective two chambers;
- means for selectively including storage tanks into said chilled water circuit and means for selectively including storage tanks into said heating water circuit as demand for cooling and heating of the building requires in order to supplement the respective chilled water and heating water circuits with water stored at a temperature substantially that of the temperature of water demanded by said respective circuits and thereby meet the cooling and heating demand in the building at the particular time;
- said separating and anti-blending means comprising impervious flexible membranes attached about peripheral walls of respective tanks at their mid-points to divide the respective tanks into said two chambers.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.