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US 6,408,633 B1Granted
Interfacing of thermal storage systems with air conditioning units
AssigneeInstatherm Company
InventorPeter Carr
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Efficient apparatus and methods are disclosed for interfacing active thermal stores, or cooling loops, to a secondary water loop for decreasing the temperature of an airflow by providing a continuously regenerating water loop that directs chilled water onto a thermally conductive heat exchanger, said loop further comprising supplying water for the loop by collecting water from the heat exchanger.
Claims71
A method for cooling an air stream comprising the steps of:
- providing a thermal storage reservoir having an inlet and an outlet, said reservoir comprising a thermal storage mass;
- providing a thermally conductive heat exchanger having a heat exchanger inlet and a heat exchanger outlet, said heat exchanger inlet and heat exchanger outlet directing an airflow through the heat exchanger;
- providing a primary water loop having an amount of water directed through a conduit, said conduit in communication with the thermal storage reservoir;
- providing a fluid disperser having a disperser inlet and a disperser outlet, said disperser inlet in communication with the conduit such that water in the water loop is directed from the reservoir to the disperser inlet;
- dispersing water from the conduit through the disperser outlet and onto an outer surface of the heat exchanger;
- reclaiming water from the surface of the heat exchanger and directing the reclaimed water to the reservoir;
- and
- providing said airflow having a first temperature in the direction of the heat exchanger and past the heat exchanger such that the air after passing the heat exchanger has a second temperature lower that the first temperature.
5 more elements
An apparatus for cooling air comprising:
- a thermal storage reservoir having an inlet and an outlet, said reservoir comprising a thermal storage mass;
- a thermally conductive heat exchanger having and outer surface and an inlet and an outlet, said inlet and outlet directing the an airflow into and out from the heat exchanger;
- a primary water loop having an amount of water directed through a conduit inlet into a conduit, said conduit in communication with the thermal storage reservoir;
- a fluid disperser in having a disperser inlet and a disperser outlet, said disperser in communication with the conduit such that water in the water loop is directed from the reservoir outlet to the disperser inlet;
- a blower for creating said airflow having a first temperature, said airflow directed in the direction of the disperser and past the heat exchanger such that the airflow has a second temperature after passing the heat exchanger that is less than the first temperature;
- and
- a collector for collecting water from the outer surface of the heat exchanger, said collector in communication with the conduit inlet.
4 more elements
A method for cooling an air stream comprising the steps of:
- providing a primary refrigerant loop containing refrigerant, said refrigerant loop comprising a heat exchanger having a heat exchanger inlet and a heat exchanger outlet, said outlet in communication with a first conduit in communication with the heat exchanger outlet to a compressor and a condenser and a heat exchanger inlet;
- providing a secondary water loop having an amount of water directed through a second conduit, said conduit in communication with the heat exchanger;
- providing a fluid disperser having an disperser inlet and a disperser outlet, said disperser provided in communication with the second conduit such that water in the secondary water loop is directed from the heat exchanger to the disperser inlet;
- dispersing water from the conduit through the disperser outlet and onto the surface of the heat exchanger;
- providing a thermally conductive water contacting surface proximate to the disperser outlet;
- providing an airflow having a first temperature in the direction of the water contacting surface and past the water contacting surface, such that the airflow after passing the water contacting surface has a second temperature lower that the first temperature;
- and
- reclaiming water from the surface of the water contacting surface and directing the reclaimed water to a second water loop inlet.
5 more elements
An apparatus for cooling air comprising:
- a primary refrigerant loop containing an amount of refrigerant, said refrigerant loop comprising a heat exchanger having a heat exchanger inlet and a heat exchanger outlet, said outlet in communication with a first conduit, said first conduit in communication with the heat exchanger outlet, a compressor, a condenser and a heat exchanger inlet;
- a secondary water loop having an amount of water directed through a second conduit, and through the heat exchanger;
- a fluid disperser having an disperser inlet and a disperser outlet, said disperser in communication with the second conduit such that water in the secondary water loop is directed from the heat exchanger to the disperser inlet;
- a thermally conductive water contacting surface located proximate to the disperser for receiving water dispersed thereon from the disperser outlet and onto the surface of the water contacting surface;
- a blower for creating an airflow, said airflow having a first temperature in the direction of the water contacting surface and past the water contacting surface, such that the airflow after passing the water contacting surface has a second temperature lower that the first temperature;
- and
- a collector for reclaiming water from the surface of the water contacting surface, said collector in communication with the secondary water loop conduit.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.