Split power input to chiller
AssigneeAmerican Power Conversion Corporation
InventorsJames R. Fink, John H. Bean, Jr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A chiller for supplying chilled fluid for cooling a room includes two distinct power inputs. A critical power input is configured to supply power to a controller and to a pump in a chilled-fluid loop that circulates a cool working fluid through an air handler 34 to cool the air in the air handler. A non-critical power input is configured to supply power to a compressor and, possibly, other elements of a refrigeration loop that includes an evaporator, the compressor, and a condenser to provide refrigeration via an evaporation/condensation cycle. When power is lost to the non-critical power input, the critical power input can continue to independently power the circulation of the working fluid through the chilled-fluid loop to continue to provide a level of cooling in the air handler.
Claims19
A chiller for supplying chilled fluid for cooling a room, the chiller comprising:
- a chilled-fluid loop comprising a conduit and a pump mounted to circulate working fluid through the conduit;
- an evaporation/condensation refrigeration loop comprising a conduit, an evaporator, a compressor, and a condenser, wherein the refrigeration loop is in thermal communication with the chilled-fluid loop at the evaporator;
- a controller configured to control at least the pump of the chilled-fluid loop;
- a critical power input configured to supply power to the controller and to the pump;
- and
- a non-critical power input distinct from the critical-power input and configured to supply power to the compressor.
A method for operating a chiller, the method comprising:
- coupling a non-critical power source with a compressor in a refrigeration loop configured for circulating refrigerant fluid through an evaporation/condensation cooling cycle;
- and
- coupling a critical power source with a controller and with a pump in a chilled-fluid loop that is in thermal communication with the refrigeration loop and with air from a room, the chilled-fluid loop being configured for circulating working fluid therethrough.
A method for operating a chiller through a disruption in a power supply, the method comprising:
- circulating working fluid in a chilled-fluid loop and passing air from a room across an exposed section of the chilled-fluid loop to cool the air;
- circulating refrigerant fluid in a refrigeration loop for cooling the working fluid in the chilled-fluid loop, the refrigerant fluid in the refrigeration loop being evaporated by an evaporator, compressed by a compressor and condensed by a condenser in a refrigeration cycle;
- and
- upon the disruption of the power supply, allowing the compression of the refrigerant fluid in the refrigeration loop to be halted, while continuing to pump working fluid through the chilled-fluid loop and while continuing to pass air from the room across the exposed section of the chilled-fluid loop,
- wherein the circulation of working fluid in the chilled-fluid loop is powered by a power source distinct from the power source that powers the compressor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.