Thermal reservoir for two-pipe hydronic air-conditioning system

Abstract

A thermal reservoir for a two-pipe hydronic air-conditioning system is disclosed. Said thermal reservoir includes a well-insulated tank for alternatively storing hot and cold water. Said thermal reservoir contains plurality of valves for directing hot water stored therein into the two-pipe hydronic air-conditioning system, thereby causing cold water within the two-pipe hydronic air-conditioning system to be displaced therefrom and into well insulated storage tank. Said process is fully reversible in that cold water displaced from the two-pipe hydronic air-condition system into said thermal reservoir may be subsequently directed from the thermal reservoir and restored to the two-pipe hydronic air-conditioning system and hot water therefrom directed back into storage. Accordingly a two-pipe hydronic air-conditioning system may be switched between heating and cooling modes with rapidity and without waste of the energy content of said hot water and said cold water

1 . A thermal reservoir for a two-pipe hydronic air-conditioning system which said two-pipe hydronic air-conditioning system contains a means to heat water, means to chill water, a volume of hot or cold water, a pump to circulate said hot or cold water about a piping loop containing a supply line and a return line and a plurality of water-to-air heat exchangers connected to said supply line and to said return line of said loop, comprising: 
 a. tank means for storing a volume of hot water in a first portion thereof and cold water in a second portion thereof;    b. first valve means connecting said first portion of said tank to said supply line of said two-pipe hydronic air-conditioning system, second valve means connecting said first portion of said tank to said return line of said two-pipe hydronic air-conditioning system, third valve means connecting said second portion of said tank to said first portion of said tank to said supply line of said two-pipe hydroponic air-conditioning system, and fourth valve means connecting said second portion of said tank to said first portion of said tank to said return line of said two-pipe hydroponic air-conditioning system.    
   
   
       2 . The thermal reservoir of  claim 1  wherein said tank means is comprised of a cylindrically shaped tank having a first end, a second end, a longitude disposed therebetween, and a piston movably disposed along said longitude of said tank.  
   
   
       3 . The thermal reservoir of  claim 2  wherein said thermal reservoir is comprised of a plurality of tanks fluidly connected in parallel, each of which said tanks is cylindrically shaped, has a first end, a second end, a longitude disposed therebetween and a piston movably disposed along said longitude thereof.  
   
   
       4 . The thermal reservoir of  claim 1  wherein said tank means is divided into said first and second portions thereof by an elastic membrane.  
   
   
       5 . The thermal reservoir of  claim 1  wherein said tank means is comprised of a first tank which is dedicated to receiving and discharge of hot water and a second tank which is dedicated to receiving and discharge of cold water.  
   
   
       6 . The thermal reservoir of  claim 1  wherein said thermal reservoir is fluidly connected in parallel with said means to heat and means to chill water of said two-pipe hydronic air-conditioning system.  
   
   
       7 . The thermal reservoir of  claim 2  wherein said thermal reservoir is fluidly connected in parallel with said means to heat and means to chill water of said two-pipe hydronic air-conditioning system.  
   
   
       8 . The thermal reservoir of  claim 3  wherein said thermal reservoir is fluidly connected in parallel with said means to heat and means to chill water of said two-pipe hydronic air-conditioning system.  
   
   
       9 . The thermal reservoir of  claim 4  wherein said thermal reservoir is fluidly connected in parallel with said means to heat and means to chill water of said two-pipe hydronic air-conditioning system.  
   
   
       10 . The thermal reservoir of  claim 5  wherein said thermal reservoir is fluidly connected in parallel with said means to heat and means to chill water of said two-pipe hydronic air-conditioning system.  
   
   
       11 . The thermal reservoir of  claim 1  wherein said thermal reservoir is fluidly connected in series with a portion of said supply line of said two-pipe hydronic air-conditioning system.  
   
   
       12 . The thermal reservoir of  claim 2  wherein said thermal reservoir is fluidly connected in series with a portion of said supply line of said two-pipe hydronic air-conditioning system.  
   
   
       13 . The thermal reservoir of  claim 3  wherein said thermal reservoir is fluidly connected in series with a portion of said supply line of said two-pipe hydronic air-conditioning system.  
   
   
       14 . The thermal reservoir of  claim 4  wherein said thermal reservoir is fluidly connected in series with a portion of said supply line of said two-pipe hydronic air-conditioning system.  
   
   
       15 . The thermal reservoir of  claim 5  wherein said thermal reservoir is fluidly connected in series with a portion of said supply line of said two-pipe hydronic air-conditioning system.