Thermal energy storage and cooling system with enhanced heat exchange capability

Abstract

Disclosed is a method and device to increase the cooling load that can be provided by a refrigerant-based thermal energy storage and cooling system with an improved arrangement of heat exchangers. This load increase is accomplished by circulating cold water surrounding a block of ice, used as the thermal energy storage medium, through a secondary heat exchanger where it condenses refrigerant vapor returning from a load. The refrigerant is then circulated through a primary heat exchanger within the block of ice where it is further cooled and condensed. This system is known as an internal/external melt system because the thermal energy, stored in the form of ice, is melted internally by a primary heat exchanger and externally by circulating cold water from the periphery of the block through a secondary heat exchanger.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A thermal energy storage and cooling system comprising:
 an air conditioning system having a mechanical compressor that operates in a closed loop refrigeration circuit;   at least one thermal energy storage tank;   a liquid medium that transfers heat to and from said at least one thermal storage energy tank;   at least one heat exchanger that transfers heat from said liquid medium to said closed loop refrigeration circuit;   a pump that circulates said liquid medium; and,   a controller that regulates the flow of said liquid medium to said closed loop refrigeration circuit to enable heat to be transferred to said at least one thermal storage tank without said air conditioner compressor in operation.   
     
     
         2 . The thermal energy storage and cooling system of  claim 1  further comprising:
 at least one valve that starts, stops and regulates the flow of heat from said air conditioning system to and from said thermal storage tank, said valve allowing heat to be transferred by said air conditioning system as if said thermal energy transfer unit and said thermal storage tank were not present in said system. 
 
     
     
         3 . The thermal energy storage and cooling system of  claim 2  further comprising:
 a plurality of said thermal energy transfer units used in association with a plurality of said air conditioning systems that transfer heat to or from one or more shared said thermal energy storage tanks.