Climate control systems and methods

Abstract

Provided are climate control systems and related methods of controlling climate in enclosed spaces. Specific applications include indoor agricultural wherein there is controlled production of electrical power along with control of heating, cooling and CO 2 in the enclosed space so as maximize plant growth efficiency. The process is highly efficient and ecologically friendly with minimal energy loss and CO 2 gas release to the surrounding environment.

1 . A system for controlling climate in an enclosed space comprising:
 a hydrocarbon-fueled electrical power generator;   an electrical power line for conducting electricity from the hydrocarbon-fueled electrical power generator to the enclosed space or to an electrically powered component of the system;   an exhaust outlet conduit operably connected to said electrical power generator for transporting a high temperature exhaust gas produced by the electrical power generator;   a heat exchanger thermally connected to the exhaust outlet conduit;   a recirculating thermal fluid loop thermally connected to said heat exchanger, wherein high temperature exhaust gas introduced to the heat exchanger by the exhaust outlet conduit heats a recirculating thermal fluid in the recirculating thermal fluid loop;   an absorption chiller thermally connected to said recirculating thermal fluid loop, wherein the heated recirculating thermal fluid powers said absorption chiller;   a heated thermal fluid loop in thermal contact with said recirculating thermal fluid loop at a first end and in thermal contact with said enclosed space at a second end to provide a supply of a heated thermal fluid in thermal contact with the enclosed space and thereby heating control of said enclosed space;   a chilled thermal fluid loop in thermal contact with said absorption chiller at a first end and in thermal contact with said enclosed space at a second end to provide a supply of chilled thermal fluid in thermal contact with the enclosed space and thereby cooling control of said enclosed space;   a downstream exhaust outlet conduit connected to the heat exchanger that removes high temperature exhaust gas from the heat exchanger;   a CO 2  conduit having:   a first end fluidically connected to the downstream exhaust outlet conduit; and   a second end fluidically connected to the enclosed space for providing CO 2  to the enclosed space.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the enclosed space is an indoor agricultural producing facility; the hydrocarbon fueled electrical power generator is selected from the group consisting of a genset; a natural gas turbine; and a diesel generator; the system further comprising:
 an artificial light source that is electrically connected to the electrical power line, wherein the artificial light source stimulates growth of a plant in the enclosed space; and   an electrically powered component selected from the group consisting of an air-cooled chiller, a pump, a sensor, a controller, a flow-valve, a light, a blower, a fan, and any combination thereof, the electrically powered component electrically connected to the electrical power line.   
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a heated thermal fluid reservoir fluidically connected to the recirculating thermal fluid loop and fluidically or thermally connected to the heated thermal fluid loop, wherein the heated thermal fluid reservoir stores a volume of heated thermal fluid;
 wherein the heated thermal reservoir has an inlet and the absorption chiller has a heated thermal fluid outlet, wherein the heated thermal reservoir inlet is fluidically connected to the absorption chiller heated thermal fluid outlet;   wherein the heated thermal reservoir has an outlet that is fluidically connected to the heat exchanger; and   the absorption chiller is fluidically connected to each of the heat exchanger and the heated thermal reservoir.   
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the heated thermal fluid loop comprises:
 a heated thermal fluid supply line having a first end and a second end, wherein the heated thermal fluid supply line first end is thermally connected to the heated thermal fluid reservoir and the heated thermal fluid supply line second end is thermally connected to the enclosed space for supplying heat to the enclosed space;   a heated thermal fluid return line having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is fluidically connected to the heated thermal fluid supply line and the second end is thermally or fluidically connected to the heated thermal fluid reservoir;   wherein the heated thermal fluid return line:   returns heated thermal fluid that has been cooled by the enclosed space to the heated thermal fluid reservoir in an open loop configuration; or   returns heated thermal fluid that has been cooled by the enclosed space for heating by the heater thermal fluid reservoir in a closed loop configuration;   wherein the heated thermal fluid reservoir comprises a storage tank having a volume that is greater than or equal to 10 gallons and has a temperature that is greater than or equal to 100° F.   
     
     
         12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the heat exchanger is capable of increasing a thermal fluid temperature of thermal fluid introduced to the heat exchanger by a range selected from between 5° C. and 50° C.;   the absorption chiller is capable of reducing a temperature of chilled water introduced to the absorption chiller by a range selected from between 5° C. and 20° C.; and   the recirculating thermal fluid loop thermally connected to the absorption chiller transports a steam and heated water composition within a conduit having a temperature that is greater than or equal to 200° F.   
     
     
         16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a chilled thermal fluid supply line having a first end and a second end, wherein the chilled thermal fluid supply line first end is thermally connected to the absorption chiller and the chilled thermal fluid supply line second end is thermally connected to the enclosed space for supplying cooling to the enclosed space;   a chilled thermal fluid return line fluidically connected to the enclosed space at a first end and to the absorption chiller at a second end, wherein the chilled thermal fluid return line returns chilled thermal fluid from the enclosed space to a thermal fluid reservoir and   a forced air conduit positioned in the enclosed space and in thermal contact with the chilled thermal fluid supply line to generate a cooled air stream in the enclosed space to cool one or more optical light sources powered by the electrical power generator.   
     
     
         21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a filter positioned in the CO 2  conduit or positioned upstream of the CO 2  conduit for generating a CO 2  rich gas in the CO 2  conduit that is introduced to the enclosed space;   comprising a CO 2  storage vessel fluidically connected to the CO 2  conduit for storing CO 2  from the high temperature exhaust gas; and   a CO 2  sensor in the enclosed space for measuring CO 2  concentration and a flow valve positioned in the CO 2  conduit, wherein the flow valve is operably connected to the CO 2  sensor to control a flow-rate of CO 2  rich gas in the CO 2  conduit to achieve a desired CO 2  concentration.   
     
     
         23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 1 , having a CO 2  concentration in the enclosed space selected from a range that is greater than or equal to 1000 ppm and less than or equal to 1500 ppm. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising post-combustion carbon capture equipment fluidically connected to the downstream exhaust outlet, wherein the post-combustion carbon capture equipment is selected from the group consisting of: chemical absorbers, chemical adsorbers, scrubbers, storage vessels, and an underground geological formation, wherein at least 50% of the CO2 generated by the hydrocarbon-fueled generator is used for plant growth and/or is captured by the post-combustion carbon capture equipment. 
     
     
         27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a biogas upgrader fluidically connected to the CO 2  conduit; and   a natural gas output line having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is connected to the biogas upgrader and the second end is operably connected to the electrical power generator, where natural gas produced by the biogas upgrader is a fuel source of the electrical power generator.   
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 28 , further comprising an anaerobic digester connected to the biogas upgrader, wherein the anaerobic digester breaks down agricultural waste matter generated from plant growth in the enclosed space to produce a biogas stream that is provided to the biogas upgrader, wherein the biogas upgrader separates CO2 gas and unwanted species to generate substantially pure natural gas provided to the natural gas output line. 
     
     
         30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . (canceled) 
     
     
         32 . A method for controlling a climate in an indoor agricultural producing space, the method comprising the steps of:
 generating electrical power by combustion of a hydrocarbon fuel, wherein the generating also provides a high temperature exhaust gas stream;   providing said electrical power to a power consuming device used in said agriculture producing space or in said method;   introducing said high temperature exhaust gas stream to a heat exchanger to heat a heat exchange liquid;   providing thermal heating control of said indoor agriculture producing space with said heated heat exchange liquid;   powering an absorption liquid chiller with said heated heat exchange liquid to chill an absorption liquid;   providing thermal cooling control of said indoor agriculture producing space with said chilled absorption liquid;   removing said high temperature exhaust gas stream from said heat exchanger;   obtaining carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) from the removed high temperature exhaust gas stream; and   providing CO 2  control of said indoor agriculture producing space with said obtained CO 2 ;   thereby controlling the climate of said indoor agriculture producing space by providing electrical power, thermal heating, thermal cooling and CO 2  to said indoor agriculture producing space.   
     
     
         33 . (canceled) 
     
     
         34 . (canceled) 
     
     
         35 . (canceled) 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the power consuming device comprises one or more optical light sources that provide light to one or more plants grown in the agricultural producing space, the optical light sources are cooled by the chilled absorption liquid; and the chilled absorption liquid indirectly cools the optical light sources by cooling an air stream in thermal contact with the chilled absorption liquid and the optical light sources. 
     
     
         37 . (canceled) 
     
     
         38 . (canceled) 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the indoor agricultural producing space is a substantially closed loop agricultural system, wherein:
 substantially complete climate control is provided by the method without external energy input;   at least 60% of energy produced by the combustion step is used in the method; and   the indoor agricultural producing space has a volume that is selected from a range that is greater than or equal to 1 m 3  and less than or equal to 10,000 m 3 .   
     
     
         40 . (canceled) 
     
     
         41 . (canceled) 
     
     
         42 . (canceled) 
     
     
         43 . (canceled) 
     
     
         44 . (canceled) 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the heated heat exchange liquid is heated to a temperature that is greater than 100° F. for the step of providing thermal heating control of the indoor agricultural producing space and the step of powering the absorption liquid chiller. 
     
     
         46 . (canceled) 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 45 , further comprising the steps of:
 removing the heated heat exchange liquid from the absorption chiller; and   storing the removed heated heat exchange liquid in a thermal fluid reservoir wherein the step of providing thermal heating control comprises:
 removing heated heat exchange liquid from the thermal fluid reservoir; 
 transporting the removed heated heat exchange liquid to the agricultural producing space; and 
 returning the transported heated heat exchange liquid to the thermal fluid reservoir. 
   
     
     
         48 . (canceled) 
     
     
         49 . (canceled) 
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the step of providing thermal cooling further comprises:
 transporting chilled absorption liquid from the absorption liquid chiller to the agricultural producing space, wherein the chilled absorption liquid has a temperature that is greater than or equal to 65° F. and less than or equal to 70° F.;   cooling at least a portion of the agricultural producing space, or a heat generating electrical component associated therewith, with the transported chilled absorption liquid, wherein after cooling, the absorption liquid is at an elevated temperature;   returning the elevated temperature absorption liquid to the absorption chiller for chilling.   
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein the cooling step further comprises:
 cooling air in thermal contact with the chilled absorption liquid;   forcing the cooled air over the heat generating electrical component;   wherein the heat generating electrical component comprises one or more optical light sources used for agricultural production; and   wherein the cooled air has a temperature that is less than or equal to 70° F.   
     
     
         52 . (canceled) 
     
     
         53 . (canceled) 
     
     
         54 . (canceled) 
     
     
         55 . (canceled) 
     
     
         56 . (canceled) 
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the step of obtaining CO 2  comprises a post-combustion carbon capture technique selected from the group consisting of: filtering; absorption; adsorption; chemical reaction; or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         58 . (canceled) 
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 32 , further comprising the steps of:
 anaerobically digesting waste plant matter from plants grown in the indoor agriculture producing space to generate a biogas;   removing CO 2  and unwanted contaminants from the biogas to generate a commercial-grade natural gas; and   providing the generated commercial-grade natural gas as a fuel source for the generating electrical power step;   wherein substantially all CO 2  produced by the method is re-used in the method, used as the fuel source, and/or stored.   
     
     
         60 . (canceled) 
     
     
         61 . (canceled)