Cooling system with thermal battery

Abstract

A cooling system includes an evaporator unit, a condensing unit, and a thermal battery fluidly coupled to the evaporator unit and the condensing unit. The cooling system also includes a control system configured to selectively direct a fluid refrigerant between any two of the condensing unit, the evaporator unit, and the thermal battery.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A cooling system, comprising:
 a heat exchanger unit;   a condensing unit;   a thermal battery fluidly coupled to the heat exchanger unit and the condensing unit; and   a control system configured to selectively direct a fluid refrigerant between (a) the condensing unit and the thermal battery in a charging mode, and (b) the thermal battery and the heat exchanger unit in a discharge mode, wherein
 in the charging mode, the refrigerant from the condensing unit enters the thermal battery through a first opening and exits the thermal battery through a second opening, and 
 in the discharge mode, the refrigerant from the heat exchanger unit enters the thermal battery through the second opening and exits the thermal battery through the first opening. 
   
     
     
         22 . The cooling system of  claim 21 , wherein, in the discharge mode, the control system activates a pump to direct the refrigerant from the thermal battery through the heat exchanger unit. 
     
     
         23 . The cooling system of  claim 21 , wherein the heat exchanger unit is a cooling module of a milk cooler. 
     
     
         24 . The cooling system of  claim 21 , further including a solar panel providing power to the condensing unit. 
     
     
         25 . The cooling system of  claim 21 , further including a diesel generator providing power to the condensing unit. 
     
     
         26 . The cooling system of  claim 21 , further including a first expansion device fluidly coupled between the condensing unit and the heat exchanger unit, and a second expansion device fluidly coupled between the condensing unit and the thermal battery. 
     
     
         27 . The cooling system of  claim 21 , further including a plurality of control valves fluidly coupled to conduits coupling the condensing unit, the heat exchanger unit, and the thermal battery, wherein the control system is configured to control the plurality of control valves to selectively direct the refrigerant between (a) the condensing unit and the thermal battery, or (b) the thermal battery and the heat exchanger unit. 
     
     
         28 . The cooling system of  claim 21 , wherein in the charging mode, the direction of refrigerant flow in the thermal battery is from the first opening to the second opening, and in the discharge mode, the direction of refrigerant flow in the thermal battery is from the second opening to the first opening. 
     
     
         29 . The cooling system of  claim 21 , wherein the first opening and the second opening are located in opposing end portions of the thermal battery. 
     
     
         30 . A method of operating a cooling system, the cooling system including at least a heat exchanger unit, a condensing unit, a thermal battery, and a control system configured to operate the cooling system, comprising:
 activating a flow of a refrigerant between the condensing unit and the thermal battery such that the refrigerant flows through the thermal battery from a first opening of the thermal battery to a second opening of the thermal battery; and   activating a flow of the refrigerant between the thermal battery and the heat exchanger unit such that the refrigerant flows through the thermal battery from the second opening to the first opening.   
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein activating the flow of the refrigerant between the condensing unit and the thermal battery includes freezing a coolant of the thermal battery using the refrigerant. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein activating the flow of the refrigerant between the thermal battery and the heat exchanger unit includes activating a pump to direct the refrigerant through the heat exchanger unit. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 30 , further including determining a cooling capacity of the thermal battery, and activating the flow of the refrigerant between the thermal battery and the heat exchanger unit only if the determined cooling capacity is greater than or equal to a threshold cooling capacity. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the first opening is positioned proximate one end of the thermal battery and the second opening is positioned proximate an opposite end of the thermal battery. 
     
     
         35 . A cooling system, comprising:
 a heat exchanger unit configured to cool a medium;   a condensing unit;   a thermal battery, the thermal battery including a plurality of conduits extending between a first header and a second header through a coolant; and   a control system configured to selectively direct a refrigerant between (a) the condensing unit and the thermal battery such that the refrigerant enters the thermal battery at the second header and exits the thermal battery at the first header, and (ii) the thermal battery and the heat exchanger unit such that the refrigerant enters the thermal battery at the first header and exits the thermal battery at the second header.   
     
     
         36 . The cooling system of  claim 35 , further including a solar photovoltaic system configured to provide power to operate the condensing unit. 
     
     
         37 . The cooling system of  claim 35 , wherein the control system is configured to direct the refrigerant between the condensing unit and the thermal battery when a temperature of the coolant in the thermal battery is above a threshold temperature value or when a volume of frozen coolant in the thermal battery is below a threshold value. 
     
     
         38 . The cooling system of  claim 37 , further including freezing the coolant using the refrigerant flowing through the thermal battery. 
     
     
         39 . The cooling system of  claim 35 , wherein the first header and the second header are positioned at opposing end portions of the thermal battery. 
     
     
         40 . The cooling system of  claim 35 , wherein the cooling system is one of a refrigeration system, an air conditioning system, a beverage cooler, a walk-in cooler, a walk-in freezer, and a milk cooler.