Systems and methods using thermal energy storage

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for bimodal refrigeration, which uses a combination of mechanical refrigeration and phase change material (PCM) cells to provide cooling for one or more units of storage, such as freezers, coolers, storage or display cases, open cases (without doors), closed cases (with doors), rack systems (with compressors located remotely), self-contained refrigeration systems (with embedded compressors), in an optimal and efficient manner. In some embodiments, the systems and methods employ intelligent controls which may monitor and receive input for system conditions, time of day, and other conditions, and turn on/off the mechanical refrigeration as appropriate to provide for efficient and cost-effective use of energy.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A reach-in system with bi-modal refrigeration, comprising:
 a housing comprising one more walls defining an interior space, wherein the interior space is capable of holding one or more items desirably maintained at a target temperature range, wherein a human user can retrieve such items from the interior space of the housing by reaching in;   means for fluid communication between the interior space and a chilled air generation system, wherein the fluid communication means is capable of delivering chilled air from the chilled air generation system to the interior of the housing; and   one or more cells of phase change material (PCM) located within the housing, wherein the cells of PCM are capable of working in conjunction with the fluid communication means delivering chilled air from to chilled air generation system to maintain the interior of the housing at the target temperature range.   
     
     
         2 . A bimodal refrigeration system comprising:
 a plurality of cooling units, wherein each cooling unit comprises a housing defining an interior operable to store one or more goods and a plurality of phase change material (PCM) cells disposed throughout the housing interior;   a refrigeration system common to the plurality of cooling units and operable to generate a chilled medium for cooling the cooling units;   a circulation system for circulating the chilled medium between the plurality of cooling units and the refrigeration system;   one or more sensors operable to sense conditions at each of the plurality of cooling units; and   a control system operable to receive input from the one or more sensors, and based on such input, control the refrigeration system and the circulation system to generate and direct the chilled medium to the plurality of cooling units to provide cooling and charge the PCM cells, wherein the PCM cells operable to provide cooling for the respective cooling unit when chilled medium is not being provided.