EP0050611A4 - Method and apparatus for conserving energy in an air conditioning system. - Google Patents

Method and apparatus for conserving energy in an air conditioning system.

Info

Publication number
EP0050611A4
EP0050611A4 EP19800901048 EP80901048A EP0050611A4 EP 0050611 A4 EP0050611 A4 EP 0050611A4 EP 19800901048 EP19800901048 EP 19800901048 EP 80901048 A EP80901048 A EP 80901048A EP 0050611 A4 EP0050611 A4 EP 0050611A4
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
condenser
evaporator
liquid circuit
refrigerant
liquid
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Ceased
Application number
EP19800901048
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0050611A1 (en
Inventor
George Martinez Jr
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Publication of EP0050611A1 publication Critical patent/EP0050611A1/en
Publication of EP0050611A4 publication Critical patent/EP0050611A4/en
Ceased legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
    • F24F3/00—Air-conditioning systems in which conditioned primary air is supplied from one or more central stations to distributing units in the rooms or spaces where it may receive secondary treatment; Apparatus specially designed for such systems
    • F24F3/06—Air-conditioning systems in which conditioned primary air is supplied from one or more central stations to distributing units in the rooms or spaces where it may receive secondary treatment; Apparatus specially designed for such systems characterised by the arrangements for the supply of heat-exchange fluid for the subsequent treatment of primary air in the room units
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
    • F24F11/00—Control or safety arrangements
    • F24F11/30—Control or safety arrangements for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring
    • F24F11/46—Improving electric energy efficiency or saving
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
    • F24F11/00—Control or safety arrangements
    • F24F11/70—Control systems characterised by their outputs; Constructional details thereof
    • F24F11/80—Control systems characterised by their outputs; Constructional details thereof for controlling the temperature of the supplied air
    • F24F11/83—Control systems characterised by their outputs; Constructional details thereof for controlling the temperature of the supplied air by controlling the supply of heat-exchange fluids to heat-exchangers
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
    • F24F11/00—Control or safety arrangements
    • F24F11/70—Control systems characterised by their outputs; Constructional details thereof
    • F24F11/80—Control systems characterised by their outputs; Constructional details thereof for controlling the temperature of the supplied air
    • F24F11/83—Control systems characterised by their outputs; Constructional details thereof for controlling the temperature of the supplied air by controlling the supply of heat-exchange fluids to heat-exchangers
    • F24F11/84—Control systems characterised by their outputs; Constructional details thereof for controlling the temperature of the supplied air by controlling the supply of heat-exchange fluids to heat-exchangers using valves

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a refrigeration and air conditioning system.
  • the invention relates to a method and apparatus for saving energy in the operation of a large building air conditioning system.
  • air conditioning systems are designed to promote year-round cooling. This characteristic is essential to a cooling system designed for builings in which the outer peripheral surfaces and areas are subject to wide temperature gradients whereas the inner portions remain relatively stable regardless of the ambient conditions.
  • Such an air conditioning system must, in general, be operated during substantially the entire year to provide the necessary cooling and air circulation. During mild weather months of the year the system can be operated without the compressor where ambient conditions permit.
  • a method of conserving energy in an air conditioning system having condenser means, evaporator means, cooling source means, cooling unit means, first liquid circuit means for circulating liquids between said evaporator means and said cooling unit means, second liquid circuit means for cir ⁇ culating liquids between said condenser means and said cool ⁇ ing source means, means for conveying liquid refrigerant from said condenser means to said evaporator means, and means for conveying re ⁇ frigerant from said evaporator means to said condenser means, comprising: a. de-energizing said means for conveying refrige ⁇ rant from said evaporator means to said condenser means; an b.
  • a method and apparatus for conserving energy in the operation of a conventional air conditioning system in a large building employing a refrigerant evaporator, a water cooled refrigerant condenser, a refrigerant compressor, and a cooling tower, wherein the compressor is not energized, the condenser and evaporator are flooded with refrigerant from a reservoir, and the refrigerant from the reservoir is circulated between the condenser and the evaporator while the cooling tower is in operation.
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic layout of the present invention
  • Figure 2 is a schematic layout of another embodiment of the present invention.
  • Figure 3 is a schematic layout of a further embodiment of the present invention.
  • Figure 4 is a schematic layout of the operation of the usual building air conditioning unit.
  • Figure 5 is a partly-schematic, partly-detailed view of portions of the condenser and cooler embodying additional parts added to the usual building air conditioning unit essential to the operation of the process of the invention.
  • the numeral 10 designates a condenser of the usual building air conditioning unit which has a bundle of water tubes 11 running therethrough and which has an outlet pipe 12 running to the roof 12b of the building where it connects to the upper end of the cooling tower 13.
  • the outlet pipe terminates in a series of holes along its bottom edge which form a downward spray 14 in the cooling tower.
  • the cooling tower 13 is a typical cooling tower which has air intake louvers (not shown) in the walls 15 and a suction fan 16 which is operated by motor 17 which draws air upwardly through the spray 14 and out to the open air.
  • valves 40 and 42 When valves 40 and 42 are closed and valve 43 is open, as they would be when the compressor is operating, the water or other liquid thus cooled is pumped back through pipe 18, filter 30, pipe 18a, valve 32, pipe 18b, pump 19, and into condenser 10 through pipe 18c thereby completing the cycle.
  • the water, brine, or other liquid in water tubes 11 in condenser 10 is constantly cooled by the cooling tower so as to cool and liquify the vapors of refrigerant 20 passing into condenser 10 from cooler or evaporator 21 through a compressor 22 of conventional structure connecting one end of cooler 21 to the adjoining end of condenser 10.
  • the compressor 22 is of usual and conventional construction and is not shown in detail.
  • the cooler 21 is also connected to condenser 10 by a float trap 23 of usual and conventional construction through which the refrigerant 20 can pass in only one direction from condenser 10 into the cooler 21.
  • a bundle of chill water tubes 24 are mounted in the lower half of cooler 21 so as to run its entire length. The chill water tubes 24 are covered by refrigerant 20 which fills only the lower half of cooler 21.
  • the tubes carrying the chilled water or brine leave the cooler 21 through pipe 24a as indicated by the arrow when valves 40 and 42 are closed and valves 44 and 43 are open, as they would be when the compressor 22 is operating.
  • the chilled water then passes through valve 44 into pipe 24b and passes in parallel through room cooling units 26 equipped with fans 27 driven by motors 28 in the direction indicated by the arrows.
  • the chilled water is then returned by pipe 29 through pump 41 into pipe 24 and cooler 21, thereby completing the cycle.
  • the apparatus of the present invention includes, in addition to the normal or conventional building air conditioning system and its conventional components, pipes 31 and 32 which are controlled by valve 40 and connects pipe 24a with pipe 18c, water tubes 11, and condenser 10; pipes 33 and 34 which are controlled by valve 42 and connect pipe 18a with pipe 24b and cooling units 26, pipe 29, and cooling tubes 24; valves 43 and 44 vhich are closed when the system is operated in accordance with the present invention, and valves 40 and 42 which are open when the system is operated in accordance with the invention.
  • a filter 30 may be placed in line 18 if desired.
  • the cooling tower fan 16 and the chill water pump 41 are set in operation after compressor 22 is turned off, valves 40 and 42 are opened, valves 43 and 44 are closed, and pump 19 is turned off.
  • the cooling cycle is then as follows:
  • Pump 41 forces warm return water from room cooling units 26 through tubes 24 and condenser 21, outwardly through pipe 24a and into pipe 31, through open valve 40 into pipes 32 and 18c.
  • Water from pipe 32 flows outwardly through tube 11 and into pipe 12 and on to cooling tower 13.
  • Cool water from cooling tower 13 flows through pipe 18, filter 30, and into pipe 18a.
  • Valve 43 is closed and therefore prohibits fluids from passing therethrough.
  • Water travels through pipe 18a, open valve 42, and into pipe 34. From pipe 34 cool water travels onwardly through pipe 24b into room cooling units 26 and returns to pump 41 through pipe 29.
  • the water or other cooling medium is cooled by cooling tower and introduced directly to the room cooling units 26, commingling with the water therein.
  • FIG. 2 An alternate embodiment of the present invention is shown in Figure 2. In this embodiment a heat exchanger 50 is placed in cooling tower 13 and the water from the chill water circuit is directed through heat exchanger 50.
  • Heat exchanger 50 may be any conventional heat ex ⁇ changer attached to the cooling tower 13 so that the major portions of all of the heat exchanger is beneath the liquid level within the cooling tower. In this embodiment of the present invention there is no interchange of water between the water tubes of the condenser and the water tubes of the evaporator.
  • the numeral 10 designates a condenser of the usual building air conditioning unit which has a bundle of water tubes 11 running therethrough and which has an outlet pipe 12 running to the roof 12b of the building where it connects to the upper end of the cooling tower 13.
  • the outlet pipe terminates in a series of holes along its bottom edge which form a downward spray 14 in the cooling tower.
  • the cooling tower 13 is a typical cooling tower which has air intake louvers (not shown) in the walls 15 and a suction fan 16 which is operated by motor 17 which draws air upwardly through the spray 14 and out to the open air. Natural draft cooling towers without fans may also be utilized.
  • the water thus cooled is pumped back through pipe 18, pump 19, and into condenser 10 and tubes 11 through pipe 39, thereby completing the cycle.
  • the water in water tubes 11 in condenser 10 is constantly cooled so as to cool and liquify the vapors of refrigerant 20 passing into condenser 10 from cooler or evaporator 21 through a compressor 22 of conventional struc ⁇ ture connecting one end of cooler 21 to the adjoining end of condenser 10.
  • the compressor 22 is of usual and conventional construction and is not shown in detail.
  • the cooler 21 is also connected to condenser 10 by a float trap 23 of usual and conventional construction through which the refrigerant 20 can pass in only one direction from condenser 10 into the cooler 21.
  • a bundle of chill water tubes 24 are mounted in the lower half of cooler 21 so as to run its entire length. The chill water tubes 24 are covered by refrigerant 20 which fills only the lower half of cooler 21.
  • the tubes 24 carrying the chilled water or brine leave the cooler 21 through pipe 24a, as indicated by the arrow, when valve 51 is closed and valve 52 is open, as they would be when the compressor 22 is operating.
  • the chilled water then passes through valve 52 into pipe 24b and passes in parallel through room cooling units 26 equipped with fans 27 drive by motors 28 in the direction indicated by the arrows,
  • the chilled water is then returned by pipe 29 through pump 41 into pipe 24 and cooler 21, thereby completing the cycle.
  • the embodiment of the present invention shown in Figure 2 includes, in addition to the normal or conventional building air conditioning system and its conventional components, a heat exchanger 50 in cooling tower 13 and lines 55, 55a, and 56 which are controlled by valve 51 and connect line 24a with heat exchanger 50.
  • the cooling tower fan 16 and the chill pump 41 and pump 19 are set in operation after compressor 22 is turned off, valve 50 is opened and valve 52 is closed.
  • the cooling cycle is then as follows: Pump 41 forces warm return water from room cool ⁇ ing units 26 through tubes 24 and condenser 21, outwardly through pipe 24a and into pipe 55, through open valve 51 in ⁇ to pipe 55a and into heat exchanger 50.
  • Water from heat ex ⁇ changer 50 flows outwardly through pipe 56 and into pipe 24b into room cooling units 26 and returns to pump 41 through line 29.
  • the water or other cooling medium is cooled by the heat exchanger 50 in the cooling tower, thereby minimizing the time during certain ambient conditions when it is necessary to run the compressor to achieve the desired temperatures inside the building.
  • FIG. 3 A further embodiment of the present invention is shown in Figure 3.
  • a heat exchanger 50a is connected downstream to the cooling tower 13 and the water from the chill water circuit is directed through heat exchanger 50a.
  • Heat exchanger 50a may be any conventional heat exchanger.
  • a shell and tube type heat exchanger or a counter-flow type heat exchanger may be used.
  • the numeral 10 designate a condenser of the usual building air conditioning unit which has a bundle of water tubes 11 running therethrough and which has an outlet pipe 12 running to the roof 12b of the building where it connects to the upper end of the cooling tower 13.
  • the outlet pipe terminates in a series of holes along its bottom edge which form a downward spray 14 in the cooling tower.
  • the cooling tower 13 is a typical cooling tower which has air intake louvers (not shown) in the walls 15 and a suction fan 16 which is operated by motor 17 which draws air upwardly through the spray 14 and out to the open air. Natural draft cooling towers without fans may also be utilized.
  • the water in water tubes 11 in condenser 10 is constantly cooled so as to cool and liquify the vapors of refrigerant 20 passing into condenser 10 from cooler or evaporator 21 through a compressor 22 of conventional structure con ⁇ necting one end of cooler 21 to the adjoining end of condenser 10.
  • the compressor 22 is of usual and conventional construc ⁇ tion and is not shown in detail.
  • the cooler 21 is also connected to condenser 10 by a float trap 23 of usual and conventional construction through which the refrigerant 20 can pass in only one direction from condenser 10 into cooler 21.
  • a bundle of chill water tubes 24 are mounted in the lower half of cooler 21 so as to run its entire length. The chill water tubes 24 are covered by refrigerant 20 which fills only the lower half of cooler 21.
  • the tubes 24 carrying the chilled water or brine leave the cooler 21 through pipe 24a, as indicated by the arrow, when valve 51 is closed and valve 52 is open, as they would be when the compressor 22 is operating.
  • the chilled water then passes through valve 52 into pipe 24b and passes in parallel through room cooling units 26 equipped with fans 27 driven by motors 28 in the direction indicated by the arrowso
  • the chilled water is then returned by pipe 29 through pump 41 into pipe 24 and cooler 21, thereby completing the cycle.
  • the embodiment of the present invention shown in Figure 3 includes, in addition to the normal or conventional building air conditioning system and its conventional compon ⁇ ents, a heat exchanger 50a in cooling tower 13 and lines 55, 55a, and 56 which are controlled by valve 51 and connect line 24a with heat exchanger 50a.
  • the cooling tower fan 16 and the chill pump 41 and pump 19 are set in operation after compressor 22 is turned off, valve 51 is opened and valve 52 is closed.
  • the cooling cycle is then as follows:
  • Cooled or chilled water from cooling tower 13 flows from pipe 18 into heat exchanger 50a. Cooling tower water from heat exchanger 50a flows outwardly through pipe 18a into pump 19 and pipe 39, and onward to the cooling tower.
  • the room cooling unit water or other cooling medium is cooled by the heat exchanger 50a through heat transfer with cooling tower water, thereby minimizing the time during certain ambient conditions when it is necessary to run the compressor to achieve the desired temperatures inside the building.
  • some air conditioning systems substitute a nozzle arrangement for the float assembly 23 whereby refrigerant is injected into a circuit of tubes in the evaporator, rather than injecting the refrigerant into the body of the evaporator shell. Vaporous refrigerant is removed from the tubes in the evaporator by the compressor 22. The chill water is in turn injected into the body of the evaporator shell.
  • the present invention is applicable to such a nozzle arrangement as would be obvious to those skilled in the art.
  • a tube-in-tube arrangement can be utilized to effect heat transfer between the refrigerant and the water circuit.
  • the present invention is applicable to such a tube-in-tube arrangement as would be obvious to those skilled in the art.
  • any recognized source of cold water may be used instead of the cooling tower 13 such as cold well water as is generally used in installations where it is available.
  • a cold well water source will increase the heat transfer rate between the refrigerant 20 and the chill water and tube bundle 24 sufficiently to obtain the required temperature of the chilled water.
  • the embodiments of the invention would be applicable to a compression-type air conditioning system as shown in the drawings, or to an absorption-type air conditioning system (not shown) as is obvious to those skilled in the art.
  • Replacement of the compressor 22 with a pump, an absorber, and a thermally activated arrangement (heat source) such as the system disclosed on page 18-12 of the Standard Handbook for Mechanical Engineers would not alter the operation or apparatus of the invention.
  • a pump is used in the absorption system to circulate refrigerant between the evaporator and the condenser.
  • 10 is the condenser of the usual building air conditioning unit which has a bundle of water tubes 11 running therethrough and which has an outlet pipe 12 running from the connection 12a (as shown in Figure 5) to the roof 12b of the building where it connects to the upper end of the cooling tower 13 and it terminates in a series of holes along its bottom edge forming a down ⁇ ward spray 14.
  • the cooling tower 13 has air intake louvers (not shown) in its walls 15 and a suction fan 16 operated by a motor 17 which draws the air upwardly through the spray 14 and out to the open air.
  • the water thus cooled is pumped back through pipe 18 and pump 19 into the bundle of water tubes 11 in the condenser 10 at 18a thereby completing this cycle.
  • the cooler 21 is also connected to the condenser 10 by a float trap 23 of usual construction through which the condensed refrigerant can pass in only one direction from the condenser 10 into the cooler 21.
  • a bundle of chill water tubes 24 are mounted in the lower half of cooler 21 so as to run its entire length and they are covered by refrigerant 20 which fills only the lower half of cooler 21.
  • These tube 24 carrying the chilled water leave the cooler 21 at 25a int pipes 25 and pass in parallel through the room cooling units 26 equipped with fans 27 driven by motors 28 and returned by pipes 29 through pump 41 and connection 29a into cooler 21, thereby completing the cycle.
  • An equalizer 30 controlled by valve 31 connects the cooler 21 to the condenser 10 and may be used in the usual building air conditioning system as desired.
  • a pump 53 in addition to the usual or regular building air conditioning equipment as hereinbefore described, there is added a pump 53, a refrigerant reservoir 50, four valves 52, 55, 60 and 61, in addition to pipes connecting the pump to the condenser 10 and cooler or evaporator 21 to permit refrigerant to be pump ⁇ ed from cooler 21 into condenser 10 by pump 53.
  • the refrigerant reservoir 50 is used to supply additional amounts of refrigerant to flood the cooler and condenser when the compressor is not operating.
  • Pump 53 is connected to condenser 10 and cooler 21 by pipes 58 and 59, respectively, which in turn are connected by valve 52 and by pipes 56 and 57, which in turn are connected by valve 55.
  • Refrigerant reservoir 50 is connected to pipe 58 by pipes 51 and 62, which in turn are connected by valve 60, and reservoir 50 is connected to pipe 56 by pipes 54 and 63, which in turn are connected by valve 61.
  • valve 31 To flood condenser 10 and cooler 21 with refrigerant from reservoir 50, valve 31 is opened, valve 55 is closed, valve 60 is closed, and valves 52 and 61 are opened.
  • Pump 53 is activated to pump refrigerant from reservoir 50 through line 54, valve 61, line 63, line 56, through pump 53, line 58, valve 52, and line 59 into condenser 10.
  • condenser 10 fills, refrigerant flows downwardly through line 30 and valve 31 into cooler 21. Some refrigerant may flow downwardly also through float trap 23.
  • Pump 53 continues to run until condenser 10 is approximately filled and water tubes 11 and 24 are covered with liquid refrigerant. When this condition is reached, valve 61 is closed, valve 60 re mains closed, and valve 55 is opened.
  • valves 52 and 61 are closed, valves 60, 55 and 31 are opened, and pump 53 is run until the desired amount of refrigerant is returned to the reservoir. Valves 60, 55 and 31 are then closed, valves 52 and 61 remain closed, compressor 22 is activated, and the system is then operating in the normal cycle.
  • Conventional automatic controls can be utilized to operate the system, or the system can be operated manually.
  • Reservoir 50 may be utilized to receive all of the refrigerant in the system prior to disassembly.
  • some air conditioning systems substitute a nozzle arrangement for the float assembly 23 whereby refrigerant is injected into a circuit of tubes in the evaporator, rather than injecting the refrigerant into the body of the evaporator shell. Vapor ⁇ ous refrigerant is removed from the tubes in the evaporator by the compressor 22. The chill water is in turn injected into the body of the evaporator shell.
  • the present invention is applicable to such a nozzle arrangement as would be obvious to those skilled in the art.
  • a tube-in-tube arrangement can be utilized to effect heat transfer between the refrigerant and the water circuit.
  • the present invention is applicable to such a tube-in-tube arrangement as would be obvious to those skilled in the art.
  • any recognized source of cold water may be used instead of the cooling tower 13 such as cold well water as is generally used in installations where it is available.
  • a cold well water source will increase the heat transfer rate between the refrigerant 20 and the chill water and tube bundle 24 sufficiently to obtain the required temperature of the chilled water.
  • This equalizer 30 will allow a free passage of the refrigerant 20 in the cooler 21 and the condenser 10 in installations where such brief passages otherwise are restricted. Variations may be made in the process and apparatus of the invention without departing from the scope and intent of the same and such variations are covered by the scope of the specification, drawings, and claims herein.

Abstract

A method and apparatus for conserving energy in the operation of a conventional air conditioning system in a large building employing a water cooled condenser (10), an evaporator (21), a chilled water circuit (24), and a refrigerant compressor (22) or heat source in an absorption-type air conditioner wherein the compressor (22) or heat source is not energized, the cooling tower (13) is operated, and the water tubes (24) in the evaporator and the water tubes (11) in the condenser are connected to a heat exchanger (50a) to effect heat exchange therebetween.

Description

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONSERVING ENERGY IN AN AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM
The present invention relates to a refrigeration and air conditioning system. In particular, the invention relates to a method and apparatus for saving energy in the operation of a large building air conditioning system.
In large multi-story buildings, air conditioning systems are designed to promote year-round cooling. This characteristic is essential to a cooling system designed for builings in which the outer peripheral surfaces and areas are subject to wide temperature gradients whereas the inner portions remain relatively stable regardless of the ambient conditions.
Such an air conditioning system must, in general, be operated during substantially the entire year to provide the necessary cooling and air circulation. During mild weather months of the year the system can be operated without the compressor where ambient conditions permit.
Both compression and absorption systems are used to cool large buildings. Absorption refrigeration systems are essentially vapor-compression systems with the compressor replaced by a thermally activated arrangement (heat source) These two air conditioning systems generally use the same design of condenser and evaporator. See the Standard Hand-book for Mechanical Engineers, Seventh Edition, Theodore
Baumeister, Editor, McGraw-Hill Book Company, New York, New York, page 18-12, which is hereby incorporated by reference.
Various methods are disclosed in the art for minimizing the time it is necessary to run the compressor. See, for example, U.S. Patents 2,718,766; 3,191,396; 3,242,689; 3,412,569; and, 3,744,264.
When the system is run without the compressor or heat source, significant amounts of energy are saved because the compressor or heat source consumes large amounts of energy when they are operating. Therefore, to reduce the amount of energy consumed by the air conditioning system in a building, it is desirable that the time during which the compressor or heat source is operated be minimized. In accordance with the present invention there is provided a method of conserving energy in an air conditioning system having condenser means, evaporator means, cooling source means, cooling unit means, first liquid circuit means for circulating liquids between said evaporator means and said cooling unit means, second liquid circuit means for cir¬culating liquids between said condenser means and said cool¬ing source means, means for conveying liquid refrigerant from said condenser means to said evaporator means, and means for conveying re¬frigerant from said evaporator means to said condenser means, comprising: a. de-energizing said means for conveying refrige¬rant from said evaporator means to said condenser means; an b. directly exchanging heat between warm return liquid from said cooling unit means and said cooling source means. In accordance with the present invention there is also provided a method and apparatus for saving energy in the operation of an air conditioning system wherein the compressor or heat source is not energized and the water tubes in the evaporator are connected to the water tubes in the condenser to allow the water from the evaporator to flow directly into the water tubes of the condenser.
There is further provided in accordance with this invention a method and apparatus for conserving energy in the operation of a conventional air conditioning system in a large building employing a refrigerant evaporator, a water cooled refrigerant condenser, a refrigerant compressor, and a cooling tower, wherein the compressor is not energized, the condenser and evaporator are flooded with refrigerant from a reservoir, and the refrigerant from the reservoir is circulated between the condenser and the evaporator while the cooling tower is in operation. Also in accordance with the present invention there is provided a method and apparatus for conserving energy in the operation of a conventional air conditioning system in a large building employing a water cooled condenser, an evaporator, a chilled water circuit, and a refrigerant compressor or heat source in an absorption-type air conditioner wherein the compressor or heat source is not energized, the cooling tower is operated, and the water tubes in the evaporator and the water tubes in the condenser are connected to a heat exchanger to effect heat exchange therebetween. Figure 1 is a schematic layout of the present invention;
Figure 2 is a schematic layout of another embodiment of the present invention; and,
Figure 3 is a schematic layout of a further embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 4 is a schematic layout of the operation of the usual building air conditioning unit; and,
Figure 5 is a partly-schematic, partly-detailed view of portions of the condenser and cooler embodying additional parts added to the usual building air conditioning unit essential to the operation of the process of the invention.
Referring now to Figure 1, the numeral 10 designates a condenser of the usual building air conditioning unit which has a bundle of water tubes 11 running therethrough and which has an outlet pipe 12 running to the roof 12b of the building where it connects to the upper end of the cooling tower 13. The outlet pipe terminates in a series of holes along its bottom edge which form a downward spray 14 in the cooling tower. The cooling tower 13 is a typical cooling tower which has air intake louvers (not shown) in the walls 15 and a suction fan 16 which is operated by motor 17 which draws air upwardly through the spray 14 and out to the open air. When valves 40 and 42 are closed and valve 43 is open, as they would be when the compressor is operating, the water or other liquid thus cooled is pumped back through pipe 18, filter 30, pipe 18a, valve 32, pipe 18b, pump 19, and into condenser 10 through pipe 18c thereby completing the cycle.
Thus, the water, brine, or other liquid in water tubes 11 in condenser 10 is constantly cooled by the cooling tower so as to cool and liquify the vapors of refrigerant 20 passing into condenser 10 from cooler or evaporator 21 through a compressor 22 of conventional structure connecting one end of cooler 21 to the adjoining end of condenser 10. The compressor 22 is of usual and conventional construction and is not shown in detail. The words "cooler" and "evaporator" as used herein both refer to 21.
The cooler 21 is also connected to condenser 10 by a float trap 23 of usual and conventional construction through which the refrigerant 20 can pass in only one direction from condenser 10 into the cooler 21. A bundle of chill water tubes 24 are mounted in the lower half of cooler 21 so as to run its entire length. The chill water tubes 24 are covered by refrigerant 20 which fills only the lower half of cooler 21.
The tubes carrying the chilled water or brine leave the cooler 21 through pipe 24a as indicated by the arrow when valves 40 and 42 are closed and valves 44 and 43 are open, as they would be when the compressor 22 is operating. The chilled water then passes through valve 44 into pipe 24b and passes in parallel through room cooling units 26 equipped with fans 27 driven by motors 28 in the direction indicated by the arrows. The chilled water is then returned by pipe 29 through pump 41 into pipe 24 and cooler 21, thereby completing the cycle.
In normal operation on a hot day in order to secure peak chilling of the water circulated from cooler 21 through pipes 24a, 24b, cooling units 26, and pipes 29 and 24, it is necessary to run compressor 22 to build up pressure and con¬dense the refrigerant vapors from the cooler or evaporator 21 to liquify the vapors. The liquified refrigerant 20 is then returned through float trap 23 to the cooler 21. During this cycle valves 40 and 42 are closed, valves 43 and 44 are opened, and the system is operating as a conventional air conditioning system for a building.
The apparatus of the present invention includes, in addition to the normal or conventional building air conditioning system and its conventional components, pipes 31 and 32 which are controlled by valve 40 and connects pipe 24a with pipe 18c, water tubes 11, and condenser 10; pipes 33 and 34 which are controlled by valve 42 and connect pipe 18a with pipe 24b and cooling units 26, pipe 29, and cooling tubes 24; valves 43 and 44 vhich are closed when the system is operated in accordance with the present invention, and valves 40 and 42 which are open when the system is operated in accordance with the invention. A filter 30 may be placed in line 18 if desired.
In practicing the method of the invention, the cooling tower fan 16 and the chill water pump 41 are set in operation after compressor 22 is turned off, valves 40 and 42 are opened, valves 43 and 44 are closed, and pump 19 is turned off. The cooling cycle is then as follows:
Pump 41 forces warm return water from room cooling units 26 through tubes 24 and condenser 21, outwardly through pipe 24a and into pipe 31, through open valve 40 into pipes 32 and 18c. Water from pipe 32 flows outwardly through tube 11 and into pipe 12 and on to cooling tower 13. Cool water from cooling tower 13 flows through pipe 18, filter 30, and into pipe 18a. Valve 43 is closed and therefore prohibits fluids from passing therethrough. Water travels through pipe 18a, open valve 42, and into pipe 34. From pipe 34 cool water travels onwardly through pipe 24b into room cooling units 26 and returns to pump 41 through pipe 29. Thus when ambient conditions permit, the water or other cooling medium is cooled by cooling tower and introduced directly to the room cooling units 26, commingling with the water therein. Thus, the time during certain am bient conditions when it is necessary to run the compressor to achieve the desired temperatures inside the building is minimized. Conventional automatic controls can be utilized to operate the system, or the system can be operated manually. An alternate embodiment of the present invention is shown in Figure 2. In this embodiment a heat exchanger 50 is placed in cooling tower 13 and the water from the chill water circuit is directed through heat exchanger 50.
Heat exchanger 50 may be any conventional heat ex¬changer attached to the cooling tower 13 so that the major portions of all of the heat exchanger is beneath the liquid level within the cooling tower. In this embodiment of the present invention there is no interchange of water between the water tubes of the condenser and the water tubes of the evaporator.
Referring to Figure 2, the numeral 10 designates a condenser of the usual building air conditioning unit which has a bundle of water tubes 11 running therethrough and which has an outlet pipe 12 running to the roof 12b of the building where it connects to the upper end of the cooling tower 13. The outlet pipe terminates in a series of holes along its bottom edge which form a downward spray 14 in the cooling tower. The cooling tower 13 is a typical cooling tower which has air intake louvers (not shown) in the walls 15 and a suction fan 16 which is operated by motor 17 which draws air upwardly through the spray 14 and out to the open air. Natural draft cooling towers without fans may also be utilized. The water thus cooled is pumped back through pipe 18, pump 19, and into condenser 10 and tubes 11 through pipe 39, thereby completing the cycle.
Thus the water in water tubes 11 in condenser 10 is constantly cooled so as to cool and liquify the vapors of refrigerant 20 passing into condenser 10 from cooler or evaporator 21 through a compressor 22 of conventional struc¬ture connecting one end of cooler 21 to the adjoining end of condenser 10. The compressor 22 is of usual and conventional construction and is not shown in detail. The cooler 21 is also connected to condenser 10 by a float trap 23 of usual and conventional construction through which the refrigerant 20 can pass in only one direction from condenser 10 into the cooler 21. A bundle of chill water tubes 24 are mounted in the lower half of cooler 21 so as to run its entire length. The chill water tubes 24 are covered by refrigerant 20 which fills only the lower half of cooler 21.
The tubes 24 carrying the chilled water or brine leave the cooler 21 through pipe 24a, as indicated by the arrow, when valve 51 is closed and valve 52 is open, as they would be when the compressor 22 is operating. The chilled water then passes through valve 52 into pipe 24b and passes in parallel through room cooling units 26 equipped with fans 27 drive by motors 28 in the direction indicated by the arrows, The chilled water is then returned by pipe 29 through pump 41 into pipe 24 and cooler 21, thereby completing the cycle. In normal operation on a hot day in order to secure peak chilling of the water circulated from cooler 21 through pipes 24a, 24b, cooling units 26, and pipes 29 and 24, it is necessary to run compressor 22 to build up pressure and condense the refrigerant vapors from the cooler or evaporator 21 to liquify the vapors. The liquified refrigerant 20 is then returned through float trap 23 to the cooler 21. During this cycle valve 51 is closed, valve 52 is open, and the system is operating as a conventional air conditioning system for a building.
The embodiment of the present invention shown in Figure 2 includes, in addition to the normal or conventional building air conditioning system and its conventional components, a heat exchanger 50 in cooling tower 13 and lines 55, 55a, and 56 which are controlled by valve 51 and connect line 24a with heat exchanger 50. In practicing the method of the invention, the cooling tower fan 16 and the chill pump 41 and pump 19 are set in operation after compressor 22 is turned off, valve 50 is opened and valve 52 is closed. The cooling cycle is then as follows: Pump 41 forces warm return water from room cool¬ing units 26 through tubes 24 and condenser 21, outwardly through pipe 24a and into pipe 55, through open valve 51 in¬to pipe 55a and into heat exchanger 50. Water from heat ex¬changer 50 flows outwardly through pipe 56 and into pipe 24b into room cooling units 26 and returns to pump 41 through line 29. Thus, when ambient conditions permit, the water or other cooling medium is cooled by the heat exchanger 50 in the cooling tower, thereby minimizing the time during certain ambient conditions when it is necessary to run the compressor to achieve the desired temperatures inside the building.
A further embodiment of the present invention is shown in Figure 3. In this embodiment, a heat exchanger 50a is connected downstream to the cooling tower 13 and the water from the chill water circuit is directed through heat exchanger 50a.
Heat exchanger 50a may be any conventional heat exchanger. For example, a shell and tube type heat exchanger or a counter-flow type heat exchanger may be used. In this embodiment of the present invention there is no interchange of water between the water tμbes of the condenser and the water tubes of the evaporator.
Referring to Figure 3, the numeral 10 designate a condenser of the usual building air conditioning unit which has a bundle of water tubes 11 running therethrough and which has an outlet pipe 12 running to the roof 12b of the building where it connects to the upper end of the cooling tower 13. The outlet pipe terminates in a series of holes along its bottom edge which form a downward spray 14 in the cooling tower. The cooling tower 13 is a typical cooling tower which has air intake louvers (not shown) in the walls 15 and a suction fan 16 which is operated by motor 17 which draws air upwardly through the spray 14 and out to the open air. Natural draft cooling towers without fans may also be utilized. The water thus cooled is pumped back through pipe 18, heat exchanger 50a pipe 18a, pump 19, and into condenser 10 and tubes 11 through pipe 39, thereby completing the cycle. If desired, conventional valves and piping could be installed to bypass heat exchanger 50a when the compressor is energized and the heat exchanger is not being utilized.
Thus the water in water tubes 11 in condenser 10 is constantly cooled so as to cool and liquify the vapors of refrigerant 20 passing into condenser 10 from cooler or evaporator 21 through a compressor 22 of conventional structure con¬necting one end of cooler 21 to the adjoining end of condenser 10. The compressor 22 is of usual and conventional construc¬tion and is not shown in detail.
The cooler 21 is also connected to condenser 10 by a float trap 23 of usual and conventional construction through which the refrigerant 20 can pass in only one direction from condenser 10 into cooler 21. A bundle of chill water tubes 24 are mounted in the lower half of cooler 21 so as to run its entire length. The chill water tubes 24 are covered by refrigerant 20 which fills only the lower half of cooler 21.
The tubes 24 carrying the chilled water or brine leave the cooler 21 through pipe 24a, as indicated by the arrow, when valve 51 is closed and valve 52 is open, as they would be when the compressor 22 is operating. The chilled water then passes through valve 52 into pipe 24b and passes in parallel through room cooling units 26 equipped with fans 27 driven by motors 28 in the direction indicated by the arrowso The chilled water is then returned by pipe 29 through pump 41 into pipe 24 and cooler 21, thereby completing the cycle.
In normal operation on a hot day in order to secure peak chilling of the water circulated from cooler 21 through pipes 24a, 24b, cooling units 26, and pipes 29 and 24, it is necessary to run compressor 22 to build up pressure and condense the refrigerant vapors from the cooler or evaporator 21 to liquify the vapors. The liquified refrigerant 20 is then returned through float trap 23 to the cooler 21. During this cycle valve 51 is closed, valve 52 is open, and the system is operating as a conventional air conditioning system for a building.
The embodiment of the present invention shown in Figure 3 includes, in addition to the normal or conventional building air conditioning system and its conventional compon¬ents, a heat exchanger 50a in cooling tower 13 and lines 55, 55a, and 56 which are controlled by valve 51 and connect line 24a with heat exchanger 50a. In practicing the method of the invention, the cooling tower fan 16 and the chill pump 41 and pump 19 are set in operation after compressor 22 is turned off, valve 51 is opened and valve 52 is closed. The cooling cycle is then as follows:
Pump 41 forces warm return water from cooling units 26 through tubes 24 and condenser 21, outwardly through pipe 24a and into pipe 55, through open valve 51 into pipe 55a and into heat exchanger 50a. Chilled room cooling unit water from heat exchanger 50a flows outwardly through pipe 56 and into pipe 24b into room cooling units 26 and returns to pump 41 through line 29. Cooled or chilled water from cooling tower 13 flows from pipe 18 into heat exchanger 50a. Cooling tower water from heat exchanger 50a flows outwardly through pipe 18a into pump 19 and pipe 39, and onward to the cooling tower. Thus, when ambient conditions permit, the room cooling unit water or other cooling medium is cooled by the heat exchanger 50a through heat transfer with cooling tower water, thereby minimizing the time during certain ambient conditions when it is necessary to run the compressor to achieve the desired temperatures inside the building. As is known to those skilled in the art, some air conditioning systems substitute a nozzle arrangement for the float assembly 23 whereby refrigerant is injected into a circuit of tubes in the evaporator, rather than injecting the refrigerant into the body of the evaporator shell. Vaporous refrigerant is removed from the tubes in the evaporator by the compressor 22. The chill water is in turn injected into the body of the evaporator shell. The present invention is applicable to such a nozzle arrangement as would be obvious to those skilled in the art.
Also, as is known to those skilled in the art, rather than using a shell and tube arrangement, a tube-in-tube arrangement can be utilized to effect heat transfer between the refrigerant and the water circuit. The present invention is applicable to such a tube-in-tube arrangement as would be obvious to those skilled in the art.
It will be understood that any recognized source of cold water, or any other conventional cooling source, may be used instead of the cooling tower 13 such as cold well water as is generally used in installations where it is available. A cold well water source will increase the heat transfer rate between the refrigerant 20 and the chill water and tube bundle 24 sufficiently to obtain the required temperature of the chilled water.
The embodiments of the invention would be applicable to a compression-type air conditioning system as shown in the drawings, or to an absorption-type air conditioning system (not shown) as is obvious to those skilled in the art. Replacement of the compressor 22 with a pump, an absorber, and a thermally activated arrangement (heat source) such as the system disclosed on page 18-12 of the Standard Handbook for Mechanical Engineers would not alter the operation or apparatus of the invention. A pump is used in the absorption system to circulate refrigerant between the evaporator and the condenser.
Referring now to Figure 4, 10 is the condenser of the usual building air conditioning unit which has a bundle of water tubes 11 running therethrough and which has an outlet pipe 12 running from the connection 12a (as shown in Figure 5) to the roof 12b of the building where it connects to the upper end of the cooling tower 13 and it terminates in a series of holes along its bottom edge forming a down¬ward spray 14. The cooling tower 13 has air intake louvers (not shown) in its walls 15 and a suction fan 16 operated by a motor 17 which draws the air upwardly through the spray 14 and out to the open air. The water thus cooled is pumped back through pipe 18 and pump 19 into the bundle of water tubes 11 in the condenser 10 at 18a thereby completing this cycle. In this way (as shown in Figure 5) the water in water tubes 11 in the condenser 10 is constantly cooled so as to cool and liquify the vapors of refrigerant 20 passing into condenser 10 from cooler or evaporator 21 through a compressor 22 of usual structure connecting one end of cooler 21 to the adjoining end of condenser 10. The compressor 22 is of usual construction and not shown in detail. The words "cooler" and "evaporator" as used herein both refer to 21.
The cooler 21 is also connected to the condenser 10 by a float trap 23 of usual construction through which the condensed refrigerant can pass in only one direction from the condenser 10 into the cooler 21. A bundle of chill water tubes 24 are mounted in the lower half of cooler 21 so as to run its entire length and they are covered by refrigerant 20 which fills only the lower half of cooler 21. These tube 24 carrying the chilled water leave the cooler 21 at 25a int pipes 25 and pass in parallel through the room cooling units 26 equipped with fans 27 driven by motors 28 and returned by pipes 29 through pump 41 and connection 29a into cooler 21, thereby completing the cycle. An equalizer 30 controlled by valve 31 connects the cooler 21 to the condenser 10 and may be used in the usual building air conditioning system as desired.
The foregoing describes the usual structure as found in the great majority of building air conditioning units. The operation of this usual building air condition¬ing unit during light, ordinary, or heavy load conditions is generally the same. In order to secure sufficient chilling of the water circulated from the cooler 21 through pipe 25 and cooling units 26, it is necessary to run the compressor 22 to build up pressure and condense the refrigerant 20 vapors from the cooler 21 and thereby liquify said vapors so as to return the vaporized refrigerant 20 in liquid form through float trap 23 to the cooler 21 and by this continuous cycle constantly maintain the temperature in cooler 21 by varying the pressure in cooler 21.
In the present invention as shown in Figure 5, in addition to the usual or regular building air conditioning equipment as hereinbefore described, there is added a pump 53, a refrigerant reservoir 50, four valves 52, 55, 60 and 61, in addition to pipes connecting the pump to the condenser 10 and cooler or evaporator 21 to permit refrigerant to be pump¬ed from cooler 21 into condenser 10 by pump 53. The refrigerant reservoir 50 is used to supply additional amounts of refrigerant to flood the cooler and condenser when the compressor is not operating. Pump 53 is connected to condenser 10 and cooler 21 by pipes 58 and 59, respectively, which in turn are connected by valve 52 and by pipes 56 and 57, which in turn are connected by valve 55. Refrigerant reservoir 50 is connected to pipe 58 by pipes 51 and 62, which in turn are connected by valve 60, and reservoir 50 is connected to pipe 56 by pipes 54 and 63, which in turn are connected by valve 61.
In carrying out the method of the invention as shown in Figure 5, the cooling tower fan 16, the condenser water pump 19, and the chill water pump 41 are all set into operation, the compressor 22 is de-energized or turned off, and refrigeration is then as follows:
To flood condenser 10 and cooler 21 with refrigerant from reservoir 50, valve 31 is opened, valve 55 is closed, valve 60 is closed, and valves 52 and 61 are opened. Pump 53 is activated to pump refrigerant from reservoir 50 through line 54, valve 61, line 63, line 56, through pump 53, line 58, valve 52, and line 59 into condenser 10. As condenser 10 fills, refrigerant flows downwardly through line 30 and valve 31 into cooler 21. Some refrigerant may flow downwardly also through float trap 23. Pump 53 continues to run until condenser 10 is approximately filled and water tubes 11 and 24 are covered with liquid refrigerant. When this condition is reached, valve 61 is closed, valve 60 re mains closed, and valve 55 is opened. Pump 53 then continuously circulates refrigerant from the bottom of cooler 21 upwardly to the top of condenser 10. Since the cooling tower fan and the condenser water pump 19 are in operation, the water tubes 11 in condenser 10 are cooled by the cooling tower and thus cool the refrigerant 20 which is being circulated around tubes 11. As refrigerant 20 is circulated around tubes 11 and flows downwardly through line 30, it also cools tubes 24. Thus, water flowing through tubes 24 is cooled and travels to cooling units 26 to affect cooling of the building without operation of the compressor.
To return the system to the normal cycle wherein the compressor 22 is activated, the excess refrigerant in the evaporator 21 and condenser 10 must be returned to the reser¬voir 50. To return the excess refrigerant to reservoir 50, valves 52 and 61 are closed, valves 60, 55 and 31 are opened, and pump 53 is run until the desired amount of refrigerant is returned to the reservoir. Valves 60, 55 and 31 are then closed, valves 52 and 61 remain closed, compressor 22 is activated, and the system is then operating in the normal cycle. Conventional automatic controls can be utilized to operate the system, or the system can be operated manually.
The invention provides an important advantage when the system is being repaired. Reservoir 50 may be utilized to receive all of the refrigerant in the system prior to disassembly.
As is known to those skilled in the art, some air conditioning systems substitute a nozzle arrangement for the float assembly 23 whereby refrigerant is injected into a circuit of tubes in the evaporator, rather than injecting the refrigerant into the body of the evaporator shell. Vapor¬ous refrigerant is removed from the tubes in the evaporator by the compressor 22. The chill water is in turn injected into the body of the evaporator shell. The present invention is applicable to such a nozzle arrangement as would be obvious to those skilled in the art.
Also, as is known to those skilled in the art, rather than using a shell and tube arrangement, a tube-in-tube arrangement can be utilized to effect heat transfer between the refrigerant and the water circuit. The present invention is applicable to such a tube-in-tube arrangement as would be obvious to those skilled in the art.
It will be understood that any recognized source of cold water, or any other conventional cooling source, may be used instead of the cooling tower 13 such as cold well water as is generally used in installations where it is available. A cold well water source will increase the heat transfer rate between the refrigerant 20 and the chill water and tube bundle 24 sufficiently to obtain the required temperature of the chilled water.
An equalizer tube 30, if not in the unit as in- stalled, must also be added with the shut-off valve 31 which must be closed when compressor 22 is in use. This equalizer 30 will allow a free passage of the refrigerant 20 in the cooler 21 and the condenser 10 in installations where such brief passages otherwise are restricted. Variations may be made in the process and apparatus of the invention without departing from the scope and intent of the same and such variations are covered by the scope of the specification, drawings, and claims herein.

Claims

1. A method of conserving energy in an air conditioning system having condenser means, evaporator means, cooling source means, cooling unit means, first liquid circuit means for circulating liquids between said evaporator means and said cooling unit means, second liquid circuit means for circulating liquids between said condenser means and said cooling source means, means for conveying liquid refrig¬erant from said condenser means to said evaporator means, and means for conveying refrigerant from said evaporator means to said condenser means, comprising: a. de-energizing said means for conveying refrig¬erant from said evaporator means to said condenser means, and b. directly exchanging heat between warm return liquid from said cooling unit means and said cooling source means.
2. A method of conserving energy in an air conditioning system having condenser means, evaporator means, cooling tower means, cooling unit means, first liquid circuit means for circulating liquids between said evaporator means and said cooling unit means, second liquid circuit means for circulating liquids between said condenser means and said cooling tower means, means for conveying liquid refrigerant from said condenser means to said evaporator means, and means for conveying refrigerant from said evaporator means to said condenser means, comprising: a. de-energizing said means for conveying refrigerant from said evaporator means to said condenser means; b. connecting said first liquid circuit means to said second liquid circuit means to permit said liquids in said first liquid circuit means and said liquids in said sec¬ond liquid circuit means to commingle and flow through said first and said second liquid circuit means; and, c. circulating said liquids in said first liquid circuit means and said second liquid circuit means through said first and said second liquid circuit means.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein said means for conveying refrigerant from said evaporator means to said condenser means comprises compressor means.
4. The method of claim 2, wherein said means for conveying refrigerant from said evaporator means to said condenser means comprises pump means.
5. The method of claim 2, wherein said means for connecting said first liquid circuit means to said second liquid circuit means comprises pipe means and valve means.
6. A method for conserving energy in an air conditioning system having condenser means, evaporator means, cooling tower means, cooling unit means, first liquid circuit means for circulating liquids between said evaporator means and cooling unit means, second liquid circuit means for circulating liquids between said condenser means and said cooling tower means, means for conveying liquid refrigerant from said condenser means to said evaporator means, means for conveying refrigerant from said evaporator -means to said condenser means, and heat exchanger means located in said cooling tower means, comprising: a. de-energizing said means for conveying refrigerant from said evaporator means to said condenser means; b. connecting said first liquid circuit means to said heat exchanger means to permit said liquids in said first liquid circuit means to be conveyed to and circulated through said heat exchanger means; and, c. circulating said liquids in said first liquid circuit means through said heat exchanger means .
7. The method of claim 6, wherein said means for conveying refrigerant from said evaporator means to said condenser means comprises compressor means.
8. The method of claim 6, wherein said means for conveying refrigerant from said evaporator means to said condenser means comprises pump means.
9. A method for conserving energy in an air condi tioning system having condenser means, evaporator means, cooling tower means, cooling unit means, first liquid circuit means for circulating liquids between said evaporator means and cooling unit means, second liquid circuit means for circulating liquids between said condenser means and said cooling tower means, means for conveying liquid refrigerant from said condenser means to said evaporator means, means for conveying refrigerant from said evaporator means to said condenser means, and heat exchanger means, comprising: a. de-energizing said means for conveying refrigerant from said evaporator means to said condenser means; b. connecting said first liquid circuit means to said heat exchanger means to permit said liquids in said first liquid circuit means to be conveyed to and circulated through said heat exchanger means; c. connecting said second liquid circuit means to said heat exchanger means to permit said liquids in said second liquid circuit means to be conveyed to and circulated through said heat exchanger means; and, d. circulating said liquids in said first and second liquid circuit means through said heat exchanger means.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein said means for conveying refrigerant from said evaporator means to said con¬denser means comprises compressor means.
11. The method of claim 9, wherein said means for conveying refrigerant from said evaporator means to said condenser means comprises pump means.
12. A method for conserving energy in an air conditioning system having condenser means, evaporator means, cooling source means, cooling unit means, first liquid circuit means for circulating liquids between said evaporator means and said cooling unit means, second liquid circuit means for circulating liquids between said condenser means and said cooling source means, means for conveying liquid refrigerant from said condenser means to said evaporator means, and means for conveying vaporous refrigerant from said evaporator means to said condenser means comprising: a. de-energizing said means for conveying vaporous refrigerant from said evaporator means to said condenser means; b. substantially filling said condenser means and said evaporator means with liquid refrigerant; c. circulating said liquid refrigerant between said evaporator means and said condenser means; and, d. circulating liquids through said second liquid circuit means to transfer heat from said condenser means.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein said cooling source means comprises cooling tower means.
14. The method of claim 12, wherein said cooling source means comprises cooling tower means.
15. The method of claim 12, wherein said means for conveying refrigerant from said evaporator means to said condenser means comprises compressor means.
16. The method of claim 12, wherein said means for circulating refrigerant between said evaporator means and said condenser means comprises pump means.
17. An air conditioning system comprising: a. condenser means; b. evaporator means; c. cooling tower means; d. cooling unit means; e. means for conveying liquid refrigerant from said condenser means to said evaporator means; f. means for conveying refrigerant from said evaporator means to said condenser means; g. first liquid circuit means for circulating liquids between said evaporator means and said cooling unit means; h. second liquid circuit means for circulating liquids between said condenser means and said cooling tower means; i. means for connecting said first liquid circuit means to said second liquid circuit means to permit said liquids in said first liquid circuit means and said liquids in said second liquid circuit means to commingle and flow through said first and said second liquid circuit means.
18. The air conditioning system of claim 17, wherein said means for conveying refrigerant from said evaporator means to said condenser means comprises compressor means.
19. The air conditioning system of claim 17, wherein said means for conveying refrigerant from said evaporator means to said condenser means comprises pump means.
20. The air conditioning system of claim 17, wherein said means for connecting said first liquid circuit means to said second liquid circuit means comprises pipe means and valve means.
21. The air conditioning system of claim 17, wherein said first liquid circuit means comprises pipe means partially contained in said evaporator means and in said cooling unit means located in the area to be cooled, said pipe means being adapted for conveying a liquid medium to be cooled between said evaporator means and said cooling unit-means, said liquid medium being heated in said cooling unit means and cooled in said evaporator means.
22. The air conditioning system of claim 21, wherein said second liquid circuit means comprises pipe means partially contained in said condenser means and in said cooling tower means located in the area to be cooled, said pipe means being adapted for conveying a liquid medium to be cooled between said condenser means and said cooling tower means, said liquid medium being cooled in said cooling tower means and heated in said condenser means.
23. An air conditioning system comprising: a. condenser means; b. evaporator means; c. cooling tower means; d. cooling unit means; e. heat exchanger means located in said cooling tower means; f. means for conveying liquid refrigerant from said condenser means to said evaporator means; g. means for conveying refrigerant from said evaporator means to said condenser means; h. first liquid circuit means for circulating liquids between said evaporator means and said cooling unit means; i. second liquid circuit means for circulating liquids between said condenser means and said cooling tower means; and, j. means for connecting said first liquid circuit means to said heat exchanger means to permit said liquids in said first liquid circuit means to be conveyed to and circulated through said heat exchanger means.
24. The air conditioning system of claim 23, wherein said means for conveying refrigerant from said evaporator means to said condenser means comprises compressor means.
25. The air conditioning system of claim 23, wherein said means for conveying refrigerant from said evaporator means to said condenser means comprises pump means.
26. The air conditioning system of claim 23, wherein said means for connecting said heat exchanger means to said first liquid circuit means comprises pipe means and valve means.
27. The air conditioning system of claim 23, wherein said first liquid circuit means comprises pipe means partially contained in said evaporator means and in said cooling unit means located in the area to be cooled, said pipe means being adapted for conveying a liquid medium to be cooled between said evaporator means and said cooling unit means, said liquid medium being heated in said cooling unit means and cooled in said evaporator means.
28. The air conditioning system of claim 27, wherein said second liquid circuit means comprises pipe means partially contained in said condenser means and in cooling tower means located in the area to be cooled, said pipe means being adapted for conveying a liquid medium to be cooled between said condenser means and said cooling tower means, said liquid medium being cooled in said cooling tower means and heated in said condenser means.
29. An air conditioning system comprising: a. condenser means; b. evaporator means; c. cooling tower means; d. cooling unit means; e. heat exchanger means; f. means for conveying liquid refrigerant from said condenser means to said evaporator means; g. means for conveying refrigerant from said evaporator means to said condenser means; h. first liquid circuit means for circulating liquids between said evaporator means and said cooling unit means; i. second liquid circuit means for circulating liquids between said condenser means and said cooling tower means; j. means for connecting said first liquid circuit means to said heat exchanger means to permit said liquids in said first liquid circuit means to be conveyed to and circulated through said heat exchanger means; and, k. means for connecting said second liquid circuit means to said heat exchanger means to permit said liquids in said second circuit means to be conveyed to and circulated through said heat exchanger means to effect heat exchange between the liquids in said first and second liquid circuit means.
30. The air conditioning system of claim 29, wherein said means for conveying refrigerant from said evaporator means to said condenser means comprises compressor means.
31. The air conditioning system of claim 29, wherein said means for conveying refrigerant from said evaporator means to said condenser means comprises pump means.
32. The air conditioning system of claim 29, wherein said means for connecting said heat exchanger means to said first liquid circuit means and said second liquid circuit means comprises pipe means and valve means.
33. The air conditioning system of claim 29, wherein said first liquid circuit means comprises pipe means partially contained in said evaporator means and in said cooling unit means located in the area to be cooled, said pipe means being adapted for conveying a liquid medium to be cooled between said evaporator means and said cooling unit means, said liquid medium being heated in said cooling unit means and cooled in said evaporator means.
34. The air conditioning system of claim 33, wherein said second liquid circuit means comprises pipe means partially contained in said condenser means in cooling tower means located in the area to be cooled, said pipe means being adapted for conveying a liquid medium to be cooled between said condenser means and said cooling tower means, said liquid medium being cooled in said cooling tower means and heated in said condenser means.
35. An air conditioning system comprising: a. condenser means; b. evaporator means; c. cooling source means; d. compressor means for conveying vaporous refrigerant from said evaporator means to said condenser means; e. means for conveying liquid refrigerant from said condenser means to said evaporator means; f. first liquid circuit means for circulating liquids between said evaporator means and said cooling unit means; g. second liquid circuit means for circulating liquids between said condenser means and said cooling source means ; h. reservoir means for containing refrigerant; i. means for transferring liquid refrigerant from said reservoir means to said condenser means and said evaporator means to fill both said condenser means and said evaporator means with liquid refrigerant; and, j . pump means for circulating said liquid refrig¬erant between said condenser means and said evaporator means after said condenser means and said evaporator means have been filled.
36. The air conditioning system of claim 35, wherein said first liquid circuit means comprises pipe means partially contained in said evaporator means and in said cooling unit means located in the area to be cooled, said pipe means being adapted for conveying a liquid medium to be cooled between said evaporator means and said cooling unit means, said liquid medium being heated in said cooling unit means and cooled in said evaporator means.
37. The air conditioning system of claim 36, wherein said second liquid circuit means comprises pipe means partial¬ly contained in said condenser means and in said cooling tower means located in the area to be cooled, said pipe means being adapted for conveying a liquid medium to be cooled between said condenser means and said cooling tower means, said liquid medium being heated in said cooling tower means and cooled in said condenser means.
EP19800901048 1980-04-24 1980-04-24 Method and apparatus for conserving energy in an air conditioning system. Ceased EP0050611A4 (en)

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FR2518227B1 (en) * 1981-12-15 1987-07-03 Coremaex AIR CONDITIONING SAVING METHOD AND DEVICE
GB2158215A (en) * 1984-04-26 1985-11-06 Fook Chong Chai Cooling plant
FI100269B (en) * 1995-10-17 1997-10-31 Abb Installaatiot Oy Method and arrangement for producing cooling capacity
FI100270B (en) * 1995-10-17 1997-10-31 Abb Installaatiot Oy Method and arrangement for producing cooling capacity
US20100242532A1 (en) 2009-03-24 2010-09-30 Johnson Controls Technology Company Free cooling refrigeration system
CN102549361B (en) * 2009-08-14 2014-12-24 江森自控科技公司 Free cooling refrigeration system

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US2620635A (en) * 1950-09-09 1952-12-09 Erwin W Mautner Cooling system and control
US2718766A (en) * 1952-07-11 1955-09-27 Imperatore Thomas Method and apparatus for operating a building air conditioning apparatus
US3130557A (en) * 1962-05-23 1964-04-28 Mcfarlan Alden Irving Cooling tower control means
US3242689A (en) * 1964-03-13 1966-03-29 Worthington Corp Cooling system and apparatus
US3276516A (en) * 1965-04-26 1966-10-04 Worthington Corp Air conditioning system
US4201063A (en) * 1978-07-27 1980-05-06 Martinez George Jr Method and apparatus for conserving energy in an air conditioning system
US4201062A (en) * 1978-07-27 1980-05-06 Martinez George Jr Method and apparatus for conserving energy in an air conditioning system

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