WO2016058028A1

WO2016058028A1 - Solar energy optimised air cooling systems

Info

Publication number: WO2016058028A1
Application number: PCT/AU2015/000613
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ross Hastings
Original assignee: Magec Air Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2014-10-13
Filing date: 2015-10-13
Publication date: 2016-04-21
Also published as: AU2015333569A1

Abstract

This invention uses stored solar thermal energy to supplement the operation of a compressor in a condensed gas air cooling system thereby reducing the electrical energy required for operation.

Description

SOLAR ENERGY OPTIMISED AIR COOLING SYSTEMS

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001 ] The present invention relates to solar energy optimised air cooling systems. For example, the invention finds application in the field of air conditioning. While some embodiments will be described herein with particular reference to that application, it will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to such a field of use, and is applicable in broader contexts.

BACKGROUND

[0002] Any discussion of the background art throughout the specification should in no way be considered as an admission that such art is widely known or forms part of common general knowledge in the field.

[0003] Air cooling systems, such as air conditioning units, are conventionally known to be heavy consumers of electrical energy. Accordingly, there has been an ongoing focus in the art to improve the energy efficiency of such systems, thereby to reduce operational costs and environmental impacts.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] It is an object of the present invention to overcome or ameliorate at least one of the disadvantages of the prior art, or to provide a useful alternative.

[0005] One embodiment provides an air conditioning unit including:

[0006] a body;

[0007] a solar panel mounted to a vertical face of the body;

[0008] a fluid heating system mounted adjacently behind the solar panel, the fluid heating system including:

[0009] an insulated storage tank; [0010] a heating grid coupled to the storage tank;

[001 1 ] a first pipe that couples a storage tank output port at or proximal a lower extremity of the storage tank to a heating grid input port at or proximal a lower extremity of the heating grid; and

[0012] a second pipe that directly couples a heating grid output port at or proximal an upper extremity of the hearing grid to a storage tank input port, wherein the second pipe is configured such that flow of fluid in the second pipe is at all times above a lower extremity of the heating grid output port;

[0013] wherein heating of fluid in the heating grid caused by the solar panel causes cyclical fluid flow between the storage tank and storage grid, thereby to continually warm fluid within the storage tank;

[0014] a compressor component;

[0015] a condenser component; and

[0016] a heat exchange component intermediate the compressor component and the condenser component, wherein the heat exchange component is configured to cause a vapour from the compressor to be heated by fluid in the storage tank before that vapour is released to the condenser component.

[0017] One embodiment provides an air conditioning unit wherein the air conditioning unit has a front face, wherein the front face is defined by a first quadrangular portion substantially occupied by a fan component, and a second quadrangular portion adjacent the first portion that is supports the solar panel, wherein the solar panel occupies at least 80% of the second quadrangular portion.

[0018] One embodiment provides an air conditioning unit wherein warming grid is ultrasonically welded to a sheet of Titanium Dioxide on a copper substrate.

[0019] One embodiment provides an air conditioning unit including:

[0020] a compressor component; [0021 ] a condenser component; and

[0022] a heat exchange component intermediate the compressor component and the condenser component, wherein the heat exchange component is configured to cause a vapour from the compressor to be heated before that vapour is released to the condenser component.

[0023] An air conditioning unit according to claim 4 wherein the heat exchange component is warmed by a solar-heated system, wherein the solar-heated system includes:

[0024] an insulated storage tank;

[0025] a heating grid coupled to the storage tank, wherein the heating grid is heated by a solar panel vertically mounted to an external face of the sir conditioning unit;

[0026] wherein heating of fluid in the heating grid caused by the solar panel causes cyclical fluid flow between the storage tank and storage grid, thereby to continually warm fluid within the storage tank.

[0027] One embodiment provides an air conditioning unit wherein the heat exchange component is positioned in the storage tank.

[0028] One embodiment provides an air conditioning unit wherein the solar-heated system includes:

[0029] a first pipe that couples a storage tank output port at or proximal a lower extremity of the storage tank to a heating grid input port at or proximal a lower extremity of the heating grid; and

[0030] a second pipe that directly couples a heating grid output port at or proximal an upper extremity of the hearing grid to a storage tank input port, wherein the second pipe is configured such that flow of fluid in the second pipe is at all times above a lower extremity of the heating grid output port; [0031 ] One embodiment provides an air conditioning unit wherein the air conditioning unit has a front face, wherein the front face is defined by a first quadrangular portion substantially occupied by a fan component, and a second quadrangular portion adjacent the first portion that is supports the solar panel, wherein the solar panel occupies at least 80% of the second quadrangular portion.

[0032] One embodiment provides an air conditioning unit wherein warming grid is ultrasonically welded to a sheet of Titanium Dioxide on a copper substrate.

[0033] One embodiment provides a computer program product for performing a method as described herein.

[0034] Reference throughout this specification to "one embodiment", "some embodiments" or "an embodiment" means that a particular feature, structure or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases "in one embodiment", "in some embodiments" or "in an embodiment" in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment, but may. Furthermore, the particular features, structures or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner, as would be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art from this disclosure, in one or more embodiments.

[0035] As used herein, unless otherwise specified the use of the ordinal adjectives "first", "second", "third", etc., to describe a common object, merely indicate that different instances of like objects are being referred to, and are not intended to imply that the objects so described must be in a given sequence, either temporally, spatially, in ranking, or in any other manner.

[0036] In the claims below and the description herein, any one of the terms comprising, comprised of or which comprises is an open term that means including at least the elements/features that follow, but not excluding others. Thus, the term comprising, when used in the claims, should not be interpreted as being limitative to the means or elements or steps listed thereafter. For example, the scope of the expression a device comprising A and B should not be limited to devices consisting only of elements A and B. Any one of the terms including or which includes or that includes as used herein is also an open term that also means including at least the elements/features that follow the term, but not excluding others. Thus, including is synonymous with and means comprising.

[0037] As used herein, the term "exemplary" is used in the sense of providing examples, as opposed to indicating quality. That is, an "exemplary embodiment" is an embodiment provided as an example, as opposed to necessarily being an embodiment of exemplary quality.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0038] Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0039] FIG. 1A schematically illustrates an air conditioning unit according to one embodiment, showing a first layer of externally observable components.

[0040] FIG. 1 B schematically illustrates the air conditioning unit according of FIG. 1A, showing a second layer of components relating to utilisation of solar energy.

[0041 ] FIG. 1 C schematically illustrates the air conditioning unit according of FIG. 1A, showing a third layer of components relating to application of solar energy to air cooling functionality.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0042] Described herein is technology thereby to enable solar energy optimised air cooling systems. The technology is described by reference to the field of air conditioning, and more particularly by reference to an exemplary air conditioning unit. However, those skilled in the art will appreciate how the technology is able to be applied to other forms of air conditioning units, and in broader contexts.

[0043] FIG. 1A to FIG. 1 C provide schematic views of an air conditioning unit 130. These are shown at various "layers". These layers are separated based on functional criteria, as opposed to being specific geometric cut-away views. The intention is to clearly show related components, and interaction between components shown at the different layers will be appreciated upon comparison of the figures. The Figures are not to scale, and drawn in a representative manner only. [0044] FIG 1A schematically illustrates components of unit 100 that are generally visible via external inspection. These are a fan unit 101 (which may be substantially any form of fan unit suitable for use in an air conditioning unit, typically covered partially by a grill or other protective shield), and a solar panel 102. The solar panel may be formed of, for example, Borosilicate glass. The solar panel is preferably sized to occupy approximately 80-90% of the region of the front surface of unit 100 that is not occupied by fan 101. Solar panel 102 is preferably planar, and mounted to hang vertically in normal operation. For example, in the case of a 3.5 kW unit (or 12,000 BTU unit), the dimensions of the unit's front face are approximately 940mm x 550mm and the dimensions of solar panel 102 are approximately 480mm x 390mm.

[0045] FIG. 1 B primarily schematically illustrates components of unit 100 which underlie solar panel 102, and collectively define a fluid system that is heated by way of solar energy collected by panel 102.

[0046] A heavily insulated tank 104 is provided in an upper region of unit 100. In one embodiment tank 14 is constructed using a stainless steel tank with adhesive insulation on all external surfaces secured on insulated mounting blocks.

[0047] Tank 104 includes an outlet port at a lower extremity, this being coupled to a pipe 106. Pipe 106 is, in turn, coupled at its distal end to a warming grid. This warming grid is, in a preferred embodiment, ultrasonically welded to the back of a sheet of Titanium Dioxide on a copper substrate (or other heat absorbent material). This material is selected due to its superior solar energy absorbance properties; other materials may also be used. The warming grid is preferably formed as a rigid unit.

[0048] This warming grid is defined by two large-diameter (for example 20mm) substantially horizontal pipes 107 and 1 10, which are interconnected by a series of relatively smaller diameter (for example 8mm) substantially vertical pipes 108. In a preferred embodiment there are eight vertical pipes 108, however other quantities may be used. In an exemplary 3.5 kW unit (or 12,000 BTU unit), the pipes 107 and 1 10 are approximately 370mm and pipes 108 370mm.

[0049] The warming grid is coupled to pipe 106 at an input post formed at or adjacent a lower extremity, in this case being at an end of pipe 106 proximal fan 101 . The warming grid is also coupled to a pipe 109 at an output port formed at or adjacent an upper extremity within pipe 1 10.

[0050] Pipe 109 connects the heating grid to a return flow input port of tank 104. It is important that, in doing so, pipe 109 takes a direct route. In particular, the path of pipe 109 from the output of the heating grid to the input of the tank at no stage adopts a downward trajectory. The length of pipe should be, at most, about 200 to 250mm. Pipe 109, and other pipes described herein, are preferably heavily insulated copper pipes, for example of ½ inch internal diameter.

[0051 ] It will be appreciated that FIG. 1 B illustrates an arrangement whereby fluid circulates in a generally anticlockwise direction. Specifically, fluid warmed in the warming grid (due to the presence of solar panel 102) will inherently rise towards the return input port of tank 104, and in doing so cause relatively cooler fluid to be drawn downwardly from the outlet of tank 104.

[0052] Although FIG. 1 B illustrates the heating grid as being wholly below the storage tank, in some cases these two components overlap within a vertical range. It will be appreciated that there are advantages associated with having a heating grid that occupies a larger proportion of the area of the solar panel. In some embodiments, the heating grid extends vertically to almost the same level as the top of the heating tank. Provided the upper limit of the heating grid (and/or the output of the heating grid) is lower than the input of the storage tank, the circulation of warmed fluid can function as described herein.

[0053] There is an initial need to fill components of FIG. 1 B with fluid (such as water). This is achieved by way of a fill port (not shown) which is coupled to a pipe 1 12. The fill port introduces fluid into tank 104 via an input 106, thereby filling all components. Once the fluid level in tank 105 reaches the level of an opening 105 of pipe 1 13, fluid will begin to flow towards a "full port". This informs a user that the filling operation is complete, and the fill port is then sealed.

[0054] FIG. 1 C illustrates components of unit 100 which relate to the generation of cooled air. Unit 131 includes an accumulator 131 , which is coupled to an externally connected vapour return line 135. The accumulator is, in turn, coupled via a pipe 138 to a compressor designed to use a refrigerant R290 132. The compressor compresses and heats the refrigerant vapour before it passes to heat exchange component 134 via a non- return valve 133, which serves to ensure one-way passage of fluid/vapour through the overall cooling system and facilitates the generation of a refrigerant pressure zone between the non-return valve 133 and the capillary 137.

[0055] A Condenser coil 130 is coupled, via a pipe 139, to a choke component 137 (for example a capillary, TX valve, or the like), which serves to limit the rate of flow. The choke component is coupled to an externally connected liquid line 136 (which in use is piped to a fan coil in an area to be chilled).

[0056] The primary point of overlap between components shown in FIG. 1 B and FIG 1 C is a heat transfer component 134 (for example a wound pipe arrangement) which is contained within tank 104. This is significant; vapour in heat transfer pipe 134 is heated by way of liquid in tank 104, this heat exchange heating and expanding refrigerant after it has been compressed by compressor 132 but before it enters the condenser coil of condenser 130. This increases the temperature and pressure of the refrigerant so that, when it enters the condenser coil, there is a corresponding increase in temperature differential between the ambient temperature of the cooling medium (for example the outside air) and the refrigerant. This enhances the condensation process, particularly by more thoroughly accomplishing the phase change from vapour to liquid in the condenser.

[0057] This fills the condenser coil with liquid refrigerant between the non return valve 133 and the capillary 137. The liquid takes significantly longer to dissipate through the capillary compared with conventional air conditioning systems. The energy consumed by the compressor and fan is significantly reduced compared to conventional arrangements as they are only required to operate infrequently.

[0058] A four way valve may be inserted into the refrigerant circuit after the heat exchanger 134 and before the Condenser 130. This enables the redirection of the refrigerant flow so that the air handling unit in the controlled space can act to heat the controlled space and the condenser coil in the outside unit now acts as a chiller in reverse of what it does in the cooling cycle.

[0059] The above disclosure details various technological approaches for improving energy efficiency in air cooling systems. In particular, solar energy is used thereby to apply a heat exchange to vapour prior to its introduction into a condenser, thereby to reduce energy consumption in the overall system. Experimental results have shown that such an approach may lead to energy savings such that an efficient conventional inverter system will use more than 70% more energy than the solar optimised system.

[0060] It should be appreciated that in the above description of exemplary embodiments of the invention, various features of the invention are sometimes grouped together in a single embodiment, FIG., or description thereof for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure and aiding in the understanding of one or more of the various inventive aspects. This method of disclosure, however, is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed invention requires more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive aspects lie in less than all features of a single foregoing disclosed embodiment. Thus, the claims following the Detailed Description are hereby expressly incorporated into this Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment of this invention.

[0061 ] Furthermore, while some embodiments described herein include some but not other features included in other embodiments, combinations of features of different embodiments are meant to be within the scope of the invention, and form different embodiments, as would be understood by those skilled in the art. For example, in the following claims, any of the claimed embodiments can be used in any combination.

[0062] Thus, while there has been described what are believed to be the preferred embodiments of the invention, those skilled in the art will recognize that other and further modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention, and it is intended to claim all such changes and modifications as falling within the scope of the invention. For example, any formulas given above are merely representative of procedures that may be used. Functionality may be added or deleted from the block diagrams and operations may be interchanged among functional blocks.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. An air conditioning unit including: a body; a solar panel mounted to a vertical face of the body; a fluid heating system mounted adjacently behind the solar panel, the fluid heating system including: an insulated storage tank; a heating grid coupled to the storage tank; a first pipe that couples a storage tank output port at or proximal a lower extremity of the storage tank to a heating grid input port at or proximal a lower extremity of the heating grid; and a second pipe that directly couples a heating grid output port at or proximal an upper extremity of the hearing grid to a storage tank input port, wherein the second pipe is configured such that flow of fluid in the second pipe is at all times above a lower extremity of the heating grid output port; wherein heating of fluid in the heating grid caused by the solar panel causes cyclical fluid flow between the storage tank and storage grid, thereby to continually warm fluid within the storage tank; a compressor component; a condenser component; and a heat exchange component intermediate the compressor component and the condenser component, wherein the heat exchange component is configured to cause a vapour from the compressor to be heated by fluid in the storage tank before that vapour is released to the condenser component.

2. An air conditioning unit according to claim 1 wherein the air conditioning unit has a front face, wherein the front face is defined by a first quadrangular portion substantially occupied by a fan component, and a second quadrangular portion adjacent the first portion that is supports the solar panel, wherein the solar panel occupies at least 80% of the second quadrangular portion.

3. An air conditioning unit according to any preceding claim wherein warming grid is ultrasonically welded to a sheet of Titanium Dioxide on a copper substrate.

4. An air conditioning unit including: a compressor component; a condenser component; and a heat exchange component intermediate the compressor component and the condenser component, wherein the heat exchange component is configured to cause a vapour from the compressor to be heated before that vapour is released to the condenser component.

5. An air conditioning unit according to claim 4 wherein the heat exchange component is warmed by a solar-heated system, wherein the solar-heated system includes: an insulated storage tank; a heating grid coupled to the storage tank, wherein the heating grid is heated by a solar panel vertically mounted to an external face of the sir conditioning unit; wherein heating of fluid in the heating grid caused by the solar panel causes cyclical fluid flow between the storage tank and storage grid, thereby to continually warm fluid within the storage tank.

6. An air conditioning unit according to claim 5 wherein the heat exchange component is positioned in the storage tank.

7. An air conditioning unit according to any one of claims 4 to 6 wherein the solar- heated system includes: a first pipe that couples a storage tank output port at or proximal a lower extremity of the storage tank to a heating grid input port at or proximal a lower extremity of the heating grid; and a second pipe that directly couples a heating grid output port at or proximal an upper extremity of the hearing grid to a storage tank input port, wherein the second pipe is configured such that flow of fluid in the second pipe is at all times above a lower extremity of the heating grid output port;

8. An air conditioning unit according to any one of claims 4 to 7 wherein the air conditioning unit has a front face, wherein the front face is defined by a first quadrangular portion substantially occupied by a fan component, and a second quadrangular portion adjacent the first portion that is supports the solar panel, wherein the solar panel occupies at least 80% of the second quadrangular portion.

9. An air conditioning unit according to any one of claims 4 to 8 wherein warming grid is ultrasonically welded to a sheet of Titanium Dioxide on a copper substrate.

10. Subject matters as described herein.