Air-conditioning and electric energy generating system

Abstract

An air-conditioning and electric energy generating system includes an engine producing a driving force; an air conditioner having at least one of cooling and heating abilities; an air conditioner-driving device for driving the air conditioner; an electrical generator for generating electrical energy; and a driving force distributing device provided between the air conditioner-driving device and the electrical generator and for distributing the driving force from the engine to the air conditioner-driving device and the electrical generator at variable first and second ratios.

1 . An air-conditioning and electric energy generating system comprising: 
 an engine producing a driving force;    an air conditioner having at least one of cooling and heating abilities;    an air conditioner-driving device for driving the air conditioner;    an electrical generator for generating electrical energy; and    a driving force distributing means provided between the air conditioner-driving device and the electrical generator and for distributing the driving force from the engine to the air conditioner-driving device and the electrical generator at variable first and second ratios, respectively.    
   
   
       2 . An air-conditioning and electric energy generating system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a driving force distribution ratio controlling means for controlling the second ratio relatively lower and higher when the first ratio is relatively high and low, respectively.  
   
   
       3 . An air-conditioning and electric energy generating system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a driving force distribution ratio controlling means, while an engine load factor is being confined to within a definite range, for controlling the second ratio relatively lower and higher when the first ratio is relatively high and low, respectively.  
   
   
       4 . An air-conditioning and electric energy generating system according to  claim 2 , wherein the driving force distribution ratio controlling means controls the first ratio and the second ratio depending on at least one of thermal energy information on thermal energy accumulated in a water storage tank, air-conditioning load information required to the air conditioner, and required electric energy amount information on a requisite amount of electric power to be generated.  
   
   
       5 . An air-conditioning and electric energy generating system according to  claim 3 , wherein the driving force distribution ratio controlling means controls the first ratio and the second ratio depending on at least one of thermal energy information on thermal energy accumulated in a water storage tank, air-conditioning load information required to the air conditioner, and required electric energy amount information on a requisite amount of electric power to be generated.  
   
   
       6 . An air-conditioning and electric energy generating system according to  claim 4 , wherein the driving force distribution ratio controlling means implements a first distribution control and a second distribution control, the first distribution control being served for decreasing the first ratio and increasing the second ratio when an air-conditioning load required to the air conditioner is relatively small, the second distribution control being served for increasing the first ratio and decreasing the second ratio when the air-conditioning load required to the air conditioner is relatively high.  
   
   
       7 . An air-conditioning and electric energy-generating system according to  claim 5 , wherein the driving force distribution ratio controlling means implements a first distribution control and a second distribution control, the first distribution control being served for decreasing the first ratio and increasing the second ratio when an air-conditioning load required to the air conditioner is relatively small, the second distribution control being served for increasing the first ratio and decreasing the second ratio when the air-conditioning load required to the air conditioner is relatively high.  
   
   
       8 . An air-conditioning and electric energy generating system according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 an engine controlling means capable of being connected to at least one of a storage battery and a commercial power supply, the engine controlling means being served for activating the engine such that its load factor is set above a specific value corresponding to a requisite amount of electric power; and    an electrical energy controlling means for providing a surplus electrical energy of the electric generator therefrom to at least one of the storage battery and the commercial electric power.    
   
   
       9 . An air-conditioning and electric energy generating system according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 an engine controlling means for activating the engine such that its load factor is set above a specific value corresponding to a requisite amount of electric power to be generated, the engine controlling means causing the engine to stop so long as a requisite amount of electric power is less than a threshold value; and    an electrical energy controlling means for providing a surplus electrical energy of the electric generator therefrom to at least one of the storage battery and the commercial electric power, an electrical energy controlling means being capable of supplying current to a power consuming unit from the at least one of the storage battery and the commercial electric power.    
   
   
       10 . An air-conditioning and electric energy generating system according to  claim 1 , wherein the engine is a gas engine which consumes combustible gas as an engine fuel, and the gas engine is a sole and common driving power source for the compressor and the electric generator.  
   
   
       11 . An air-conditioning and electric energy generating system according to  claim 1 , switching between cooling and heating operations of the air conditioner is performed manually.  
   
   
       12 . An air-conditioning and electric energy generating system according to  claim 1 , wherein the engine is a gas engine which consumes combustible gas as an engine fuel, and waste heat of the gas engine is recovered for being used for a particular application.  
   
   
       13 . An air-conditioning and electric energy generating system according to  claim 12 , wherein the recovered waste heat is used for generating hot water.  
   
   
       14 . An air-conditioning and electric energy generating system according to  claim 13 , wherein the hot water is used as an auxiliary heating means.  
   
   
       15 . An air-conditioning and electric energy generating system according to  claim 1 , wherein the first ratio and the second ratio vary in stepless mode.  
   
   
       16 . An air-conditioning and electric energy generating system according to  claim 1 , wherein the first ratio and the second ratio vary in stepwise mode.  
   
   
       17 . An air-conditioning and electric energy generating system according to  claim 1 , wherein the driving force distributing means includes: 
 a first rotator with a pulley-width and a second rotator with a pulley-width, which are both mounted on a drive shaft of the engine for being rotated therewith;    a first driven rotator with a pulley-width mounted on a driven shaft of the compressor for being rotated therewith;    a second driven rotator with a pulley-width mounted on a driven shaft of the electric generator for being rotated therewith;    a first endless body interconnecting the first driven rotator and the first rotator; and    a second endless body interconnecting the second driven rotator and the second rotator, at least one of the pulley-width of the first rotor and the pulley-width of the first driven rotator being variable.    
   
   
       18 . An air-conditioning and electric energy generating system according to  claim 1 , wherein the driving force distributing means includes: 
 a first rotator with a pulley-width and a second rotator with a pulley-width, which are both mounted on a drive shaft of the engine for being rotated therewith;    a first driven rotator with a pulley-width mounted on a driven shaft of the compressor for being rotated therewith;    a second driven rotator with a pulley-width mounted on a driven shaft of the electric generator for being rotated therewith;    a first endless body interconnecting the first driven rotator and the first rotator; and    a second endless body interconnecting the second driven rotator and the second rotator, at least one of the pulley-width of the second rotor and the pulley-width of the second driven rotator being variable.    
   
   
       19 . An air-conditioning and electric energy generating system according to  claim 17  further comprising a clutch means that makes at least one of the first rotator and the second rotator free from the rotation of the drive shaft of the engine.  
   
   
       20 . An air-conditioning and electric energy generating system according to  claim 18  further comprising a clutch means that makes at least one of the first rotator and the second rotator free from the rotation of the drive shaft of the engine.