Bio-renewable thermal energy heating and cooling system and method

Abstract

The present invention is directed towards a bio-renewable thermal energy heating and cooling system which is capable of rejection, reclamation and cogeneration. The refrigeration system of the present invention utilizes one or more evaporators and one or more condensers to transform thermal energy in the form of waste heat in one environment for use in another environment. The hot and cold sides of the refrigeration process may be split for multiple applications for increased utilization of the system energy. The environmental variables are balanced so as to optimize the properties of the refrigerant and the capabilities of the system compressor.

1 . A bio-renewable thermal energy system comprising:
 a refrigeration system having a first evaporator, a compressor, and a first condenser which are operable in rejection, reclamation and cogeneration modes.   
   
   
       2 . The thermal energy system of  claim 1  further comprising a second evaporator operated independently of the first evaporator. 
   
   
       3 . The thermal energy system of  claim 2  further comprising a second condenser operated independently of the first condenser. 
   
   
       4 . The thermal energy system of  claim 1  wherein the refrigeration system is operable for both heating and cooling. 
   
   
       5 . The thermal energy system of  claim 1  further comprising a hydronic heating loop. 
   
   
       6 . The thermal energy system of  claim 1  wherein the refrigeration system can provide both heated and chilled liquid or gas. 
   
   
       7 . The thermal energy system of  claim 1  wherein the refrigeration system utilizes environmental thermal energy from one source to heat another body of fluid or air. 
   
   
       8 . The thermal energy system of  claim 7  wherein the one source is a meat processing plant. 
   
   
       9 . The thermal energy system of  claim 7  wherein the one source is a car wash. 
   
   
       10 . The thermal energy system of  claim 7  wherein the one source is a restaurant. 
   
   
       11 . The thermal energy system of  claim 7  wherein the one source is an ethanol plant. 
   
   
       12 . A thermal energy system of  claim 7  wherein the one source is a laundromat. 
   
   
       13 . A thermal energy system of  claim 7  wherein the one source is a dry cleaner. 
   
   
       14 . A thermal energy system of  claim 7  wherein the one source is a swimming pool. 
   
   
       15 . A thermal energy system of  claim 7  wherein the one source is a shower house. 
   
   
       16 . A thermal energy system of  claim 7  wherein the one source is an animal confinement building. 
   
   
       17 . A thermal energy system of  claim 7  wherein the one source is a dairy. 
   
   
       18 . A thermal energy system of  claim 7  wherein the one source is an in-line process. 
   
   
       19 . A thermal energy system of  claim 7  wherein the one source is a hatchery. 
   
   
       20 . A thermal energy system of  claim 7  wherein the one source is an anaerobic digester. 
   
   
       21 . A thermal energy system of  claim 7  wherein the one source is a bio-diesel production facility. 
   
   
       22 . A thermal energy system of  claim 7  wherein the one source is a food processing facility. 
   
   
       23 . A thermal energy system of  claim 7  wherein the one source is a paint coating facility. 
   
   
       24 . A thermal energy system of  claim 7  wherein the one source is an extrusion processing facility. 
   
   
       25 . A thermal energy system of  claim 7  wherein the one source is a molding process. 
   
   
       26 . A thermal energy system of  claim 7  wherein the one source is a boiler. 
   
   
       27 . A thermal energy system of  claim 7  wherein the one source is a greenhouse. 
   
   
       28 . A thermal energy system of  claim 7  wherein the one source is a human living facility. 
   
   
       29 . A thermal energy system of  claim 7  wherein the one source is a grain drying facility. 
   
   
       30 . A thermal energy system of  claim 7  wherein the one source is a hydrocarbon to oil processor. 
   
   
       31 . An improved thermal energy utilization process having a refrigeration system with a hot side and a cold side, the improvement comprising:
 splitting heat from the hot side for use in multiple heating applications.   
   
   
       32 . The improved process of  claim 31  further comprising splitting the cold side for use in multiple cooling applications. 
   
   
       33 . The improved process of  claim 31  wherein the process utilizes a refrigerant having a condensing temperature, and wherein one of the heating applications is heating liquid to a temperature greater than the condensing temperature of the refrigerant. 
   
   
       34 . The improved process of  claim 31  wherein one of the heating applications is the boiling of a liquid. 
   
   
       35 . The improved process of  claim 31  wherein the split heat is directed through multiple heat exchangers. 
   
   
       36 . The improved process of  claim 31  further comprising utilizing environmental thermal energy from one source to heat another body of fluid or air. 
   
   
       37 . The improved process of  claim 36  wherein the one source is selected from a group consisting of a meat processing plant, a car wash, a restaurant, an ethanol plant, a laundromat, a dry cleaner, a swimming pool, a shower house, an animal confinement building, a dairy, an in-line process, a hatchery, an anaerobic digester, a bio-diesel production facility, a food processing facility, a paint coating facility, an extrusion processing facility, a molding process, a boiler, a greenhouse, a human living facility, a grain drying facility and a hydrocarbon to oil processor. 
   
   
       38 . An improved thermal energy utilization process using a refrigeration system having a water tank, a pump, a heat exchanger, and a compressor, the process comprising:
 controlling head pressure of the compressor using fluid in a first circulating loop so as to protect the compressor and maintain acceptable compressor efficiency.   
   
   
       39 . The improved process of  claim 38  further comprising controlling refrigerant subcooling using fluid in a second circulating loop so as to increase compressor efficiency and increase cooling and heating capacity. 
   
   
       40 . The improved process of  claim 38  further comprising a heat path which is utilized to heat a liquid before any heat is rejected from the process. 
   
   
       41 . The improved process of  claim 38  wherein the process includes a desuperheating segment which is used to heat a fluid to a temperature above the condensing temperature of the refrigerant. 
   
   
       42 . The improved process of  claim 41  further comprising using a third circulating loop to control desuperheating. 
   
   
       43 . An improved thermal energy utilization process using a refrigeration system having a water tank, a pump, a heat exchanger, and a compressor, the process comprising:
 controlling refrigerant subcooling using fluid in a first circulating loop so as to increase compressor efficiency and increase cooling and heating capacity.   
   
   
       44 . The improved process of  claim 43  further comprising controlling head pressure of the compressor using fluid in a second circulating loop so as to protect the compressor and maintain acceptable compressor efficiency. 
   
   
       45 . The improved process of  claim 43  further comprising a heat path which is utilized to heat a liquid before any heat is rejected from the process. 
   
   
       46 . The improved process of  claim 43  wherein the process includes a desuperheating segment which is used to heat a fluid to a temperature above the condensing temperature of the refrigerant. 
   
   
       47 . The improved process of  claim 46  further comprising using a third circulating loop to control desuperheating. 
   
   
       48 . A method of balancing a thermal energy recovery system, comprising:
 determining a desired level of thermal energy change at a specific location;   choosing a refrigerant to use in a refrigeration system;   determining how many evaporators to use in the system;   determining how many condensers to use in the system;   selecting a compressor for the refrigeration system;   calculating energy losses from the evaporators, condensers and compressor; and   maximizing the utilization of both heating and cooling resources during operation of the refrigeration system.