Solar integrated chiller method and system

Abstract

An air cooled oil-free centrifugal chiller system and method, the system comprising at least one AC condenser fan; at least one solar panel; at least one AC/DC convertible fan connected to the at least one solar panel; and a controller configured to determine when sufficient DC power is available and activating the at least one AC/DC convertible fan when sufficient DC power is available, and when DC power is not sufficient, activating the at least one AC condenser fan.

1 . An air cooled oil-free centrifugal chiller system, comprising:
 at least one AC condenser fan;   at least one solar panel;   at least one AC/DC convertible fan connected to the at least one solar panel; and   a controller;   wherein said controller is configured to determine when sufficient DC power is available and activating said at least one AC/DC convertible fan when sufficient DC power is available, and when DC power is not sufficient, activating the at least one AC condenser fan.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said controller is configured to determine when the chiller system is not called on for duty and DC power is available, and stopping power delivery to said at least one AC/DC convertible fan until the chiller is called on for duty. 
     
     
         3 . The system as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a battery bank, said controller being configured, when the DC power is not sufficient, to power said at least one AC/DC convertible fan using said battery bank during a period of time before switching to activate the at least one AC condenser fan. 
     
     
         4 . The system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said solar panel is mounted above said condenser fans. 
     
     
         5 . The system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said solar panel is mounted above the condenser fans at an angle in a range between about 15 and 40°. 
     
     
         6 . The system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said solar panel is mounted above the condenser fans at a height of about 450 mm from a top surface of the condenser fans. 
     
     
         7 . The system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said solar panel is mounted above the condenser fans at an angle in a range between about 15 and 40° and at a height of about 450 mm from a top surface of the condenser fans. 
     
     
         8 . A method for powering an air cooled oil-free centrifugal chiller system comprising condensers, at least one AC/DC convertible fan and at least one DC fan, the method comprising providing at least one solar panel and connecting the AC/DC convertible fan to the at least one solar panel; determining i) when sufficient DC current generated by the solar panel is available and then running the AC/DC convertible fan, and ii) when the solar-generated DC current is not sufficient, running the DC fan. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising, when the DC current generated by the solar panel is not sufficient, powering the AC/DC convertible fan using a battery bank during a period of time before switching to delivering AC power to the AC fan. 
     
     
         10 . A method for directly powering a AC/DC convertible fan of an air cooled oil-free centrifugal chiller using DC solar-generated current, comprising providing at least one solar panel and a controller; connecting the AC/DC convertible fan to the at least one solar panel; determining, by the controller, i) when sufficient DC solar-generated current is available and then running the AC/DC convertible fan, and ii) when sufficient DC solar-generated current is not available, running the AC/DC convertible fan using a battery bank.