Thermal hub system featuring refrigeration

Abstract

A system for operating a refrigeration system, may include a processing unit; and a non-transitory computer-readable memory communicatively coupled to the processing unit and comprising computer-readable program instructions executable by the processing unit for: operating a main refrigeration circuit as a function of a cooling load of an evaporation stage of a first facility; reclaiming heat from the main refrigeration circuit to provide heat to at least a second facility separate from the first facility in response to at least two concurrent heat demands for at least the second facility; and storing cold heat or hot heat as a function of a difference between the heat reclaimed and the cooling load. A thermal hub operated by such a system may also be provided.

1 . A system for operating a refrigeration system, comprising:
 a processing unit; and   a non-transitory computer-readable memory communicatively coupled to the processing unit and comprising computer-readable program instructions executable by the processing unit for:   operating a main refrigeration circuit as a function of a cooling load of an evaporation stage of a first facility;   reclaiming heat from the main refrigeration circuit to provide heat to at least a second facility separate from the first facility in response to at least two concurrent heat demands for at least the second facility; and   storing cold heat or hot heat as a function of a difference between the heat reclaimed and the cooling load.   
     
     
         2 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein operating the main refrigeration circuit as a function of the cooling load includes operating the main refrigeration circuit to supply cold heat to at least two cooling loads. 
     
     
         3 . The system according to  claim 2 , wherein operating the main refrigeration circuit to supply cold heat to at least two cooling loads includes supplying cold heat at two different temperatures. 
     
     
         4 . The system according to  claim 3 , wherein supplying cold heat at two different temperatures includes supplying cold heat below 32 Fahrenheit as one of the two different temperatures. 
     
     
         5 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein reclaiming heat from the main refrigeration circuit in response to the at least two concurrent heat demands includes supplying heat at two different temperatures for the at least two concurrent head demands. 
     
     
         6 . The system according to  claim 5 , wherein supplying heat at two different temperatures includes supplying heat above 80 Fahrenheit as one of the two different temperatures. 
     
     
         7 . The system according to  claim 5 , wherein reclaiming heat from the main refrigeration circuit in response to the at least two concurrent heat demands includes supplying high-grade heat to one of the two concurrent heat demands, and supplying low-grade heat to another of the two concurrent heat demands. 
     
     
         8 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein storing cold heat or hot heat occurs at a time period when peak-hour electricity rates are not applied. 
     
     
         9 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein storing hot heat occurs in winter months. 
     
     
         10 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein storing cold heat occurs in summer months. 
     
     
         11 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein reclaiming heat from the main refrigeration circuit to provide heat to at least a second facility includes providing heat to a plurality of buildings in district heating. 
     
     
         12 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein operating the main refrigeration circuit as a function of the cooling load includes operating the main refrigeration circuit to supply cold heat to at least one ice sheet. 
     
     
         13 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein operating the main refrigeration circuit as a function of the cooling load includes operating the main refrigeration circuit to supply cold heat to refrigerate foodstuff. 
     
     
         14 . The system according to  claim 13 , wherein operating the main refrigeration circuit to supply cold heat to refrigerate foodstuff includes supplying cold heat to freezers at a first temperature, and to refrigerators at a second temperature. 
     
     
         15 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein reclaiming heat from the main refrigeration circuit to provide heat to at least a second facility separate includes heating a coolant, the coolant directed to the second facility, 
     
     
         16 . The system according to  claim 1 , further including operating the main refrigeration circuit to provide cold heat to the second facility. 
     
     
         17 . A thermal hub comprising:
 a main refrigeration circuit including at least a compression stage, a condensing stage, and an evaporation stage, a refrigerant circulating between the compression stage, the condensing stage and the evaporation stage in a refrigeration cycle;   at least one refrigeration load facility in heat exchange relation with the main refrigeration circuit to receive cold from the evaporation stage in a response to a cooling load demand;   at least one occupant building in heat exchange with the main refrigeration circuit to receive heat from the condensing stage in response to at least two concurrent heat demands, the heat demands different from one another;   at least one heat sink in heat exchange with the main refrigeration circuit to receive, store and release cold heat or hot heat; and   a controller unit configured for operating the main refrigeration circuit and the at least one heat sink to satisfy heat or cold demand of the at least one refrigeration load facility, of the at least one occupant building.   
     
     
         18 . The thermal hub according to  claim 17 , wherein the at least one refrigeration load facility is in heat exchange relation with the main refrigeration circuit to receive cold at a temperature of less than 32 Fahrenheit. 
     
     
         19 . The thermal hub according to  claim 17 , wherein the at least one occupant building is in heat exchange with the main refrigeration circuit to receive heat a temperature greater than 80 Fahrenheit. 
     
     
         20 . The thermal hub according to  claim 17 , wherein the at least one occupant building is in heat exchange with the main refrigeration circuit to receive low-grade heat from the condensing stage in response to a first of the at least two concurrent heat demands, and to receive high-grade heat from the condensing stage in response to a second of the at least two concurrent heat demands.