Self-powered air conditioning systems

Abstract

An air conditioning system includes a vapor compression cycle having a heat transfer fluid circulating between a compressor, an expansion device, and at least one heat exchanger. A flow of air is associated with the at least one heat exchanger of the vapor compression cycle. An energy storage device is selectively operable to supply power to the compressor and the flow of air is operable to cool the energy storage device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An air conditioning system comprising:
 a vapor compression cycle having a heat transfer fluid circulating between a compressor, an expansion device, and at least one heat exchanger;   a flow of air associated with the at least one heat exchanger of the vapor compression cycle; and   an energy storage device selectively operable to supply power to the compressor, the flow of air is operable to cool the energy storage device.   
     
     
         2 . The air conditioning system of  claim 1 , wherein the energy storage device is arranged within a flow path of the flow of air such that the flow of air is configured to directly cool the energy storage device. 
     
     
         3 . The air conditioning system of  claim 1 , wherein the energy storage device includes a housing having at least one flow channel formed therein for receiving the flow of air. 
     
     
         4 . The air conditioning system of  claim 1 , wherein the energy storage device is arranged downstream from the at least one heat exchanger relative to the flow of air. 
     
     
         5 . The air conditioning system of  claim 4 , wherein the energy storage device is arranged in direct contact with a downstream surface of the at least one heat exchanger. 
     
     
         6 . The air conditioning of any of  claim 1 , wherein the energy storage device is upstream from the at least one heat exchanger relative to the flow of air. 
     
     
         7 . The air conditioning system of  claim 1 , wherein the energy storage device is arranged in parallel with the at least one heat exchanger relative to the flow of air. 
     
     
         8 . The air conditioning system of  claim 1 , wherein the energy storage device is located remotely from a flow path of the flow of air such that the flow of air is configured to indirectly cool the energy storage device. 
     
     
         9 . The air conditioning system of  claim 8 , further comprising a coolant loop including a coolant heat exchanger fluidly coupled to the energy storage device. 
     
     
         10 . The air conditioning system of  claim 9 , wherein the coolant heat exchanger is arranged within the flow path of the flow of air. 
     
     
         11 . The air conditioning system of  claim 10 , wherein the coolant heat exchanger is arranged downstream from the at least one heat exchanger relative to the flow of air. 
     
     
         12 . The air conditioning system of  claim 11 , wherein the coolant heat exchanger is arranged in direct contact with a downstream surface of the at least one heat exchanger. 
     
     
         13 . The air conditioning system of  claim 8 , wherein the coolant heat exchanger is upstream from the at least one heat exchanger relative to the flow of air. 
     
     
         14 . The air conditioning system of  claim 8 , wherein the coolant heat exchanger is arranged in parallel with the at least one heat exchanger relative to the flow of air. 
     
     
         15 . The air conditioning system of  claim 8 , wherein the coolant heat exchanger is integrally formed with the at least one heat exchanger. 
     
     
         16 . The air conditioning system of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one heat exchanger is part of an outdoor unit and the coolant heat exchanger is arranged within an interior of the outdoor unit. 
     
     
         17 . The air conditioning system of  claim 16 , wherein the energy storage device is located remotely from the interior of the outdoor unit. 
     
     
         18 . The air conditioning system of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one heat exchanger is part of an indoor unit and the coolant heat exchanger is arranged within an interior of the indoor unit. 
     
     
         19 . The air conditioning system of  claim 18 , wherein the energy storage device is located remotely from the interior of the indoor unit. 
     
     
         20 . The air conditioning system of  claim 1 , wherein the energy storage device includes a battery.