Self-powered air conditioning system including thermal storage

Abstract

A system includes an air conditioning system including a first unit and a second unit coupled to the first unit by a fluid path; an energy storage device connected to at least one of the first unit and the second unit, the energy storage device configured to store electrical energy; and a thermal storage device connected to one of the first unit and the second unit, the thermal storage device configured to store thermal energy.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system comprising:
 an air conditioning system including:   a first unit; and   a second unit coupled to the first unit by a fluid path;   an energy storage device connected to at least one of the first unit and the second unit, the energy storage device configured to store electrical energy; and   a thermal storage device connected to one of the first unit and the second unit, the thermal storage device configured to store thermal energy.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the thermal storage device provides thermal energy to the energy storage device to maintain the energy storage device at a desired temperature. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein a component of the thermal storage device is powered by at least one of the energy storage device, an AC power grid and the first unit. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the thermal storage device includes a phase change material or a fluid storing sensible heat. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the thermal storage device is connected to the fluid path between the first unit and the second unit. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5  wherein the thermal storage device provides thermal energy to the second unit. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 5  wherein the thermal storage device provides thermal energy to the first unit. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 5  wherein the first unit provides thermal energy to the thermal storage device. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 5  wherein the second unit provides thermal energy to the thermal storage device. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 5  wherein the second unit includes a hot water heater and the thermal storage device provides heat to the hot water heater. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising an auxiliary thermal device configured to provide heat to the thermal storage device. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11  wherein the auxiliary thermal device comprises a solar thermal device or a photovoltaic device. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1  wherein fluid is circulated between the second unit and the thermal storage device to provide air conditioning to a building. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising one or more auxiliary DC power sources. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14  further comprising a DC/DC converter connecting the one or more auxiliary DC power sources to the first unit. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 14  further comprising a DC/AC converter connecting the one or more auxiliary DC power sources to a connection for an AC power grid. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the first unit is an outdoor unit and the second unit is an indoor unit.