Water chiller thermal storage

Abstract

A chiller system includes a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device, and an evaporator operably coupled to form a closed fluid loop having a fluid circulating therethrough. A flow of a cooling fluid is arranged in a heat transfer relationship with the fluid at the condenser. An energy transfer device is located downstream from the condenser relative to the flow of the cooling fluid. The energy transfer device is arranged in fluid communication with a third fluid and at least a portion of the heat from the fluid is transferred to the third fluid at the energy transfer device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A chiller system comprising:
 a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device, and an evaporator operably coupled to form a closed fluid loop having a fluid circulating therethrough;   a flow of a cooling fluid arranged in a heat transfer relationship with the fluid at the condenser; and   an energy transfer device located downstream from the condenser relative to the flow of the cooling fluid, the energy transfer device being arranged in fluid communication with a third fluid, wherein at least a portion of the heat from the fluid is transferred to the third fluid at the energy transfer device.   
     
     
         2 . The chiller system of  claim 1 , wherein the energy transfer device is a thermal storage device containing a phase change material. 
     
     
         3 . The chiller system of  claim 2 , wherein the phase change material is selected from ice, wax, and salt. 
     
     
         4 . The chiller system of  claim 1 , wherein the energy transfer device is a heat exchanger, the cooling fluid and the third fluid being arranged in a heat transfer relationship at the heat exchanger. 
     
     
         5 . The chiller system of  claim 1 , further comprising a bypass conduit arranged in parallel with the energy transfer device. 
     
     
         6 . The chiller system of  claim 5 , further comprising a valve operable to control a flow of the cooling fluid through the bypass conduit to achieve a demanded temperature downstream from the energy transfer device. 
     
     
         7 . The chiller system of  claim 1 , wherein the condenser and the energy transfer device are part of a second closed loop through which the cooling fluid is configured to circulate. 
     
     
         8 . The chiller system of  claim 7 , further comprising a pump for moving the cooling fluid through the second closed loop. 
     
     
         9 . The chiller system of  claim 1 , further comprising a cooling tower containing the cooling fluid, the cooling tower being arranged in fluid communication with the condenser and a fan operable to move another fluid across the cooling tower to remove heat from the cooling fluid. 
     
     
         10 . The chiller system of  claim 1 , further comprising a component for further heating the third fluid arranged at a location downstream from an outlet of the energy transfer device. 
     
     
         11 . The chiller system of  claim 1 , wherein the third fluid is water and the downstream component is a water heater. 
     
     
         12 . The chiller system of any of  claim 1 , wherein the chiller system is a water-cooled chiller system. 
     
     
         13 . A method of operating a chiller system comprising:
 circulating a fluid through a closed loop including a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device, and an evaporator;   removing heat from the fluid within the closed loop via a cooling fluid; and   transferring at least a portion of the heat removed from the fluid to a third fluid at an energy transfer device.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the condenser and the energy transfer device are part of a second closed loop through which the cooling fluid is configured to circulate, the method further comprising returning the cooling fluid provided at an outlet of the energy transfer device to the condenser. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising further cooling the cooling fluid provided at the outlet of the energy transfer device prior to returning the cooling fluid to the condenser. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the further cooling the cooling fluid provided at the outlet of the energy transfer device includes moving an external gas across the cooling fluid via at least one fan at a cooling tower to remove heat from the cooling fluid. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising further heating the third fluid to a demanded temperature at a component. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the component is located downstream from an outlet of the energy transfer device. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the chiller system is a water-cooled chiller system.