US4565069A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of cyclic air conditioning with cogeneration of ice
Assignee: Calmac Manufacturing Corp
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Filing: 1984-11-05
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Granted: 1986-01-21
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Expires: 2004-11-05
Abstract
Abstract A method of air conditioning a building having a substantially lesser nighttime than daytime cooling load which comprises (a) around the clock operation of a chiller powered by heat from a fuel-fired engine which drives an electric generator, (b) during the nighttime freezing ice by the heat-operated chiller in combination optionally with an electric chiller powered by the generator, and (c) in the daytime cooling the building by the melting of the ice in combination with the heat-operated chiller and optionally in further combination with the electric chiller.
Inventors
- 👤 Calvin D. MacCracken
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 16:04
CPC Classifications
F; F25; F25D; F25D16/00; F25B; F25B25/00; F25B27/00; F25D17/00; F25D17/02; Y; Y02; Y02P; Y02P80/00; Y02P80/10; Y02P80/15
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
134 words
A method of air conditioning a building having alternating periods of high and low cooling loads which comprises (a) during both high and low cooling load operation the steps of i. driving an electric generator by means of a fuel-fired engine, and ii. powering a heat-operated chiller with waste heat from said fuel-fired engine; (b) during low cooling load operation the step of i. freezing ice by means of said heatoperated chiller in combination if needed with an electric chiller powered by one of said generator and grid power; and (c) during high cooling load operation the step of i. cooling the building by the melting of said ice in combination with the heat-operated chiller and if needed in further combination with said electric chiller powered by one of said generator and grid power.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
134 words
A method of air conditioning a building having alternating periods of high and low cooling loads which comprises (a) during both high and low cooling load operation the steps of i. driving an electric generator by means of a fuel-fired engine, and ii. powering a heat-operated chiller with waste heat from said fuel-fired engine; (b) during low cooling load operation the step of i. freezing ice by means of said heatoperated chiller in combination if needed with an electric chiller powered by one of said generator and grid power; and (c) during high cooling load operation the step of i. cooling the building by the melting of said ice in combination with the heat-operated chiller and if needed in further combination with said electric chiller powered by one of said generator and grid power.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the heat-operated chiller is an absorption chiller powered by exhaust gases from said fuel-fired engine.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
12 words
A method according to claim 2 wherein the engine is gas fired.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method according to claim 2 wherein ammonia is absorbed in water in the absorption chiller.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
61 words
A method according to claim 1 which includes the high cooling load operation step during off-peak days of (a) disconnecting the electric chiller, (b) cooling the building by a combination only of the heat-operated chiller and said melting ice, and (c) supplying electricity otherwise consumed by the electric chiller directly from the generator to the building for other than cooling purposes.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method according to claim 5 wherein the supplying of electricity to the building for other than cooling purposes is without interconnection between the generator and grid power.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
189 words
A method of air conditioning a building having alternating periods of high and low cooling loads which comprises (a) during both high and low cooling load operation the continuous steps of i. driving an electric generator by means of a fuel-fired engine, ii. powering a heat-operated chiller with waste heat from said fuel-fired engine, and iii. circulating brine through a closed loop circuit containing said heat-operated chiller, an ice bank, a building duct coil and an electric chiller powered by one of said generator and grid power; (b) during low cooling load operation the steps of i. chilling the brine by means of said heat-operated chiller in combination if needed with said electric chiller powered by one of said generator and grid power, and ii. freezing ice in the ice bank by means of the chilled brine; and (c) during high cooling load operation the steps of i. chilling the brine by the melting of said ice in combination with the heat-operated chiller and if needed in further combination with the electric chiller, and ii. cooling the building by directing the chilled brine through at least one duct coil.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
189 words
A method of air conditioning a building having alternating periods of high and low cooling loads which comprises (a) during both high and low cooling load operation the continuous steps of i. driving an electric generator by means of a fuel-fired engine, ii. powering a heat-operated chiller with waste heat from said fuel-fired engine, and iii. circulating brine through a closed loop circuit containing said heat-operated chiller, an ice bank, a building duct coil and an electric chiller powered by one of said generator and grid power; (b) during low cooling load operation the steps of i. chilling the brine by means of said heat-operated chiller in combination if needed with said electric chiller powered by one of said generator and grid power, and ii. freezing ice in the ice bank by means of the chilled brine; and (c) during high cooling load operation the steps of i. chilling the brine by the melting of said ice in combination with the heat-operated chiller and if needed in further combination with the electric chiller, and ii. cooling the building by directing the chilled brine through at least one duct coil.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
53 words
A method according to claim 7 which includes the high cooling load operation step of (a) by-passing the ice bank with some of the circulating brine, and (b) progressively decreasing the amount of brine by-passing the ice bank as the ice melts to maintain a substantially constant brine temperature entering the duct coil.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 7 wherein the heatoperated chiller is an absorption chiller powered by exhaust gases from said fuel-fired engine.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
12 words
A method according to claim 9 wherein the engine is gas fired.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method according to claim 9 wherein ammonia is absorbed in water in the absorption chiller.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
61 words
A method according to claim 7 which includes the high cooling load operation step during off-peak days of (a) disconnecting the electric chiller, (b) cooling the building by a combination only of the heat-operated chiller and said melting ice, and (c) supplying electricity otherwise consumed by the electric chiller directly from the generator to the building for other than cooling purposes.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method according to claim 12 wherein the supplying of electricity to the building for other than cooling purposes is without interconnection between the generator and grid power.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
230 words
A method of air conditioning a building having alternating periods of high and low cooling loads wich comprises (a) during both high and low cooling load operation the continuous steps of i. driving an electric generator by means of a gas fired engine, ii. powering with exhaust gases from said gas-fired engine a heat-operated absorption chiller utilizing ammonia as a refrigerant absorbed in water, and iii. circulating brine through a closed loop circuit containing said heat-operated chiller, an ice bank, building duct coil means and an electric chiller powered by one of said generator and grid power; (b) during low cooling load operation the steps of i. chilling the brine by means of said heat-operated chiller in combination with said electric chiller powered by said generator, ii. freezing ice in the ice bank by means of the chilled brine; and (c) during high cooling load operation the steps of i. chilling the brine by the melting of said ice in combination with the heat-operated chiller and if needed in further combination with the electric chiller, and ii. cooling the building by directing the chilled brine through the duct coil means, iii. by-passing the ice bank with some of the circulating brine, and iv. progressively decreasing the amount of brine by-passing the ice bank as daytime operation continues to maintain a substantially constant brine temperature entering the building duct coil means.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
230 words
A method of air conditioning a building having alternating periods of high and low cooling loads wich comprises (a) during both high and low cooling load operation the continuous steps of i. driving an electric generator by means of a gas fired engine, ii. powering with exhaust gases from said gas-fired engine a heat-operated absorption chiller utilizing ammonia as a refrigerant absorbed in water, and iii. circulating brine through a closed loop circuit containing said heat-operated chiller, an ice bank, building duct coil means and an electric chiller powered by one of said generator and grid power; (b) during low cooling load operation the steps of i. chilling the brine by means of said heat-operated chiller in combination with said electric chiller powered by said generator, ii. freezing ice in the ice bank by means of the chilled brine; and (c) during high cooling load operation the steps of i. chilling the brine by the melting of said ice in combination with the heat-operated chiller and if needed in further combination with the electric chiller, and ii. cooling the building by directing the chilled brine through the duct coil means, iii. by-passing the ice bank with some of the circulating brine, and iv. progressively decreasing the amount of brine by-passing the ice bank as daytime operation continues to maintain a substantially constant brine temperature entering the building duct coil means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
61 words
A method according to claim 14 which includes the high cooling load operation step during off-peak days of (a) disconnecting the electric chiller, (b) cooling the building by a combination only of the heat-operated chiller and said melting ice, and (c) supplying electricity otherwise consumed by the electric chiller directly from the generator to the building for other than cooling purposes.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method according to claim 15 wherein the supplying of electricity to the building for other than cooling purposes is without interconnection between the generator and grid power.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-01-20 | 1989-07-22 | 1990-01-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-01-20 | 1993-07-22 | 1994-01-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-01-20 | 1997-07-22 | 1998-01-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |