US4739624A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Multi-zone thermal energy storage variable air volume hydronic heat pump system
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1987-02-20
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Granted: 1988-04-26
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Expires: 2007-02-20
Abstract
Abstract A multi-zone thermal energy storage variable air volume heat pump system for capacity effective averaging of continuously operable heat pumps of varied capacity and each operable at its optimum capacity and assigned to a separate zone space, wherein variable air volume by-pass ducts and zone space dampers operate in response to zone space temperature, and characterized by a chilled water storage tank and pump circulating chilled water through one closed circuit, and a hot water storage tank and pump circulating hot water through another closed circuit and through a water conditioning coil, there being a downstream charging coil and a re-cooling coil in the supply air duct upstream from the air conditioning coil and each selectively in closed circuit through the chilled water storage tank, and the re-cooling coil selectively in closed circuit through the hot water storage tank, and control means therefor.
Inventors
- 👤 Milton Meckler
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 08:36
CPC Classifications
F; F24; F24F; F24F3/00; F24F3/001; F24D; F24D11/00; F24D11/02; F24D11/0257; F24F12/00; F24F3/044; F24F3/0442; Y; Y02; Y02B; Y02B10/00; Y02B10/70; Y02B30/00; Y02B30/13
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
347 words
A multi-zone thermal energy storage variable air volume heat pump system for capacity effective averaging in and selection of a multiplicity of continuously operable heat pumps that may vary in capacity and each operable at its optimum capacity and assigned to a separate zone space, and including; a plurality of heat pumps and each comprising a refrigerant compressor with a reversing valve directing refrigerant in alternate directions through an air conditioning coil and a water conditioning coil, an air intake duct from the assigned zone space delivering return air from the zone space and through the air conditioning coil, a supply air duct delivering conditioned air into the zone space from the air conditioning coil, and blower means driving air through said ducts, a variable air volume by-pass duct from the supply air duct to the intake air duct and with air volume damper means responsive to air pressure in the supply air duct, a zone space damper means at the discharge of the supply air duct into the zone space, a chilled water storage tank with pump means circulating the chilled water through a closed circuit, a hot water storage tank with pump means circulating the hot water through a closed circuit and through the water conditioning coil, a charging coil in the supply air duct downstream from the air conditioning coil and a re-cooling coil in the supply air duct upstream from the air conditioning coil and each selectively in closed circuit by valve means through the chilled water storage tank, and the re-cooling coil selectively in closed circuit by said valve means through the hot water storage tank, and control means responsive to duct air temperature to open said valve means from the chilled water storage tank and its closed circuit through the charging coil for chilled water storage when excess cooling is available downstream of the air conditioning coil, and alternately to open said valve means from the chilled water storage tank through its closed circuit through the re-cooling coil for cooling when return air temperature in the intake air duct is excessive.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
347 words
A multi-zone thermal energy storage variable air volume heat pump system for capacity effective averaging in and selection of a multiplicity of continuously operable heat pumps that may vary in capacity and each operable at its optimum capacity and assigned to a separate zone space, and including; a plurality of heat pumps and each comprising a refrigerant compressor with a reversing valve directing refrigerant in alternate directions through an air conditioning coil and a water conditioning coil, an air intake duct from the assigned zone space delivering return air from the zone space and through the air conditioning coil, a supply air duct delivering conditioned air into the zone space from the air conditioning coil, and blower means driving air through said ducts, a variable air volume by-pass duct from the supply air duct to the intake air duct and with air volume damper means responsive to air pressure in the supply air duct, a zone space damper means at the discharge of the supply air duct into the zone space, a chilled water storage tank with pump means circulating the chilled water through a closed circuit, a hot water storage tank with pump means circulating the hot water through a closed circuit and through the water conditioning coil, a charging coil in the supply air duct downstream from the air conditioning coil and a re-cooling coil in the supply air duct upstream from the air conditioning coil and each selectively in closed circuit by valve means through the chilled water storage tank, and the re-cooling coil selectively in closed circuit by said valve means through the hot water storage tank, and control means responsive to duct air temperature to open said valve means from the chilled water storage tank and its closed circuit through the charging coil for chilled water storage when excess cooling is available downstream of the air conditioning coil, and alternately to open said valve means from the chilled water storage tank through its closed circuit through the re-cooling coil for cooling when return air temperature in the intake air duct is excessive.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
46 words
The thermal energy storage hydronic heat pump system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the control means is responsive to duct air temperature to open said valve means from the hot water storage tank and through its closed circuit through the re-cooling coil for heating.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
The thermal energy storage hydronic heat pump system as set forth in claim 1, wherein a hot water boiler is in the hot water storage tank closed circuit to maintain the required supply temperature of hot water.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
42 words
The thermal energy storage hydronic heat pump system as set forth in claim 1, wherein a hot water boiler is in the hot water storage tank closed circuit to maintain the required supply temperature of hot water at 55° to 90° F.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
The thermal energy storage hydronic heat pump system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the control means is responsive to chilled water storage tank temperature to maintain the required supply temperature of said chilled water.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
41 words
The thermal energy storage hydronic heat pump system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the control means is responsive to chilled water storage tank temperature to maintain the required supply temperature of said chilled water at 50° to 68° F.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
60 words
The thermal energy storage hydronic heat pump system as set forth in claim 1, wherein a hot water boiler is in the hot water storage tank closed circuit to maintain the required supply temperature of hot water, and wherein the control means is responsive to chilled water storage tank temperature to maintain the required supply temperature of said chilled water.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
70 words
The thermal energy storage hydronic heat pump system as set forth in claim 1, wherein a hot water boiler is in the hot water storage tank closed circuit to maintain the required supply temperature of hot water at 55° to 90° F., and wherein the control means is responsive the chilled water storage tank temperature to maintain the required supply temperature of said chilled water at 61° to 68° F.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
53 words
The thermal energy storage hydronic heat pump system as set forth in claim 1, wherein a cooling tower is selectively put into and out of the closed circuit of the hot water storage tank by valve means responsive to the hot water temperature for maintaining the required supply temperature of said hot water.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
58 words
The thermal energy storage hydronic heat pump system as set forth in claim 1, wherein a cooling tower is selectively put into and out of the closed circuit of the hot water storage tank by valve means responsive to the hot water temperature for maintaining the required supply temperature of said hot water at 55° to 90° F.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
50 words
The thermal energy storage hydronic heat pump system as set forth in claim 1, wherein a cooling tower is selectively put into and out of a closed circuit and pump means through the re-cooling coil by valve means responsive to outside air temperature for pre-cooling the heat pump intake air.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
89 words
The thermal energy storage hydronic heat pump system as set forth in claim 1, wherein a cooling tower is selectively put into and out of the closed circuit of the hot water storage tank by valve means responsive to the hot water temperature for maintaining the required supply temperature of said hot water, and wherein a cooling tower is selectively put into and out of a closed circuit and pump means through the re-cooling coil by valve means responsive to outside air for pre-cooling the heat pump intake air.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
32 words
The thermal energy storage hydronic heat pump system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the hot water closed circuit through the water conditioning coil is comprised of fire protection sprinkler piping.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
200 words
The thermal energy storage hydronic heat pump system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the control means is responsive to duct air temperature to open said valve means from the hot water storage tank and through its closed circuit through the re-cooling coil for heating, wherein a hot water boiler is in the hot water storage tank closed circuit to maintain the required supply temperature of hot water at 55° to 90° F., wherein the control means is responsive to chilled water storage tank temperature to maintain the required supply temperature of said chilled water at 61° to 68° F., wherein a cooling tower is selectively put into and out of the closed circuit of the hot water storage tank by valve means responsive to the hot water temperature for maintaining the required supply temperature of said hot water at 55° to 90° F., wherein the cooling tower is selectively put into and out of a closed circuit and pump means through the re-cooling coil by valve means responsive to outside air temperature for pre-cooling the heat pump intake air, and wherein the hot water closed circuit through the water conditioning coil is comprised of fire protection sprinkler piping.
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) | 1991-04-26 | 1991-10-26 | 1992-04-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-04-26 | 1995-10-26 | 1996-04-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-04-26 | 1999-10-26 | 2000-04-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |