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Energy saving environmental chamber temperature control systemRelated Patent Categories: Refrigeration, Automatic ControlEnergy saving environmental chamber temperature control system description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060196199, Energy saving environmental chamber temperature control system. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
[0001] This application claims Priority 2 Provisional Application No. 60/655,486 filed Feb. 23, 2005. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] This invention relates generally, but is not limited to Controlled temperature chambers as often used in Bio-Medical Research, Pharmaceuticals, Teaching Universities and any other operation requiring special constant temperature needs within a confined space or chamber, often called "Environmental Rooms" or "Cold Rooms". [0004] 2. Background of the Invention [0005] Medical Research and other Bio-Medical functions are often done in cold (4.degree. C.) or warm (37.degree. C.) rooms. Other frequently used applications are -20.degree. C. and +25.degree. C. As technology over the years has become increasingly precise, the need to have closer temperature control tolerances, faster recovery rates, and wider ranges of operation has impacted Environmental Room design. [0006] To insure close temperature control, quick recovery from door openings, higher levels of lighting within the chamber, humidity control, electronic equipment used within the chamber and wider ranges of operation, the sizes of the compressor and air handler unit have gradually become larger and larger. This increased size and capacity has resulted in increased power consumption. [0007] In the last several years, the concern for ever increasing costs of power and the efforts to design more efficient buildings has had little impact on the design for an environmental chamber or cold storage room. [0008] The Green Building Council is a national organization formed to aid in the development of more energy efficient and environmentally friendly building designs. Buildings that are built under these guidelines utilize products and equipment, which may have Leed Ratings indicating that they are environmentally friendly or require less power. There is currently no manufacturer of environmental or cold storage rooms with a Leed Rating. Information on Green Building Design can be obtained from www.greenbuildingsolutions.org and other places. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0009] This invention, (the Green Room), is a method and apparatus for adjusting and maintaining the desired temperature within an Environmental Room while reducing the power to produce the required cooling as compared to conventional Environmental Room systems and standard cold storage mechanical equipment. This is accomplished with a special HVAC system capable of operating at low power/capacity levels when the internal environment is within temperature specs and instantly supply more capacity when needed while maintaining the critical research or storage environment within the chamber. Refrigeration system redundancy is achieved by the ability of the controller to determine within seconds that either the primary system is off or the chamber load has exceeded its capacity and can turn on the secondary mechanical system before the internal temperature of the chamber has only changed by a few tenths of a degree. [0010] While the basic equipment used in the new design is essentially standard and available from most equipment distributors, three things make this new design more efficient than conventional systems. [0011] First is the basic design of the heat exchangers. Both the primary and secondary refrigeration systems can be incorporated into a single evaporator and condenser heat exchanger assembly, each with two individual refrigerant circuits. The circuiting of the evaporator and condenser coils is done in such a way that when operating as a single system, the evaporator and condenser both operate as though they have much larger heat exchangers resulting in more efficient operation of the primary compressor. This is accomplished by interlacing the heat exchanger circuits. While interlacing the circuits is beneficial, it is not essential to still achieve substantial energy savings. [0012] Second is the design of the control system. The controller for the system monitors the chamber temperature and controls normally as long as the temperature is within specified limits. If the chamber temperature rises over a preset level, the secondary system can be immediately started. Further, if the primary system does not achieve the necessary temperature within a programmable time, the secondary system again can be started and specified conditions achieved. [0013] If the primary system fails, the secondary system can be started when the temperature has risen to a programmed level above setpoint or a programmed time has elapsed and the system has not satisfied the temperature requirements. The backup system can be started in as little as a 0.2 degree C. rise in temperature above setpoint. [0014] Third, the controller can cycle the airhandler fans on and off depending on phase of operation. When the chamber is cooling, a minimum of cubic feet per minute of air must pass over the heat exchanger for it to operate efficiently. When the temperature is satisfied and the compressor is turned off or is idled, the fans cannot be cut off because the temperature uniformity within the chamber must be maintained. The chamber does not require as much circulation when the temperature is satisfied so some of the fans in the airhandler can be cut off or slowed to reduce power consumption. Generally, fan power is being consumed within the chamber and adds to the total heat load of the chamber. Reducing evaporator fan power saves energy twice, once to not run the fan and again to not have the cooling system remove the heat generated by the fans had they not been turned off. [0015] In prototype installations, the Green Room System has achieved up to 49% energy savings and in actual working environments, the Green Room System has exhibited energy savings in the 40-45% range. DRAWINGS Drawing 1 of 3: [0016] This drawing shows fans, compressors, heat exchangers, refrigerant controls, receivers and detailed piping of the mechanical system. It is also divided up into three sections: [0017] a) Condensing units [0018] b) Field piping [0019] c) Temperature adjustment unit, (evaporator/s) Drawing 2 of 3: Continue reading about Energy saving environmental chamber temperature control system... 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