US 7,681,410 Bl Mar. 23, 2010
(54) ICE THERMAL STORAGE
(75) Inventor: John H. Bean, Jr., Wentzville, MO (US)
(73) Assignee: American Power Conversion
Corporation, West Kingston, RI (US)
( * ) Notice: Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this patent is extended or adjusted under 35 U.S.C. 154(b) by 899 days.
(21) Appl.No.: 11/355,043
(22) Filed: Feb. 14, 2006
(51) Int. CI.
F2SD 23/12 (2006.01)
(52) U.S. CI 62/259.2; 62/59; 62/81;
62/151; 62/196.4; 62/199; 62/200; 361/699
(58) Field of Classification Search 62/3.63,
62/59, 259.2, 81, 151, 199, 200, 196.4; 361/699 See application file for complete search history.
(56) References Cited
U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
A system, configured to be disposed in a information technology equipment rack for providing ice thermal storage, includes a tank configured to hold water, a heat exchanger disposed in water in the tank and configured to convey a two-phase liquid and vapor refrigerant and to transfer heat between the water and the refrigerant, a first valve connected to a liquid and a vapor refrigerant line and configured to selectively connect the liquid refrigerant line to a first port and the vapor refrigerant line to a second port in a first mode and to connect the liquid refrigerant line to the second port and the vapor refrigerant line to the first port in a second mode, a thermostatic expansion valve connected to an inlet of the heat exchanger, and a liquid/vapor pump connected to an outlet of the heat exchanger and to the second port of the first valve.
3 Claims, 9 Drawing Sheets
