Recently, thermal storage system for air conditioning equipment has been introduced extensively to reduce operating cost by shifting the peak load to the off-peak period. Thermal storage tank used in air conditioning system are usually open system, so that the pump power for transportation of heat medium increases drastically with the height of building. In order to reduce the power for transportation of heat medium for open circuit system, Open-Closed Cycle Switching System, which consists of two sub-tanks and two switches, is proposed in this paper. This system forms an open circuit, where a sub-tank and open heat storage tank are contained, and a closed circuit of heat load side where another sub-tank is contained. Replacing two sub-tanks each other by manipulating two switches, the system operates as the dosed one without using any heat exchanger. This system is able to adopt not only to the transportation system of water but also to that of ice and water. The pilot model and two switches, driven by the pressure difference between the closed circuit and the open circuit, were manufactured. The experiments of operations were conducted by changing conversion times of switches. It was confirmed that the system operated as it was designed. The conditions of the normal operations of the system and system characteristics were obtained.
View full abstract