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EP-4737812-A1 - HEATING, VENTILATION AND AIR-CONDITIONING (HVAC) SYSTEM BATTERY TRANSFER SWITCH

EP4737812A1EP 4737812 A1EP4737812 A1EP 4737812A1EP-4737812-A1

Abstract

A heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) system (1001) is provided. The HVAC system (1001) includes a first HVAC unit (1010), a second HVAC unit (1020) including a battery (1021), a panel (1030) receptive of grid power and a switch element (1060). The switch element (1060) is separate from the panel (1030) and configured to assume a first state in which electricity is transmissible from the panel (1030) to the first and second HVAC units (1010, 1020) when the grid power is available and a second state in which electricity is transmissible from the battery (1021) to the first HVAC unit (1010) when the grid power is unavailable.

Inventors

  • MAKWINSKI, MARK

Assignees

  • Carrier Corporation

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20251029

Claims (15)

  1. A heating, ventilation and air-conditioning, HVAC, system (1001), comprising: a first HVAC unit (1010); a second HVAC unit (1020) comprising a battery (1021); a panel (1030) receptive of grid power; and a switch element (1060) separate from the panel and configured to assume: a first state in which electricity is transmissible from the panel to the first and second HVAC units when the grid power is available, and a second state in which electricity is transmissible from the battery to the first HVAC unit when the grid power is unavailable.
  2. The HVAC system (1001) according to claim 1, wherein the electricity is transmissible from the battery (1021) to the first HVAC unit (1010) as direct current (DC).
  3. The HVAC system (1001) according to either of claims 1 or 2, wherein the switch element (1060) is automatic and comprises a controller (1200) to place the switch element in the first and second states in accordance with the grid power being available and unavailable, respectively.
  4. The HVAC system (1001) according to claim 3, wherein the first HVAC unit (1010) comprises an additional battery (1011) and the controller (1200) operates the switch element (1060) to optimize power sharing between the battery (1021) and the additional battery.
  5. The HVAC system (1001) according to any of claims 1-4, wherein the switch element (1060) comprises a first switch (1070) electrically interposed between the panel (1030) and the first HVAC unit (1010) and a second switch (1072) electrically interposed between the panel and the second HVAC unit (1020) and the first and second switches operate independently from one another.
  6. The HVAC system (1001) according to claim 5, further comprising at least one of: one or more additional power sources (1301) in parallel with the battery (1021) and one or more additional first switches (1310) in parallel with the first switch (1071); and one or more additional loads (1302) in parallel with the first HVAC unit (1010) and one or more additional second switches (1320) in parallel with the second switch (1072).
  7. The HVAC system (1001) according to any of claims 1-4 and 6, wherein the switch element (1060) comprises a first switch (1070) electrically interposed between the panel (1030) and the first HVAC unit (1010) and a second switch (1072) electrically interposed between the panel and the second HVAC unit (1020) and the first and second switches operate in tandem.
  8. The HVAC system (1001) according to claim 7, further comprising at least one of: one or more additional power sources (1301) in parallel with the battery (1021) and one or more additional first switches (1310) in parallel with the first switch (1071); and one or more additional loads (1302) in parallel with the first HVAC unit (1010) and one or more additional second switches (1320) in parallel with the second switch (1072).
  9. A heating, ventilation and air-conditioning, HVAC, system (1001) according to any preceding claim, comprising: first and second power lines (1040, 1050) by which electricity is transmissible from the panel (1030) to the first and second HVAC units (1010, 1020), respectively; and wherein, in the first state of the switch element (1060), electricity is transmissible from the panel to the first and second HVAC units via the first and second power lines, respectively, when the grid power is available, and wherein, in the second state of the switch element, the first and second power lines are electrically open and electricity is transmissible from the battery (1021) to the first HVAC unit when the grid power is unavailable.
  10. The HVAC system (1001) according to claim 9 when dependent on at least claim 5, wherein the first switch (1070) is electrically interposed between the panel (1030) and the first HVAC unit (1010) along the first power line (1040) and the second switch (1072) is electrically interposed between the panel and the second HVAC unit (1020) along the second power line (1050).
  11. The HVAC system (1001) according to claim 9 when dependent on at least claim 7, wherein the first switch (1070) is electrically interposed between the panel (1030) and the first HVAC unit (1010) along the first power line (1040) and the second switch (1072) is electrically interposed between the panel and the second HVAC unit (1020) along the second power line (1050).
  12. A method (1400) of retrofitting a heating, ventilation and air-conditioning, HVAC, system (1001) with battery switching, the HVAC system initially comprising first and second power lines (1040, 1050) electrically interposed between a panel (1030), which is receptive of grid power, and first and second HVAC units (1010, 1020), respectively, the method comprising: disposing (1401) first and second switches (1070, 1072) separately from the panel and along the first and second power lines, respectively; and configuring (1402) the first and second switches to assume: a first state in which electricity is transmissible from the panel to the first and second HVAC units via the first and second power lines, respectively, when the grid power is available, and a second state in which the first and second power lines are electrically open and electricity is transmissible from a battery (1021) of the second HVAC unit to the first HVAC unit when the grid power is unavailable.
  13. The method (1400) according to claim 12, wherein: the first HVAC unit (1010) comprises an additional battery (1011), and the configuring (1402) of the first and second switches (1070, 1072) comprises configuring (14021) the first and second switches to optimize power sharing between the battery (1021) and the additional battery.
  14. The method (1400) according to either of claims 12 or 13, wherein the configuring (1402) of the first and second switches (1070, 1072) comprises configuring the first and second switches to operate independently from one another.
  15. The method (1400) according to either of claims 12 or 13, wherein the configuring (1402) of the first and second switches (1070, 1072) comprises configuring the first and second switches to operate in tandem.

Description

BACKGROUND The embodiments described herein relate to air conditioning systems. Electrical energy drives a myriad of devices and equipment in commercial, industrial, residential applications, and data centers. For example, electrical energy drives lights, motors, household appliances, medical equipment, computers, air conditioning systems, electric vehicle charging stations, data centers processing and cooling needs, and many other electrical devices. In most areas, power utilities generate and distribute electricity through an AC power grid. Shortages and/or increased costs associated with the use of fossil fuels, intermittency of renewable resources, power demand and supply variabilities, and increased demand of energy, among other factors, significantly impact the continuous availability and cost of electricity to consumers and businesses. In general, shortages and/or increased costs often occur during times of peak demand. Peak demand may occur based on time of day, such as in the morning or in the evening. On a more random basis, peak demand (or a demand greater than an available supply) may occur as a result of a natural disaster, or during extensive times of e.g., cloudiness, if the power from the grid comes from solar energy, or wind variability, if the power from the grid comes from wind turbines. For example, a hurricane or earthquake may damage the power grid and/or electric generators of the power utilities, thereby resulting in substantial loss of electric power to commercial, industrial, and residential applications. Repairs to these damaged lines and generators may take hours, days, or weeks. Various sites also may lose power from the power grid for other reasons, including maintenance. During these times of lost power, the sites may be unable to continue operations. Moreover, increasing numbers of data centers significantly add to the demand of energy from the grid. Often, electrical energy from the power grid is more expensive during times of peak demand. For example, a power utility may employ low cost electrical generators during periods of minimum demand, while further employing high cost electrical generators during periods of peak demand. Unfortunately, the existing infrastructure does not adequately address these different costs associated with peak and minimum demands. As a result, commercial, industrial, data centers and residential applications typically draw power from the power grid during times of peak demand, despite the higher costs associated with its generation. Some energy consumers, such as commercial, industrial, data centers, and residential users may be driven by factors other than cost, such as a desire to support sustainable energy options as further described below. SUMMARY According to a first aspect of the invention, a heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) system is provided. The HVAC system includes a first HVAC unit, a second HVAC unit including a battery, a panel receptive of grid power and a switch element. The switch element is separate from the panel and configured to assume a first state in which electricity is transmissible from the panel to the first and second HVAC units when the grid power is available and a second state in which electricity is transmissible from the battery to the first HVAC unit when the grid power is unavailable. Optionally, the electricity is transmissible from the battery to the first HVAC unit as direct current (DC). Optionally, the switch element is automatic and includes a controller to place the switch element in the first and second states in accordance with the grid power being available and unavailable, respectively. Optionally, the first HVAC unit includes an additional battery and the controller operates the switch element to optimize power sharing between the battery and the additional battery. Optionally, the switch element includes a first switch electrically interposed between the panel and the first HVAC unit and a second switch electrically interposed between the panel and the second HVAC unit and the first and second switches operate independently from one another. Optionally, the HVAC system further includes at least one of one or more additional power sources in parallel with the battery and one or more additional first switches in parallel with the first switch and one or more additional loads in parallel with the first HVAC unit and one or more additional second switches in parallel with the second switch. Optionally, the switch element includes a first switch electrically interposed between the panel and the first HVAC unit and a second switch electrically interposed between the panel and the second HVAC unit and the first and second switches operate in tandem. Optionally, the HVAC system further includes at least one of one or more additional power sources in parallel with the battery and one or more additional first switches in parallel with the first switch and one or more additional loads in paral