Power reduction in residential air conditioning systems through the use of thermal energy storage. Final report

The dynamics of operation and the economics of two types of AC/TES systems were studied. These are the chilled water system, designated CWS, and the ice storage system, designated ISS. The design methodology for these two concepts is discussed and the theoretical performance of the designs is compared with the performance of a typical central air conditioning unit, designated TCS. All three units are assumed to serve a typical Austin residence with 1,630 square feet of floor space and are subjected to identical design day summer heat loads. It is noted that the AC/TES system reduces the peak power requirement by as much as 40% and shifts this demand to off-peak hours. The annual energy consumption for the CWS is 22% less than for the TCS, and this results in an annual savings of $306 in operating costs, assuming time-of-day rates. A progressive rate structure, such as time-of-day pricing with a 200% premium for peak-hours power, would result in a 3- to 4-year payback period for these storage type cooling systems.