Patent ID: 8181470

Claim:
A refrigerant-based thermal energy storage and cooling system comprising: a first refrigerant loop containing a first refrigerant comprising: a first condensing unit comprising a first compressor and a first condenser; a first expansion device connected downstream of said first condensing unit; and, a primary heat exchanger connected between said first expansion device and said first condensing unit that is located within a tank filled with a fluid capable of a phase change between liquid and solid, said primary heat exchanger that facilitates heat transfer from said first refrigerant from said first condenser to cool said fluid and to freeze at least a portion of said fluid within said tank; a second refrigerant loop containing a second refrigerant comprising: a second condensing unit comprising a second compressor and a second condenser; a second expansion device connected downstream of said second condensing unit; and, a load heat exchanger connected between said second expansion device and said second condensing unit; an isolating heat exchanger that facilitates thermal contact between said cooled fluid and said second refrigerant thereby reducing the enthalpy of said second refrigerant.