Method and system for dehumidification and refrigerant pressure control
First Claim
1. A method for dehumidification and controlling system pressure in a refrigeration system comprising the steps of:
- providing a refrigeration system having a compressor, a condenser and an evaporator connected in a closed refrigerant loop, each of the condenser and evaporator having a plurality of refrigerant circuits;
flowing a first heat transfer fluid over the condenser;
flowing a second heat transfer fluid over the evaporator;
controlling a flow of refrigerant in the plurality of refrigerant circuits in the condenser to control an amount of heat transfer between refrigerant in the condenser and the first heat transfer fluid;
controlling a flow of refrigerant in the plurality of refrigerant circuits in the evaporator to control an amount of heat transfer between refrigerant in the evaporator and the second heat transfer fluid;
isolating at least one of the refrigerant circuits of the condenser to provide a decreased amount of heat transfer area within the condenser and to increase refrigerant pressure within the refrigeration system when the refrigerant pressure within the refrigeration system is at or below a predetermined pressure; and
configuring the plurality of refrigerant circuits of the evaporator to provide dehumidification of the second heat transfer fluid without overcooling the second heat transfer fluid.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for dehumidification and controlling system pressure in a refrigeration system includes providing a refrigeration system having a compressor, a condenser and an evaporator connected in a closed refrigerant loop. Each of the condenser and evaporator have a plurality of refrigerant circuits. A first heat transfer fluid is flowed over the condenser and a second heat transfer fluid is flowed over the evaporator. At least one of the refrigerant circuits of the condenser is isolated to provide a decreased amount of heat transfer area within the condenser and to increase the refrigerant pressure within the refrigeration system when the refrigerant pressure within the refrigeration system is at or below a predetermined pressure. At least one of the refrigerant circuits of the evaporator is isolated to dehumidify and maintain the temperature of the second heat transfer fluid at or above a predetermined temperature when dehumidification is required.
140 Citations
32 Claims
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1. A method for dehumidification and controlling system pressure in a refrigeration system comprising the steps of:
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providing a refrigeration system having a compressor, a condenser and an evaporator connected in a closed refrigerant loop, each of the condenser and evaporator having a plurality of refrigerant circuits;
flowing a first heat transfer fluid over the condenser;
flowing a second heat transfer fluid over the evaporator;
controlling a flow of refrigerant in the plurality of refrigerant circuits in the condenser to control an amount of heat transfer between refrigerant in the condenser and the first heat transfer fluid;
controlling a flow of refrigerant in the plurality of refrigerant circuits in the evaporator to control an amount of heat transfer between refrigerant in the evaporator and the second heat transfer fluid;
isolating at least one of the refrigerant circuits of the condenser to provide a decreased amount of heat transfer area within the condenser and to increase refrigerant pressure within the refrigeration system when the refrigerant pressure within the refrigeration system is at or below a predetermined pressure; and
configuring the plurality of refrigerant circuits of the evaporator to provide dehumidification of the second heat transfer fluid without overcooling the second heat transfer fluid. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for dehumidification and controlling refrigerant pressure in a heating, ventilation and air conditioning system comprising:
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providing a closed loop refrigerant system comprising a compressor, a condenser and an evaporator, each of the condenser and evaporator having a plurality of refrigerant circuits configured and disposed to allow isolation of at least one of the refrigerant circuits from refrigerant flow;
measuring refrigerant pressure at a predetermined location in the refrigeration system;
determining an operational mode for the refrigeration cycle, the operational mode being a selected from the group consisting of cooling and dehumidification;
isolating at least one of the refrigeration circuits in the condenser from refrigerant flow when the measured pressure at the predetermined location is equal to or less than a predetermined pressure;
isolating a first set of refrigerant circuits in the evaporator from flow of refrigerant from the condenser when the operational mode is dehumidification;
permitting flow of refrigerant from the condenser to both the first set of circuits and a second set of refrigerant circuits in the evaporator when the operational mode is cooling; and
wherein the refrigerant pressure is increased by isolation of at least one of the refrigerant circuits in the condenser from refrigerant flow until the measured pressure is greater than the predetermined pressure. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A heating, ventilation and air conditioning system comprising:
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a compressor;
a condenser arrangement comprising;
a plurality of circuits arranged into a first and second portion; and
a valve arrangement configured and disposed to isolate the first portion of the condenser arrangement when the refrigerant pressure is below a predetermined pressure; and
an evaporator arrangement comprising;
a plurality of circuits arranged into a first and second portion;
at least one distributor configured to distribute and deliver refrigerant to each circuit of the plurality of circuits in the evaporator; and
a valve arrangement configured and disposed to isolate the first portion of the evaporator arrangement from refrigerant flow in a dehumidification operation. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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Specification