Heat exchange apparatus and method having two refrigeration circuits
First Claim
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1. An air conditioning system having two refrigeration circuits which comprises:
- a first refrigeration circuit having a first compressor, a first outdoor heat exchanger, a second indoor heat exchanger for conditioning air of an enclosure, and means for supplying relatively hot refrigerant to the first outdoor heat exchanger;
a second refrigeration circuit parallel with the first refrigeration circuit having a second compressor, a third outdoor heat exchanger, and a fourth indoor heat exchanger for conditioning air of an enclosure, said third outdoor heat exchanger being located adjacent the first outdoor heat exchanger;
fan means for circulating a heat transfer fluid in heat transfer relation with both the first outdoor heat exchanger and the third outdoor heat exchanger;
defrost means for generating a defrost signal for defrost of the third outdoor heat exchanger; and
control means for activating the means for supplying relatively hot refrigerant to the first outdoor heat exchanger and for operating the fan means in response to the defrost signal, said fan means causing the heat transfer fluid to be displaced such that heat energy is transferred from the first outdoor heat exchanger to the third outdoor heat exchanger to melt the frost formed thereon.
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Abstract
Apparatus and method for defrosting a dual refrigeration circuit refrigeration system. During defrost one of the refrigeration circuits is operated to supply heat energy to the frosted heat exchanger of the other circuit and the fan circulating heat transfer media through a heat exchanger of each circuit is reversed such that heat transfer fluid is heated by one refrigeration circuit and then used to defrost a heat exchanger of the other circuit.
74 Citations
11 Claims
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1. An air conditioning system having two refrigeration circuits which comprises:
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a first refrigeration circuit having a first compressor, a first outdoor heat exchanger, a second indoor heat exchanger for conditioning air of an enclosure, and means for supplying relatively hot refrigerant to the first outdoor heat exchanger; a second refrigeration circuit parallel with the first refrigeration circuit having a second compressor, a third outdoor heat exchanger, and a fourth indoor heat exchanger for conditioning air of an enclosure, said third outdoor heat exchanger being located adjacent the first outdoor heat exchanger; fan means for circulating a heat transfer fluid in heat transfer relation with both the first outdoor heat exchanger and the third outdoor heat exchanger; defrost means for generating a defrost signal for defrost of the third outdoor heat exchanger; and control means for activating the means for supplying relatively hot refrigerant to the first outdoor heat exchanger and for operating the fan means in response to the defrost signal, said fan means causing the heat transfer fluid to be displaced such that heat energy is transferred from the first outdoor heat exchanger to the third outdoor heat exchanger to melt the frost formed thereon. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A heat pump system having two separate vapor compression refrigeration systems which comprises:
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a first compressor a second compressor reversing means connected to the first compressor an indoor heat exchanger connected to both compressors a first outdoor heat exchanger connected to the first compressor a second outdoor heat exchanger connected to the second compressor and located adjacent the first outdoor heat exchanger reversible fan means for circulating air in heat exchange relation with the first and second outdoor heat exchangers defrost means for generating a defrost signal for defrost of the second outdoor heat exchanger control means responsive to the defrost means for reversing the fan means and for switching the reversing means such that heat energy is supplied to the first outdoor coil and air is circulated over the first outdoor heat exchanger absorbing heat energy therefrom, said air being conducted to the second outdoor heat exchanger where a portion of the heat energy is rejected to defrost said second outdoor heat exchanger. - View Dependent Claims (9)
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10. A method of controlling an air conditioning system having multiple refrigeration circuits including an outdoor heat exchanger for each circuit and a fan for circulating air serially through the outdoor heat exchangers, a compressor for each circuit, an indoor heat exchanger for each circuit for conditioning air of an enclosure which comprises the steps of
selectively energizing the compressors to transfer heat energy between the outdoor heat exchanger and the indoor heat exchanger of each circuit; -
energizing the fan to circulate a heat transfer medium in heat exchange relation with the outdoor heat exchangers, generating a defrost signal for commencing defrost of at least one outdoor heat exchanger, conducting relatively hot refrigerant to at least one of the outdoor heat exchangers upon the generation of a defrost signal, and modifying the step of energizing the fan upon the generation of a defrost signal such that the heat transfer medium flows in heat exchange relation with the outdoor heat exchanger rejecting heat energy, absorbs a portion of said heat energy and then flows into heat exchange relation with the outdoor heat exchanger to be defrosted, the heat transfer medium rejecting heat energy to the outdoor heat exchanger to be defrosted to melt the frost accumulated thereon. - View Dependent Claims (11)
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Specification