System and method for using hot gas re-heat for humidity control
First Claim
1. A method of providing humidity control to air for an interior space, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a first refrigerant circuit having a first compressor, a first condenser and a first evaporator;
providing a second refrigerant circuit having a second compressor, a second condenser and a second evaporator;
providing a hot gas re-heat circuit including the first compressor and the first evaporator, the hot gas re-heat circuit further including a re-heat coil positioned adjacent to the first evaporator, and the hot gas re-heat circuit being configured, when enabled, to disable the first refrigerant circuit by bypassing flow of refrigerant to the first condenser and to permit refrigerant to flow from the first compressor through the re-heat coil to the first evaporator;
enabling the first refrigerant circuit and the second refrigerant circuit in response to receiving only a demand for humidity control at a control panel; and
enabling the hot gas re-heat circuit in response to receiving only a demand for humidity control at the control panel.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A humidity control method is provided for a multi-stage cooling system having two or more refrigerant circuits. A hot gas re-heat circuit having a hot gas re-heat coil, an evaporator and a compressor, such as the evaporator and compressor utilized in one of the refrigerant circuits, is provided. The hot gas re-heat coil is placed in fluid communication with the output airflow from the evaporator of the re-heat circuit. Humidity control is performed during cooling operations and ventilation operations. During a first stage cooling operation using only one refrigerant circuit and having a low cooling demand, the request for humidity control activates the hot gas re-heat circuit for dehumidification and activates a second refrigerant circuit to provide cooling capacity. During a second stage cooling operation using multiple refrigerant circuits and having a high cooling demand, the request for humidity control is suspended until completion of the second stage cooling demand.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of providing humidity control to air for an interior space, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing a first refrigerant circuit having a first compressor, a first condenser and a first evaporator; providing a second refrigerant circuit having a second compressor, a second condenser and a second evaporator; providing a hot gas re-heat circuit including the first compressor and the first evaporator, the hot gas re-heat circuit further including a re-heat coil positioned adjacent to the first evaporator, and the hot gas re-heat circuit being configured, when enabled, to disable the first refrigerant circuit by bypassing flow of refrigerant to the first condenser and to permit refrigerant to flow from the first compressor through the re-heat coil to the first evaporator; enabling the first refrigerant circuit and the second refrigerant circuit in response to receiving only a demand for humidity control at a control panel; and enabling the hot gas re-heat circuit in response to receiving only a demand for humidity control at the control panel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system for an interior space, the HVAC system comprising:
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a first refrigerant circuit having a first compressor, a first condenser and a first evaporator; a second refrigerant circuit having a second compressor, a second condenser and a second evaporator; a hot gas re-heat circuit including the first compressor and the first evaporator, the hot gas re-heat circuit further including a re-heat coil positioned adjacent to the first evaporator, and the hot gas re-heat circuit being configured, when enabled, to disable the first refrigerant circuit by bypassing flow of refrigerant to the first condenser and to permit refrigerant to flow from the first compressor through the reheat coil to the first evaporator; and a control system to control operation of the first refrigerant circuit, the second refrigerant circuit and the hot gas re-heat circuit, the control system being configured to enable the first refrigerant circuit and the second refrigerant circuit in response to receiving only a demand for humidity control and being configured to enable the hot gas re-heat circuit in response to receiving only a demand for humidity control. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system for an interior space, the HVAC system comprising:
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a first refrigerant circuit having a first compressor, a first condenser, a first expansion device and a first evaporator; a second refrigerant circuit having a second compressor, a second condenser, a second expansion device and a second evaporator; a hot gas re-heat circuit including the first compressor and the first evaporator, the hot gas re-heat circuit further including a re-heat coil positioned adjacent to the first evaporator, and the hot gas re-heat circuit being configured, when enabled, to disable the first refrigerant circuit by bypassing flow of refrigerant to the first condenser and to permit refrigerant to flow from the first compressor through the reheat coil to the first expansion device and first evaporator; a control system to control operation of the first refrigerant circuit, the second refrigerant circuit and the hot gas re-heat circuit, the control system comprising two different control algorithms selectable by a user to control the HVAC system; and wherein the two different control algorithms includes a first control algorithm being configured to enable the first refrigerant circuit, the second refrigerant circuit and the hot gas re-heat circuit in response to demands for humidity control and stage one cooling and a second control algorithm being configured to enable the first refrigerant circuit, the second refrigerant circuit and the hot gas re-heat circuit in response to a demand for only humidity control.
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Specification