Integrated dehumidification system
First Claim
1. A system for controlling environmental conditions in a space, comprising:
- a vapor-compression refrigerant loop including at least a 2-speed compressor, a condenser, a reheat coil, an expansion device, a receiver and an evaporator coil;
a variable speed air mover that drives a first air stream sequentially from a space across the evaporator and a reheat coil;
a plurality of valves disposed within the vapor-compression refrigerant loop; and
a controller operably connected to the vapor-compression refrigerant loop, the air mover and the plurality of valves,wherein the condenser discharges heat to an environment outside the space, and the controller controls a plurality of discrete stages with differing rates of sensible cooling and latent cooling,the controller selects from among the plurality of stages based on at least one of sensed environmental conditions relative to user input temperature and humidity settings,the controller being configured to select a first stage of the plurality of discrete stages that provides maximum latent cooling of the first air stream while minimizing sensible cooling and sensible heating of the first air stream, and in the first stage, the controller controls the operation of the valves to cause refrigerant to (i) flow through the reheat coil, (ii) then drain from the reheat coil to the receiver, and (iii) then flow from the receiver to the expansion device,the controller being further configured to select a second stage that provides enhanced latent cooling with moderate sensible cooling of the first air stream, and in the second stage the controller controls the operation of the valves to cause the refrigerant to (i) flow through the reheat coil; and
(ii) then bypass the receiver and flow to the expansion device,the sensible cooling corresponds to reducing a measured temperature of the first air stream,the sensible heating corresponds to increasing a measured temperature of the first air stream, andthe latent cooling corresponds to reducing a humidity of the first air stream.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A dynamic system controls indoor relative humidity and temperature to achieve specified conditions by applying multiple stages of dehumidification. In addition to a stage that increases dehumidification by reducing the speed of the indoor blower, the system uses a reheat coil and multiple valves that allow the reheat coil to function as either a subcooling coil or a partial condenser. Thus the system can maintain specified indoor temperature and humidity conditions even at times when no heating or cooling is needed. The system may have an outdoor condensing unit including a compressor and a condenser operably connected via refrigerant lines to an indoor unit to form a “split system” refrigerant loop.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A system for controlling environmental conditions in a space, comprising:
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a vapor-compression refrigerant loop including at least a 2-speed compressor, a condenser, a reheat coil, an expansion device, a receiver and an evaporator coil; a variable speed air mover that drives a first air stream sequentially from a space across the evaporator and a reheat coil; a plurality of valves disposed within the vapor-compression refrigerant loop; and a controller operably connected to the vapor-compression refrigerant loop, the air mover and the plurality of valves, wherein the condenser discharges heat to an environment outside the space, and the controller controls a plurality of discrete stages with differing rates of sensible cooling and latent cooling, the controller selects from among the plurality of stages based on at least one of sensed environmental conditions relative to user input temperature and humidity settings, the controller being configured to select a first stage of the plurality of discrete stages that provides maximum latent cooling of the first air stream while minimizing sensible cooling and sensible heating of the first air stream, and in the first stage, the controller controls the operation of the valves to cause refrigerant to (i) flow through the reheat coil, (ii) then drain from the reheat coil to the receiver, and (iii) then flow from the receiver to the expansion device, the controller being further configured to select a second stage that provides enhanced latent cooling with moderate sensible cooling of the first air stream, and in the second stage the controller controls the operation of the valves to cause the refrigerant to (i) flow through the reheat coil; and
(ii) then bypass the receiver and flow to the expansion device,the sensible cooling corresponds to reducing a measured temperature of the first air stream, the sensible heating corresponds to increasing a measured temperature of the first air stream, and the latent cooling corresponds to reducing a humidity of the first air stream. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for controlling environmental conditions in a space, comprising:
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providing a vapor-compression refrigerant loop including at least a compressor, a condenser, a reheat coil, an expansion device, a receiver and an evaporator coil; providing a variable flow air mover that drives an air stream from a space sequentially across the evaporator and a reheat coil; providing a plurality of valves disposed within the vapor-compression refrigerant loop; and controlling, with a controller, the vapor-compression refrigerant loop, the air mover and the plurality of valves to select from among a plurality of discrete stages with differing rates of sensible cooling and latent cooling based on at least one of sensed environmental conditions relative to predetermined environmental conditions and user input, controlling with the controller, selection of a first stage from among the plurality of stages that provides maximum latent cooling of the air stream while minimizing the sensible cooling and sensible heating of the air stream, the controller selecting the first stage when the humidity of air in the space is greater than a preset humidity value and the temperature of the air in the space is less than a preset temperature value, and the controller controlling the valves in the first stage to cause refrigerant to (i) flow through the reheat coil, (ii) then drain from the reheat coil to the receiver, and (iii) then flow from the receiver to the expansion device, and controlling, with the controller, selection of a second stage from among the plurality of stages that provides enhanced latent cooling with moderate sensible cooling of the air stream, the controller selecting the second stage when the temperature of the air in the space is between a first preset temperature value and a second preset temperature value, and the controller controlling the valves in the first stage to cause the refrigerant to (i) flow through the reheat coil; and
(ii) then bypass the receiver and flow to the expansion device,wherein the sensible cooling corresponds to reducing a measured temperature of the air stream, and the latent cooling corresponds to reducing a humidity of the air stream. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification