MODULAR TWO PHASE LOOP DISTRIBUTED HVAC&R SYSTEM

• US 20170191712A1
• Filed: 01/05/2017
• Published: 07/06/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Carrier Corporation (Carrier Global Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Carrier Corporation (Carrier Global Corporation)
• Inventors: Verma, Parmesh, Feng, Yinshan, Walker, Craig R.
• Granted Patent: US 10,429,101 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2400/06 Several compression cycles arranged in parallel
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 25/005 using primary and secondary systems
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2600/13 Pump speed control
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 40/02 Subcoolers
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 43/006 Accumulators
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 49/00 Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 9/008 the refrigerant being carbon dioxide

Abstract

An HVAC&R system is provided. The system includes a first pumping device configured to circulate a first volume of a first two-phase medium, a second pumping device configured to circulate a second volume of the first two-phase medium, a first plurality of secondary HVAC&R units, wherein at least one of the first plurality of secondary HVAC&R units is operably coupled to the first pumping device, a second plurality of secondary HVAC&R units, wherein at least one of the second plurality of secondary HVAC&R units is operably coupled to the second pumping device, a first primary HVAC&R unit operably coupled to at least one of the first plurality of secondary HVAC&R units and the first pumping device, and a second primary HVAC&R unit operably coupled to at least one of the second plurality of secondary HVAC&R units and the second pumping device.

Claims

1. An HVAC&

R system comprising;

a first pumping device configured to circulate a first volume of a first two-phase medium;

a second pumping device configured to circulate a second volume of the first two-phase medium;

a first plurality of secondary HVAC&

R units, wherein at least one of the first plurality of secondary HVAC&

R units is operably coupled to the first pumping device;

a second plurality of secondary HVAC&

R units, wherein at least one of the second plurality of secondary HVAC&

R units is operably coupled to the second pumping device;

a first primary HVAC&

R unit operably coupled to at least one of the first plurality of secondary HVAC&

R units and the first pumping device; and

a second primary HVAC&

R unit operably coupled to at least one of the second plurality of secondary HVAC&

R units and the second pumping device;

wherein the first pumping device, a portion of each of the first plurality of secondary HVAC&

R units, and a portion of the first primary HVAC&

R unit form a first primary loop, and the second pumping device, a portion of each of the second plurality of secondary HVAC&

R units, and a portion of the second primary HVAC&

R unit form a second primary loop.

2. The HVAC&

R system of claim 1, wherein each of the first plurality of secondary HVAC&

R units and the second plurality of secondary HVAC&

R units comprises;

a secondary compressor configured to circulate a second two-phase medium;

a first secondary heat exchanger operably coupled to the secondary compressor;

a secondary expansion device operably coupled to the first secondary heat exchanger; and

a second secondary heat exchanger operably coupled to the secondary expansion device and the secondary compressor;

wherein a portion of each of the first primary loop and the second primary loop is operably coupled to one or more first secondary heat exchangers.

3. The HVAC&

R system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of secondary HVAC&

R units is a non-vapor, compression-based heat pumping device thermally coupled to the first two-phase medium.

4. The HVAC&

R system of claim 1, wherein each of the first primary HVAC&

R unit and the second primary HVAC&

R unit comprises a primary compressor configured to circulate a third two-phase medium;

a first primary heat exchanger operably coupled to the primary compressor;

a primary expansion device operably coupled to the first primary heat exchanger; and

a second primary heat exchanger operably coupled to the primary expansion device and the primary compressor;

wherein a portion of each of the first primary loop and the second primary loop is operably coupled to the first primary heat exchanger.

5. The HVAC&

R system of claim 1, wherein the first two-phase medium comprises carbon dioxide.

6. The HVAC&

R system of claim 2, wherein the second two-phase medium comprises a refrigerant.

7. The HVAC&

R system of claim 4, wherein the third two-phase medium comprises a refrigerant.

8. The HVAC&

R system of claim 1, wherein each of the first plurality of secondary HVAC&

R units and the second plurality of secondary HVAC&

R units comprises a heat pump.

9. The HVAC&

R system of claim 1, wherein each of the first primary HVAC&

R unit and the second primary HVAC&

R unit comprises a heat pump.

10. The HVAC&

R system of claim 1, further comprising an airflow device disposed on each of the first primary loop and the second primary loop, the airflow device configured to direct airflow onto each of the first primary loop and the second primary loop.

11. The HVAC&

R system of claim 1, further comprising;

at least one conduit operably coupled to at least one of the first plurality of secondary HVAC&

R units and the second plurality of secondary HVAC&

R units; and

an airflow device operably coupled to the at least one conduit;

wherein the airflow device is configured to circulate outdoor air to the at least one of the first plurality of secondary HVAC&

R units and the second plurality of secondary HVAC&

R units.

12. The HVAC&

R system of claim 1, wherein the first pumping device is configured to operate at a first pumping capacity, the second pumping device is configured to operate at a second pumping capacity, the first plurality of secondary HVAC&

R units is configured to operate at a first secondary capacity, the second plurality of secondary HVAC&

R units is configured to operate at a second secondary capacity, the first primary HVAC&

R unit is configured to operate at a first primary capacity, and the second primary HVAC&

R unit is configured to operate at a second primary capacity.

13. The HVAC&

R system of claim 1, further comprising a controller configured to vary at least one of the first pumping capacity, the second pumping capacity, the first secondary capacity, the second secondary capacity, the first primary capacity, and the second primary capacity.

14. The HVAC&

R system of claim 13, wherein the controller is further configured to vary at least one of the first pumping capacity, the second pumping capacity, the first secondary capacity, the second secondary capacity, the first primary capacity, and the second primary capacity by providing a subcooled or saturated first medium entering at least one of the first pumping device and the second pumping device.

15. The HVAC&

R system of claim 1, wherein a first portion of the first plurality of secondary HVAC&

R units is disposed within a first interior space.

16. The HVAC&

R system of claim 15, wherein a second portion of the first plurality of secondary HVAC&

R units is disposed within a second interior space.

17. The HVAC&

R system of claim 1, wherein a first portion of the second plurality of secondary HVAC&

R units is disposed within a third interior space.

18. The HVAC&

R system of claim 17, wherein a second portion of the second plurality of secondary HVAC&

R units is disposed within a fourth interior space.