VAPOR COMPRESSION SYSTEM

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVAC&R) system that includes a refrigerant loop, a compressor disposed along the refrigerant loop and configured to circulate refrigerant through the refrigerant loop, an evaporator disposed along the refrigerant loop and configured to evaporate the refrigerant into refrigerant vapor, a condenser disposed along the refrigerant loop and configured to condense the refrigerant vapor into liquid refrigerant, a first conduit fluidly coupling the evaporator and the condenser to one another, a first expansion valve disposed along the first conduit between the evaporator and the condenser, a second conduit fluidly coupling the evaporator and the condenser to one another, where the first conduit and the second conduit are separate from one another, and a second expansion valve disposed along the second conduit between the evaporator and the condenser.

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Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority from and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/275,522, filed Jan. 6, 2016, entitled “VAPOR COMPRESSION SYSTEM,” the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes.

BACKGROUND

This application relates generally to vapor compression systems incorporated in air conditioning and refrigeration applications.

Vapor compression systems utilize a working fluid, typically referred to as a refrigerant that changes phases between vapor, liquid, and combinations thereof in response to being subjected to different temperatures and pressures associated with operation of the vapor compression system. Refrigerants are desired that are friendly to the environment, yet have a coefficient of performance (COP) that is comparable to traditional refrigerants. COP is a ratio of heating or cooling provided to electrical energy consumed, and higher COPs equate to lower operating costs. Unfortunately, there are challenges associated with designing vapor compression system components compatible with environmentally-friendly refrigerants, and more specifically, vapor compression system components that operate to maximize efficiency using such refrigerants.

SUMMARY

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, a heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVAC&R) system includes a refrigerant loop, a compressor disposed along the refrigerant loop and configured to circulate refrigerant through the refrigerant loop, an evaporator disposed along the refrigerant loop and configured to evaporate the refrigerant into refrigerant vapor, a condenser disposed along the refrigerant loop and configured to condense the refrigerant vapor into liquid refrigerant, a first conduit fluidly coupling the evaporator and the condenser to one another, a first expansion valve disposed along the first conduit between the evaporator and the condenser, a second conduit fluidly coupling the evaporator and the condenser to one another, where the first conduit and the second conduit are separate from one another, and a second expansion valve disposed along the second conduit between the evaporator and the condenser.

In another embodiment of the present disclosure, a heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVAC&R) system includes a refrigerant loop, a compressor disposed along the refrigerant loop and configured to circulate refrigerant through the refrigerant loop, an evaporator disposed along the refrigerant loop and configured to evaporate the refrigerant into refrigerant vapor, a condenser disposed along the refrigerant loop configured to condense the refrigerant vapor into liquid refrigerant, a plurality of expansion valves disposed between the evaporator and the condenser, where each expansion valve of the plurality of expansion valves is in separate fluid communication with the evaporator and the condenser, and one or more tangible, non-transitory machine-readable media comprising processor-executable instructions to receive feedback from a sensor indicative of a target heating or cooling capacity of the HVAC&R system and adjust at least one of the expansion valves of the plurality of expansion valves based at least on the feedback to control a flow of the refrigerant between the evaporator and the condenser.

In still another embodiment of the present disclosure, a method includes receiving feedback from a sensor of a heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVAC&R) system, where the feedback is indicative of a target heating or cooling capacity of the HVAC&R system and selectively adjusting a plurality of expansion valves based at least on the feedback to control a flow of refrigerant between an evaporator and a condenser of the HVAC&R system, wherein the plurality of expansion valves is disposed between the evaporator and the condenser of the HVAC&R system, and wherein each expansion valve of the plurality of expansion valves is in separate fluid communication with the evaporator and the condenser.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a building that may utilize a heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVAC&R) system in a commercial setting, in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an HVAC&R system, in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a schematic of an embodiment of the HVAC&R system of FIG. 2, in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 is a schematic of an embodiment of the HVAC&R system of FIG. 2, in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 5 is a schematic of an embodiment of the HVAC&R system of FIGS. 2-4 having a plurality of expansion valves between a condenser and an evaporator of the HVAC&R system, in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure;

 DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to an HVAC&R system that includes multiple (e.g., more than one) expansion devices between a condenser and an evaporator. The expansion devices may include a plurality of expansion valves, which may be different sizes. Including expansion valves that are different sizes may enhance control of a flow of the refrigerant between the condenser and the evaporator, which may lead to enhanced efficiency of the HVAC&R system. For example, a controller may be configured to adjust one or more of the plurality of expansion valves (e.g., selectively control) based on a target heating or cooling capacity of the HVAC&R system. Moreover, multiple relatively small expansion valves may be less expensive than a single expansion valve sized to accommodate a maximum heating or cooling capacity of the HVAC&R system. Accordingly, including multiple expansion devices between the condenser and the evaporator of the HVAC&R system may reduce costs and enhance efficiency of the HVAC&R system.

Turning now to the drawings, FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of an environment for a heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVAC&R) system 10 in a building 12 for a typical commercial setting. The HVAC&R system 10 may include a vapor compression system 14 that supplies a chilled liquid, which may be used to cool the building 12. The HVAC&R system 10 may also include a boiler 16 to supply warm liquid to heat the building 12 and an air distribution system which circulates air through the building 12. The air distribution system can also include an air return duct 18, an air supply duct 20, and/or an air handler 22. In some embodiments, the air handler 22 may include a heat exchanger that is connected to the boiler 16 and the vapor compression system 14 by conduits 24. The heat exchanger in the air handler 22 may receive either heated liquid from the boiler 16 or chilled liquid from the vapor compression system 14, depending on the mode of operation of the HVAC&R system 10. The HVAC&R system 10 is shown with a separate air handler on each floor of building 12, but in other embodiments, the HVAC&R system 10 may include air handlers 22 and/or other components that may be shared between or among floors.

FIGS. 2 and 3 are embodiments of the vapor compression system 14 that can be used in the HVAC&R system 10. The vapor compression system 14 may circulate a refrigerant through a circuit starting with a compressor 32. The circuit may also include a condenser 34, an expansion valve(s) or device(s) 36, and a liquid chiller or an evaporator 38. The vapor compression system 14 may further include a control panel 40 that has an analog to digital (A/D) converter 42, a microprocessor 44, a non-volatile memory 46, and/or an interface board 48.

Some examples of fluids that may be used as refrigerants in the vapor compression system 14 are hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) based refrigerants, for example, R-410A, R-407, R-134a, hydrofluoro olefin (HFO), “natural” refrigerants like ammonia (NH3), R-717, carbon dioxide (CO2), R-744, or hydrocarbon based refrigerants, water vapor, or any other suitable refrigerant. In some embodiments, the vapor compression system 14 may be configured to efficiently utilize refrigerants having a normal boiling point of about 19 degrees Celsius (66 degrees Fahrenheit) at one atmosphere of pressure, also referred to as low pressure refrigerants, versus a medium pressure refrigerant, such as R-134a. As used herein, “normal boiling point” may refer to a boiling point temperature measured at one atmosphere of pressure.

In some embodiments, the vapor compression system 14 may use one or more of a variable speed drive (VSDs) 52, a motor 50, the compressor 32, the condenser 34, the expansion valve or device 36, and/or the evaporator 38. The motor 50 may drive the compressor 32 and may be powered by a variable speed drive (VSD) 52. The VSD 52 receives alternating current (AC) power having a particular fixed line voltage and fixed line frequency from an AC power source, and provides power having a variable voltage and frequency to the motor 50. In other embodiments, the motor 50 may be powered directly from an AC or direct current (DC) power source. The motor 50 may include any type of electric motor that can be powered by a VSD or directly from an AC or DC power source, such as a switched reluctance motor, an induction motor, an electronically commutated permanent magnet motor, or another suitable motor.

The compressor 32 compresses a refrigerant vapor and delivers the vapor to the condenser 34 through a discharge passage. In some embodiments, the compressor 32 may be a centrifugal compressor. The refrigerant vapor delivered by the compressor 32 to the condenser 34 may transfer heat to a cooling fluid (e.g., water or air) in the condenser 34. The refrigerant vapor may condense to a refrigerant liquid in the condenser 34 as a result of thermal heat transfer with the cooling fluid. The liquid refrigerant from the condenser 34 may flow through the expansion device 36 to the evaporator 38. In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 3, the condenser 34 is water cooled and includes a tube bundle 54 connected to a cooling tower 56, which supplies the cooling fluid to the condenser.

The liquid refrigerant delivered to the evaporator 38 may absorb heat from another cooling fluid, which may or may not be the same cooling fluid used in the condenser 34. The liquid refrigerant in the evaporator 38 may undergo a phase change from the liquid refrigerant to a refrigerant vapor. As shown in the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 3, the evaporator 38 may include a tube bundle 58 having a supply line 60S and a return line 60R connected to a cooling load 62. The cooling fluid of the evaporator 38 (e.g., water, ethylene glycol, calcium chloride brine, sodium chloride brine, or any other suitable fluid) enters the evaporator 38 via return line 60R and exits the evaporator 38 via supply line 60S. The evaporator 38 may reduce the temperature of the cooling fluid in the tube bundle 58 via thermal heat transfer with the refrigerant. The tube bundle 58 in the evaporator 38 can include a plurality of tubes and/or a plurality of tube bundles. In any case, the vapor refrigerant exits the evaporator 38 and returns to the compressor 32 by a suction line to complete the cycle.

FIG. 4 is a schematic of the vapor compression system 14 with an intermediate circuit 64 incorporated between condenser 34 and the expansion device 36. The intermediate circuit 64 may have an inlet line 68 that is directly fluidly connected to the condenser 34. In other embodiments, the inlet line 68 may be indirectly fluidly coupled to the condenser 34. As shown in the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 4, the inlet line 68 includes a first expansion device 66 positioned upstream of an intermediate vessel 70. In some embodiments, the intermediate vessel 70 may be a flash tank (e.g., a flash intercooler). In other embodiments, the intermediate vessel 70 may be configured as a heat exchanger or a “surface economizer.” In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 4, the intermediate vessel 70 is used as a flash tank, and the first expansion device 66 is configured to lower the pressure of (e.g., expand) the liquid refrigerant received from the condenser 34. During the expansion process, a portion of the liquid may vaporize, and thus, the intermediate vessel 70 may be used to separate the vapor from the liquid received from the first expansion device 66. Additionally, the intermediate vessel 70 may provide for further expansion of the liquid refrigerant because of a pressure drop experienced by the liquid refrigerant when entering the intermediate vessel 70 (e.g., due to a rapid increase in volume experienced when entering the intermediate vessel 70). The vapor in the intermediate vessel 70 may be drawn by the compressor 32 through a suction line 74 of the compressor 32. In other embodiments, the vapor in the intermediate vessel may be drawn to an intermediate stage of the compressor 32 (e.g., not the suction stage). The liquid that collects in the intermediate vessel 70 may be at a lower enthalpy than the liquid refrigerant exiting the condenser 34 because of the expansion in the expansion device 66 and/or the intermediate vessel 70. The liquid from intermediate vessel 70 may then flow in line 72 through a second expansion device 36 to the evaporator 38.

In some embodiments, the expansion device 36 and/or 66 may include two or more expansion valves that may be in separate fluid communication between the condenser 34 and the evaporator 38 (e.g., fluid flowing through a first expansion valve does not flow through a second expansion valve). Typically, a single expansion valve may be used between the condenser 34 and evaporator 38. The single expansion valve may be sized to accommodate a target heating or cooling capacity of the HVAC&R system 10. Unfortunately, such a single expansion valve may be relatively large and expensive. Additionally, control of the single expansion valve may be difficult or limited, especially when the single expansion valve cannot be tuned (e.g., adjusted to intermediate positions between on and off). Therefore, the single expansion valve may lead to reduced efficiency of the HVAC&R system 10 (e.g., the single expansion valve may not provide fine-tuned control of a flow of the refrigerant between the condenser 34 and the evaporator 38). Accordingly, embodiments of the present disclosure are related to the HVAC&R system 10 that includes multiple expansion devices (e.g., expansion valves) between the condenser 34 and the evaporator 38 that may be selectively controlled to reduce costs and improve control and/or efficiency of the HVAC&R system 10.

FIG. 5 is a schematic of the HVAC&R system 10 having an enhanced arrangement of a plurality of expansion valves 100 (e.g., the first expansion device 66 and/or the second expansion device 36) that are each arranged in separate fluid communication between the condenser 34 and the evaporator 38 (e.g., fluid flowing through one expansion valve does not flow through the remaining expansion valves). As shown in the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 5, three of the plurality of expansion valves 100 may be arranged in separate fluid communication between the condenser 34 and the evaporator 38. For example, a first expansion valve 90 may be positioned along a first conduit 92 fluidly coupling the condenser 34 and the evaporator 38, a second expansion valve 94 may be positioned along a second conduit 96 fluidly coupling the condenser 34 and the evaporator 38, and a third expansion valve 98 positioned along a third conduit 99 fluidly coupling the condenser 34 and the evaporator. As shown in the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 5, the first conduit 92, the second conduit 96 and the third conduit 99 are separate from one another (e.g., in separate fluid communication with the condenser 34 and the evaporator 38). While the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 5 shows the HVAC&R system 10 having three of the plurality of expansion valves 100 disposed in the three conduits 92, 96, and 99, it should be recognized that in other embodiments, the HVAC&R system 10 may include less than three of the plurality of expansion valves 100 (e.g., one or two of the expansion valves 100) or more than three of the plurality of expansion valves 100 (e.g., four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, or more of the expansion valves 100) disposed in a corresponding number of the conduits 92, 96, and 99.

In some embodiments, the plurality of expansion valves 100 may be symmetrically positioned along the condenser 34 and/or evaporator 38 relative to a midpoint 101 (e.g., center) of a first length 102 of the condenser 34 and/or a midpoint 103 (e.g., center) of a second length 104 of the evaporator 38. However, in other embodiments, the plurality of expansion valves 100 may be non-symmetrically positioned relative to the midpoints 101 and/or 103 of the first length 102 and/or the second length 104. In still further embodiments, the plurality of expansion valves 100 may be uniformly spaced relative to one another along the first length 102 of the condenser 34 and/or the second length 104 of the evaporator 38. In other embodiments, at least two of the plurality of expansion valves 100 may be non-uniformly spaced relative to one another along the first length 102 of the condenser 34 and/or the second length 104 of the evaporator 38.

Additionally, the first expansion valve 90, the second expansion valve 94 and the third expansion valve 98 may be positioned in the same or different positions between the condenser 34 and the evaporator 38. In other words, the first expansion valve 90, the second expansion valve 94, and the third expansion valve 98 may be positioned at the same or different distances from the condenser 34 and/or the evaporator 38. In any case, the plurality of expansion valves 100 may be disposed at any suitable position along a length 105 of the conduits 92, 96, and/or 99.

Each of the plurality of expansion valves 100 may be sized the same or differently than at least one expansion valve of the plurality of expansion valves 100. The sizing of each of the plurality of expansion valves 100 may be based at least partially on a heating or cooling capacity of the HVAC&R system 10. Additionally, some expansion valves of the plurality of expansion valves 100 may be tuned (e.g., a position of such expansion valves may be adjusted to enable a partial flow of the refrigerant through the expansion valve) whereas others may be on/off expansion valves (e.g., the position of the expansion valve may either be open or closed, but not in a position in between). As discussed above, utilizing multiple smaller expansion valves 100 may be less expensive than utilizing a single expansion valve that may be configured to meet the entire heating or cooling capacity of the HVAC&R system 10.

Further, a position of one or more of the plurality of expansion valves 100 may be selectively adjusted by a controller 106 (e.g., based on a target heating or cooling capacity of the HVAC&R system 10). The controller 106 may include memory circuitry 108 (e.g., memory) and a processor 110. For example, the controller 106 may include non-transitory code or instructions stored in a machine-readable medium (e.g., the memory 108) that is used by a processor (e.g., the processor 110) to implement the techniques disclosed herein. The memory 108 may store computer instructions that may be executed by the processor 110. Additionally, the memory 108 may store experimental data and/or other values (e.g., threshold values) relating to operating conditions of the HVAC&R system 10.

In some embodiments, a cooling or heating capacity of the HVAC&R system 10 may vary, such that a flow of the refrigerant from the condenser 34 to the evaporator 38 (or vice versa) may be adjusted to achieve a target heating or cooling capacity of the HVAC&R system 10 (e.g., predetermined capacity). Therefore, the controller 106 may be coupled to the plurality of expansion valves 100 (e.g., actuators configured to adjust a position of one or more of the plurality of expansion valves 100) to control a flow of the refrigerant between the condenser 34 and the evaporator 38 based at least on feedback related to an actual cooling or heating capacity of the HVAC&R system 10. In some embodiments, the controller 106 may selectively control at least one of the plurality of expansion valves 100 based on the target heating or cooling capacity of the HVAC&R system 10. Accordingly, the controller 106 may be coupled to one or more sensors 112 (e.g., temperature sensors, pressure sensors, composition sensors, flow meters, or another suitable sensor) that may be configured to provide feedback to the controller 106 related to the actual heating or cooling capacity of the HVAC&R system 10.

As a non-limiting example, the controller 106 may be coupled to one of the sensors 112 configured to monitor a temperature of the refrigerant in the condenser 34. The temperature of the refrigerant in the condenser 34 may be indicative of the actual heating or cooling capacity of the HVAC&R system 10. The controller 106 may adjust one or more of the plurality of expansion valves 100 based on the feedback received from the one or more sensors 112. Further, the controller 106 may be configured to monitor one or more operating parameters of the HVAC&R system 10 to determine whether the adjustment to the at least one expansion valve 100 of the plurality of expansion valves 100 achieves the target heating or cooling capacity of the HVAC&R system 10. For example, the controller 106 may compare the actual heating or cooling capacity of the HVAC&R system 10 to the target heating or cooling capacity of the HVAC&R system 10 to determine a differential between the target heating or cooling capacity of the HVAC&R system 10 and the actual heating or cooling capacity of the HVAC&R system 10. In response, the controller 106 may re-adjust one or more of the plurality of expansion valves 100 based on such differential.

In some embodiments, the controller 106 may selectively adjust a first expansion valve of the plurality of expansion valves 100 based on a size of the first expansion valve and/or the differential between the target heating or cooling capacity of the HVAC&R system 10 and the actual heating or cooling capacity of the HVAC&R system 10. Therefore, control of the plurality of expansion valves 100 may provide enhanced control when compared to a single expansion valve. Because the plurality of expansion valves 100 may include expansion valves having different sizes, smaller expansion valves in combination with larger expansion valves may enable more precise control over the flow of refrigerant between the condenser 34 and the evaporator 38.

Additionally, by using multiple expansion valves 100 each in separate fluid communication between the condenser 34 and the evaporator 38, at least one of the plurality of expansion valves 100 may be reduced in size. Reducing a size of one or more of the plurality of expansion valves 100 may result in lower pressure losses, improved (e.g., more uniform) distribution of refrigerant, and enhanced capacity control overall. In some embodiments, the plurality of expansion valves 100 may serve as a storage control (e.g., expansion valves may be configured to be closed to store refrigerant in the condenser 34). It should be noted that the evaporator 38 may include either a flooded arrangement or a falling film arrangement.

Furthermore, in some embodiments, the condenser 34 may include a subcooler 130. For example, the subcooler 130 may further cool the refrigerant after the refrigerant exits the condenser 34, which may ultimately enhance an efficiency of the HVAC&R system 10. As shown in the illustrated embodiment, the subcooler 130 may be integral to the condenser 34 (e.g., disposed within a common housing of the condenser 34). However, in other embodiments, the subcooler 130 may be positioned external to the condenser 34. In any case, the refrigerant flowing from the subcooler 130 may be directed into one or more of the plurality of expansion valves 100 before the refrigerant is directed to the evaporator 38.

While only certain features and embodiments have been illustrated and described, many modifications and changes may occur to those skilled in the art (e.g., variations in sizes, dimensions, structures, shapes and proportions of the various elements, values of parameters (e.g., temperatures, pressures, etc.), mounting arrangements, use of materials, colors, orientations, etc.) without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the subject matter recited in the claims. The order or sequence of any process or method steps may be varied or re-sequenced according to alternative embodiments. It is, therefore, to be understood that the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit of the invention. Furthermore, in an effort to provide a concise description of the exemplary embodiments, all features of an actual implementation may not have been described (i.e., those unrelated to the presently contemplated best mode of carrying out the invention, or those unrelated to enabling the claimed invention). It should be appreciated that in the development of any such actual implementation, as in any engineering or design project, numerous implementation specific decisions may be made. Such a development effort might be complex and time consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking of design, fabrication, and manufacture for those of ordinary skill having the benefit of this disclosure, without undue experimentation.

Claims

1. A heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVAC&R) system, comprising:

a refrigerant loop;
a compressor disposed along the refrigerant loop and configured to circulate refrigerant through the refrigerant loop;
an evaporator disposed along the refrigerant loop and configured to evaporate the refrigerant into refrigerant vapor;
a condenser disposed along the refrigerant loop and configured to condense the refrigerant vapor into liquid refrigerant;
a first conduit fluidly coupling the evaporator and the condenser to one another;
a first expansion valve disposed along the first conduit between the evaporator and the condenser;
a second conduit fluidly coupling the evaporator and the condenser to one another, wherein the first conduit and the second conduit are separate from one another; and
a second expansion valve disposed along the second conduit between the evaporator and the condenser.

2. The HVAC&R system of claim 1, comprising:

a third conduit fluidly coupling the evaporator and the condenser to one another, wherein the first conduit, the second conduit, and the third conduit are separate from one another; and
a third expansion valve disposed along the third conduit between the evaporator and the condenser.

3. The HVAC&R system of claim 2, wherein the first conduit, the second conduit, and the third conduit are spaced equally from one another with respect to a first length of the evaporator, a second length of the condenser, or both the first length and the second length.

4. The HVAC&R system of claim 2, wherein the first expansion valve, the second expansion valve, and the third expansion valve are disposed along the first conduit, the second conduit, and the third conduit, respectively, at the same position between the condenser and the evaporator.

5. The HVAC&R system of claim 1, wherein the first expansion valve comprises a first size and the second expansion valve comprises a second size, and wherein the first size and the second size are different.

6. The HVAC&R system of claim 1, comprising one or more tangible, non-transitory machine-readable media comprising processor-executable instructions to:

receive feedback from a sensor indicative of a target heating or cooling capacity of the HVAC&R system; and
selectively adjust the first expansion valve, the second expansion valve, or both based at least on the feedback to control a flow of the refrigerant between the evaporator and the condenser.

7. The HVAC&R system of claim 1, wherein the first expansion valve is a tunable expansion valve.

8. The HVAC&R system of claim 7, wherein the second expansion valve is an on/off expansion valve.

9. The HVAC&R system of claim 1, wherein the condenser comprises a subcooler configured to further cool the refrigerant before the refrigerant is directed to the first expansion valve, the second expansion valve, or both.

10. The HVAC&R system of claim 1, comprising the refrigerant, wherein the refrigerant is a low pressure refrigerant.

11. A heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVAC&R) system, comprising:

a refrigerant loop;
a compressor disposed along the refrigerant loop and configured to circulate refrigerant through the refrigerant loop;
an evaporator disposed along the refrigerant loop and configured to evaporate the refrigerant into refrigerant vapor;
a condenser disposed along the refrigerant loop and configured to condense the refrigerant vapor into liquid refrigerant;
a plurality of expansion valves disposed between the evaporator and the condenser, wherein each expansion valve of the plurality of expansion valves is in separate fluid communication with the evaporator and the condenser;
a sensor disposed along the refrigerant loop and configured to measure an operating parameter of the HVAC&R system indicative of a target heating or cooling capacity of the HVAC&R system; and
one or more tangible, non-transitory machine-readable media comprising processor-executable instructions to:
receive feedback from the sensor indicative of the target heating or cooling capacity of the HVAC&R system; and
adjust at least one of the expansion valves of the plurality of expansion valves based at least on the feedback to control a flow of the refrigerant between the evaporator and the condenser.

12. The HVAC&R system of claim 11, wherein the plurality of expansion valves comprises a first expansion valve, a second expansion valve, and a third expansion valve.

13. The HVAC&R system of claim 12, wherein the one or more tangible, non-transitory machine-readable media comprising processor-executable instructions is configured to adjust the first expansion valve, the second expansion valve, and the third expansion valve based at least on the feedback to control the flow of the refrigerant between the evaporator and the condenser.

14. The HVAC&R system of claim 11, wherein a first expansion valve of the plurality of expansion valves comprises a first size, a second expansion valve of the plurality of expansion valves comprises a second size, and wherein the first size and the second size are different from one another.

15. The HVAC&R system of claim 11, wherein the condenser comprises a subcooler configured to further cool the refrigerant before the refrigerant is directed to at least one expansion valve of the plurality of expansion valves.

16. The HVAC&R system of claim 11, wherein the sensor is a temperature sensor, a pressure sensor, a composition sensor, a flow meter, or any combination thereof.

17. A method, comprising:

receiving feedback from a sensor of a heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVAC&R) system, wherein the feedback is indicative of a target heating or cooling capacity of the HVAC&R system; and
selectively adjusting a plurality of expansion valves based at least on the feedback to control a flow of refrigerant between an evaporator and a condenser of the HVAC&R system, wherein the plurality of expansion valves is disposed between the evaporator and the condenser of the HVAC&R system, and wherein each expansion valve of the plurality of expansion valves is in separate fluid communication with the evaporator and the condenser.

18. The method of claim 17, comprising:

receiving additional feedback from the sensor after selectively adjusting the plurality of expansion valves;
determining a heating or cooling capacity of the HVAC&R system;
comparing the heating or cooling capacity of the HVAC&R system with the target heating or cooling capacity of the HVAC&R system; and
adjusting at least one expansion valve of the plurality of expansion valves based on a differential between the heating or cooling capacity of the HVAC&R system and the target heating or cooling capacity of the HVAC&R system.

19. The method of claim 18, comprising selectively adjusting a first expansion valve of the plurality of expansion valves and a second expansion valve of the plurality of expansion valves based on the differential between the heating or cooling capacity of the HVAC&R system and the target heating or cooling capacity of the HVAC&R system.

20. The method of claim 17, comprising measuring temperature of refrigerant within the condenser with the sensor.

Patent History
Publication number: 20170191718
Type: Application
Filed: Jan 5, 2017
Publication Date: Jul 6, 2017
Inventors: Jay A. Kohler (York, PA), Patrick Christian Marks (York, PA), Ian Michael Casper (York, PA), Kurt Devlin (York, PA)
Application Number: 15/399,604
Classifications
International Classification: F25B 41/06 (20060101); F25B 39/00 (20060101); F25B 40/02 (20060101);