US 12,066,212 B2
Systems and methods for a refrigerant sub-system for a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system
William J. Dean, Greenville, IL (US)
Assigned to Copeland LP, Sidney, OH (US)
Filed by Copeland LP, Sidney, OH (US)
Filed on Dec. 22, 2022, as Appl. No. 18/145,130.
Application 18/145,130 is a continuation of application No. 17/033,409, filed on Sep. 25, 2020, abandoned.
Prior Publication US 2023/0128439 A1, Apr. 27, 2023
Int. Cl. F24F 3/14 (2006.01); F24F 5/00 (2006.01)
CPC F24F 3/1405 (2013.01) [F24F 5/0003 (2013.01); F24F 5/001 (2013.01); F24F 2003/1446 (2013.01); F24F 2203/021 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system, the HVAC system comprising:
a hot water sub-system for circulating a flow of a first fluid between a first heat exchanger and a condenser, wherein the first heat exchanger is adapted to transfer moisture and heat between a liquid desiccant and air, and to transfer heat from the first fluid to the liquid desiccant and the air;
a cold water sub-system for circulating a flow of a second fluid between a second heat exchanger and an evaporator, wherein the second heat exchanger is adapted to transfer moisture and heat between the liquid desiccant and the air, and to transfer heat from the liquid desiccant and the air to the second fluid; and
a refrigerant sub-system for transferring heat from the cold water sub-system to the hot water sub-system, the refrigerant sub-system comprising:
a compressor for compressing uncompressed, vapor refrigerant at a first pressure into a compressed, vapor refrigerant at a second pressure higher than the first pressure;
the condenser for condensing the compressed, vapor refrigerant into a compressed, liquid refrigerant, and for transferring heat from the compressed, vapor refrigerant to the first fluid;
an expansion valve for expanding the compressed, liquid refrigerant into an uncompressed, liquid refrigerant;
the evaporator for vaporizing the uncompressed, liquid refrigerant into the uncompressed, vapor refrigerant at the first pressure, and for transferring heat from the second fluid to the uncompressed, vapor refrigerant; and
a refrigerant-air heat exchanger having a first operating mode and a second operating mode, wherein:
in the first operating mode, the condenser is adapted to condense a first portion of the compressed, vapor refrigerant from a vapor to a liquid, and the refrigerant-air heat exchanger is adapted to condense a second portion of the compressed, vapor refrigerant from a vapor to a liquid and transfer heat from the second portion of the compressed, vapor refrigerant to the air; and
in the second operating mode, the evaporator is adapted to vaporize a first portion of the uncompressed, liquid refrigerant from a liquid to a vapor, and the refrigerant-air heat exchanger is adapted to vaporize a second portion of the uncompressed, liquid refrigerant from a liquid to a vapor and transfer heat from the air to the second portion of the uncompressed, liquid refrigerant.