CPC F28D 1/05391 (2013.01) [F25B 39/028 (2013.01); F28F 9/0204 (2013.01); F28D 2021/0071 (2013.01)] | 20 Claims |
1. A heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (“HVAC”) system for use with a first refrigerant and a second refrigerant, the HVAC system comprising:
a first refrigerant circuit for use with the first refrigerant and comprising a first compressor, a first expansion device, and a first evaporator;
a second refrigerant circuit separate from the first refrigerant circuit for use with the second refrigerant and comprising a second compressor, a second expansion device, and a second evaporator; and
a microchannel heat exchanger operable as at least one of condenser or a gas cooler, the heat exchanger comprising:
a first upper section comprising a first inlet to receive the first refrigerant from the first refrigerant circuit;
a first lower section comprising a second inlet to receive the second refrigerant from the second refrigerant circuit;
a second upper section in fluid communication with the first lower section; and
a second lower section in fluid communication with the first upper section;
wherein the first upper section, the first lower section, the second upper section, and the second lower section are arranged such that the first refrigerant and the second refrigerant both flow through a majority of a face area of the heat exchanger while remaining in the separate first and second circuits; and
wherein at least one of the second upper section or the second lower section comprise a multi-pass heat exchanger comprising:
a first header at an end of the heat exchanger for flowing one of the first or second refrigerant; and
a second header at the same end of the first header for flowing the same first or second refrigerant as the first header;
wherein the first and second headers are arranged with a first separation between the first and second headers such that portions of the first and second headers that contain the first or second refrigerant are not in direct contact.
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