Capacity modulating an expansion device of a HVAC system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10746482-B2
Application number	US-201816059463-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 9, 2018
Priority date	Jan 25, 2013
Publication date	Aug 18, 2020
Grant date	Aug 18, 2020

Abstract

Methods, systems and apparatuses are directed to a capacity modulating assembly configured to distribute two-phase refrigerant mixture to an evaporator of a HVAC system, such as a micro-channel heat exchanger (MCHEX) evaporator. The capacity modulating assembly may include a plurality of expansion devices. During capacity modulation, at least one of the plurality of expansion devices can be closed so that a refrigerant flow rate through the remaining expansion devices can be maintained. The capacity modulating assembly can include a refrigerant outflow port, which may help direct refrigerant out of the heat exchanger. The capacity modulating assembly can be connected with the MCHEX. The plurality of expansion devices can be configured to extend inside a header of the MCHEX to help distribute refrigerant to the micro-channel tubes of the MCHEX.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A refrigeration circuit, comprising:
a heat exchanger having a header;
a plurality of tubes configured to form fluid communication with the header; and
a capacity modulating assembly connected to the header,
wherein the capacity modulating assembly is configured to modulate capacity according to a refrigerant flow rate, and includes a plurality of expansion devices and a first flow control device connected to at least one of the plurality of expansion devices,
wherein expansion devices of the plurality of expansion devices are configured to expand refrigerant at a refrigerant flow rate different from each other, and
wherein the expansion devices of the plurality of expansion devices have a terminating end and are separate from each other, and the expansion devices of the plurality of expansion devices extend in a longitudinal direction of the header.

2. The refrigeration circuit of claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger is configured to operate in one of a heating mode, a cooling mode, and a dehumidification mode.

3. The refrigeration circuit of claim 1 , wherein when the heat exchanger is configured to operate in a heating mode, the plurality of expansion devices is configured to direct the refrigerant out of the header of the heat exchanger.

4. The refrigeration circuit of claim 1 , wherein when the heat exchanger is configured to operate in a heating mode, the plurality of expansion devices is configured to direct the refrigerant into the header of the heat exchanger.

5. The refrigeration circuit of claim 1 , wherein when the heat exchanger is configured to operate in a cooling mode, the plurality of expansion devices is configured to direct the refrigerant out of the header of the heat exchanger.

6. The refrigeration circuit of claim 1 , wherein when the heat exchanger is configured to operate in a cooling mode, the plurality of expansion devices is configured to direct the refrigerant into the header of the heat exchanger.

7. The refrigeration circuit of claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger is a heat exchanger having flattened tubes.

8. The refrigeration circuit of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of expansion devices includes at least one orifice.

9. The refrigeration circuit of claim 8 , wherein when the heat exchanger is operated at a full load condition, the at least one orifice in each of the plurality of expansion devices is configured to be opened,
when the heat exchanger is operated at a partial load condition, an orifice of the at least one orifice in each of the plurality of expansion devices is configured to be closed.

10. The refrigeration circuit of claim 8 , wherein the orifices of the plurality of expansion devices are configured to be positioned inside the header of the heat exchanger.

11. The refrigeration circuit of claim 8 , wherein the orifices of the plurality of expansion devices are off-set from each other in the longitudinal direction inside the header.

12. The refrigeration circuit of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of expansion devices are configured to extend into the header from one end of the header.

13. The refrigeration circuit of claim 1 , wherein the first flow control device is a solenoid valve.

14. The refrigeration circuit of claim 1 , further comprising:
a refrigerant outflow port; and
an outflow control device that is connected to the refrigerant outflow port,
wherein the outflow control device has an open state and a closed state, the open state is configured to allow refrigerant to pass through the refrigerant outflow port, and the closed state is configured to restrict refrigerant from passing through the refrigerant outflow port.

15. The refrigeration circuit of claim 14 , wherein the outflow control device is a check valve.

16. The refrigeration circuit of claim 14 , wherein the outflow control device is a solenoid valve.

17. The refrigeration circuit of claim 14 , wherein when the heat exchanger is configured to operate in a heating mode, the refrigerant outflow port is configured to direct the refrigerant out of the header of the heat exchanger.

18. The refrigeration circuit of claim 14 , wherein when the heat exchanger is configured to operate in a heating mode, the refrigerant outflow port is configured to prevent the refrigerant from passing through the refrigerant outflow port.

19. The refrigeration circuit of claim 13 , wherein when the heat exchanger is configured to operate in a cooling mode, a refrigerant outflow port is configured to direct the refrigerant out of the header of the heat exchanger.

Assignees

• Trane Int Inc

Inventors

• Wang Jun
• Voorhis Roger
• Schult Robert Fredrick
• Winters Justin Slade

Classifications

• F28D1/05383

  with multiple rows of conduits or with multi-channel conduits (F28D1/05391 takes precedence) · CPC title

• Y02B30/70

  Efficient control or regulation technologies, e.g. for control of refrigerant flow, motor or heating · CPC title

• F28F13/06 Primary

  by affecting the pattern of flow of the heat-exchange media {(F28F13/003 takes precedence; static flow control means in header boxes F28F9/026)} · CPC title

• F25B41/48 Primary

  for flow path resistance control on the downstream side of the diverging point, e.g. by an orifice · CPC title

• F25B41/345

  by solenoids · CPC title