Modular liquid based heating and cooling system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11079122-B2
Application number	US-201414771325-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 4, 2014
Priority date	Mar 4, 2013
Publication date	Aug 3, 2021
Grant date	Aug 3, 2021

Abstract

A modular water based heating and cooling system for providing chilled or heated water to terminal devices in a building to heat/cool individual zones in the building. The system includes a flow control device in fluid communication with a riser chilled water supply line, a riser chilled water return line, a riser heated water supply line, and a riser heated water return line. The flow control device includes first control valves and second control valves. Terminal device supply lines extend from the flow control device and are connected to respective first control valves. Terminal device return lines extend from the flow control device and are connected to respective second control valves. The first control valves and the second control valves cooperate to supply required chilled water or heated water through the terminal device supply lines to terminal devices based on the cooling/heating requirements of the terminal devices.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A modular liquid based heating and cooling system for providing heating and air conditioning in a building, comprising:
a riser chilled liquid supply line configured to receive a flow of fresh chilled liquid, a riser chilled liquid return line configured to receive a flow of used chilled liquid, a riser heated liquid supply line configured to receive a flow of fresh heated liquid, and a riser heated liquid return line configured to receive a flow of used heated liquid;
a flow control device in fluid communication with the riser chilled liquid supply line, the riser chilled liquid return line, the riser heated liquid supply line, and the riser heated liquid return line, wherein the flow control device comprises a modular housing, and wherein the modular housing comprises:
a plurality of first control valves in fluid communication with the riser chilled liquid supply line and the riser heated liquid supply line, wherein the plurality of first control valves is configured to receive the flow of fresh chilled liquid from the riser chilled liquid supply line and configured to receive the flow of fresh heated liquid from the riser heated liquid supply line;
a plurality of second control valves in fluid communication with the riser chilled liquid return line and the riser heated liquid return line, wherein the plurality of second control valves is configured to receive the flow of used chilled liquid and direct the flow of used chilled liquid toward the riser chilled liquid return line, and wherein the plurality of second control valves is configured to receive the flow of used heated liquid and direct the flow of used heated liquid toward the riser heated liquid return line;
a plurality of terminal device supply lines, wherein each terminal device supply line of the plurality of terminal device supply lines extends from a corresponding first control valve of the plurality of first control valves; and
a plurality of terminal device return lines, wherein each terminal device return line of the plurality of terminal device return lines extends from a corresponding second control valve of the plurality of second control valves;

a plurality of terminal devices, wherein each terminal device of the plurality of terminal devices is in fluid communication with a corresponding terminal device supply line of the plurality of terminal device supply lines and a corresponding terminal device return line of the plurality of terminal device return lines; and
a controller communicatively coupled to the plurality of first control valves and the plurality of second control valves and configured to send instructions to the plurality of first control valves and the plurality of second control valves to adjust a respective position of each first control valve of the plurality of first control valves and a respective position of each second control valve of the plurality of second control valves, wherein the plurality of first control valves and the plurality of second control valves cooperate to direct the flow of fresh chilled liquid or the flow of fresh heated liquid through the plurality of terminal device supply lines and the plurality of terminal device return lines, such that each terminal device of the plurality of terminal devices receives the flow of fresh chilled liquid or the flow of fresh heated liquid based on cooling or heating requirements of each terminal device.

2. The modular liquid based heating and cooling system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the flow of fresh chilled liquid, the flow of used chilled liquid, the flow of fresh heated liquid, and the flow of used heated liquid comprise water.

3. The modular liquid based heating and cooling system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the riser chilled liquid supply line and the riser chilled liquid return line are connected to a chiller and are in fluid communication with a first primary pump, and wherein the first primary pump provides sufficient pressure to force the flow of fresh chilled liquid through the riser chilled liquid supply line and to force the flow of used chilled liquid through the riser chilled liquid return line.

4. The modular liquid based heating and cooling system as recited in claim 3 , wherein the riser heated liquid supply line and the riser heated liquid return line are connected to a heat pump and are in fluid communication with a second primary pump, and wherein the second primary pump provides sufficient pressure to force the flow of fresh heated liquid through the riser heated liquid supply line and to force the flow of used heated liquid through the riser heated liquid return line.

5. The modular liquid based heating and cooling system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the plurality of terminal devices is disposed within individual zones of the building, wherein a first terminal device of the plurality of terminal devices receives the flow of fresh chilled liquid and a second terminal device of the plurality of terminal devices receives the flow of fresh heated liquid, such that the first terminal device operates in a cooling mode while the second terminal device operates in a heating mode.

6. The modular liquid based heating and cooling system as recited in claim 1 , wherein at least one terminal device of the plurality of terminal devices is a heat exchanger with a single coil, wherein the single coil is in fluid communication with a first terminal device supply line of the plurality of terminal device supply lines and a first terminal device return line of the plurality of terminal device return lines.

7. The modular liquid based heating and cooling system as recited in claim 6 , wherein the flow of fresh chilled liquid is delivered to the at least one terminal device at a first temperature between 40 degrees Fahrenheit and 65 degrees Fahrenheit.

8. The modular liquid based heating and cooling system as recited in claim 7 , wherein the flow of fresh heated liquid is delivered to the at least one terminal device at a second temperature between 90 degrees Fahrenheit and 180 degrees Fahrenheit.

9. The modular liquid based heating and cooling system as recited in claim 1 , wherein at least one terminal device of the plurality of terminal devices is a zero energy device.

10. The modular liquid based heating and cooling system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the flow control device is located proximate the riser chilled liquid supply line, the riser chilled liquid return line, the riser heated liquid supply line, and the riser heated liquid return line.

11. The modular liquid based heating and cooling system as recited in claim 1 , wherein at least one terminal device supply line of the plurality of terminal device supply lines and at least one terminal device return line of the plurality of terminal device return lines are provided in a flexible pre-insulated bundle.

12. The modular liquid based heating and cooling system as recited in claim 11 , wherein the at least one terminal device supply line and the at least one terminal device return line are in fluid communication with a respective terminal device of the plurality of terminal devices, and wherein the flexible pre-insulated bundle includes a control wire which provides an electrical connection between the respective terminal device and the controller.

13. The modular liquid based heating and cooling system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to adjust the plurality of first control valves and the plurality of second control valves to regulate the flow of fresh chilled liquid, the flow of used chilled liquid, the flow of fresh heated liquid, and the flow of used heated liquid through the flow contr

Assignees

• Johnson Controls Tech Co

Inventors

• Casper Ian Michael
• Lyon Dirck
• Doll Walter E
• Schwartz John R
• Yu Martin
• Mow Li Li
• Van Buren Rick
• De Paco Jr Roberto
• Bade John Evan
• Serrano Cesar
• Bilmanis Daniela
• Kulankara Satheesh
• Kauffman Justin P
• Smith Brian
• Adams Mark A
• Doll Jr Martin L
• Staub Nicholas
• Nadeau Richard W
• Kopko William L
• Paraskevakos Chris
• Shaub Matthew J
• Gao Sean
• Rudio Christian C
• Naduvath Mahesh Valiya
• West Jonathan D

Classifications

• F24F3/001

  in which the air treatment in the central station takes place by means of a heat-pump or by means of a reversible cycle (reversible cycle for humidifying and drying air F24F3/147) · CPC title

• F24F3/08 Primary

  with separate supply and return lines for hot and cold heat-exchange fluids {i.e. so-called "4-conduit" system} · CPC title

• F28F13/06

  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

• F24F11/84

  using valves · CPC title