Auxiliary heat exchanger

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2019257546-A1
Application number	US-201815921131-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 14, 2018
Priority date	Feb 20, 2018
Publication date	Aug 22, 2019
Grant date	—

Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed toward a heat exchanger that includes an evaporator coil section disposed at least partially within a first flow structure configured to direct a first flow of air across the evaporator coil section, a condenser coil section fluidly coupled with the evaporator coil section and disposed at least partially within a second flow structure configured to direct a second flow of air across the condenser coil section, and an auxiliary heat exchanger fluidly coupled with the evaporator coil section, where the auxiliary heat exchanger is external to the first flow structure.

First claim

1 . A heat exchanger, comprising:
an evaporator coil section disposed at least partially within a first flow structure configured to direct a first flow of air across the evaporator coil section; a condenser coil section fluidly coupled with the evaporator coil section and disposed at least partially within a second flow structure configured to direct a second flow of air across the condenser coil section; and an auxiliary heat exchanger fluidly coupled with the evaporator coil section, wherein the auxiliary heat exchanger is external to the first flow structure.

2 . The heat exchanger of claim 1 , wherein the evaporator coil section and the condenser coil section are configured to operate together as a heat pipe heat exchanger.

3 . The heat exchanger of claim 1 , wherein the evaporator coil section, the condenser coil section, and the auxiliary heat exchanger are in a common working fluid circuit.

4 . The heat exchanger of claim 1 , wherein:
the evaporator coil section and the condenser coil section are in a first working fluid circuit; and the auxiliary heat exchanger and the evaporator coil section are in a second working fluid circuit that is separate from the first working fluid circuit.

5 . The heat exchanger of claim 1 , wherein the auxiliary heat exchanger comprises a plurality of first tubes that extend from a plurality of second tubes of the condenser coil section.

6 . The heat exchanger of claim 5 , comprising a shell disposed about the plurality of first tubes, wherein the shell is configured to receive a refrigerant from a chiller and place the refrigerant in thermal communication with working fluid flowing through the plurality of first tubes.

7 . The heat exchanger of claim 5 , comprising a shell disposed about the plurality of first tubes, wherein the shell is configured to receive water from a water source and place the water in thermal communication with working fluid flowing through the plurality of first tubes.

8 . The heat exchanger of claim 5 , comprising a shell disposed about the plurality of first tubes, wherein the shell is configured to at least partially form a plenum wall of the the first flow structure, the second flow structure, or both.

9 . The heat exchanger of claim 5 , comprising a spray nozzle and a fan, wherein the spray nozzle is configured to direct fluid over exposed surfaces of the plurality of first tubes, and wherein the fan is configured to direct a third flow of air across the plurality of first tubes.

10 . The heat exchanger of claim 1 , wherein the first flow structure and the second flow structure are integral features of a housing, and wherein the auxiliary heat exchanger is disposed external to the housing.

11 . The heat exchanger of claim 1 , wherein flow paths within the first flow structure and the second flow structure are isolated from one another via a plenum wall and, wherein the auxiliary heat exchanger is positioned adjacent to the plenum wall.

12 . The heat exchanger of claim 1 , wherein the first flow of air comprises return air from a conditioned environment and the second flow of air comprises outdoor air.

13 . The heat exchanger of claim 1 , wherein the auxiliary heat exchanger is positioned adjacent to the evaporator coil section.

14 . The heat exchanger of claim 13 , wherein a length of the auxiliary heat exchanger is positioned substantially perpendicular to a length of the evaporator coil section.

15 . The heat exchanger of claim 1 , comprising a condensate drain pan configured to collect liquid formed as a result of cooling provided by the evaporator coil section.

16 . The heat exchanger of claim 1 , wherein a working fluid is configured to circulate between the evaporator coil section, the condenser coil section, and the auxiliary heat exchanger without mechanical force.

17 . A heat exchanger for a heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) system, comprising:
a housing; an evaporator coil section disposed within a first passage of the housing and configured to be in thermal communication with a first flow of air flowing across the evaporator coil section; a condenser coil section in fluid communication with the evaporator coil section and disposed within a second passage of the housing and configured to be in thermal communication with a second flow of air flowing across the condenser coil section; and an auxiliary heat exchanger in fluid communication with the evaporator coil, section wherein the auxiliary heat exchanger is external to the housing.

18 . The system of claim 17 , comprising a plenum wall disposed within the housing and configured to isolate the first passage and the second passage from one another.

19 . The system of claim 17 , wherein the auxiliary heat exchanger is positioned adjacent to an external surface of the housing.

20 . The system of claim 17 , wherein the auxiliary heat exchanger is positioned adjacent to the evaporator coil section.

21 . The system of claim 20 , wherein a length of the auxiliary heat exchanger is positioned crosswise to a length of the evaporator coil section.

22 . A heat pipe heat exchanger for a heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) system, comprising:
a first passage comprising an evaporator coil section; a second passage comprising a condenser coil section, wherein the condenser coil section is in fluid communication with the evaporator coil section; and an auxiliary heat exchanger in fluid communication with the evaporator coil section, wherein the auxiliary heat exchanger is external to the first passage and the second passage.

23 . The heat pipe heat exchanger of claim 22 , comprising a control system configured to receive feedback from a sensor indicative of a temperature of air surrounding a housing of the heat pipe heat exchanger, wherein the control system is configured to selectively operate a condenser fan based on the feedback.

24 . The heat pipe heat exchanger of claim 23 , wherein the control system is configured to adjust a speed of the condenser fan when the temperature is less than a threshold temperature.

25 . The heat pipe heat exchanger of claim 23 , wherein the control system is configured to operate the auxiliary heat exchanger when the temperature is greater than a threshold temperature.

Assignees

• Johnson Controls Tech Co

Inventors

• Bogart James E

Classifications

• F28D1/024

  with an air driving element · CPC title

• F28D1/0408

  Multi-circuit heat exchangers, e.g. integrating different heat exchange sections in the same unit or heat exchangers for more than two fluids (F28F9/0234 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F28D15/0275

  Arrangements for coupling heat-pipes together or with other structures, e.g. with base blocks; Heat pipe cores · CPC title

• F28D15/0266

  with separate evaporating and condensing chambers connected by at least one conduit; Loop-type heat pipes; with multiple or common evaporating or condensing chambers (F28D15/043 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F24F11/77 Primary

  by controlling the speed of ventilators · CPC title