Chiller system and air-conditioning apparatus including chiller system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2024019160-A1
Application number	US-202118253224-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 22, 2021
Priority date	Jan 22, 2021
Publication date	Jan 18, 2024
Grant date	—

Abstract

A chiller system includes: a chiller; a load; a feed pipe through which water flows from the chiller to the load; a return pipe through which water flows to the chiller from the load; a first controller configured to control the chiller; and a second controller configured to output a chiller operating command to the first controller, the chiller including a first sensor configured to measure an inlet water temperature of the water flowing through the return pipe to the chiller, a second sensor configured to measure an outlet water temperature of the water flowing through the feed pipe from the chiller, and a third sensor configured to measure an outside air temperature at a chiller installation location, and the first controller calculates a temperature range operational for the chiller based on an inlet water temperature, an outlet water temperature, and an outside air temperature, and then outputs information on the calculated temperature range to the second controller.

First claim

1 . A chiller system comprising:
a chiller configured to output water at an adjusted temperature; a load of the chiller; a feed pipe through which water flows to be supplied from the chiller to the load, the feed pipe being connected between the chiller and the load; a return pipe through which water flows back to the chiller from the load, the return pipe being connected between the chiller and the load; a first controller configured to control the chiller; and a second controller configured to output a chiller operating command to control the chiller to the first controller, wherein the chiller includes a first sensor configured to measure an inlet water temperature of the water flowing through the return pipe to the chiller, a second sensor configured to measure an outlet water temperature of the water flowing through the feed pipe from the chiller, and a third sensor configured to measure an outside air temperature at a location where the chiller is installed, and the first controller calculates a temperature range that is operational for the chiller based on an inlet water temperature measured by the first sensor, an outlet water temperature measured by the second sensor, and an outside air temperature measured by the third sensor, and then outputs information on the calculated temperature range to the second controller.

2 . The chiller system of claim 1 , wherein the second controller
is configured to control a water flow rate at which water flows through the feed pipe and the return pipe based on information on the temperature range.

3 . The chiller system of claim 1 , comprising a water delivery pump configured to deliver water flowing through the return pipe from the load to the chiller, wherein
the second controller is configured to calculate a water flow rate at which the water delivery pump discharges water based on information on the temperature range output from the first controller, and output a first operating command including information on the calculated water flow rate to the water delivery pump.

4 . The chiller system of claim 1 , comprising a water temperature sensor configured to measure a water temperature of water flowing through the feed pipe, wherein
the first controller is configured to output information on a target outlet water temperature of the chiller to the second controller, and the second controller is configured to output the chiller operating command based on information on a water temperature measured by the water temperature sensor, a temperature range output from the first controller, and a target outlet water temperature of the chiller output from the first controller.

5 . The chiller system of claim 1 , wherein the first controller is configured to calculate the temperature range when a request for calculation of the temperature range from the second controller is detected.

6 . The chiller system of claim 1 , comprising a water-water heat exchanger provided on the feed pipe and the return pipe, wherein
the feed pipe includes a primary-side feed pipe connecting the chiller and the water-water heat exchanger, and a secondary-side feed pipe connecting the water-water heat exchanger and the load, the return pipe includes a primary-side return pipe connecting the chiller and the water-water heat exchanger, and a secondary-side return pipe connecting the water-water heat exchanger and the load, the primary-side feed pipe and the primary-side return pipe are connected in the water-water heat exchanger, while the secondary-side feed pipe and the secondary-side return pipe are connected in the water-water heat exchanger, the water-water heat exchanger exchanges heat between water flowing through the primary-side feed pipe and the primary-side return pipe and water flowing through the secondary-side feed pipe and the secondary-side return pipe, the chiller system comprises a secondary-side water delivery pump configured to deliver water to the water-water heat exchanger, and the second controller is configured to calculate a water flow rate for the secondary-side water delivery pump based on information on the temperature range output from the first controller, and outputs a second operating command including information on the calculated water flow rate to the secondary-side water delivery pump.

7 . An air-conditioning apparatus comprising:
the chiller system of claim 1 , an indoor unit; and an outdoor unit connected to the indoor unit by a pipe through which refrigerant circulates, the outdoor unit including a heat exchanger configured to exchange heat between the refrigerant and outside air, wherein water flowing through the feed pipe and the return pipe exchanges heat with the load.

8 . The air-conditioning apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the load is a part of the indoor unit.

Assignees

• Mitsubishi Electric Corp

Inventors

• Takenaka Shohei
• Kadowaki Kimitaka
• Mochizuki Yuki
• Kurachi Akinori

Classifications

• F24F11/83 Primary

  by controlling the supply of heat-exchange fluids to heat-exchangers · CPC title

• F24F11/63

  Electronic processing · CPC title

• F24F11/85

  using variable-flow pumps · CPC title

• F24F11/86

  by controlling compressors within refrigeration or heat pump circuits · CPC title

• F24F2140/20

  Heat-exchange fluid temperature · CPC title