EP-4739958-A1 - CHILLER ASSEMBLY SUITABLE FOR A HEATING, VENTILATING, OR AIR CONDITIONING (HVAC) SYSTEM

Abstract

A chiller assembly includes a frame, a first vapor compression circuit comprising a first compressor configured to circulate a first refrigerant through a first condenser coil and a first evaporator of the first vapor compression circuit, a second vapor compression circuit comprising a second compressor configured to circulate a second refrigerant through a second condenser coil and a second evaporator of the second vapor compression circuit, a process fluid circuit passing through the first evaporator and the second evaporator, wherein the first evaporator and the second evaporator are configured to place the first and second refrigerant in a heat exchange relationship with the process fluid of the process fluid circuit, and at least one fan configured to direct air across the first condenser coil and the second condenser coil, wherein the first condenser coil and the second condenser coil are in a stacked arrangement.

Inventors

• SCHREIBER, JEB W.
• LUTZ, Andy J.
• BORGAOKAR, Manjiri
• KULANKARA, SATHEESH
• KAUFFMAN, JUSTIN P.
• BLASQUEZ, Brian S.
• CHINNARAJ, Anand N.

Assignees

• Tyco Fire & Security GmbH

Dates

Publication Date

20260513

Application Date

20240703

Claims (20)

1. 1 . A chiller assembly for a heating, ventilating, or air conditioning (HVAC) system, the chiller assembly comprising: a frame; a first vapor compression circuit comprising a first compressor configured to circulate a first refrigerant through a first condenser coil and a first evaporator of the first vapor compression circuit; a second vapor compression circuit comprising a second compressor configured to circulate a second refrigerant through a second condenser coil and a second evaporator of the second vapor compression circuit; a process fluid circuit configured to pass through the first evaporator and the second evaporator, wherein the first evaporator and the second evaporator are configured to place the first and second refrigerant in a heat exchange relationship with process fluid of the process fluid circuit; and at least two fans configured to direct air across the first condenser coil and the second condenser coil, wherein the first condenser coil and the second condenser coil are in a stacked arrangement, wherein a first fan of the at least two fans is configured to push the air across the first condenser coil and the second condenser coil and a second fan of the at least two fans is configured to pull the air across the the first condenser coil and the second condenser coil.
2. 2. The chiller assembly of claim 1, wherein the second fan is disposed between a first condenser assembly and a next condenser assembly.
3. 3. The chiller assembly of claim 1, wherein the second fan is disposed between a condenser assembly for the first condenser coil and the second condenser coil and a next condenser assembly, and the second fan is disposed between between lower vertices of a triangular cross sectional area of the condenser assembly and a triangular cross sectional area of the next condenser assembly.
4. 4. The chiller assembly of claim 1, wherein the chiller assembly further comprises: a sprayer or a damper for cooling the first condenser coil and the second condenser coil.
5. 5. The chiller assembly of claim 1, wherein the first condenser coil has a first length and the second condenser coil has a second length, wherein the second length is less than the first length.
6. 6. The chiller assembly of claim 1, wherein the first compressor and the second compressor are centrifugal compressors.
7. 7. The chiller assembly of claim 1, wherein the first condenser coil is farther from a central axis of the first fan than the second condenser coil.
8. 8. The chiller assembly of claim 1, wherein a gap between the first condenser coil and the second condenser coil is greater at a bottom than a top of a condenser assembly for the first condenser coil and the second condenser coil.
9. 9. The chiller assembly of claim 8, wherein the first condenser coil is shorter than the second condenser coil.
10. 10. A chiller assembly for a heating, ventilating, or air conditioning (HVAC) system, the chiller assembly comprising: a condenser assembly comprising a first fan, a first condenser coil and a second condenser coil, the first condenser coil being disposed at a first angle with respect to an axis of the first fan, the second condenser coil being disposed in parallel with the first angle or at a second angle with respect to the axis of the first fan, wherein the first condenser coil and the second condenser coil are in a stacked arrangement; and a second fan, wherein the first fan and the second fan are configured to direct air across the first condenser coil and the second condenser coil, wherein the second fan is configured to push the air across the first condenser coil and the second condenser coil and the first fan is configured to pull the air across the the first condenser coil and the second condenser coil.
11. 11 . The chiller assembly of claim 10, wherein the condenser assembly is configured to have a triangular cross sectional area in a plane including the axis, wherein an end of the condenser assembly comprises a radiator.
12. 12. The chiller assembly of claim 10, further comprising a third condenser coil and a fourth condenser coil.
13. 13. The chiller assembly of claim 10, wherein the condenser assembly has a cross sectional triangular area and a damper is provided in triangular end of the condenser assembly.
14. 14. The chiller assembly of claim 10, wherein the condenser assembly has an aperture in communication with a conduit such that ambient air is directed into a desired location within the condenser assembly via the aperture.
15. 15. The chiller assembly of claim 10, wherein the condenser assembly has a pair of apertures in communication with a pair of conduits such that ambient air is directed into a desired location within the condenser assembly via the apertures.
16. 16. The chiller assembly of claim 10, further comprising a third fan above the second fan configured to push the air across the first condenser coil and the second condenser coil.
17. 17. A chiller assembly comprising: a frame; a first vapor compression circuit comprising a first compressor configured to circulate a first refrigerant through a first condenser and a first evaporator of the first vapor compression circuit; a second vapor compression circuit comprising a second compressor configured to circulate a second refrigerant through a second condenser and a second evaporator of the second vapor compression circuit; wherein the first evaporator and the second evaporator are coupled to the frame; and wherein the first condenser comprises a first condenser coil; at least two fans configured to direct air across the first condenser coil, wherein a first fan is disposed closer to an inside surface of the first condenser coil and a second fan is disposed closer to an outside surface if the first condenser coil.
18. 18. The chiller assembly of claim 17, wherein the first vapor compression circuit and the second vapor compression circuit are configured to provide between 700 refrigeration tons and 800 refrigeration tons at an ambient temperature of between 70 degrees F and 80 degrees F.
19. 19. The chiller assembly of claim 17, further comprising a third fan disposed above the second fan, wherein a first condenser assembly for the first condenser is configured to have a triangular cross sectional area in a plane including a central axis of the first fan.
20. 20. The chiller assembly of claim 17, wherein the first condenser is configured to have a triangular cross sectional area in a plane including a central axis of the first fan.

Description

CHILLER ASSEMBLY SUITABLE FOR A HEATING, VENTILATING, OR AIR CONDITIONING (HVAC) SYSTEM CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims the benefit of and the priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/525,546, filed July 7, 2023, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein. BACKGROUND [0002] The present disclosure relates generally to systems and methods for thermal heat management and heat exchangers. The present disclosure relates more particularly to a cooling system for heating, ventilating, or air conditioning (HVAC) systems that includes one or more chillers. [0003] Building equipment, such as heating, ventilating, or cooling (HVAC) equipment, is installed and operated to change environmental conditions within one or more spaces of a building. Buildings may be occupied by equipment (e.g., computing equipment) and/or human occupants. Building occupants can contribute to a thermal load of a building. Chillers can be used to cool/condition various areas of a building. SUMMARY [0004] One implementation of the present disclosure relates to a chiller assembly for a heating, ventilating, or air conditioning (HVAC) system. The chiller assembly can include a frame, a first vapor compression circuit, a second vapor compression circuit, a process fluid circuit, and at least one fan. The first vapor compression circuit includes a first compressor configured to circulate a first refrigerant through a first condenser coil and a first evaporator of the first vapor compression circuit. The second vapor compression circuit includes a second compressor configured to circulate a second refrigerant through a second condenser coil and a second evaporator of the second vapor compression circuit. The process fluid circuit passes through the first evaporator and the second evaporator. The first evaporator and the second evaporator are configured to place refrigerant in a heat exchange relationship with the process fluid of the process fluid circuit. The at least one fan is configured to direct air across the first condenser coil and the second condenser coil. The first condenser coil and the second condenser coil are in a stacked arrangement. [0005] Some embodiments relate to a chiller assembly for a heating, ventilating, or air conditioning (HVAC) system. The chiller assembly includes a frame, a first vapor compression circuit including a first compressor configured to circulate a first refrigerant through a first condenser coil and a first evaporator of the first vapor compression circuit, a second vapor compression circuit including a second compressor configured to circulate a second refrigerant through a second condenser coil and a second evaporator of the second vapor compression circuit, a process fluid circuit configured to pass through the first evaporator and the second evaporator, and at least two fans configured to direct air across the first condenser coil and the second condenser coil. The first evaporator and the second evaporator are configured to place the first and second refrigerant in a heat exchange relationship with process fluid of the process fluid circuit. The first condenser coil and the second condenser coil are in a stacked arrangement. A first fan of the at least two fans pushes the air across the first condenser coil and the second condenser coil, and a second fan of the at least two fans pulls the air across the the first condenser coil and the second condenser coil. [0006] In some embodiments, the second fan is disposed between a first condenser assembly and a next condenser assembly. In some embodiments, the second fan is disposed between a condenser assembly for the first condenser coil and the second condenser coil and a next condenser assembly, and the second fan is disposed between between lower vertices of a triangular cross sectional area of the condenser assembly and a triangular cross sectional area of the next condenser assembly. [0007] In some embodiments, the chiller assembly further includes a sprayer or a damper for cooling the first condenser coil and the second condenser coil. In some embodiments, the first condenser coil has a first length and the second condenser coil has a second length. The second length is less than the first length. In some embodiments, the first compressor and the second compressor are centrifugal compressors. [0008] In some embodiments, the first condenser coil is farther from a central axis of the first fan than the second condenser coil. In some embodiments, a gap between the first condenser coil and the second condenser coil is greater at a bottom than a top of a condenser assembly for the first condenser coil and the second condenser coil. In some embodiments, the first condenser coil is shorter than the second condenser coil. [0009] Some embodiments relate to a chiller assembly for a heating, ventilating, or air conditioning (HVAC) system. The chiller assembly include a second fan and a