Multi-functional HVAC indoor unit
AssigneeTrane International Inc.
InventorStephen Stewart Hancock
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An indoor unit for heating, cooling, and dehumidifying air is disclosed. In an embodiment, the indoor unit includes a first coil assembly and a second coil assembly. When operating in a cooling mode or a heating mode, the first coil and second coil are in parallel fluid communication. When in a dehumidifying mode, the first coil and second coil are in serial fluid communication, which enables the first coil to function as a condenser and the second coil to function as an evaporator. The disclosed indoor unit provides negligible or no change in sensible heat while providing dehumidification.
Claims18
An indoor unit for use with a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system, comprising:
- an enclosure;
- a first coil assembly, the first coil assembly comprises a first coil and a first thermal expansion device in fluid communication with the first coil;
- and
- a second coil assembly, the second coil assembly comprises a second coil and a second thermal expansion device in fluid communication with the second coil, wherein
- the first thermal expansion device and the second thermal expansion device are in fluid communication with one another,
- in a cooling mode or a heating mode the first coil assembly and the second coil assembly are in parallel fluid communication with respect to a flow of a refrigerant and the first thermal expansion device and the second thermal expansion device couple the first coil and the second coil in the parallel fluid communication with respect to a flow of the refrigerant, such that the refrigerant flows through the first coil assembly and the second coil assembly simultaneously, and
- in a dehumidifying mode the first coil assembly and the second coil assembly are in serial fluid communication with respect to the flow of the refrigerant and the first thermal expansion device and the second thermal expansion device couple the first coil and the second coil in the serial fluid communication with respect to the flow of the refrigerant, such that the refrigerant flows through the first coil assembly and the second coil assembly sequentially.
An indoor unit for use with a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system, comprising:
- an enclosure;
- a first coil assembly;
- a second coil assembly, wherein
- in a cooling mode or a heating mode, the first coil assembly and the second coil assembly are in parallel fluid communication, and
- in a dehumidifying mode the first coil assembly and the second coil assembly are in serial fluid communication;
- a fluid circuit;
- and
- a solenoid valve which in the cooling mode or the heating mode directs a working medium between the fluid circuit and a second end of the first coil assembly and a second end of the second coil assembly, and which in the dehumidifying mode directs the working medium between the fluid circuit and a second end of the second coil assembly and prevents working fluid from flowing between the fluid circuit and the second end of the first coil assembly.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.