Variable refrigerant flow (VRF) dehumidification system

A VRF dehumidification system configured to be in communication with an interior space, the VRF dehumidification system comprising:

• a compressor or pump configured to circulate a refrigerant;
• a condenser module in fluid communication with the compressor or pump and configured to cool the refrigerant;
• a first expansion valve;
• a second expansion valve;
• an evaporator coil in fluid communication with the condenser module to receive refrigerant from the condenser module and through the first expansion valve via one or more first refrigerant lines;
• a reheat-reclaim coil in fluid communication with the condenser module to receive refrigerant from the condenser module and through the second expansion valve via one or more second refrigerant lines separate from the evaporator coil receiving refrigerant from the condenser module, at least one of the one or more second refrigerant lines being different from the one or more first refrigerant lines;
• an indoor air handler positioned to direct an airflow through the evaporator coil and through the reheat-reclaim coil, the indoor air handler further positioned to direct the airflow into the interior space after passing through the evaporator coil and the reheat-reclaim coil;
• a mode change unit operatively coupled to the evaporator coil and the reheat-reclaim coil and configured to selectively control flow of refrigerant to each of the evaporator coil and the reheat-reclaim coil;
• an air sensor associated with the indoor air handler and configured to sense one or more parameters of air entering the VRF dehumidification system, the one or more parameters including one or both of an air temperature and a relative humidity;
• a dewpoint sensor configured to sense a dewpoint of the interior space;
• and
• a temperature sensor configured to sense a temperature of the interior space;
• and
• a controller in communication with the return air sensor, the dewpoint sensor, and the temperature sensor, the controller further in controllable communication with the mode change unit to adjust refrigerant flow to each of the evaporator coil and the reheat-reclaim coil such that the VRF dehumidification system is configured to selectively operate in a cool mode and a heat mode to affect an air-moisture content of the interior space at a targeted temperature based on one or more of the sensed return air, the sensed dewpoint, and the sensed temperature,
• wherein refrigerant is configured to flow to each of the evaporator coil and the reheat-reclaim coil in the cool mode.

A method of dehumidifying air in an interior space, the method comprising:

• detecting an air temperature and a dewpoint of the interior space via one or more first sensors including a dew point sensor and a temperature sensor;
• detecting one or more parameters of air entering a VRF dehumidification system via one or more second sensors, the one or more parameters including one or both of an air temperature and a relative humidity, the VRF dehumidification system including a compressor or pump configured to circulate a refrigerant, a condenser module in fluid communication with the compressor or pump and configured to cool the refrigerant, an evaporator coil having a first expansion valve and in fluid communication with the condenser module to receive refrigerant from the condenser module and through the first expansion valve via one or more first refrigerant lines, a reheat-reclaim coil having a second expansion valve and in fluid communication with the condenser module to receive refrigerant from the condenser module and through the second expansion valve via one or more second refrigerant lines separate from the evaporator coil receiving refrigerant from the condenser module, at least one of the second refrigerant lines being different from the one or more first refrigerant lines, the VRF dehumidification system further including an indoor air handler and a mode change unit, the indoor air handler positioned to direct an airflow through the evaporator coil and through the reheat-reclaim coil, the indoor air handler further positioned to direct the airflow into the interior space after passing through the evaporator coil and the reheat-reclaim coil, and the mode change unit operatively coupled to the evaporator coil and the reheat-reclaim coil to selectively control flow of refrigerant to each of the evaporator coil and the reheat-reclaim coil;
• controlling, by a controller, the mode change unit to adjust refrigerant flow to each of the evaporator coil and the reheat-reclaim coil;
• and
• selectively operating the VRF dehumidification system in one or more cool modes and one or more heat modes to affect an air-moisture content of the interior space at a targeted temperature based on one or more of the detected air temperature of the interior space, the detected dewpoint of the interior space, and the detected one or more parameters of the air entering the VRF dehumidification system,
• wherein refrigerant is configured to flow to each of the evaporator coil and the reheat-reclaim coil in at least one of the one or more cool modes.