Chiller system with multiple compressors

A heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and/or refrigeration (HVAC&R) system, comprising:

• a first vapor compression flow path comprising a first condenser configured to place a first portion of a working fluid in thermal communication with a cooling fluid, and a first compressor configured to direct the first portion of the working fluid to the first condenser;
• a second vapor compression flow path comprising a second compressor configured to direct a second portion of the working fluid from a first evaporator to a second condenser;
• a shared vapor compression flow path comprising the second condenser and the first evaporator, wherein the second condenser is configured to receive the first portion of the working fluid from the first condenser of the first vapor compression flow path and receive the second portion of the working fluid from the first evaporator, wherein the shared vapor compression flow path is configured to direct the first portion of the working fluid and the second portion of the working fluid from the second condenser to the first evaporator, the shared vapor compression flow path comprises a first valve disposed between the second condenser and the first evaporator, and the first valve is configured to open and close to control a combined flow of the first portion of the working fluid and the second portion of the working fluid from the second condenser to the first evaporator,
• wherein the first vapor compression flow path comprises a second evaporator configured to place the first portion of the working fluid in thermal communication with a conditioning fluid, the first vapor compression flow path comprises a second valve disposed between the first evaporator and the second evaporator, the second valve is configured to open and close to control a flow of the first portion of the working fluid from the first evaporator to the second evaporator, the first vapor compression flow path comprises a third valve disposed between the first condenser and the second condenser, and the third valve is configured to open and close to control a flow of the first portion of the working fluid from the first condenser to the second condenser;
• a bypass conduit system configured to selectively direct the first portion of the working fluid from the first condenser to the second evaporator, such that the first portion of the working fluid bypasses the second condenser and the first evaporator;
• and
• a controller configured to control operation of the bypass conduit system and to adjust respective positions of the second valve and the third valve to independently operate the first vapor compression flow path and the second vapor compression flow path.

A heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and/or refrigeration (HVAC&R) system, comprising:

• a first vapor compression flow path comprising a first condenser configured to place a first portion of a working fluid in thermal communication with a cooling fluid and a first compressor configured to direct the first portion of the working fluid to the first condenser;
• a second vapor compression flow path comprising a second compressor configured to direct a second portion of the working fluid from a first evaporator to a second condenser;
• a shared vapor compression flow path comprising:
• the second condenser, wherein the second condenser is configured to place the first portion of the working fluid and the second portion of the working fluid in thermal communication with the cooling fluid;
• and
• the first evaporator, wherein the first evaporator is configured to place the first portion of the working fluid and the second portion of the working fluid in thermal communication with a conditioning fluid, wherein the shared vapor compression flow path is configured to direct the first portion of the working fluid and the second portion of the working fluid from the second condenser to the first evaporator;
• and
• a bypass conduit system configured to selectively direct the first portion of the working fluid from the first condenser to a second evaporator of the first vapor compression flow path, such that the first portion of the working fluid bypasses the second condenser and the first evaporator.