US 12,693,050 B2Granted

Heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning system with reheat

AssigneeGoodman Global Group, Inc.

InventorMichael F Taras

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Abstract

A heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (“HVAC”) system for use with a refrigerant. The HVAC system may include a compressor, an outdoor heat exchanger positioned downstream of the compressor, a first variable expansion device positioned downstream of the outdoor heat exchanger, an indoor heat exchanger positioned downstream of the first variable expansion device and upstream of the compressor and including a reheat portion and a main portion, a second variable expansion device positioned downstream of the reheat portion of the indoor heat exchanger and upstream of the main portion of the indoor heat exchanger, a first control valve operable to selectively control the flow of the refrigerant through the reheat portion of the indoor heat exchanger and the main portion of the indoor heat exchanger, and a control system programmed to selectively operate the HVAC system in one of a first cooling mode, a second cooling mode, and a dehumidification mode.

Claims24

Dependent claims

A heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (“HVAC”) system for use with a refrigerant, the HVAC system comprising:

a compressor operable to compress the refrigerant;
an outdoor heat exchanger positioned downstream of the compressor and configured to condense the refrigerant;
a first variable expansion device positioned downstream of the outdoor heat exchanger and operable to change a pressure of the refrigerant flowing therethrough;
a single indoor heat exchanger positioned downstream of the first variable expansion device and upstream of the compressor, comprising a reheat portion downstream of the first variable expansion device and a main portion, and configured to vaporize low-pressure refrigerant;
a second variable expansion device positioned downstream of the reheat portion of the indoor heat exchanger and upstream of the main portion of the indoor heat exchanger, the second variable expansion device operable to change a pressure of the refrigerant flowing therethrough;
an indoor control valve operable to selectively control the flow of the refrigerant through the reheat portion of the indoor heat exchanger and the main portion of the indoor heat exchanger;
and
a control system in electronic communication with the first variable expansion device, the second variable expansion device, and the indoor control valve, the control system comprising a processor programmed to adjust the change in pressure due to the first variable expansion device, adjust the change in pressure due to the second variable expansion device, and operate the indoor control valve to selectively operate the HVAC system between a first cooling mode wherein no refrigerant flows through the reheat portion of the indoor heat exchanger, a second cooling mode wherein the pressure of the refrigerant flowing through the first variable expansion device is decreased and at least a portion of the decreased pressure refrigerant flows through the reheat portion of the indoor heat exchanger where the refrigerant absorbs heat so as to provide additional cooling compared to the first cooling mode, and a dehumidification mode.

5 more elements

An HVAC system for use with a refrigerant, the HVAC system comprising:

a compressor operable to compress the refrigerant;
an indoor heat exchanger positioned downstream of the compressor, comprising a reheat portion and a main portion, and configured to condense the refrigerant;
an expansion device positioned downstream of the indoor heat exchanger and operable to reduce a pressure of the refrigerant flowing therethrough into a low-pressure refrigerant;
outdoor heat exchanger positioned downstream of the expansion device and upstream of the compressor and configured to vaporize the low-pressure refrigerant;
an indoor control valve operable to selectively control only a selected portion of the flow of the refrigerant through the reheat portion of the indoor heat exchanger;
and
a control system in electronic communication with the indoor control valve, the control system comprising a processor programmed to operate the indoor control valve and the indoor control valve to selectively operate the HVAC system between one of a first heating mode wherein refrigerant flows through the main portion and no refrigerant flows through the reheat portion and a second heating mode wherein refrigerant flows through the main portion and only the selected portion of the refrigerant flows through the reheat portion, unexpanded, to provide additional heating compared to the first heating mode.

4 more elements

A method of operating an HVAC system, the method comprising:

compressing a low-pressure vapor refrigerant with a compressor into a high-pressure vapor refrigerant;
then
condensing at least a portion of the high-pressure vapor refrigerant into a high-pressure liquid refrigerant with an outdoor heat exchanger;
then
in a first cooling mode:
flowing the refrigerant through a first expansion device without adjusting the pressure of the refrigerant;
then
operating an indoor control valve so that no refrigerant flows through a reheat portion of an indoor heat exchanger;
then
expanding the refrigerant to a low-pressure liquid refrigerant with a second expansion device;
and then
vaporizing the low-pressure liquid refrigerant from the second expansion device with a main portion of the indoor heat exchanger;
in a second cooling mode:
expanding the refrigerant to a low-pressure liquid refrigerant with the first expansion device;
then
operating the indoor control valve to flow an amount of the refrigerant through the reheat portion of the indoor heat exchanger;
then
flowing the refrigerant through a second expansion device without adjusting the pressure of the refrigerant;
and then
vaporizing the low-pressure liquid refrigerant from the second expansion device with a main portion of the indoor heat exchanger;
and
in a dehumidification mode:
flowing the refrigerant through the first expansion device without adjusting the pressure of the refrigerant;
then
operating the indoor control valve to flow a first selected amount of the refrigerant through the reheat portion of the indoor heat exchanger and the remaining amount of the refrigerant does not flow through the reheat portion;
then
expanding the refrigerant to a low-pressure liquid refrigerant with the second expansion device;
and then
vaporizing the low-pressure liquid refrigerant from the first expansion device with a main portion of the indoor heat exchanger.

26 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 17/212,923Filed 25 Mar 2021 · us provisional application
Priority: 31 Mar 2020
Published: US 2021/0302073 A130 Sep 2021
Granted: 28 Jul 2026
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification11 codes

F25B 13/00
Compression machines, plants or systems, with reversible cycle
F25B 41/20
Fluid-circulation arrangements: disposition of valves, e.g. of on-off valves or flow control valves
F25B 49/02
Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices: for compression type machines, plants or systems
F25B 2313/0233
Using multiple indoor units: in parallel arrangements