EP4684172A1

EP4684172A1 - Compact hvac&r system

Info

Publication number: EP4684172A1
Application number: EP24715766.2A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Damien Jean Daniel Arnou; Francois Charles Andre CLUNET; Paul Eric LE SAUSSE; Abdel Kader JANNOUN
Original assignee: Tyco Fire and Security GmbH
Current assignee: Tyco Fire and Security GmbH
Priority date: 2023-03-27
Filing date: 2024-03-27
Publication date: 2026-01-28
Also published as: WO2024200531A1; TW202441112A; KR20250159276A; CN120958283A

Abstract

A heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVAC&R) system includes a heat exchanger assembly that includes a housing, where the housing defines a first internal volume and a second internal volume. The heat exchanger assembly also includes a compressor directly coupled to the housing of the heat exchanger assembly, the compressor includes an impeller, and the impeller is at least partially disposed within the housing of the heat exchanger assembly. Furthermore, the compressor is configured to receive a flow of working fluid from the first internal volume and to discharge the flow of working fluid into the second internal volume.

Description

COMPACT HVAC&R SYSTEM

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority from and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/454,885, entitled "COMPACT HVAC&R SYSTEM," filed March 27, 2023, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes.

BACKGROUND

This section is intended to introduce the reader to various aspects of art that may be related to various aspects of the present disclosure, which are described below. This discussion is believed to be helpful in providing the reader with background information to facilitate a better understanding of the various aspects of the present disclosure. Accordingly, it should be understood that these statements are to be read in this light, and not as admissions of prior art.

Heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVAC&R) systems, or vapor compression systems, utilize a working fluid (e.g., a refrigerant) that changes phases between vapor, liquid, and combinations thereof in response to exposure to different temperatures and pressures within components of the HVAC&R system. The HVAC&R system may place the working fluid in a heat exchange relationship with a conditioning fluid (e.g., water) and may deliver the conditioning fluid to conditioning equipment and/or a conditioned environment serviced by the HVAC&R system. For example, the HVAC&R system may include a heat exchanger configured to receive the working fluid and the conditioning fluid to place the working fluid in the heat exchange relationship with the conditioning fluid. The conditioning fluid may be directed from the heat exchanger to other equipment, such as air handlers, terminal units, and so forth, to condition other fluids, such as air in a building. The working fluid may be directed from the heat exchanger through other components of the HVAC&R system, such as a compressor and/or another heat exchanger, configured to process (e.g., pressurize, cool) the working fluid to enable the working fluid to provide further conditioning of the conditioning fluid.

Unfortunately, many existing HVAC&R systems may have a large footprint and/or may occupy a large amount of space. Further, in some applications, space available to accommodate an HVAC&R system may be limited. Accordingly, smaller HVAC&R systems having reduced operating capacities and/or efficiencies may be utilized in applications with limited available space, but the smaller HVAC&R systems may not adequately satisfy load demands in such applications.

SUMMARY

A summary of certain embodiments disclosed herein is set forth below. It should be understood that these aspects are presented merely to provide the reader with a brief summary of these certain embodiments and that these aspects are not intended to limit the scope of this disclosure. Indeed, this disclosure may encompass a variety of aspects that may not be set forth below.

In one embodiment, a heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVAC&R) system includes a heat exchanger assembly that includes a housing, where the housing defines a first internal volume and a second internal volume. The heat exchanger assembly also includes a compressor directly coupled to the housing of the heat exchanger assembly, the compressor includes an impeller, and the impeller is at least partially disposed within the housing of the heat exchanger assembly. Furthermore, the compressor is configured to receive a flow of working fluid from the first internal volume and to discharge the flow of working fluid into the second internal volume.

In another embodiment, a heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVAC&R) system includes a working fluid circuit and a heat exchanger assembly disposed along the working fluid circuit. The heat exchanger assembly includes a housing defining an internal volume and an internal flow guide disposed within the housing, where the internal flow guide separates the internal volume into a first internal volume and a second internal volume within the housing. The HVAC&R system further includes a compressor having a compressor housing mounted to the housing of the heat exchanger assembly, an impeller disposed at least partially disposed within the housing of the heat exchanger assembly, and a motor disposed within the compressor housing, where the motor is configured to drive the impeller to rotate at least partially within the housing of the heat exchanger assembly.

In a further embodiment, a heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVAC&R) system includes a heat exchanger assembly having a housing defining an internal volume, an internal flow guide disposed within the housing, where the internal flow guide separates the internal volume into a first internal volume and a second internal volume within the housing, a plurality of first heat exchanger tubes disposed within the first internal volume, where the plurality of first heat exchanger tubes is configured to direct a first fluid therethrough, and a plurality of second heat exchanger tubes disposed within the second internal volume, where the plurality of second heat exchanger tubes is configured to direct a second fluid therethrough. The HVAC&R system further includes a compressor directly coupled to the housing of the heat exchanger assembly, where the compressor includes an impeller and a motor configured to drive rotation of the impeller, the impeller is at least partially disposed within the housing of the heat exchanger assembly, and the compressor is configured to draw a flow of working fluid into the impeller directly from the first internal volume and to discharge the flow of working fluid directly into the second internal volume.

DRAWINGS

Various aspects of this disclosure may be better understood upon reading the following detailed description and upon reference to the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a building utilizing an embodiment of a heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVAC&R) system in a commercial setting, in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a vapor compression system, in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure; FIG. 3 is a schematic of an embodiment of a vapor compression system, in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 is a schematic of an embodiment of a vapor compression system, in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional axial view of an embodiment of an HVAC&R system, in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure;

FIG. 6 is a side view schematic of an embodiment of an HVAC&R system, in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a portion of a heat exchanger assembly of an HVAC&R system, in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

One or more specific embodiments will be described below. In an effort to provide a concise description of these embodiments, not all features of an actual implementation are described in the specification. It should be appreciated that in the development of any such actual implementation, as in any engineering or design project, numerous implementation-specific decisions must be made to achieve the developers' specific goals, such as compliance with system-related and business-related constraints, which may vary from one implementation to another. Moreover, it should be appreciated that such a development effort might be complex and time consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking of design, fabrication, and manufacture for those of ordinary skill having the benefit of this disclosure.

When introducing elements of various embodiments of the present disclosure, the articles "a," "an," and "the" are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. The terms "comprising," "including," and "having" are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements. Additionally, it should be understood that references to "one embodiment" or "an embodiment" of the present disclosure are not intended to be interpreted as excluding the existence of additional embodiments that also incorporate the recited features.

As used herein, the terms "approximately," "generally," and "substantially," and so forth, are intended to convey that the property value being described may be within a relatively small range of the property value, as those of ordinary skill would understand. For example, when a property value is described as being "approximately" equal to (or, for example, "substantially similar" to) a given value, this is intended to mean that the property value may be within +/- 5%, within +/- 4%, within +/- 3%, within +/- 2%, within +/- 1%, or even closer, of the given value. Similarly, when a given feature is described as being "substantially parallel" to another feature, "generally perpendicular" to another feature, and so forth, this is intended to mean that the given feature is within +/- 5%, within +/- 4%, within +/- 3%, within +/- 2%, within +/- 1%, or even closer, to having the described nature, such as being parallel to another feature, being perpendicular to another feature, and so forth. Further, it should be understood that mathematical terms, such as "planar," "slope," "perpendicular," "parallel," and so forth are intended to encompass features of surfaces or elements as understood to one of ordinary skill in the relevant art, and should not be rigidly interpreted as might be understood in the mathematical arts. For example, a "planar" surface is intended to encompass a surface that is machined, molded, or otherwise formed to be substantially flat or smooth (within related tolerances) using techniques and tools available to one of ordinary skill in the art. Similarly, a surface having a "slope" is intended to encompass a surface that is machined, molded, or otherwise formed to be oriented at an angle (e.g., incline) with respect to a point of reference using techniques and tools available to one of ordinary skill in the art.

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVAC&R) system, such as a chiller, having a vapor compression system with one or more heat exchangers. The vapor compression system (e.g., a vapor compression circuit, working fluid circuit) may circulate a working fluid (e.g., a refrigerant) to cool and/or heat a conditioning fluid (e.g., water). The vapor compression system may include a compressor system configured to pressurize the working fluid within the vapor compression system and to direct the working fluid to a first heat exchanger (e.g., a condenser), which may cool and condense the working fluid. The condensed working fluid may be directed to an expansion device, which may reduce a pressure and/or temperature of the working fluid and further cool the working fluid. From the expansion device, the cooled working fluid may be directed to a second heat exchanger (e.g., an evaporator), which may place the working fluid in a heat exchange relationship with a conditioning fluid to cool the conditioning fluid. The compressor system may then receive the working fluid from the evaporator and pressurize the working fluid to restart the vapor compression cycle. The HVAC&R system may direct the conditioning fluid (e.g., from the second heat exchanger) to other equipment to condition a space and/or a component. Unfortunately, existing HVAC&R systems may occupy a large footprint and/or a large amount (e.g. volume) of space. For example, existing HVAC&R systems may include first and second heat exchangers that are separate from one another, compressors that are separate from the heat exchangers, and large conduits extending between components of the HVAC&R system to direct flow of working fluid therethrough. As a result, existing systems may not be suitable for use in applications having limited available space. Additionally, existing systems may be expensive and/or cumbersome to manufacture, implement, transport, operate, and/or maintain.

Thus, it is now recognized that HVAC&R systems (e.g., chiller systems) of reduced size (e.g., footprint) may facilitate improved implementation, manufacturing, operation, and/or maintenance of HVAC&R systems. Accordingly, the present disclosure is directed to an HVAC&R system having a compressor that is at least partially disposed within a housing of a heat exchanger assembly of the HVAC&R system. For example, at least a portion of an impeller and/or a diffuser of the compressor may be disposed within the housing of the heat exchanger assembly. In some embodiments, the housing of the heat exchanger assembly may enclose or contain two heat exchangers (e.g., an evaporator and a condenser) of the HVAC&R system. As a result, HVAC&R systems incorporating the techniques disclosed herein may not include certain components typically included in existing HVAC&R systems, such as a suction conduit to direct fluid from a heat exchanger to the compressor and/or other conduits traditionally included in existing HVAC&R systems. Thus, the present techniques enable more compact packaging and arrangements of HVAC&R systems, thereby enabling utilization of HVAC&R systems in environments and/or systems with less available space for HVAC&R systems. Further, the present techniques may enable improved maintenance and serviceability of HVAC&R systems. For example, the compressor may be readily coupled to and removed from the housing of the heat exchanger assembly to facilitate more efficient replacement and/or maintenance of the compressor.

Turning now to the drawings, FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of an environment for a heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVAC&R) system 10 in a building 12 for a typical commercial setting. The HVAC&R system 10 may include a vapor compression system 14 (e.g., a chiller) that supplies a chilled liquid, which may be used to cool the building 12. The HVAC&R system 10 may also include a boiler 16 to supply warm liquid to heat the building 12 (e.g., principal location) and an air distribution system which circulates air through the building 12. The air distribution system can also include an air return duct 18, an air supply duct 20, and/or an air handler 22. In some embodiments, the air handler 22 may include a heat exchanger that is connected to the boiler 16 and the vapor compression system 14 by conduits 24. The heat exchanger in the air handler 22 may receive either heated liquid from the boiler 16 and/or chilled liquid from the vapor compression system 14, depending on the mode of operation of the HVAC&R system 10. The HVAC&R system 10 is shown with a separate air handler on each floor of building 12, but in other embodiments, the HVAC&R system 10 may include air handlers 22 and/or other components that may be shared between or among floors.

FIGS. 2 and 3 are schematics of embodiments of the vapor compression system 14 that can be used in the HVAC&R system 10. The vapor compression system 14 may circulate a working fluid through a circuit starting with a compressor 32. The circuit may also include a condenser 34, an expansion valve(s) or device(s) 36, and a liquid chiller or an evaporator 38. The vapor compression system 14 may further include a control panel 40 that has an analog to digital (A/D) converter 42, a microprocessor 44, a non-volatile memory 46, and/or an interface board 48.

Some examples of fluids that may be used as working fluids (e.g., refrigerants) in the vapor compression system 14 are hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) based working fluids, for example, R-410A, R-407, R-134a, R-1234ze, R1233zd, hydrofluoro olefin (HFO), "natural" working fluids like ammonia (NH3), R-717, carbon dioxide (CO2), R-744, or hydrocarbon based working fluids, water vapor, or any other suitable working fluid. In some embodiments, the vapor compression system 14 may be configured to efficiently utilize working fluids having a normal boiling point of about 19 degrees Celsius (66 degrees Fahrenheit) at one atmosphere of pressure, also referred to as low pressure working fluids, versus a medium pressure working fluid, such as R-134a. As used herein, "normal boiling point" may refer to a boiling point temperature measured at one atmosphere of pressure.

In some embodiments, the vapor compression system 14 may use one or more of a variable speed drive (VSDs) 52, a motor 50, the compressor 32, the condenser 34, the expansion valve or device 36, and/or the evaporator 38. The motor 50 may drive the compressor 32 and may be powered by a variable speed drive (VSD) 52. The VSD 52 receives alternating current (AC) power having a particular fixed line voltage and fixed line frequency from an AC power source, and provides power having a variable voltage and frequency to the motor 50. In other embodiments, the motor 50 may be powered directly from an AC or direct current (DC) power source. The motor 50 may include any type of motor that can be powered by a VSD or directly from an AC or DC power source, such as a switched reluctance motor, an induction motor, an electronically commutated permanent magnet motor, or another suitable motor.

The compressor 32 compresses a working fluid vapor and delivers the vapor to the condenser 34 through a discharge passage. In some embodiments, the compressor 32 may be a centrifugal compressor. The working fluid vapor delivered by the compressor 32 to the condenser 34 may transfer heat to a cooling fluid (e.g., water or air) in the condenser 34. The working fluid vapor may condense to a working fluid liquid in the condenser 34 due to thermal heat transfer with the cooling fluid. The liquid working fluid from the condenser 34 may flow through the expansion device 36 to the evaporator 38. In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 3, the condenser 34 is water cooled and includes a tube bundle 54 connected to a cooling tower 56, which supplies the cooling fluid to the condenser 34.

The liquid working fluid delivered to the evaporator 38 may absorb heat from a conditioning fluid, which may or may not be the same cooling fluid used in the condenser 34. The liquid working fluid in the evaporator 38 may undergo a phase change from the liquid working fluid to a working fluid vapor. As shown in the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 3, the evaporator 38 may include a tube bundle 58 having a supply line 60S and a return line 60R connected to a cooling load 62. The cooling fluid of the evaporator 38 (e.g., water, ethylene glycol, calcium chloride brine, sodium chloride brine, or any other suitable fluid) enters the evaporator 38 via return line 60R and exits the evaporator 38 via supply line 60S. The evaporator 38 may reduce the temperature of the cooling fluid in the tube bundle 58 via thermal heat transfer with the working fluid. The tube bundle 58 in the evaporator 38 can include a plurality of tubes and/or a plurality of tube bundles. In any case, the vapor working fluid exits the evaporator 38 and returns to the compressor 32 by a suction line to complete the cycle.

FIG. 4 is a schematic of an embodiment of the vapor compression system 14 with an intermediate circuit 64 incorporated between condenser 34 and the expansion device 36. The intermediate circuit 64 may have an inlet line 68 that is directly fluidly connected to the condenser 34. In other embodiments, the inlet line 68 may be indirectly fluidly coupled to the condenser 34. As shown in the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 4, the inlet line 68 includes a first expansion device 66 positioned upstream of an intermediate vessel 70. In some embodiments, the intermediate vessel 70 may be a flash tank (e.g., a flash intercooler, an economizer, etc.). In other embodiments, the intermediate vessel 70 may be configured as a heat exchanger or a "surface economizer." In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 4, the intermediate vessel 70 is used as a flash tank, and the first expansion device 66 is configured to lower the pressure of (e.g., expand) the liquid working fluid received from the condenser 34. During the expansion process, a portion of the liquid may vaporize, and thus, the intermediate vessel 70 may be used to separate the vapor from the liquid received from the first expansion device 66.

Additionally, the intermediate vessel 70 may provide for further expansion of the liquid working fluid due to a pressure drop experienced by the liquid working fluid when entering the intermediate vessel 70 (e.g., due to a rapid increase in volume experienced when entering the intermediate vessel 70). The vapor in the intermediate vessel 70 may be drawn by the compressor 32 through a suction line 74 of the compressor 32. In other embodiments, the vapor in the intermediate vessel may be drawn to an intermediate stage of the compressor 32 (e.g., not the suction stage). The liquid that collects in the intermediate vessel 70 may be at a lower enthalpy than the liquid working fluid exiting the condenser 34 due to the expansion in the expansion device 66 and/or the intermediate vessel 70. The liquid from intermediate vessel 70 may then flow in line 72 through a second expansion device 36 to the evaporator 38. It should be appreciated that any of the HVAC&R systems discussed above may be utilized in accordance with the present techniques. For example, the present techniques may incorporate embodiments of the HVAC&R system 10, the vapor compression system 14, the boiler 16, a chiller, a heat pump, and/or other HVAC&R equipment discussed above.

As mentioned above, the present disclosure is directed to HVAC&R systems (e.g., chiller systems) having a compressor and/or one or more components of the compressor disposed at least partially within a housing of a heat exchanger assembly (e.g., a combined heat exchanger). For example, the compressor may include an impeller and/or a diffuser that are at least partially disposed within an internal volume of the housing. To this end, the compressor may be directly coupled to the housing of the heat exchanger assembly. The internal volume of the housing may include multiple portions that are separated and/or divided from one another within the housing. For example, a first internal volume portion within the housing may be associated with a first heat exchanger (e.g., a condenser) of the HVAC&R system, and a second internal volume portion within the housing may be associated with a second heat exchanger (e.g., an evaporator) of the HVAC&R system. In other words, the housing of the heat exchanger assembly may contain the first and second heat exchangers within the internal volume of the housing.

The compressor may receive a working fluid flow from the first internal volume portion of the heat exchanger assembly, compress the working fluid, and then direct the working fluid toward the second internal volume portion of the heat exchanger assembly. Indeed, the working fluid may flow from the first heat exchanger of the heat exchanger assembly to the compressor and from the compressor to the second heat exchanger of the heat exchanger assembly without flowing through additional conduits extending between and fluidly coupling the compressor and the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger (e.g., the heat exchanger assembly). In other words, the HVAC&R system may omit certain additional conduits extending between and fluidly coupling the compressor and the first and second heat exchangers. The HVAC&R system may therefore have a reduced size (e.g., physical footprint, total occupied volume) compared to traditional HVAC&R systems. HVAC&R systems incorporating the present techniques may therefore be configured to achieve efficiencies of existing HVAC&R systems at a reduced size, cost, and/or complexity associated with manufacture, installation, and/or operation.

With the foregoing in mind, FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional axial view of an embodiment of an HVAC&R system 100 in accordance with the present techniques. The HVAC&R system 100 may be a chiller system or other suitable HVAC&R system. In the following discussion, the HVAC&R system 100 may also be described as a "compact HVAC&R system." The HVAC&R system 100 include a working fluid circuit 101 (e.g., vapor compression circuit, the vapor compression system 14) configured to direct a flow of working fluid 102 therethrough. To facilitate discussion, the HVAC&R system 100 and its components may be described with reference to a radial axis 104 (e.g., radial direction), a vertical axis 106 (e.g., vertical direction), which is oriented relative to a direction of gravity, and a longitudinal axis 108 (e.g., longitudinal direction).

The HVAC&R system 100 may include a heat exchanger assembly 110 (e.g., combined heat exchanger), which includes a first heat exchanger 112 (e.g., the evaporator 38, first heat exchanger portion) and a second heat exchanger 114 (e.g., the condenser 34, second heat exchanger portion) disposed within a housing 116 (e.g., shell, common housing) of the heat exchanger assembly 110. That is, the housing 116 of the heat exchanger assembly 110 includes the first heat exchanger 112 and the second heat exchanger 114 disposed within an internal volume 118 of the housing 116. The housing 116 therefore separates the first heat exchanger 112 and the second heat exchanger 114 from an external environment 120 surrounding the housing 116. The internal volume 118 of the housing 116 may be separated into a first internal volume 122 and a second internal volume 124. To this end, the heat exchanger assembly 110 includes an internal flow guide 125 (e.g., divider, separation plate) disposed within internal volume 118 of the housing 116. The internal flow guide 125 may be coupled to the housing 116 to separate the internal volume 118 into the first internal volume 122 and the second internal volume 124 within the housing 116. The internal flow guide 125 may include one or more plates, barriers, panels, dividers, and/or other structural members configured to divide the first internal volume 122 and the second internal volume 124 within the housing 116. Thus, the internal flow guide 125 may block flow of the working fluid 102 between the first internal volume 122 and the second internal volume 124 within the housing 116. The first heat exchanger 112 may be disposed within the first internal volume 122, and the second heat exchanger 114 may be disposed within the second internal volume 124. By separating the first and second heat exchangers 112, 114 into the first and second internal volumes 122, 124, (e.g., via the internal flow guide 125) separate flows of the working fluid 102 may be directed separately through the housing 116 and along the working fluid circuit 101 in a desired manner to enable operation of the HVAC&R system 100. For example, a lower pressure flow of the working fluid 102 may be directed through the first heat exchanger 112 within the housing 116, a lower pressure flow of the working fluid 102 may be directed through the second heat exchanger 114 within the housing 116, and the internal flow guide 125 may block mixing of the higher pressure flow of the working fluid 102 and the lower pressure flow of the working fluid 102 within the housing 116.

As shown, the heat exchanger assembly 110, including the first heat exchanger 112 and the second heat exchanger 114, is disposed along the working fluid circuit 101. Therefore, as the HVAC&R system 100 directs the working fluid 102 along the working fluid circuit 101, the HVAC&R system 100 directs the working fluid 102 through the first heat exchanger 112 and the second heat exchanger 114 within the housing 116. The working fluid circuit 101 also includes an expansion device 126 (e.g., expansion valve, electronic expansion valve) configured to expand the working fluid 102 and a compressor 132 configured to drive flow of the working fluid 102 along the working fluid circuit 101 and through the heat exchanger assembly 110 (e.g., the first heat exchanger 112 and the second heat exchanger 114). Details of the compressor 132 are described further below.

In operation, the working fluid 102 may be directed along the working fluid circuit 101 from the expansion device 126 and into the first internal volume 122 of the housing 116 having the first heat exchanger 112. The first heat exchanger 112 may be configured to place the working fluid 102 in a heat exchange relationship with a conditioning fluid. For example, the first heat exchanger 112 (e.g., the heat exchanger assembly 110) may include a plurality of first heat exchanger tubes 128 (e.g., a first tube bundle) positioned in the first internal volume 122 within the housing 116. The plurality of first heat exchanger tubes 128 may be configured to direct a conditioning fluid (e.g., water, brine) through the first internal volume 122. The working fluid 102 within the first internal volume 122 may contact the first heat exchanger tubes 128, and the first heat exchanger tubes 128 may transfer heat from the conditioning fluid directed through the first heat exchanger tubes 128 to the working fluid 102 directed across the first heat exchanger tubes 128, thereby cooling the conditioning fluid and heating the working fluid 102. The first heat exchanger 112 may cause a portion of the working fluid 102 to vaporize (e.g., evaporate) within the first internal volume 122. The first heat exchanger 112 (e.g., the first internal volume 122) may define a suction section 130 (e.g., an outlet, a suction outlet, a suction column, suction flow path) configured to direct the working fluid 102 (e.g., vapor working fluid) out of the first internal volume 122 and toward the compressor 132 of the HVAC&R system 100. As shown, the internal flow guide 125 may at least partially define the suction section 130 extending from the first heat exchanger 112 to the compressor 132. That is, the suction section 130 extends from the first internal volume 122 to the compressor 132, as described further below. In some instances, the suction section 130 may be considered a portion of the first internal volume 122.

As shown, the compressor 132 is coupled to (e.g., directly coupled to, mounted to) the housing 116 of the heat exchanger assembly 110. In some embodiments, the compressor 132 may be a combined motor and compressor unit (e.g., a moto-compressor). In this way, the compressor 132 may be mounted to and removed from the housing 116 of the heat exchanger assembly 110 as a single unit. The compressor 132 may include a housing 133 (e.g., compressor housing, motor housing, combined housing) that contains one or more components of the compressor 132, such as a motor 135 (e.g., motor 50). The housing 133 may be directly mounted to the housing 116 of the heat exchanger assembly 110.

The housing 133 may also include a cooling fluid inlet 134 and a cooling fluid outlet 136. Thus, the housing 133 may receive and discharge a cooling fluid flow 138 that is circulated through the housing 133 to cool components of the compressor 132 (e.g., motor 135, a stator, a rotor, bearings, etc.). In some embodiments, a portion of the conditioning fluid directed through the heat exchanger assembly 110 may be the cooling fluid directed into the compressor 132. For example, a portion of the conditioning fluid cooled via the first heat exchanger 112 (e.g., directed through the first heat exchanger tubes 128) may be directed into the housing 133 of the compressor 132 via the cooling fluid inlet 134, and warmed conditioning fluid may be directed out of the housing 133 of the compressor 132 via the cooling fluid outlet 136. In another example, a portion of the working fluid 102 discharged by the second heat exchanger 114 may be directed into the housing 133 of the compressor 132 via the cooling fluid inlet 134. Thereafter, warmed working fluid 102 may be directed out of the housing 133 of the compressor 132 via the cooling fluid outlet 136 and then directed toward the first heat exchanger 112. In some embodiments, the warmed working fluid 102 directed out of the compressor 132 via the cooling fluid outlet 136 may be directed (e.g., directly) toward the suction section 130 of the first heat exchanger 112 and into the compressor 132 via the suction section 130.

The compressor 132 may also include an impeller 140 and a diffuser 142 (e.g., diffuser passage). The impeller 140 may be driven into rotation by the motor 135 of the compressor 132. In particular, the impeller 140 may be attached (e.g., fixed) to a shaft 143 of the compressor 132 (e.g., a rotor of the motor 135). The motor 135 may drive rotation of the shaft 143, thereby driving rotation of the impeller 140. As a result, the compressor 132 may draw the working fluid 102 into the compressor 132 (e.g., the impeller 140), compress the working fluid 102, and discharge the working fluid 102 from the compressor 132 via the diffuser 142.

As shown, the impeller 140 and/or the diffuser 142 may be at least partially disposed within the housing 116 of the heat exchanger assembly 110. In some embodiments, a length (e.g., a dimension) of the diffuser 142 (e.g., in a direction along the radial axis 104) may be associated with an amount of kinetic energy recovered from the working fluid 102 as the working fluid 102 is discharged from the compressor 132. A greater length of the diffuser 142 (e.g., in a direction along the radial axis 104) may be associated with a higher velocity (e.g., discharge velocity) of the working fluid 102, and a smaller length of the diffuser 142 (e.g., in a direction along the radial axis 104) may be associated with a lower velocity (e.g., discharge velocity) of the working fluid 102. In some embodiments, the diffuser 142 may be formed, at least in part, by the housing 116 of the heat exchanger assembly 110. For example, the housing 116 and the compressor 132 (e.g., the housing 133 of the compressor 132) may be manufactured to have particular geometries and/or features that, when assembled together, form the diffuser 142 when the compressor 132 (e.g., the housing 133) is mounted to the heat exchanger assembly 110 (e.g., the housing 116). For example, a portion of the compressor 132 and a portion of the housing 116 may form the diffuser 142 of the compressor 132. In some other embodiments, the diffuser 142 may be defined by portions of the housing 116 of the heat exchanger assembly 110, portions of the housing 133 of the compressor 132, portions of the impeller 140, or any combination thereof.

The compressor 132 may be configured to discharge the working fluid 102 into the second internal volume 124 (e.g., second heat exchanger 114) of the heat exchanger assembly 110. The second heat exchanger 114 may be configured to place the working fluid 102 in a heat exchange relationship with a cooling fluid. For example, the second heat exchanger 114 (e.g., the heat exchanger assembly 110) may include a plurality of second heat exchanger tubes 144 (e.g., a second tube bundle) positioned in the second internal volume 124 within the housing 116. The working fluid 102 may be directed across the second heat exchanger tubes 144, and the second heat exchanger tubes 144 may transfer heat from the working fluid 102 directed across the second heat exchanger tubes 144 to the cooling fluid directed through the second heat exchanger tubes 144, thereby cooling (e.g., condensing) the working fluid 102 and heating the cooling fluid. The second heat exchanger 114 may cause a portion of the working fluid 102 to condense into a liquid phase.

The heat exchanger assembly 110 (e.g., second heat exchanger 114) may include one or more second internal volume outlets 145 (e.g., internal volume outlets, liquid outlets, working fluid outlets, outlets) configured to discharge the working fluid 102 (e.g., liquid working fluid) from the second heat exchanger 114, out of the second internal volume 124, and toward a different component of the HVAC&R system 100 (e.g., working fluid circuit 101). For example, the internal flow guide 125 may include and/or define the second internal volume outlets 145. The HVAC&R system 100 (e.g., working fluid circuit 101) may include one or more conduits 147 fluidly coupled to the second internal volume outlets 145. The conduits 147 may extend along the working fluid circuit 101 from the outlets 145 to the expansion device 126. As shown in FIG. 5, the conduits 147 may extend from the outlets 145, through the first internal volume 122 and through the housing 116 to fluidly couple to the expansion device 126, which may be disposed external to the housing 116. Thus, the conduits 147 may extend from the second heat exchanger 114 to the expansion device 126 and may direct liquid working fluid 102 therethrough without mixing the liquid working fluid 102 with the working fluid 102 within the first internal volume 122 of the housing 116. The housing 116 of the heat exchanger assembly 110 may be formed from one or more structural housing components. For example, the housing 116 may be formed from a first housing component 150 (e.g., first shell component) that at least partially defines a shape and/or size of the first internal volume 122 and a second housing component 152 (e.g., second shell component) that at least partially defines a shape and/or size of the second internal volume 124. The first housing component 150, the second housing component 152, or both may be fabricated from metal or other non-permeable material. The first housing component 150 and the second housing component 152 may be secured to one another, such as via welding, brazing, mechanical fasteners, and/or other suitable coupling features, to form the housing 116 of the heat exchanger assembly 110.

The heat exchanger assembly 110 may also include one or more internal structure components, such as the internal flow guide 125, configured to define the first internal volume 122 and the second internal volume 124 to fluidly separate the first internal volume 122 and the second internal volume 124 and block direct flow of the working fluid 102 therebetween. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, the heat exchanger assembly 110 may include the internal flow guide 125 having one or more structural dividers (e.g., plates, panels, etc.) and having the outlets 145 formed therein. As mentioned above, the internal flow guide 125 and/or components thereof may extend within the internal volume 118 between the first internal volume 122 and the second internal volume 124 to separate the first internal volume 122 and the second internal volume 124 from one another within the housing 116.

In some embodiments, the heat exchanger assembly 110 may also include structural dividers, such as guide plates 151 (e.g., vertical guide plates, suction flow guide plates) disposed between subsets of the second heat exchanger tubes 144 to define the suction section 130. Thus, the suction section 130 may extend between a first portion of the second internal volume 124 and a second portion of the second internal volume 124. In other words, first and second portions of the second internal volume 124 may be disposed on opposite sides of the suction section 130. In some embodiments, the guide plates 151 may be components of the internal flow guide 125. In this way, working fluid 102 within the first internal volume 122 may not directly flow into the second internal volume 124 without first being directed through the compressor 132. Similarly, the working fluid 102 within the second internal volume 124 may not flow directly into the first internal volume 122 without first being directed along the working fluid circuit 101 and through the expansion device 126. In some embodiments, one or more additional structural components may be disposed within the housing 116 (e.g., a perforated plate within or along the suction section 130) to direct the working fluid 102 towards a compressor inlet 154 (e.g., suction inlet, impeller inlet) and to improve flow of vapor working fluid 102 into the compressor 132 from the first internal volume 122. In the illustrated embodiment, the guide plates 151 are disposed generally vertically (e.g., along vertical axis 106) to define the suction section 130 within the housing 116. Indeed, the guide plates 151 may be disposed within the housing 116 to define the suction section 130, such that the suction section 130 is generally aligned (e.g., aligned along the vertical axis 106) with the compressor inlet 154.

Additional structural components within the housing 116, such as components of the internal flow guide 125, may be configured or arranged to facilitate flow of the working fluid 102 through the housing 116, such as through the first internal volume 122 and/or through the second internal volume 124. For example, the internal flow guide 125 may include one or more curved portions 155 (e.g., curved panels, arcuate portions, curved sections, curved sheets) extending within the housing 116 and at least partially separating the first internal volume 122 from the second internal volume 124 within the housing 116. The curved portions 155 may promote desired flow of the working fluid 102 through the first internal volume 122, the second internal volume 124, or both. For example, the internal flow guide 125 may include two curved portions 155 positioned on opposite sides of the suction section 130 (e.g., in a direction along the radial axis 104). Convex surfaces 156 of the curved portions 155 may face the first internal volume 122 and may promote flow of vapor working fluid 102 toward the suction section 130 and the compressor inlet 154. Concave surfaces 158 of the curved portions 155 may face the second internal volume 124 and may generally be positioned below (e.g., relative to vertical axis 106) one or more tubes (e.g., tube bundles) of the second heat exchanger tubes 144. The concave surfaces 158 may be configured to direct liquid working fluid 102 (e.g., condensed via heat exchange with the cooling fluid) toward the outlets 145, which may be formed in the concave surfaces 158.

In some embodiments, the heat exchanger assembly 110 may include a flooded heat exchanger. For example, the first heat exchanger 112 may a flooded evaporator. Accordingly, one or more of the first heat exchanger tubes 128 may be submerged in liquid working fluid 102 in the first internal volume 122 to enable the working fluid 102 to exchange heat with the conditioning fluid directed through the first heat exchanger tubes 128. Once the liquid working fluid 102 within the first internal volume 122 evaporates or vaporizes, the vapor working fluid 102 may be directed into the suction section 130 within the housing 116 and disposed between the second heat exchanger tubes 144 within the second internal volume 124 to flow toward the compressor inlet 154.

As mentioned above, the compressor 132 may be mounted to the housing 116 of the heat exchanger assembly 110, in accordance with the present techniques. In particular, the housing 133 of the compressor 132 may enclose one or more components of the compressor 132 (e.g., the motor 135, the shaft 143) and may be mounted (e.g., directly mounted) to the housing 116 of the heat exchanger assembly 110. Additionally, the impeller 140 and the diffuser 142 of the compressor 132 may be at least partially disposed within the internal volume 118 of the housing 116 of the heat exchanger assembly 110. In this way, flow of the working fluid 102 may be drawn from the housing 116 (e.g., the suction section 130) directly into the impeller 140 (e.g., the compressor inlet 154), such as without flowing through an intervening conduit extending from the housing 116 to the compressor inlet 154. Similarly, the working fluid 102 pressurized and/or compressed by the compressor 132 may be discharged via the diffuser 142 directly into the internal volume 118 of the housing 116 (e.g., directly into the second internal volume 124). In some applications, the arrangement of the compressor 132 described herein may enable compression of the working fluid 102 at least partially within the housing 116 of the heat exchanger assembly 110.

As shown, the compressor 132 is mounted to the housing 116 of the heat exchanger assembly 110 in a generally vertical orientation (e.g., aligned along the vertical axis 106). In some embodiments, a rotational axis 160 of the compressor 132 (e.g., of the shaft 143, of the impeller 140) may be generally aligned (e.g., coaxial) with the suction section 130. In other words, the rotational axis 160 may be generally oriented in a vertical direction, such as in alignment with the vertical axis 106. The rotational axis 160 may extend and/or may be oriented generally cross-wise (e.g., perpendicularly) to the longitudinal axis 108 of the housing 116. Thus, the working fluid 102 may be drawn from the suction section 130 into the impeller 140 along the rotational axis 160 and/or along the vertical axis 106 and may be discharged from the impeller 140 and the diffuser 142 into the second internal volume 124 at least partially along the radial axis 104, as shown. With the compressor 132 (e.g., housing 133 of the compressor 132) directly mounted to the housing 116 of the heat exchanger assembly 110 and the impeller 140 at least partially disposed within the internal volume 118 of the housing 116, working fluid 102 may flow from the housing 116 into the impeller 140 and from the diffuser 142 back into the housing 116 without intervening components, such as conduits, casings, pipes, scrolls, and so forth. In this way, a footprint, volume, and/or amount of space occupied by the HVAC&R system 100 may be reduced. That is, the HVAC&R system 100 may be assembled in a more compact arrangement, which may enable implementation of the HVAC&R system 100 in a wider variety of applications and/or environments. The disclosed techniques may also enable a reduction in costs associated with manufacture, assembly, and/or maintenance of the HVAC&R system 100.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional side view of an embodiment of the HVAC&R system 100. The illustrated embodiment includes similar elements and element numbers as those described above. The first heat exchanger 112 disposed within the first internal volume 122 may place the working fluid 102 in a heat exchange relationship with the conditioning fluid (e.g., water) directed through the plurality of first heat exchanger tubes 128, and the second heat exchanger 114 disposed within the second internal volume 124 may place the working fluid 102 in a heat exchange relationship with the cooling fluid directed through the plurality of second heat exchanger tubes 144. In some embodiments, the first heat exchanger 112 and the second heat exchanger 114 may include heat exchanger tubes arranged in one or more respective tube bundles 180. Indeed, the first heat exchanger 112 and the second heat exchanger 114 may include different numbers of tube bundles 180 with respective heat exchanger tubes (e.g., tubes 128, 144). For example, the first heat exchanger 112 may include a greater number of first heat exchanger tubes 128 and/or tube bundles 180 than the number of second heat exchange tubes 144 and/or tube bundles 180 in the second heat exchanger 114.

The heat exchanger assembly 110 may include a first end 182 (e.g., first longitudinal end) of the housing 116 and a second end 184 (e.g., second longitudinal end) of the housing 116. The compressor 132 may be disposed along the housing 116 at a first distance 186 from the first end 182 of the housing 116 and at a second distance 188 from the second end 184 of the housing 116. In some embodiments, the first distance 186 and the second distance 188 may be similar to one another. For example, the compressor 132 may be mounted to the housing 116 at a central location (e.g., along the longitudinal axis 108) with respect to the first end 182 and the second end 184. In some other embodiments, the compressor 132 may be disposed along the housing 116 at another location (e.g., not centrally located with respect to the first end 182 and the second end 184 and/or along the longitudinal axis 108). For example, the compressor 132 may be disposed closer to the first end 182 than the second end 184 or closer to the second end 184 than the first end 182.

The suction section 130 within the housing 116 may be defined at least partially by the internal flow guide 125 disposed within the housing 116. In some embodiments, the internal flow guide 125 may be structurally coupled to the first housing component 150, the second housing component 152, or both. The internal flow guide 125 may include one or more structural components, such as a first plate 190 and a second plate 192 (e.g., second longitudinal guide plate). The first plate 190 (e.g., first longitudinal guide plate) and the second plate 192 may be configured to at least partially maintain fluid separation between the first internal volume 122 and the second internal volume 124 within the housing 116.

The first plate 190 and the second plate 192 may each extend at least partially along the longitudinal axis 108 and at least partially along the vertical axis 106. Additionally, the first plate 190 and the second plate 192 may be disposed at an angle relative to one another, such that the first plate 190 and the second plate 192 form a flow path of the suction section 130 having a tapered geometry (e.g., in a flow direction of the working fluid 102 from the first internal volume 122 toward the compressor inlet 154). For example, the first plate 190 may be disposed lower within the housing 116 with respect to the vertical axis 106 at the first end 182 of the housing 116 than at the compressor inlet 154. Similarly, the second plate 192 may be disposed lower within the housing 116 with respect to the vertical axis 106 at the second end 184 of the housing 116 than at the compressor inlet 154. In this way, the first plate 190 and the second plate 192 may guide flow of the working fluid 102 from the first internal volume 122, through the suction section 130, and toward the compressor inlet 154.

Additionally, a geometry, configuration, and/or shape of the flow path defined by one or more components of the internal flow guide 125 may cause flow of the working fluid 102 to impinge against the first plate 190, the second plate 192, or both, which may cause liquid droplets in the working fluid 102 to collect on surfaces of the internal flow guide 125 and/or be directed back toward the first heat exchanger 112 for further heat transfer and vaporization. Working fluid 102 near the first end 182 of the housing 116 and within the first internal volume 122, the second end 184 of the housing 116 and within the first internal volume 122, or at a location between the ends 182, 184 may be directed to the compressor inlet 154 via the first and second plates 190, 192.

In some embodiments, the internal flow guide 125 may include one or more reinforcement plates 194 disposed within housing 116, such as within the suction section 130. For example, the reinforcement plates 194 may extend from and/or between the guide plates 151 at least partially defining the suction section 130. In some embodiments, the reinforcement plates 194 may extend within the suction section 130 to at least partially separate the suction section 130 into suction sub-sections 196. The working fluid 102 directed through the suction section 130 may be guided by one or more reinforcement plates 194 to flow through one or more of the individual suction sub-sections 196. The reinforcement plates 194 may facilitate separation of vapor working fluid 102 from liquid droplets entrained within the vapor working fluid 102. The reinforcement plates 194 may additionally or alternatively provide structural support to the internal flow guide 125. The reinforcement plates 194 may be formed from metal or other suitable material.

As mentioned above, in some embodiments the expansion device 126 may be disposed externally to the housing 116 and within the external environment 120 of the HVAC&R system 100. The expansion device 126 may be configured to receive the working fluid 102 from the second internal volume 124 via a first conduit 198 (e.g., conduit 147) of the working fluid circuit 101 and to direct the expanded working fluid 102 toward the first internal volume 122 via a second conduit 200 of the working fluid circuit 101. As discussed above, the first conduit 198 may be fluidly coupled to the outlets 145 and may extend within the housing 116 and through the housing 116 to fluidly couple to the expansion device 126. While the illustrated embodiment depicts the expansion device 126 and the first and second conduits 198, 200 disposed at the first end 182 of the housing 116, in some other embodiments, the expansion device 126, the first conduit 198, and/or the second conduit 200 may be disposed at different locations within and/or along the housing 116 of the heat exchanger assembly 110. In some embodiments, the expansion device 126, the first conduit 198 and the second conduit 200 may be disposed at a common side of the HVAC&R system 100. In some other embodiments, the expansion device 126, the first conduit 198, and/or the second conduit 200 may be disposed on different sides or ends of the housing 116. For example, the first conduit 198 may receive the working fluid 102 from the second internal volume 124 (e.g., via the outlets 145) at the first end 182 of the housing 116, and the second conduit 200 may direct the working fluid 102 toward the first internal volume 122 at the second end 184 of the housing 116. In some embodiments, the HVAC&R system 100 may include a plurality of first conduits 198 and/or a plurality of second conduits 200 disposed along different ends and/or portions of the housing 116. In this way, the expansion device 126 may receive the working fluid 102 from the first end 182 of the housing 116, from the second end 184 of the housing 116, or both. Similarly, the plurality of second conduits 200 may distribute the expanded working fluid 102 so that the working fluid 102 is directed across the first heat exchanger 112 near the first end 182, the second end 184, or between the first end 182 and second end 184.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a portion of the heat exchanger assembly 110, illustrating an embodiment of the internal flow guide 125 configured to be disposed within the housing 116. The illustrated embodiment also shows the first housing component 150 that at least partially defines a shape and/or size of the first internal volume 122. As previously mentioned, the suction section 130 is disposed between portions or subsections of the second internal volume 124, such that suction section 130 may direct the working fluid 102 from the first internal volume 122 to the compressor inlet 154. Thus, the second heat exchanger tubes 144 of the second heat exchanger 114 may be disposed on either side (e.g., opposite sides) of the suction section 130. As mentioned above, the internal flow guide 125 may include the first plate 190 and the second plate 192. The internal flow guide 125 may also include guide plates 151, which may extend from the first plate 190 to the second plate 192. In this way, the internal flow guide 125 may define a flow path (e.g., suction flow path, suction section 130) from the first internal volume 122 to the compressor inlet 154 that is fluidly separate from the second internal volume 124 within the housing 116. In some embodiments, the internal flow guide 125 may define a suction section outlet port 250 disposed at an end 252 of the suction section 130. The suction section outlet port 250 may be formed by the space between an edge 254 of the first plate 190, an edge 256 of the second plate 192, and/or edges 258 of the guide plates 151. The suction section outlet port 250 may be fluidly coupled to the compressor inlet 154, such that working fluid 102 directed through the suction section 130 may be received by the compressor 132 (e.g., the impeller 140).

In accordance with present techniques, an HVAC&R system includes a heat exchanger assembly having a housing or shell and a compressor directly coupled to the housing or shell of the heat exchanger assembly. The housing of the heat exchanger assembly may be divided or separated into a first internal volume and a second internal volume, where a first heat exchanger of the HVAC&R system is disposed within the first internal volume, and a second heat exchanger of the HVAC&R system is disposed within the second internal volume. In some embodiments, a portion of the compressor, such as an impeller and/or a diffuser of the compressor, may be disposed at least partially within the housing of the heat exchanger assembly. Thus, the heat exchanger assembly may direct a working fluid from the first heat exchanger within the heat exchanger assembly and directly into the compressor, and the compressor may direct the working fluid directly to the second heat exchanger within the heat exchanger assembly. The HVAC&R system may therefore not include certain components, such as a suction conduit, typically included in existing HVAC&R systems. Accordingly, the physical dimensions of the overall HVAC&R system may be reduced, and the HVAC&R system may occupy less space, which may enable more versatile installation, operation, transportation, and/or maintenance of the HVAC&R system, as well as reduced costs associated therewith.

While only certain features and embodiments of the present disclosure have been illustrated and described, many modifications and changes may occur to those skilled in the art (e.g., variations in sizes, dimensions, structures, shapes and proportions of the various elements, values of parameters (e.g., temperatures, pressures, etc.), mounting arrangements, use of materials, colors, orientations, etc.) without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the subject matter recited in the claims. The order or sequence of any process or method steps may be varied or re-sequenced according to alternative embodiments. It is, therefore, to be noted that the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit of the present disclosure. Furthermore, in an effort to provide a concise description of the exemplary embodiments, all features of an actual implementation may not have been described (i.e., those unrelated to the presently contemplated best mode of carrying out the present disclosure, or those unrelated to enabling the claimed embodiments). It should be appreciated that in the development of any such actual implementation, as in any engineering or design project, numerous implementation specific decisions may be made. Such a development effort might be complex and time consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking of design, fabrication, and manufacture for those of ordinary skill having the benefit of this disclosure, without undue experimentation.

The techniques presented and claimed herein are referenced and applied to material objects and concrete examples of a practical nature that demonstrably improve the present technical field and, as such, are not abstract, intangible or purely theoretical. Further, if any claims appended to the end of this specification contain one or more elements designated as "means for [perform]ing [a function]..." or "step for [perform]ing [a function]...", it is intended that such elements are to be interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f). However, for any claims containing elements designated in any other manner, it is intended that such elements are not to be interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f).

Claims

COMPACT HVAC&R SYSTEM Claims

1. A heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVAC&R) system, comprising: a heat exchanger assembly comprising a housing, wherein the housing defines a first internal volume and a second internal volume; and a compressor directly coupled to the housing of the heat exchanger assembly, wherein the compressor comprises an impeller, and the impeller is at least partially disposed within the housing of the heat exchanger assembly, wherein the compressor is configured to receive a flow of working fluid from the first internal volume and to discharge the flow of working fluid into the second internal volume.

2. The HVAC&R system of claim 1, comprising an internal flow guide disposed within the housing of the heat exchanger assembly, wherein the internal flow guide is configured to separate the first internal volume and the second internal volume within the housing.

3. The HVAC&R system of claim 2, wherein the internal flow guide defines a suction flow path extending from the first internal volume to an impeller inlet of the impeller.

4. The HVAC&R system of claim 3, wherein the suction flow path extends from the first internal volume to the impeller inlet along a rotational axis of the compressor.

5. The HVAC&R system of claim 3, wherein the suction flow path extends between a first portion of the second internal volume and a second portion of the second internal volume.

6. The HVAC&R system of one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the compressor comprises a compressor housing, and the compressor housing is directly mounted to the housing of the heat exchanger assembly.

7. The HVAC&R system of claim 6, wherein the compressor comprises a motor disposed within the compressor housing, and a rotational axis of the motor is oriented cross-wise to a longitudinal axis of the housing of the heat exchanger assembly.

8. The HVAC&R system of one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the heat exchanger assembly comprises a plurality of first heat exchanger tubes disposed within the first internal volume and a plurality of second heat exchanger tubes disposed within the second internal volume, wherein the plurality of first heat exchanger tubes is configured to circulate a first fluid therethrough, and the plurality of second heat exchanger tubes is configured to direct a second fluid therethrough.

9. The HVAC&R system of one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the compressor comprises a diffuser, the diffuser is configured to receive the flow of working fluid from the impeller, and the diffuser is at least partially disposed within the housing of the heat exchanger assembly.

10. A heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVAC&R) system, comprising: a working fluid circuit; a heat exchanger assembly disposed along the working fluid circuit, wherein the heat exchanger assembly comprises a housing defining an internal volume; an internal flow guide disposed within the housing of the heat exchanger assembly, wherein the internal flow guide separates the internal volume into a first internal volume and a second internal volume within the housing; and a compressor, comprising: a compressor housing mounted to the housing of the heat exchanger assembly; an impeller disposed at least partially disposed within the housing of the heat exchanger assembly; and a motor disposed within the compressor housing, wherein the motor is configured to drive the impeller to rotate at least partially within the housing of the heat exchanger assembly.

11. The HVAC&R system of claim 10, wherein the compressor is configured to draw a flow of working fluid directly from the internal volume of the housing into the impeller and to discharge the flow of working fluid directly into the internal volume of the housing from the compressor.

12. The HVAC&R system of claim 11, wherein the compressor is configured to draw the flow of working fluid from the first internal volume into the impeller and to discharge the flow of working fluid from the compressor into the second internal volume.

13. The HVAC&R system of one of claims 10 to 12, wherein the heat exchanger assembly comprises: a first heat exchanger disposed within the first internal volume, wherein the first heat exchanger comprises a plurality of first heat exchanger tubes disposed within the first internal volume, and the plurality of first heat exchanger tubes is configured to circulate a first fluid therethrough to place the first fluid in a first heat exchange relationship with the flow of working fluid; and a second heat exchanger disposed within the second internal volume, wherein the second heat exchanger comprises a plurality of second heat exchanger tubes disposed within the second internal volume, and the plurality of second heat exchanger tubes is configured to circulate a second fluid therethrough to place the second fluid in a second heat exchange relationship with the flow of working fluid.

14. The HVAC&R system of one of claims 10 to 13, wherein the working fluid circuit comprises: an expansion valve disposed external to the housing of the heat exchanger assembly; a first conduit extending from the second internal volume within the housing to the expansion valve; and a second conduit extending from the expansion valve to the first internal volume within the housing.

15. The HVAC&R system of one of claims 10 to 14, wherein the internal flow guide defines a suction flow path within the housing, the internal flow guide is configured to direct a flow of working fluid from the first internal volume to an inlet of the impeller, and the suction flow path is aligned with a rotational axis of the motor.

16. The HVAC&R system of claim 15, wherein the internal flow guide comprises a first plate and a second plate, wherein the first plate and the second plate define a taper of the suction flow path from the first internal volume to the inlet of the impeller.

17. The HVAC&R system of one of claims 10 to 16, wherein the internal flow guide comprises a curved portion extending between the first internal volume and the second internal volume, wherein a convex surface of the curved portion faces the first internal volume, and a concave surface of the curved portion faces the second internal volume.

18. A heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVAC&R) system, comprising: a heat exchanger assembly, comprising: a housing defining an internal volume; an internal flow guide disposed within the housing, wherein the internal flow guide separates the internal volume into a first internal volume and a second internal volume within the housing; a plurality of first heat exchanger tubes disposed within the first internal volume, wherein the plurality of first heat exchanger tubes is configured to direct a first fluid therethrough; and a plurality of second heat exchanger tubes disposed within the second internal volume, wherein the plurality of second heat exchanger tubes is configured to direct a second fluid therethrough; and a compressor directly coupled to the housing of the heat exchanger assembly, wherein the compressor comprises an impeller and a motor configured to drive rotation of the impeller, the impeller is at least partially disposed within the housing of the heat exchanger assembly, and the compressor is configured to draw a flow of working fluid into the impeller directly from the first internal volume and to discharge the flow of working fluid directly into the second internal volume.

19. The HVAC&R system of claim 18, wherein the compressor comprises a compressor housing directly mounted to the housing of the heat exchanger assembly, the motor is configured to rotate the impeller about a rotational axis, and the rotational axis is oriented vertically relative to a direction of gravity.

20. The HVAC&R system of claim 18 or 19, wherein the plurality of first heat exchanger tubes is configured to transfer heat from the first fluid to the flow of working fluid, and the plurality of second heat exchanger tubes is configured to transfer heat from the flow of working fluid to the second fluid.