US20120312035A1

US20120312035A1 - Air conditioning system

Info

Publication number: US20120312035A1
Application number: US13/261,351
Authority: US
Inventors: Andre Boucher
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-01-04
Filing date: 2010-07-12
Publication date: 2012-12-13
Also published as: CA2786069A1; GB201000017D0; WO2011079371A1

Abstract

An air conditioning system (10) using a refrigerant fluid (102) and a cooling liquid, the air conditioning system (10) comprising: a first compartment (22) defining a first air inlet (31) and a first air outlet (33) and a first ventilator (28) for creating a first air flow (35) through the first compartment (22) from the first air inlet (31) to the first air outlet (33); a first heat exchange unit (16) provided in the first compartment (22) for allowing heat exchange between the refrigerant fluid (102) and the first air flow (35) when the refrigerant fluid (102) is circulated through the first heat exchange unit (16); a second heat exchange unit (14) also provided in the first compartment (22) for allowing heat exchange between the refrigerant fluid (102) and the first air flow (35) when the refrigerant fluid (102) is circulated through the second heat exchange unit (14), the second heat exchange unit (14) being provided downstream from the first heat exchange unit (16) relatively to the first air flow (35), the second heat exchange unit (14) being in fluid communication with the first heat exchange unit (16) for allowing circulation of the refrigerant fluid (102) from the second heat exchange unit (14) to the first heat exchange unit (16). The second heat exchange unit (14) is a desuperheater in which the refrigerant fluid (102) is cooled down by the first air flow (35) while remaining gaseous and the first heat exchange unit (16) is a condenser in which the refrigerant fluid (102) condenses when cooled by the first air flow (35).

Description

This application claims priority from GB Patent Application No. 1000017.2 on Jan. 4, 2010

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to an air conditioning system and method, and more specifically to such a system including a desuperheater.

BACKGROUND

Central air conditioning systems are known in the art and are useful for providing air quality related conditioning functions such as, for example, ventilation, heating, cooling, humidifying, dehumidifying, filtering and air renewal functions to the interior living spaces of private and public buildings.
Central air conditioning systems of the prior art are typically represented by a plurality of conventional air conditioning components such as, for examples, air filters, ventilator fans and motors, compressor units, condensers, evaporators, refrigerant circuits, air-to-air heat exchangers, air heaters, pressure control switches, solenoid valves, water sprinklers, room thermostats, humidistats, and the like.
While these prior art systems generally offer a central air conditioning system that controls the temperature, humidity and rate of renewal of the ambient air in a given living space, they also entail one main disadvantage in that they may use considerable interior space when installed, for example, in relatively small residence units such as condominiums and apartments, for example.
Because of the heating/cooling BTU load design for a given interior living space, the combined air conditioning components, including the system itself and its correspondingly sized network of intake and exhaust air ducts, are typically space consuming and, thus, often occupy a whole room space. In other installations, the various components of the air conditioning system may be dispersed in more than one room that are dedicated in whole or in part to conditioning the ambient air of the interior spaces.
Also, the space constraints in relatively small living spaces such as condominiums, apartments, small homes, business offices and the likes, are now even more exacerbated by new building rules to optimize energy efficiency. For example, more and more municipalities now require by law that every new units in a housing or condominium project have their central air conditioning system equipped with a heat exchanger, such as an air-to-air heat exchanger or the likes. Such heat exchangers generally require the provision of an additional minimum interior space within the housing unit.
Furthermore, to maximize their return on investment, the housing contractors are always on the lookout for new space efficient design for their housing units such that more and more housing units can be build on less and less surface space.
Against this background, there exists a need for a new and improved air conditioning systems and methods It is a general object of the present invention to provide a new and improved air conditioning system and method.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a broad aspect, the invention provides an air conditioning system using a refrigerant fluid and a cooling liquid, the air conditioning system comprising: a first compartment, the first compartment defining a first air inlet and a first air outlet; a substantially elongated first air outlet duct in fluid communication with the first air outlet, the first air outlet duct defining a first duct longitudinal axis; a first ventilator operatively coupled to the first air inlet and the first air outlet for creating a first air flow through the first compartment and the first air outlet duct from the first air inlet through the first air outlet and into the first air outlet duct; a first heat exchange unit provided in the first compartment for allowing heat exchange between the refrigerant fluid and the first air flow when the refrigerant fluid is circulated through the first heat exchange unit; a second heat exchange unit also provided in the first compartment for allowing heat exchange between the refrigerant fluid and the first air flow when the refrigerant fluid is circulated through the second heat exchange unit, the second heat exchange unit being provided downstream from the first heat exchange unit relatively to the first air flow, the second heat exchange unit being in fluid communication with the first heat exchange unit for allowing circulation of the refrigerant fluid from the second heat exchange unit to the first heat exchange unit; a third heat exchange unit provided in the first air outlet duct for allowing heat exchange between the refrigerant fluid and the first air flow when the refrigerant fluid is circulated through the third heat exchange unit, the third heat exchange unit being in fluid communication with the second heat exchange unit for allowing circulation of the refrigerant fluid from the third heat exchange unit to the second heat exchange unit, the third heat exchange unit extending along the first air outlet duct, the third heat exchange unit being angled with respect to the first duct longitudinal axis; a first liquid sprinkler provided substantially adjacent the first and second heat exchange units, the first liquid sprinkler being positioned, configured and sized for simultaneously sprinkling the cooling liquid onto both the first and second heat exchange units; a second compartment, the second compartment defining a second air inlet and a second air outlet; a second ventilator operatively coupled to the second air inlet and the second air outlet for creating a second air flow through the second compartment from the second air inlet to the second air outlet; a compressor unit in fluid communication with the third heat exchange unit for compressing the refrigerant fluid to produce a compressed refrigerant fluid in gas phase and providing the compressed refrigerant fluid to the third heat exchange unit; an evaporator for evaporating the refrigerant fluid and allowing heat exchange between the refrigerant fluid and the second air flow, the evaporator being provided in the second compartment substantially across the second air flow, the evaporator being in fluid communication with the compressor and the first heat exchange unit for receiving the refrigerant fluid from the first heat exchange unit and releasing the refrigerant fluid to the compressor. The second and third heat exchange units are desuperheaters in which the refrigerant fluid is cooled down by the first air flow while remaining gaseous and the first heat exchange unit is a condenser in which the refrigerant fluid condenses when cooled by the first air flow.
In another broad aspect, the invention provides an air conditioning system using a refrigerant fluid and a cooling liquid, the air conditioning system comprising: a first compartment, the first compartment defining a first air inlet and a first air outlet; a substantially elongated first air outlet duct in fluid communication with the first air outlet, the first air outlet duct defining a first duct longitudinal axis; a first ventilator operatively coupled to the first air inlet and the first air outlet for creating a first air flow through the first compartment and the first air outlet duct from the first air inlet through the first air outlet and into the first air outlet duct; a first heat exchange unit provided in the first compartment for allowing heat exchange between the refrigerant fluid and the first air flow when the refrigerant fluid is circulated through the first heat exchange unit; a second heat exchange unit also provided in the first compartment for allowing heat exchange between the refrigerant fluid and the first air flow when the refrigerant fluid is circulated through the second heat exchange unit, the second heat exchange unit being provided downstream from the first heat exchange unit relatively to the first air flow, the second heat exchange unit being in fluid communication with the first heat exchange unit for allowing circulation of the refrigerant fluid from the second heat exchange unit to the first heat exchange unit; a third heat exchange unit provided in the first air outlet duct for allowing heat exchange between the refrigerant fluid and the first air flow when the refrigerant fluid is circulated through the third heat exchange unit, the third heat exchange unit being in fluid communication with the second heat exchange unit for allowing circulation of the refrigerant fluid from the third heat exchange unit to the second heat exchange unit, the third heat exchange unit extending along the first air outlet duct, the third heat exchange unit being angled with respect to the first duct longitudinal axis; and a first liquid sprinkler provided substantially adjacent the first and second heat exchange units, the first liquid sprinkler being positioned, configured and sized for simultaneously sprinkling the cooling liquid onto both the first and second heat exchange units. Circulating the first air flow with the first ventilator and circulating the refrigerant fluid from the third heat exchange unit, through the second heat exchange unit and to the first heat exchange unit while sprinkling the first and second heat exchange units with the cooling liquid cools down the refrigerant fluid when the refrigerant fluid is hotter than the first air flow.
In yet another broad aspect, the invention provides an air conditioning system using a refrigerant fluid and a cooling liquid, the air conditioning system comprising: a first compartment, the first compartment defining a first air inlet and a first air outlet; a first ventilator operatively coupled to the first air inlet and the first air outlet for creating a first air flow through the first compartment and from the first air inlet to the first air outlet; a first heat exchange unit provided in the first compartment for allowing heat exchange between the refrigerant fluid and the first air flow when the refrigerant fluid is circulated through the first heat exchange unit; a second heat exchange unit also provided in the first compartment for allowing heat exchange between the refrigerant fluid and the first air flow when the refrigerant fluid is circulated through the second heat exchange unit, the second heat exchange unit being provided downstream from the first heat exchange unit relatively to the first air flow, the second heat exchange unit being in fluid communication with the first heat exchange unit for allowing circulation of the refrigerant fluid from the second heat exchange unit to the first heat exchange unit; a compressor unit in fluid communication with the second heat exchange unit for compressing the refrigerant fluid to produce a compressed refrigerant fluid in gas phase and providing the compressed refrigerant fluid to the second heat exchange unit; an evaporator for evaporating the refrigerant fluid, the evaporator being in fluid communication with the compressor and the first heat exchange unit for receiving the refrigerant fluid from the first heat exchange unit and releasing the refrigerant fluid to the compressor The second heat exchange unit is a desuperheater in which the refrigerant fluid is cooled down by the first air flow while remaining gaseous and the first heat exchange unit is a condenser in which the refrigerant fluid condenses when cooled by the first air flow.
In yet another broad aspect, the invention provides a method for cooling a refrigerant fluid in an air conditioning system using an air flow. The method includes compressing the refrigerant fluid in a gas phase; in a first cooling step subsequent to compressing the refrigerant fluid, cooling the refrigerant fluid by transferring heat from the refrigerant fluid to the air flow with the refrigerant fluid remaining in the gas phase; and in a second cooling step subsequent to the first cooling step, cooling the refrigerant fluid by transferring heat from the refrigerant fluid to the air flow with the refrigerant fluid condensing to a liquid phase. The air flow flows in a manner such that the air flow is used first in the second cooling step and then circulated to be used in the first cooling step.
According to a first variant, the air conditioning system generally comprises a main housing that incorporates, in a relatively small design and compact assembly, various air conditioning components. The air conditioning components generally include at least the compressor unit, the second heat exchange unit in the form of a desuperheater, the first heat exchange unit in the form of a condenser and an evaporator, all of which are linked sequentially through a plurality of refrigerant conduits which form a closed refrigerant circuit. In some embodiments of the invention, a pair of ventilator units, an air-to-air heat exchanger, an air heater, a plurality of intake and exhaust air ducts, and a plurality of other conventional air conditioning components such as, for example, control switches, solenoid valves, water sprinklers, expansion valve, and the likes complete the assembly of the system.
Advantageously, the desuperheater that is positioned upstream of the condenser, relative to the flow of refrigerant through the circuit, while being inversely positioned downstream of the condenser, relative to the air flow direction provided by a cooling ventilator, enhances the efficiency of the proposed air conditioning system.
Furthermore, in some embodiments of the invention, an automatically activated liquid sprinkler, that for example sprinkles water, is suitably positioned between the desuperheater and the condenser such that, when the liquid sprinkler is activated, both the desuperheater and the condenser receive a spray of cooling liquid simultaneously.
This particular arrangement of the desuperheater, condenser and water sprinkler may be used to provide a significant increase of the cooling BTU capacity of the air conditioning system relative to prior art systems having comparably the same physical dimension. Inversely, such an increase in cooling BTU capacity may thus allow for a central air conditioning system of the present invention having an overall design that is relatively smaller than comparable systems of the prior art having comparable BTU capacity, since proportionally smaller compressor unit, as well as a proportionally lower flow rate of air, are required for a given cooling BTU load design.
It is to be noted that a lower flow rate of air may also result in a significant reduction in the sizing of the required ventilators and associated network of air ducts associated with the system and the target living spaces.
According to a second variant, the central air conditioning system according to the present invention is represented by a substantially equivalent central air conditioning system as the first variant described above, except that the present variant includes the third heat exchange unit in the form of another desuperheater. The additional desuperheater is positioned upstream of the first desuperheater and condenser, relative to the flow of refrigerant fluid through the circuit, while being inversely positioned downstream of the condenser and first desuperheater, relative to the air flow direction provided by the first cooling ventilator.
This particular configuration of the system that includes an additional desuperheater may be used to further provide a significant increase of the cooling BTU capacity of the system and, thus, allows for an even smaller overall design of the system.
In some embodiments of the present invention, the two variants described hereinabove may include substantially all the main components that can be found in conventional central air conditioning systems of the prior art, integrated in a single and compact unit, as described above, for installation in a single location within the living space of a residence unit. Or, they may have selected components distributed in more than one location within a living space, with suitably sized and configured air and refrigerant fluid conduits linking the distributed components for the proper operation of the system.
Thus, there is provided a novel and unobvious system for conditioning the ambient air of an interior living space. The air conditioning system of the present invention being characterized in that it comprises substantially all the main components that can be found in conventional central air conditioning systems of the prior art, while occupying a significantly smaller volume, for example, an up to 60% smaller overall volume, as compared to prior art central air conditioning systems having a comparable BTU capacity and air conditioning characteristics. This economy of volume allowed by the various embodiments of the present invention may be achieved with all their components integrated in a single and compact unit, or with the various components being distributed in more than one place within the living space of a residence unit.
For example, while a conventional central air conditioning system of the prior art that is suitably sized for an average size condominium may typically occupy a volume roughly equivalent to an average size, six foot tall (1.8 meters) clothing cabinet, in some embodiments, the present invention designed for a similar BTU heating/cooling load design and air conditioning characteristics may only occupy about a third (or about 30%) of that volume.
Other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will become more apparent upon reading of the following non-restrictive description of preferred embodiments thereof, given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1, in a side cross-sectional view, illustrates an air conditioning system according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2, in a schematic view, illustrates the air conditioning system of FIG. 1, here illustrating the circulation path of the refrigerant through the various components of the air conditioning system;

FIG. 3, in a fragmented top perspective view, illustrates a heat exchanger part of the air conditioning system of FIG. 1, here shown with a top cover portion thereof and a side wall portion thereof removed for a better view of its interior structure;

FIG. 4, in a a schematic top plan view, illustrates the heat exchanger of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5, in a an environmental side cross-sectional view, illustrates the air conditioning system of FIG. 1, here shown coupled to a first circuit configuration of air ducts;

FIG. 6, in an environmental side cross-sectional, illustrates the air conditioning system of FIG. 1, here shown coupled to a second circuit configuration of air ducts;

FIG. 7, in a side cross-sectional view, illustrates an air conditioning system according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8, in a schematic cross-sectional view, illustrates the air conditioning system of FIG. 7, here illustrating the circulation path of the refrigerant through the various components of the system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1 to 6 inclusively show various aspects of a first embodiment of an air conditioning system 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Now referring more particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, the air conditioning system 10 generally comprises conventional refrigeration components such as a compressor unit 12, a first heat exchange unit in the form of a condenser 16, a second heat exchange unit in the form of a desuperheater 14 and an evaporator 18. The main housing 20 of the air conditioning system 10 is separated in two main compartments, namely a first compartment 22 and a second compartment 24, that are substantially adjacent to each other and that are isolated from one another by a common central wall 26 that is shared between them. The common central wall 26 is typically relatively highly thermally insulated to reduce heat transfer between the first and second compartments 22 and 24. The first compartment 22 houses the compressor unit 12, the desuperheater 14 and the condenser 16, while the evaporator 18 is provided in the second compartment 24. However, in alternative embodiments of the invention, the compressor unit 12 is provided outside of the first compartment 22.
The first compartment defines a first air inlet 31 and a first air outlet 33. The first compartment houses a first ventilator 28 that draws air from a first air intake duct 30 in fluid communication with the first air inlet and creates a first air flow 35 that is blown through the first compartment 22 through the first air inlet 31. From there, the first air flow 35 is forced out, first, through the condenser 16, followed with through the desuperheater 14, and then out through the first air outlet 33. In other words, the first ventilator 28 is operatively coupled to the first air inlet 31 and the first air outlet 33 for creating the first air flow 35 (seen in FIG. 2) through the first compartment 22 from the first air inlet 31 to the first air outlet 33.
In some embodiments of the invention, a substantially elongated first air outlet duct 32 extends from the first air outlet 33 and is substantially vertically disposed along a vertical side wall of the air conditioning system 10 and. The first air outlet duct in fluid communication with the first air outlet 33 and defines a first duct longitudinal axis 37. Since the first air outlet duct 32 is in fluid communication with the first air outlet 33, the first air flow 35 is pushed through the first air outlet duct 32.
The second compartment defines a second air inlet 39 and a second air outlet 41. A second ventilator 34 is operatively coupled to the second air inlet 39 and the second air outlet 41 for creating a second air flow 43 (seen in FIG. 2) through the second compartment 24 from the second air inlet 39 to the second air outlet 41. Typically, the second compartment 24 houses the second ventilator 34 that draws air from a second air intake duct 36, that leads to the second air inlet 39, and circulates the second air flow 43 through the evaporator 18, which is typically located in the second compartment across the second air flow 43. The second ventilator 34 also circulates the second air flow 43 through the second air outlet 41 and exhaust this air through a second air outlet duct 38 that extends from, and is in fluid communication with, the second air outlet 41. The second air intake duct 36 may be covered by an air filter (not shown) slidably engaged between suitably adapted support brackets 40. The second air intake duct 36 may further be optionally covered with an air intake silencer box 42.
In some embodiments of the invention, the second air outlet duct 38 includes an electric or hot water operated air heating element 44 provided in the second air outlet duct 38 for selectively heating the second air flow 43.
An air-to-air heat exchanger 46 is typically attached to, and may substantially cover the bottom wall section of the main housing 20 of the air conditioning system 10. In these embodiments, the air-to-air heat exchanger 46 is therefore provided substantially adjacent the first and second compartments 22 and 24 and extends substantially perpendicularly to the common central wall 26. FIG. 3 shows an air-to-air heat exchanger 46 having its top and a side wall removed for a better view of the interior structure, and FIG. 4 shows a top plan view of the air-to-air heat exchanger 46 wherein the top wall section is illustrated in a transparent schematic view. Referring more specifically to FIG. 3, the air-to-air heat exchanger 46 may be generally represented by a substantially low profile box-shaped housing having two main internal compartments 48 and 50 that are divided by a pair of distally disposed central wall portions 52. The central wall portions 52 are in turn separated by a substantially low profile box-shaped heat exchanger module 54, represented schematically in FIG. 3, that is disposed at an angle in the horizontal plane, relative to the surrounding side wall sections 56 of the air-to-air heat exchanger 46. In turn, the top and bottom wall sections of the air-to-air heat exchanger 46 are sealed against the corresponding top and bottom wall sections of the heat exchanger module 54.
The heat exchanger module 54 has each of its distal end corners 58 integrally joined with a corresponding central wall portion 52 or side wall section 56. As can be observed in FIG. 4, the heat exchanger module 54 includes a conventional stacked core formed by stacking a plurality of unit plate members in each of which passage formation portions 60 and 62 are formed independently of each other in a perpendicular cross-flow configuration.
A pair of intake air ports 64 and 66 are provided through oppositely disposed side wall sections 56 of a first heat exchanger compartment 48. The pair of intake air ports 64 and 66 are preferably provided with inwardly directed one-way air valves 68.
An oppositely corresponding pair of exhaust air ports 70 and 72 are provided through distal end portions of the top wall section (not shown) of the heat air-to-air exchanger 46. The exhaust air ports 70 and 72 are visible in FIG. 4.
Referring to FIG. 4, two distinct air passages are formed through the air-to-air heat exchanger 46, allowing a third air flow 74 to pass from the intake air port 64 to the correspondingly opposite exhaust air port 70, and a separate, fourth air flow 76 to pass from the intake air port 66 to the correspondingly opposite exhaust air port 72, with both the third and fourth air flows 74 and 76 exchanging heat therebetween through the internal heat exchanger module 54. Typically, the air-to-air heat exchanger 46 is operatively coupled to the first and second compartments 22 and 24 so that the third and fourth air flows 74 and 76 are exhausted from the air-to-air heat exchanger 46 respectively in the first and second compartments 22 and 24.
With the air-to-air heat exchanger 46 suitably installed under the housing 20 of the air conditioning system 10, as illustrated in FIG. 5, it can be observed that a return of interior warm air flow 78 coming from an ’ intake air duct 80 positioned, for example, in the shower room of a condominium, is first vacuumed through the intake air port 66 of the air-to-air heat exchanger 46, then through the internal heat exchanger module 54, then through the opposite exhaust air port 72, then through the first compartment 22 of the air conditioning system 10, and then finally exhausted to the outside air 82 through the first air outlet duct 32.
Conversely, a fresh flow of outside air 82 coming from, for example, an exterior intake air duct 84, is first vacuumed through the intake air port 64 of the air-to-air heat exchanger 46, then through the internal heat exchanger module 54, then through the exhaust air port 70, then through the second compartment 24 of the air conditioning system 10, and then finally exhausted to the inside air of the living spaces 86 of the condominium through the exhaust air duct 45 of the air conditioning system 10.
Thus, a warm flow of interior air 78 may be exhausted from the interior of a living space, and a fresh flow of outside air 82 may be drawn into the living space while, at the same time, a portion of the heat of the exhausted warm air 78 is transferred to the fresh incoming outside air 82.
FIG. 6 shows an alternate configuration of the air duct network associated with the air conditioning system 10, and in which a portion of the exhaust air propulsed by the second ventilator 34 is exhausted directly through the air-to-air heat exchanger 46. Thus, fresh outside air 82, partially warmed-up through the air-to-air heat exchanger 46, may be injected back in the living spaces 86. In this embodiment, a portion of the second air flow. 43 is directed toward the air-to-air heat exchanger 46 with the third air flow 74 to allow heat exchange between the portion of the second air flow 43 and the fourth air flow 76.
As best illustrated in FIG. 2, the compressor unit 12 is in fluid communication with the desuperheater 14 through a first refrigerant conduit 90 and is provided for compressing the refrigerant fluid 102 to produce a compressed refrigerant fluid 102 in gas phase and providing the compressed refrigerant fluid 102 to the desuperheater 14. The desuperheater 14 is in fluid communication with the condenser 16 through a second refrigerant conduit 92 for allowing circulation of the refrigerant fluid 102 from the desuperheater 14 to the condenser 16 and is provided in the first compartment 22 for allowing heat exchange between the refrigerant fluid 102 and the first air flow 35 when the refrigerant fluid 102 is circulated through the desuperheater 14, the refrigerant fluid 102 cooling down in the desuperheater 14 while remaining gaseous. The condenser 16 is in fluid communication with the evaporator 18 through a third refrigerant conduit 94 and is provided in the first compartment 22 for allowing heat exchange between the refrigerant fluid 102 and the first air flow 35 when the refrigerant fluid 102 is circulated through the condenser 16 with the refrigerant fluid 102 condensing in the condenser 16. In turn, the evaporator 18 is back in fluid communication with the compressor unit 12 through a fourth refrigerant conduit 96 which, thus, closes the complete refrigerant circuit of the air conditioning system 10. The evaporator 18 is provided for evaporating the refrigerant fluid 102 and exchanging heat with the second air flow 43. The evaporator 18 is in fluid communication with the compressor unit 12 and the condenser 16 for receiving the refrigerant fluid 102 from the condenser 16 unit and releasing the refrigerant fluid 102 to the compressor unit 12.
Thus, the air provided by the first ventilator 28 forces the coolest air portion of the first air flow 35 first through the condenser 16, followed with through the desuperheater 14, since the condenser 16 is physically positioned upstream relative to the first air flow 35. Inversely, the compressor unit 12 forces the hottest refrigerant fluid 102 first through the desuperheater 14, followed with through the condenser 16, since the desuperheater 14 is physically positioned upstream in the refrigerant circuit, relative to the flow direction of the refrigerant fluid 102 circulating therein.
This particular configuration of the desuperheater 14 and condenser 16 and, relative to flow direction of the first air flow 35 provided by the first ventilator 28, and the flow direction of the refrigerant fluid 102 forced by the compressor unit 12, allows the refrigerant fluid 102 to be significantly cooled down by the desuperheater 14, prior to entering the condenser 16, which is already receiving the coolest portion of the first air flow 35 from the first ventilator 28. The result is a desuperheater 14 and condenser 16 configuration that is particularly energy efficient.
Various regulation and control components complete the refrigerant circuit of the air conditioning system 10. Thus, the first refrigerant conduit 90, at the output of the compressor unit 12, is in fluid communication with a pressure modulated speed control 104, for controlling the rotational speed of the first ventilator 28, a pressure control switch 106, for controlling the solenoid control valve 108 which, in turn, controls a first liquid sprinkler 110, and a high pressure control element 112.
The third refrigerant conduit 94, at the output of the condenser 16, is in fluid communication with typically a refrigerant filter 114, a refrigerant sight glass 116 and a refrigerant expansion valve 118.
In some embodiments of the invention, the first liquid sprinkler 110 is provided substantially adjacent the desuperheater 14 and the condenser 16, the first liquid sprinkler 110 being positioned, configured and sized for simultaneously sprinkling a cooling liquid, for example water, onto both the desuperheater 14 and the condenser 16. For example, the first liquid sprinkler 110 is suitably positioned and configured between the desuperheater 14 and the condenser 16 such that both may receive cooling liquid droplets simultaneously, as best illustrated in FIG. 2. Thus, the first liquid sprinkler 110 may be advantageously activated in order to provide a significant increase of the cooling BTU capacity of the air conditioning system 10.
In some embodiments of the invention, a second liquid sprinkler 120 is provided substantially adjacent the evaporator 18, the second liquid sprinkler 120 being positioned, configured and sized for sprinkling the cooling liquid onto the evaporator 18. Typically, the second liquid sprinkler 120 is suitably positioned and configured proximal the evaporator 18. The second liquid sprinkler 120 is controlled by the solenoid control valve 122 which, in turn, may be controlled, for example, by a conventional room humidistat (not shown). When the solenoid control valve 122 is activated, the second liquid sprinkler 120 sprays water, or any other suitable liquid, on the evaporator 18 which, in turn, rises the humidity level within the living spaces conditioned by the air conditioning system 10, as well as improving the overall efficiency of the latter. Typically, a suitable condensation water drain (not shown) is provided to evacuate the excess condensate water from the first and second compartments 22 and 24 of the air conditioning system 10.
Now referring more particularly to FIG. 2, a typical mode of operation of the air conditioning system 10 is generally described as follows. Once the compressor unit 12 is activated, the latter compresses and forces the refrigerant fluid 102 which, at this point is in a hot gas or vapor state, through the desuperheater 14. The desuperheater 14 removes a portion of the heat from the hot gas. The thus slightly cooled down refrigerant fluid 102 then passes through the condenser 16 which, in turn, completes the cooling phase of the refrigerant fluid 102. Finally, the refrigerant fluid 102 passes through the evaporator 18 where it absorbs heat from the relatively warm second air flow 43 forced therethrough by the second ventilator 34.
As heat is gradually absorbed over time by the refrigerant fluid 102 passing through the evaporator 18, the pressure of the refrigerant fluid 102 through the first refrigerant conduit 90 proportionally rises until it exceeds a first predetermined pressure level. This first predetermined pressure level, once reached, triggers the pressure modulated speed control 104 of the first ventilator 28. Thus, the first ventilator 28 draws air from the first air intake duct 30, which is in fluid communication with the outside air 82, and forces the thus created first air flow 35 through the sequentially disposed condenser 16 and desuperheater 14 respectively, at a modulated speed that is substantially proportional to the pressure of the refrigerant fluid 102 measured by the speed control 104. Hence, the pressure in the first refrigerant conduit 90 is substantially maintained at, or near a second predetermined pressure level for a proper operation of the air conditioning system 10.
If the outside air temperature or the refrigerant fluid 102 pressure keep rising, such as during prolonged heatwave conditions, the first ventilator 28 may reach its maximum rated speed. Thus, the pressure control switch 106 may eventually activates the solenoid control valve 108 which, in turn, activates the first liquid sprinkler 110. Hence, the first liquid sprinkler 110 sprays the cooling liquid simultaneously on both the desuperheater 14 and condenser 16 which, in turn, lowers down the pressure and temperature of the hot gases in the refrigerant circuit in order to maintain an optimum performance of the air conditioning system 10.
In other words, the proposed air conditioning system 10 implements a method for cooling a refrigerant fluid 102 in the air conditioning system 10 using the first air flow 35. The method includes compressing the refrigerant fluid 102 in a gas phase, in a first cooling step subsequent to compressing the refrigerant fluid 102, cooling the refrigerant fluid 102 by transferring heat from the refrigerant fluid 102 to the first air flow 35 with the refrigerant fluid 102 remaining in the gas phase and, in a second cooling step subsequent to the first cooling step, cooling the refrigerant fluid 102 by transferring heat from the refrigerant fluid 102 to the first air flow 35 with the refrigerant fluid 102 condensing to a liquid phase. The first air flow 35 flows in a manner such that the first air flow 35 is used first in the second cooling step and then circulated to be used in the second cooling step. As the first air flow 35 circulates, the first air flow 35 is heated by refrigerant fluid 102 having an increasing temperature. Typically, the method also includes evaporating the refrigerant fluid 102 after the second cooling step, which typically involves reducing a pressure of the refrigerant fluid 102. In some embodiments of the invention, the first and second cooling steps are performed in separate heat exchange unit. However, in alternative embodiments of the invention, these two cooling steps are performed in a single suitably shaped heat exchange unit. In some embodiments of the invention, the method also includes cooling the refrigerant fluid 102 by transferring heat from the refrigerant fluid 102 to the cooling liquid, this additional cooling being typically performed substantially simultaneously both with the first and second cooling steps.
Thus, the desuperheater 14 and the first liquid sprinkler 110 may be used individually or in combination to provide a significant increase of the cooling BTU capacity of the air conditioning system 10. Such an increase in cooling BTU capacity may thus allow for a air conditioning system 10 having an overall design that is relatively smaller than comparable systems of the prior art since a proportionally smaller compressor unit 12, as well as a proportionally lower flow rate of air in the first air flow 35 are required for a given cooling BTU load design.
It is to be noted that a lower flow rate of the first air flow 35 may result in a significant reduction in the sizing of the required first and second ventilators 28 and 34, and associated air ducts throughout the air conditioning system 10 and the target living spaces. For examples, standard 8 inches (about 20 cm) air ducts may be reduced to only 6 inches (about 15 cm) air ducts, which results in a significant space saving advantage in relatively small living spaces such as condominiums and apartments.
With reference to FIGS. 7 and 8, another air conditioning system 130 in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the invention is substantially identical to the above-described described air conditioning system 10, except that it is provided with a third heat exchange unit in the form of an additional desuperheater 132 that is physically positioned downstream of the first desuperheater 14 and the condenser 16, relative to the first air flow 35 direction provided by the first ventilator 28.
Inversely, the additional desuperheater 132 is positioned upstream of the first desuperheater 14 and condenser 16, relative to the flow of refrigerant fluid 102 circulating through the refrigerant circuit. In other words, the refrigerant fluid 102 is compressed and forced, by the compressor unit 12, first through the additional desuperheater 132, where a first portion of the heat in the refrigerant fluid 102 is removed with the refrigerant fluid 102 remaining in a gas phase, then through the first desuperheater 14, where another portion of the heat in the refrigerant fluid 102 is removed, then finally through the condenser 16, where the cooling phase of the refrigerant fluid 102 is completed.
The additional desuperheater 132 is preferably an elongated version of the first desuperheater 14 that extends along and is disposed in a diagonal configuration relative to the longitudinal first air outlet duct 32 in which it is installed, angled with respect to the first duct longitudinal axis 37, as best illustrated in FIG. 7.
It is to be noted that the additional desuperheater 132 may be installed in any elongated configuration of a first air outlet duct that is disposed downstream of the first desuperheater 14, relative to the air flow direction 100.
The additional desuperheater 132 results in a further increase in cooling BTU capacity of the air conditioning system 130, as compared to the first embodiment described above. Such an increase in cooling BTU capacity may thus allow an air conditioning system 130 and associated air duct network having an even smaller overall design.
In further embodiments, the two above-described embodiments of the present invention may include substantially all the main components that can be found in conventional central air conditioning systems of the prior art integrated in a single and compact unit, as described above, for installation in a single location within the living space of a residence unit. Or, the above-described embodiments of the present invention may have selected components distributed in more than one location within a living space, with suitably sized and configured air and refrigerant conduits linking the distributed components for the proper operation of the system.
For example, only the first compartment 22, the first air intake duct 30 and first air outlet duct 32, as shown in FIG. 1, may be installed in a first location within a residence unit, while the second compartment 24, the second air outlet duct 38, the air intake silencer box and the air-to-air heat exchanger 46 may be installed in a second location therein.
The embodiments of the present invention described above may be manufactured using a suitable assembly of conventional components and materials normally used in the assembly of comparable central air conditioning systems of the prior art.
Thus, there is provided a novel and unobvious system for conditioning the ambient air of an interior living space. The air conditioning systems 10 and 130 of the present invention being characterized in that they include substantially all the main components that can be found in conventional central air conditioning systems of the prior art, while occupying a significantly smaller volume, for example, an up to 60% smaller overall volume, as compared to prior art central air conditioning systems having a comparable BTU capacity and air conditioning characteristics. This economy of volume allowed by the various embodiments of the present invention may be achieved with all their components integrated in a single and compact unit, or with the various components being distributed in more than one place within the living space of a residence unit.
Although the present invention has been described hereinabove by way of preferred embodiments thereof, it can be modified, without departing from the spirit and nature of the subject invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. An air conditioning system using a refrigerant fluid and a cooling liquid, said air conditioning system comprising:

a first compartment, said first compartment defining a first air inlet and a first air outlet;

a substantially elongated first air outlet duct in fluid communication with said first air outlet, said first air outlet duct defining a first duct longitudinal axis;

a first ventilator operatively coupled to said first air inlet and said first air outlet for creating a first air flow through said first compartment and said first air outlet duct from said first air inlet through said first air outlet and into said first air outlet duct;

a first heat exchange unit provided in said first compartment for allowing heat exchange between said refrigerant fluid and said first air flow when said refrigerant fluid is circulated through said first heat exchange unit;

a second heat exchange unit also provided in said first compartment for allowing heat exchange between said refrigerant fluid and said first air flow when said refrigerant fluid is circulated through said second heat exchange unit, said second heat exchange unit being provided downstream from said first heat exchange unit relatively to said first air flow, said second heat exchange unit being in fluid communication with said first heat exchange unit for allowing circulation of said refrigerant fluid from said second heat exchange unit to said first heat exchange unit;

a third heat exchange unit provided in said first air outlet duct for allowing heat exchange between said refrigerant fluid and said first air flow when said refrigerant fluid is circulated through said third heat exchange unit, said third heat exchange unit being in fluid communication with said second heat exchange unit for allowing circulation of said refrigerant fluid from said third heat exchange unit to said second heat exchange unit, said third heat exchange unit extending along said first air outlet duct, said third heat exchange unit being angled with respect to said first duct longitudinal axis;

a first liquid sprinkler provided substantially adjacent said first and second heat exchange units, said first liquid sprinkler being positioned, configured and sized for simultaneously sprinkling said cooling liquid onto both said first and second heat exchange units;

a second compartment, said second compartment defining a second air inlet and a second air outlet;

a second ventilator operatively coupled to said second air inlet and said second air outlet for creating a second air flow through said second compartment from said second air inlet to said second air outlet;

a compressor unit in fluid communication with said third heat exchange unit for compressing said refrigerant fluid to produce a compressed refrigerant fluid in gas phase and providing said compressed refrigerant fluid to said third heat exchange unit;

an evaporator for evaporating said refrigerant fluid and allowing heat exchange between said refrigerant fluid and said second air flow, said evaporator being provided in said second compartment substantially across said second air flow, said evaporator being in fluid communication with said compressor unit and said first heat exchange unit for receiving said refrigerant fluid from said first heat exchange unit and releasing said refrigerant fluid to said compressor unit;

wherein said second and third heat exchange units are desuperheaters in which said refrigerant fluid is cooled down by said first air flow while remaining gaseous and said first heat exchange unit is a condenser in which said refrigerant fluid condenses when cooled by said first air flow.

2. An air conditioning system using a refrigerant fluid and a cooling liquid, said air conditioning system comprising:

a third heat exchange unit provided in said first air outlet duct for allowing heat exchange between said refrigerant fluid and said first air flow when said refrigerant fluid is circulated through said third heat exchange unit, said third heat exchange unit being in fluid communication with said second heat exchange unit for allowing circulation of said refrigerant fluid from said third heat exchange unit to said second heat exchange unit, said third heat exchange unit extending along said first air outlet duct, said third heat exchange unit being angled with respect to said first duct longitudinal axis; and

wherein circulating said first air flow with said first ventilator and circulating said refrigerant fluid from said third heat exchange unit, through said second heat exchange unit and to said first heat exchange unit while sprinkling said first and second heat exchange units with said cooling liquid cools down said refrigerant fluid when said refrigerant fluid is hotter than said first air flow.

3. An air conditioning system as defined in claim 2, wherein said second and third heat exchange units are desuperheaters in which said refrigerant fluid cools down while remaining gaseous.

4. An air conditioning system as defined in claim 2, wherein said first heat exchange unit is a condenser in which said refrigerant fluid condenses.

5. An air conditioning system as defined in claim 2, further comprising a compressor unit in fluid communication with said third heat exchange unit for compressing said refrigerant fluid to produce a compressed refrigerant fluid in gas phase and providing said compressed refrigerant fluid to said third heat exchange unit.

6. An air conditioning system as defined in claim 5, wherein said compressor unit is provided in said first compartment.

7. An air conditioning system as defined in claim 5, further comprising a second compartment, said second compartment defining a second air inlet and a second air outlet.

8. An air conditioning system as defined in claim 7, further comprising

an evaporator for evaporating said refrigerant fluid and allowing heat exchange between said refrigerant fluid and said second air flow, said evaporator being provided in said second compartment, said evaporator being in fluid communication with said compressor unit and said first heat exchange unit for receiving said refrigerant fluid from said first heat exchange unit and releasing said refrigerant fluid to said compressor unit, said evaporator being located in said second compartment across said second air flow.

9. An air conditioning system as defined in claim 7, further comprising

a second air outlet duct in fluid communication with said second air outlet; and

an air heating element provided in said second air outlet duct for selectively heating said second air flow.

10. An air conditioning system as defined in claim 9, wherein said second compartment is provided substantially adjacent to said first compartment, said first and second compartments sharing a common central wall thermally isolating said first and second compartments from each other.

11. An air conditioning system as defined in claim 10, further comprising a air-to-air heat exchanger for exchanging heat between a third air flow and a fourth air flow, said air-to-air heat exchanger being provided substantially adjacent said first and second compartments and extending substantially perpendicularly to said common central wall.

12. An air conditioning system as defined in claim 11, wherein said air-to-air heat exchanger is operatively coupled to said first and second compartments so that said third and fourth air flows are exhausted from said air-to-air heat exchanger respectively in said first and second compartments.

13. An air conditioning system as defined in claim 10, wherein a portion of said second air flow is directed toward said air-to-air heat exchanger with said third air flow to allow heat exchange between said portion of said second air flow and said fourth air flow.

14. An air conditioning system as defined in claim 9, further comprising a second liquid sprinkler provided substantially adjacent said evaporator, said second liquid sprinkler being positioned, configured and sized for sprinkling water onto said evaporator.

15. An air conditioning system using a refrigerant fluid and a cooling liquid, said air conditioning system comprising:

a first ventilator operatively coupled to said first air inlet and said first air outlet for creating a first air flow through said first compartment from said first air inlet to said first air outlet;

a compressor unit in fluid communication with said second heat exchange unit for compressing said refrigerant fluid to produce a compressed refrigerant fluid in gas phase and providing said compressed refrigerant fluid to said second heat exchange unit;

an evaporator for evaporating said refrigerant fluid, said evaporator being in fluid communication with said compressor unit and said first heat exchange unit for receiving said refrigerant fluid from said first heat exchange unit and releasing said refrigerant fluid to said compressor unit;

wherein said second heat exchange unit is a desuperheater in which said refrigerant fluid is cooled down by said first air flow while remaining gaseous and said first heat exchange unit is a condenser in which said refrigerant fluid condenses when cooled by said first air flow.

16. An air conditioning system as defined in claim 15, further comprising a first liquid sprinkler provided substantially adjacent said first and second heat exchange units, said first liquid sprinkler being positioned, configured and sized for simultaneously sprinkling said cooling liquid onto both said first and second heat exchange units.

17. A method for cooling a refrigerant fluid in an air conditioning system using an air flow, said method comprising:

compressing said refrigerant fluid in a gas phase;

in a first cooling step subsequent to compressing said refrigerant fluid, cooling said refrigerant fluid by transferring heat from said refrigerant fluid to said air flow with said refrigerant fluid remaining in said gas phase;

in a second cooling step subsequent to said first cooling step, cooling said refrigerant fluid by transferring heat from said refrigerant fluid to said air flow with said refrigerant fluid condensing to a liquid phase;

wherein said air flow flows in a manner such that said air flow is used first in said second cooling step and then circulated to be used in said first cooling step.

18. A method as defined in claim 17, further comprising evaporating said refrigerant fluid after said second cooling step.

19. A method as defined in claim 18, wherein evaporating said refrigerant fluid after said second cooling step includes reducing a pressure of said refrigerant fluid.

20. A method as defined in claim 17, wherein said first and second cooling steps are performed in separate heat exchangers.

21. A method as defined in claim 17, further comprising cooling said refrigerant fluid by transferring heat from said refrigerant fluid to a cooling liquid.

22. A method as defined in claim 21, wherein cooling said refrigerant fluid by transferring heat from said refrigerant fluid to said cooling liquid is performed substantially simultaneously both with said first and second cooling steps.