초록 ▼

A self-contained air conditioner cools a building's air using a water-cooled economizer coil and two refrigerant evaporators. The two evaporators are provided by two separate refrigeration circuits, each having its own water-cooled condenser. A water circuit interconnecting the economizer and the tw

A self-contained air conditioner cools a building's air using a water-cooled economizer coil and two refrigerant evaporators. The two evaporators are provided by two separate refrigeration circuits, each having its own water-cooled condenser. A water circuit interconnecting the economizer and the two condensers is reconfigureable to selectively operate the air conditioner in a normal mode or, if conditions permit, in an energy-saving economizer mode. In the normal mode, the water circuit conveys cooling water in series through both condensers while bypassing the economizer coil. In the economizer mode, the water flows in series through the economizer and one of the condensers while bypassing the other. The refrigerant circuit whose condenser is bypassed can thus be deactivated to save energy. The economizer coil and the condenser it bypasses have generally the same flow resistance to water flow. This allows a pump to deliver cooling water through the water circuit at the same pressure and flow rate, regardless of the air conditioner's operating mode.

대표청구항 ▼

[ I claim:] [1.]1. An air conditioner that absorbs heat from air and rejects heat to a liquid, comprising:a first condenser adapted to eject heat to said liquid;a second condenser adapted to eject heat to said liquid;an economizer heat exchanger adapted to transfer heat from said air to said liquid;

[ I claim:] [1.]1. An air conditioner that absorbs heat from air and rejects heat to a liquid, comprising:a first condenser adapted to eject heat to said liquid;a second condenser adapted to eject heat to said liquid;an economizer heat exchanger adapted to transfer heat from said air to said liquid; anda liquid circuit interconnecting and adapted to convey said liquid through said first condenser, said second condenser, and said economizer heat exchanger, wherein said first and second condensers are connected in series-flow relationship with respect to said liquid, said economizer heat exchanger and said second condenser are connected in series-flow relationship with respect to said liquid, and said economizer heat exchanger and said first condenser are connected in parallel-flow relationship with respect to said liquid.