Split air conditioning system with a single outdoor unit
원문보기
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
F24F-003/00
F24F-003/06
F25B-005/02
F25B-041/06
F25B-041/00
F25B-001/00
F25B-049/02
F25D-017/06
F24F-001/00
F24F-005/00
F25B-041/04
F25B-006/02
출원번호
US-0266142
(2014-04-30)
등록번호
US-9599353
(2017-03-21)
발명자
/ 주소
Cur, Nihat O.
Kee, Timothy A.
Kendall, James W.
Kuehl, Steven J.
Miller, Jeffrey A.
Myers, Verne H.
Pit, Heng Tong
Wu, Guolian
출원인 / 주소
Whirlpool Corporation
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
0인용 특허 :
16
초록▼
A split air conditioning system for conditioning a plurality of zones within a single living area of a building, that includes a single outdoor unit; a refrigerant flow pathway made up of a plurality of refrigerant conduits having a common refrigerant flow path portion and at least two divergent flo
A split air conditioning system for conditioning a plurality of zones within a single living area of a building, that includes a single outdoor unit; a refrigerant flow pathway made up of a plurality of refrigerant conduits having a common refrigerant flow path portion and at least two divergent flow path portions, a first divergent flow path and a second divergent flow path and the first evaporator and second evaporator are in parallel with one another; at least one throttling device; a portioning device configured to selectively and proportionately regulate the flow of a refrigerant fluid to the first evaporator and the second evaporator, respectively where the compressor is configured to be capable of simultaneously driving both the first evaporator and the second evaporator at their full cooling capacity.
대표청구항▼
1. A split air conditioning system for conditioning a plurality of zones within a single living area of a building, the split air conditioning system comprising: a single outdoor unit comprising:a compressor; a condenser; anda condenser fan associated with the condenser that moves air to cool the co
1. A split air conditioning system for conditioning a plurality of zones within a single living area of a building, the split air conditioning system comprising: a single outdoor unit comprising:a compressor; a condenser; anda condenser fan associated with the condenser that moves air to cool the condenser;a refrigerant flow pathway comprised of a plurality of refrigerant conduits having a common refrigerant flow path, portion and at least two divergent flow path portions, a first divergent flow path portion that delivers refrigerant to a first evaporator configured to operate at a first evaporator pressure and a second divergent flow path portion that delivers refrigerant to a second evaporator such that the first evaporator and second evaporator are in parallel with one another;at least one throttling device wherein a throttling device is positioned along the common refrigerant flow path portion when a single throttling device is used and a first throttling device is positioned along the first divergent flow path portion and a second throttling device is positioned along the second divergent flow path portion when two or more throttling devices are employed; a portioning device configured to selectively and proportionately regulate the flow of a refrigerant fluid to the first evaporator and the second evaporator, respectively;wherein the compressor is configured to be capable of simultaneously driving both the first evaporator and the second evaporator at their full cooling capacity and wherein the first evaporator is positioned within a housing of a first indoor air unit positioned within the single living area of the building and the second evaporator is positioned within a housing of a second indoor air unit and both the first and second indoor air units each further comprise a fan configured to drive air across the first evaporator of the first indoor air unit and across the second evaporator of the second indoor air unit; and wherein the first evaporator is a disjointed evaporator and the second evaporator is a disjointed evaporator such that each indoor air unit is configured to control the ratio of the latent to sensible cooling capacity of the evaporator, fan speed, and proportional flow of refrigerant to different evaporator sections of the disjointed evaporators. 2. The split air conditioning system of claim 1 further comprising: at least one temperature sensor in communication with a controller; andat least one humidity sensor in communication with the controller; andwherein the plurality of refrigerant conduits are free of any check valves;wherein the portioning device is in communication with the controller; andwherein the fans are variable speed fans in communication with the controller. 3. The split air conditioning system of claim 2, wherein the, portioning device, the at least one humidity sensor and the at least one temperature sensor are in signal communication with the controller and controlled by the controller. 4. The split air conditioning system of claim 1, wherein the compressor is a compressor chosen from the group consisting of a variable capacity compressor and a dual suction compressor. 5. The split air conditioning system of claim 4, wherein the compressor is a dual suction compressor and the first divergent flow path portion and the second divergent flow path portion merge into the common refrigerant flow path portion within the dual suction compressor and each indoor air unit is configured to control temperature, humidity and airflow velocity output of the indoor air unit by controlling the cooling capacity of the evaporator, fan speed, and proportional flow of refrigerant to different evaporator sections of the disjointed evaporators. 6. The split air conditioning system of claim 4, wherein the first divergent flow path portion delivers refrigerant to the dual suction compressor via a first intake port of the dual suction compressor and the second divergent flow path portion delivers refrigerant to the dual suction compressor via a second intake port of the dual suction compressor and the dual suction compressor delivers a refrigerant to the common refrigerant flow path portion and the split air conditioning system comprises: a first throttling device where the first throttling device is positioned along the first divergent flow path portion and positioned to receive coolant from the condenser before the coolant is delivered to the first evaporator and a second throttling device where the second throttling device is positioned along the second divergent flow path portion and positioned to receive coolant from the condenser before the coolant is delivered to the second evaporator. 7. The split air conditioning system of claim 6, wherein the first and second throttling devices are each a capillary tube. 8. The split air conditioning system of claim 1, wherein the compressor is a single speed compressor and the fans are variable speed fans. 9. The split air conditioning system of claim 1, wherein the portioning device is a portioning device chosen from the group consisting of a three way solenoid valve and a stepper motor switching valve. 10. The split air conditioning system of claim 1, wherein the portioning device is a multi-port portioning valve. 11. The split air conditioning system of claim 1, wherein the first evaporator is associated with and positioned within a housing of a first indoor air treatment unit and the first indoor air treatment unit is positioned within the single living area to condition air in a first zone of the single living area and the second evaporator is associated with and positioned within a housing of a second indoor air treatment unit and the second indoor air treatment unit is positioned within the single living area to condition air in a second zone of the single living area. 12. The split air conditioning, system of claim 11, wherein the first zone and the second zone are volumes of air within a single room and the first indoor air treatment unit is configured to regulate both temperature and humidity within the first zone and the second indoor air treatment unit is configured to regulate both temperature and humidity within the second zone. 13. The split air conditioning system of claim 12, wherein the first indoor air treatment unit and the second indoor air treatment unit are each chosen from the group consisting of a floor standing indoor air treatment unit not connected to a wall and at occupant level and a wall mounted indoor air treatment unit. 14. The split air conditioning system of claim 13, wherein the first and second indoor air treatment units are both vertically oriented floor standing units that are either fixed or movable and both further comprise an air purification system configured to remove an air impurity chosen from the group consisting of dust, particulates, volatile organic compounds, and combinations thereof and wherein the split air conditioning system further comprises a heating element and are configured to provide heating to the single living area. 15. The split air conditioning system of claim 1, wherein each indoor air unit is configured to control temperature, humidity and airflow velocity output of the indoor air unit by controlling the ratio of the latent to sensible cooling capacity of the evaporator, fan speed, and proportional flow of refrigerant to different evaporator sections of the disjointed evaporators. 16. The split air conditioning system of claim 15, wherein the compressor is a variable capacity compressor. 17. A split air conditioning system for conditioning a plurality of zones within the same interior room of a building, the split air conditioning system comprising: a single outdoor unit comprising:a housing with a compressor; a condenser; and a condenser fan positioned within the housing wherein the condenser fan is associated with the condenser and configured to move air to cool the condenser and the compressor is a dual suction, variable speed compressor capable of and configured to deliver full cooling capacity to both a first evaporator and a second evaporator;a refrigerant flow pathway comprised of a plurality of refrigerant conduits having a common refrigerant flow path portion and at least two divergent flow path portions, a first divergent flow path that delivers refrigerant to the first evaporator wherein the first evaporator is configured to operate at a first evaporator pressure and a second divergent flow path that delivers refrigerant to the second evaporator wherein the second evaporator is configured to operate at a second evaporator pressure and the first evaporator and second evaporator are in parallel with one another;at least two throttling devices wherein a first throttling device is positioned along the first divergent flow path to receive refrigerant fluid prior to the first evaporator and a second throttling device is positioned along the second divergent flow path to receive refrigerant fluid prior to the second evaporator;a first variable speed fan configured to move air across the first evaporator;a second variable speed fan configured to move air across the second evaporator;a portioning device configured to selectively and proportionately regulate the flow of a refrigerant fluid to the first evaporator and the second evaporator, respectively;wherein the compressor is configured to be capable of simultaneously driving both the first evaporator and the second evaporator at their full cooling capacity and wherein the plurality of refrigerant conduits making up the refrigerant flow path are free of any check valves, and wherein the first evaporator is a disjointed evaporator and the second evaporator is a disjointed evaporator such that each indoor air unit is configured to control the ratio of the latent to sensible cooling capacity of the evaporator, fan speed, and proportional flow of refrigerant to different evaporator sections of the disjointed evaporators. 18. The split air conditioning system of claim 17, wherein the compressor is a variable capacity, dual suction compressor and the portioning device is a three way solenoid valve or a stepper motor valve and wherein the system further comprises: a controller in communication with the portioning device to control the portioning device, at least one temperature sensor in communication with the portioning device and at least one humidity sensor in communication with the portioning device. 19. The split air conditioning system of claim 18, wherein the first evaporator is associated with and positioned within a housing of a first indoor air treatment unit and the first indoor air treatment unit is positioned within the same interior room and configured to condition air in a first zone of the same interior room and the second evaporator is associated with and positioned within a housing of a second indoor air treatment unit and the second indoor air treatment unit is positioned within the same interior room to condition air in a second zone of the same interior room and wherein the first evaporator and the first variable speed fan are configured to create and adjust a first zone size and a temperature within the first zone based upon user input into the controller or information received by the controller indicating the presence of a person within the first zone and wherein the second zone and the second variable speed fan are configured to create and adjust a second zone size and a temperature within the second zone based upon user input into the controller or information received by the controller indicating the presence of a person within the second zone and wherein each indoor air unit is configured to control temperature, humidity and airflow velocity output of the indoor air unit by controlling the ratio of the latent to sensible cooling capacity of the evaporator, fan speed, and proportional flow of refrigerant to different evaporator sections of the disjointed evaporators. 20. A method of conditioning the air within two zones of the same living area within an interior of a building comprising the steps of: providing a single outdoor unit comprising:a compressor; a condenser; anda condenser fan associated with the condenser that moves air to cool the condenser;a refrigerant flow pathway comprised of a plurality of refrigerant conduits having a common refrigerant flow path portion and at least two divergent flow path portions, a first divergent flow path that delivers refrigerant to a first evaporator configured to operate at a first evaporator pressure and a second divergent flow path that delivers refrigerant to a second evaporator such that the first evaporator and second evaporator are in parallel with one another;at least one throttling device wherein a throttling device is positioned along the common refrigerant flow path portion when a single throttling device is used and a first throttling device is positioned along the first divergent flow path and a second throttling device is positioned along the second divergent flow path when two or more throttling devices are employed; a portioning device configured to selectively and proportionately regulate the flow of a refrigerant fluid to the first evaporator and the second evaporator, respectively;wherein the compressor is configured to be capable of simultaneously driving both the first evaporator and the second evaporator at their full cooling capacity and wherein the first evaporator is positioned within a housing of a first indoor air unit positioned within a single living area of the building and the second evaporator is positioned within a housing of a second indoor air unit and both the first and second indoor air units each further comprise a fan configured to drive air across the first evaporator of the first indoor air unit and across the second evaporator of the second indoor air unit;adjusting the refrigerant flow through the first divergent flow path and the second divergent flow path using the portioning device, the compressor or both to independently change a cooling capacity of the first evaporator and the second evaporator;adjusting a first variable speed fan to create and adjust a first zone size and a temperature within a first zone based upon user input into a controller or information received by the controller indicating the presence of a person within the first zone; andadjusting a second variable speed fan to create and adjust a second zone size and a temperature within a second zone based upon user input into the controller or information received by the controller indicating the presence of a person within the second zone, wherein the size of the first zone and the size of the second zone are substantially changed by changing the relative volume of air being moved by the first variable speed fan and the second variable speed fan. 21. The method of claim 20, wherein the first evaporator is a disjointed evaporator and the second evaporator is a disjointed evaporator such that each indoor air unit controls temperature, humidity and airflow velocity output of the first indoor air unit and the second indoor air unit by controlling the ratio of the latent to sensible cooling capacity of the evaporator, fan speed, and proportional flow of refrigerant to different evaporator sections of the disjointed evaporators.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (16)
Woo, Hyung Joo; Woo, Su Chang; Kim, Kyung Sik, Air conditioner.
Takano Teruhisa (Kadoma JPX) Fujieda Hiroshi (Kadoma JPX) Ishii Katsumi (Kadoma JPX) Hori Michimasa (Kadoma JPX), Air conditioning system having a plurality of indoor units.
Lifson, Alexander; Bush, James W.; Taras, Michael F.; Fraser, Jr., Howard H.; Lewis, Russell G., Injection of liquid and vapor refrigerant through economizer ports.
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