U.S. patent application number 12/011764 was filed with the patent office on 2009-07-30 for combined chiller and boiler hvac system in a single outdoor operating unit.
Invention is credited to Courtney R. Millburn, Michael G. Scharing.
Application Number | 20090188985 12/011764 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40898220 |
Filed Date | 2009-07-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090188985 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Scharing; Michael G. ; et
al. |
July 30, 2009 |
Combined chiller and boiler HVAC system in a single outdoor
operating unit
Abstract
A combined chiller-boiler HVAC system which integrates all
operating components including the boiler, chiller, distribution
pumps, condenser coils, condenser fans and controls onto one single
enclosed platform built for installation exterior to the structure
being served and designed to produce heated or cooling fluid
sequentially or simultaneously in differing areas of a building on
demand. This system utilizes both air and water cooling whereby
waste heat absorbed during a water cooling cycle, can be captured
and re-directed for other uses.
Inventors: |
Scharing; Michael G.;
(US) ; Millburn; Courtney R.; (US) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MICHAEL G. SCHARING
402 SWAIN CT
BELLE MEAD
NJ
08502
US
|
Family ID: |
40898220 |
Appl. No.: |
12/011764 |
Filed: |
January 30, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
237/1R |
Current CPC
Class: |
F24F 3/06 20130101; F24H
4/04 20130101; Y02P 80/156 20151101; Y02P 80/10 20151101 |
Class at
Publication: |
237/1.R |
International
Class: |
F24D 5/00 20060101
F24D005/00 |
Claims
1. A hydronic combined heating and cooling HVAC system mounted on a
platform wherein all the principle operating components and
controls are combined into one programmable pressurized efficient
operational unit for installation exterior to the structure being
served.
2. A hydronic combined heating and cooling HVAC system mounted on a
platform wherein the principle operating components are
compartmented into areas appropriate to their functional purposes
of a negative pressure condenser cooling chamber, a positive
pressure boiler chamber, an isolated electrical chamber, and a
separate pump chamber. The integrity of air pressures in the
chambers is preserved under maintenance conditions through the use
of external test ports that eliminate the need to remove any
enclosure panels.
3. A hydronic combined heating and cooling system mounted on a
platform wherein each separate compartmented functional area is
individually accessible for service without disturbing any other
functional area including testing of the chiller operation
4. A hydronic combined heating and cooling system whose
compartmenting arrangement is not necessarily restricted to the
current juxtaposition of the principle operating components as long
as the positioning of the components maintain their appropriate
functions and maintain the serviceability.
5. A hydronic combined heating and cooling system that can be
programmed to deliver heating or cooling sequentially or
simultaneously to different areas or rooms in the same
structure.
6. A hydronic combined heating and cooling system designed for all
weather installation exterior to the structure it serves suitable
for ground mounting, roof mounting and sub-grade mounting provided
the appropriate clearances around the unit are maintained.
7. A hydronic combined heating and cooling system that removes
condenser heat by using water, air or both and when using water can
recover waste heat and convert that heat to useful purposes such as
heating a swimming pool, a spa or potable water.
Description
[0001] No federally sponsored research and development association
exists with this invention. As such, there are no rights associated
therewith.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention is related to the methods used to supply
heating and cooling to residential and commercial buildings which
ordinarily require two separate systems, one for heating and
another for cooling.
[0003] Typical applications of heat and/or cooling within
commercial and/or residential building provide either heating or
cooling. There are numerous building configurations or "use"
applications where it is desired or required to supply heat in one
area and cooling in another. Medical-professional buildings,
hospitals, computer rooms and large or multi storied residential
housing frequently need selective heating and cooling, Current
equipment utilizes a separate heat source and a separate cooling
source. The heat source is placed inside the building and the
cooling source is placed outside the building. Heating and cooling
systems have traditionally been divided between forced air systems
and fluid based systems.
[0004] Typical forced air systems use furnaces to generate heat and
direct expansion type air conditioners to generate cooling. The
output of the two systems is normally carried through common duct
work. The typical forced air system will only permit a choice of
either heating or cooling. Usually there is a single thermostat
controlling the entire system. Air flow to individual spaces is
controlled manually through air duct registers or using
electrically activated dampers receiving their operating signals
from additional thermostats. Current forced air equipment cannot
deliver simultaneous heating or cooling to selected areas where
they serve the same structure. Furthermore, once a forced air
system shuts off after satisfying the demand, all warm or cold air
in the ducts dissipates with no thermal retention and thus, the
energy required to create warm or cold air is completely lost.
Forced air systems are noisy and by the nature of their operation,
spread dust, mold and germs throughout a building.
[0005] Water based systems, referred to as hydronics, utilize
Boilers and Chillers to generate hot and cold fluids. Modern
boilers, as defined by ASME, are pressurized vessels and
distinguish themselves from earlier atmospheric boiler technology
by achieving higher efficiencies using less fuel. All boilers
present a certain risk of explosion when improperly installed or
poorly maintained. Boilers require exhaust stacks when installed
indoors.
[0006] In a hydronic heating system a fluid media conveys heat
throughout the structure with a piping array permitting radiant
heat through in-floor tubing loops, baseboard mounted heating
tubes, fan coils or radiators Cooling fluids are routed to fan coil
units or in-ceiling radiant cooling systems to provide cooling and
dehumidification to selected spaces. In hydronic systems pumps
distribute the hot and cold fluids and are usually installed
indoors usually in a mechanical room designated for this use,
however Boilers are still installed indoors and Chillers outdoors
Chillers are commonly comprised of a compressor, an evaporator,
condenser coils and one or more fans to draw air across condenser
coils used to cool refrigerant gases discharged from the
compressor. Only very large commercial chillers (30 ton rating and
larger) utilize water as coolant for the condenser coils. There are
no small chillers that combine water and air cooling methods. Using
a combination of water cooled and air cooled condenser because:
[0007] a) Cooling water temperatures tend to be cooler than ambient
air; [0008] b) Fan motors run less if water is designed into a
Chiller circuitry as the first priority for condenser coil
cooling.
[0009] In current systems controls for both the boilers and
chillers are installed indoors. Typically each component is
assembled and installed individually at the job site by skilled
technicians and these systems must be proven and tested on the job
site. This is a costly and time consuming process.
[0010] There are a number of objectives to the Hydronika
chiller-boiler.
[0011] An object of the invention is to provide a single outdoor
unit that combines heating and cooling functions into a single
energy efficient package utilizing fluids as a heat transfer medium
instead of air.
[0012] Another object of the invention is to save energy by
prioritizing condenser cooling using water first and air
second.
[0013] Another object of the invention is to use warmed, rejected
condenser cooling water for another heating use such as a pool or
spa.
[0014] Another object of the invention is to provide a factory
pre-tested unit to the job site.
[0015] Another object of the invention is to support the
application flexibility of heating and cooling with or without out
ductwork.
[0016] Another object of the invention is to save space and create
flexibility in building design by eliminating soffits and ductwork
associated with forced air distribution systems.
[0017] Another object of the invention is the ability to control
temperature in individual rooms and environments as well as provide
dissimilar temperatures simultaneously with a single device.
[0018] Another object of the invention is to minimize the
distribution of mold, dry rot and similar airborne health hazards
created by forced air ducted systems.
[0019] Another object of the invention is to remove a fire hazard
and a potential source of carbon monoxide by relocating the boiler
to the outside of a building without compromising heating and
cooling performance.
[0020] Another object of the invention is to eliminate the need for
exhaust stacks used by boilers installed inside a building, by
relocating the boiler to the outside of the building.
[0021] Another object of the invention is to reduce space
requirements in a building using hydronics by relocating the pumps
and controls to the outside of the building.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0022] The preferred embodiment of the invention is a single unit
which combines the heating and cooling systems into in one packaged
unit deliberately arranged in a novel way to ensure specified
performance unlike any other HVAC device.
[0023] The invention is an outdoor installed, completely integrated
heating ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) system complete
with pumping and control units arranged in a novel way.
[0024] The invention creates hot (using a boiler) and cold fluids
(using a chiller) for distribution employing a variety of HVAC
fluid technologies such as: in-floor radiant heating systems,
on-wall radiant systems, heating and cooling fan coils, in ceiling
radiant cooling panels, and ducted or ductless air handlers. The
unit can also produce heated fluid for indirect fired hot water
tanks, driveway/sidewalk de icing systems and swimming pools.
[0025] The invention can produce hot and cold fluids sequentially
or simultaneously depending on the call signal from one or more
thermostats. This is necessary in a number of circumstances such as
in a medical office or in a structure housing art, computer storage
and medical storage. In residential structures of varying
configurations room control of temperature is essential to comfort
and energy efficiency.
[0026] The invention is able to cool condenser heat produced by the
chiller utilizing air, water, or both as required by the operating
conditions. When the chiller is operating, and is being cooled
using water, thermal transfer occurs and warms the cooling water.
The warmed water can be redirected to an appropriate storage tank
for use in heating the building or be diverted to a spa or swimming
pool as well as an indirect fired hot water tank for potable
use.
[0027] The invention is factory assembled and 100% tested prior to
shipment offering singular reliability, installation, and
maintenance advantages.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0028] FIG. 1 illustrates a typical forced air system.
[0029] FIG. 2 illustrates a typical hydronic 4 pipe fluid
system.
[0030] FIG. 3 illustrates a top view of the invention showing the
locations of the components in the condensing chamber and boiler
chamber as well as a top view of the electrical components and the
supply/return pipes. It also shows the all weather enclosure of the
invention.
[0031] FIG. 4 illustrates a side view showing the position of the
chiller and boiler as well as the electrical chamber and pump
chamber.
[0032] FIG. 5 illustrates an end view of the invention showing the
position of the pumps and the electrical components.
[0033] FIG. 6 illustrates a plan view of the invention as a six
pipe system connected to a hydronic heating and cooling system for
the building and including pool and spa heating using waste heat
from the condenser cooling cycle.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0034] FIG. 1 shows a typical forced air system employing a heating
unit furnace (1) installed in the building and the air conditioning
condenser (2) portion of the air conditioning system installed a
the exterior of the building. Either heated or cooled air can be
selected to be delivered throughout the building via a series of
ducts (3) to adjustable exit vents (4) located in the individual
rooms in the building. FIG. 1 illustration is a small version of a
forced air system however anyone knowledgeable in the state of the
art knows that in larger structures there is simply more extensive
duct work and larger capacity units. Typically, one thermostat (5)
controls the entire system.
[0035] In more complex forced air systems where greater control of
temperature gradients is required, the ducting may be further
divided into zones which can be manually or electronically
adjusted, or programmed to operate automatically, utilizing duct
dampers (6) driven by additional thermostats. It must be understood
that in these systems there is only a choice between heating or
cooling at any given time.
[0036] FIG. 2 shows a typical hydronic fluid system where the
heating unit boiler (7) is installed in the building and the
chiller (8) is installed outside of the building. In a hydronic
system heated fluid from the boiler is delivered using pumps (9)
throughout the structure utilizing a fluid distribution manifold
(10) to a variety of heating end distribution technologies such as:
in-floor radiant loops (11), baseboard mounted heating tubes (12),
radiators (13). Cooled fluid from the chiller (8) is delivered
using pumps (9) and a fluid distribution manifold (10) to fan coil
units (14) in each space. A favored distribution technology in such
systems is a four pipe fan coil unit (14) that can accept hot and
cold fluids to heat or cool a space accordingly. Thermostats (5)
control the individual distribution technologies creating separate
temperature conditions (hot or cold) per space from the same
hydronic loop.
[0037] FIG. 3 illustrates the all weather enclosure (15) with
distinct bulkhead divisions (16) that create separate chambers (17)
for air cooled condensers (18) and chillers (8) and a separate
chamber (19) for boilers (7). The condensing chamber (17) operates
in a negative-pressure environment when the fans are operating
which allows air to be drawn through the condensing coils. The
boiler is isolated from the negative pressure chamber by a bulkhead
that allows the boiler to operate in the required positive pressure
environment at the same time as the cooling chamber is in a
negative pressure state.
[0038] FIG. 3 also illustrates the positioning of the water cooled
condensing coil (20).
[0039] FIG. 4 illustrates the entire chiller and boiler system
contained on one integrated platform (21). FIG. 4 further
identifies separate chambers for electrical controls (22) and pumps
(23). All components are interconnected yet separated by chambers
to perform their intended functions with maximum efficiency.
[0040] FIG. 4 further identifies the external chiller test ports
(24). This unique positioning allows for chiller service while the
unit is running without the risk of false performance readings
because the air flow across the condensers is not disturbed as
there is no removal of any service panels during a running
test.
[0041] FIG. 5 illustrates the separation of the electrical
components (25) in the electrical chamber (22) from the pumps (26),
(27), (28) in the pump chamber (23). This separation enhances
serviceability and operating safety as "wet" components are
separated from "dry" components.
[0042] FIG. 6 is a plan view of a fully employed residential
combined hydronic fluid heating and air conditioning system (31)
located at a convenient place near the residence. The system is
commonly referred to as a six pipe design as it utilizes both fluid
and air cooling methods.
[0043] The fluid cooling source in this illustration is the pool
(29) and the spa (30). Such a system is designed to utilize fluid
first as this prevents the condenser fan from running, thus saving
energy. Warmed cooling fluid returns to the pool (29) and spa (30)
but could be diverted to any other technology where this heat could
serve a function such as an indirect fired potable hot water tank.
If the fluid cooling is insufficient to draw down the temperature,
the condenser fan starts next and draws air across the condenser
coils to complete the cooling cycle.
[0044] FIG. 6 further illustrates the combination hydronic fluid
heating and air conditioning system connected to the same heating
and cooling technologies as outlined in FIG. 2.
[0045] It can also be understood that there is a distinct advantage
wherein the entire HVAC operational system is self contained and
can be installed at the most convenient location where it is easily
serviced while freeing interior structural space of that which is
normally occupied by the boiler (7) and its operating
components.
[0046] Therefore it can be readily seen that a chiller and boiler
system that can be efficiently combined into one unit which
provides numerous functional, structural, performance, health and
safety advantages has numerous novel utility and design
advantages.
* * * * *