Water-cooled air conditioning system using condenser water regeneration for precise air reheat in dehumidifying mode

Abstract

A water-cooled air conditioning system using a regenerative condenser water circuit to reheat the supply air during a dehumidification mode. The air conditioning system may be any type of water-cooled system, including a water source heat pump or water-cooled air conditioner. The reheat circuit circulates water leaving the condenser through the reheat heat exchanger and then returns the water to the condenser inlet. Thus, the reheat circuit ensures that water leaving the condenser is warm enough to provide sufficient reheating for the supply air, regardless of the water source temperature. In addition, a modulation assembly controls the amount of water flowing through the reheat circuit, and thereby its temperature, so that the temperature of the reheated supply air can be maintained within a narrow range.

1 . A water-cooled air conditioning system for conditioning air in an enclosed space, the system associated with a water source, the system comprising: 
 a condenser adapted to conduct heat from a refrigerant to water, the condenser having a water inlet and a water outlet;    an evaporator adapted to conduct heat from air to refrigerant;    a refrigerant circuit including a compressor and an expansion device and adapted to circulate refrigerant between the condenser and evaporator;    a condenser water circuit comprising a supply conduit adapted to circulate water from the water source to the water inlet of the condenser and a return conduit adapted to circulate water from water outlet of the condenser to the water source;    an air circuit adapted to receive return air from the space, to circulate the air through the evaporator, and to direct conditioned supply air to the space;    a reheat heat exchanger adapted to conduct heat from water to air, the reheat heat exchanger disposed in the air circuit downstream of the evaporator and having a water inlet and a water outlet;    a regenerative condenser water reheat circuit including a pump and adapted to circulate water from the return conduit of the condenser water circuit to the water inlet of the reheat heat exchanger and from the water outlet of the reheat heat exchanger to the supply conduit of the condenser water circuit; and    a control assembly comprising a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the supply air entering the space and adapted to control the operation of the reheat circuit in response thereto.    
   
   
       2 . The air conditioning system of  claim 1  wherein the control assembly comprises a flow modulation assembly adapted to vary the amount of water that is circulated through the condenser water reheat circuit to maintain the supply air near a selected temperature.  
   
   
       3 . The air conditioning system of  claim 2  wherein the flow modulation assembly comprises a diverting valve.  
   
   
       4 . The air conditioning system of  claim 3  wherein the diverting valve is located at the junction of the reheat circuit and the return conduit from the condenser.  
   
   
       5 . The air conditioning system of  claim 2  wherein the flow modulation assembly comprises a mixing valve.  
   
   
       6 . The air conditioning system of  claim 5  wherein the mixing valve is located at the junction of the reheat circuit and the supply conduit to the condenser.  
   
   
       7 . The air conditioning system of  claim 2  wherein the flow modulation assembly comprises a variable speed pump controller operatively connected to the pump of the condenser water reheat circuit.  
   
   
       8 . The air conditioning system of  claim 7  wherein the flow modulation assembly further comprises a check valve in the reheat circuit to prevent backflow of water from the water source through the condenser water reheat circuit.  
   
   
       9 . The air conditioning system of  claim 1  wherein the pump in the reheat circuit is located in the condenser water circuit between the condenser and the junction of the reheat circuit with the condenser water circuit.  
   
   
       10 . A regenerative condenser water reheat assembly for use with a water-cooled air conditioning system for conditioning air in an enclosed space and that is associated with a water source, the air conditioning system comprising a condenser adapted to conduct heat from a refrigerant to water and having a water inlet and a water outlet, an evaporator to conduct heat from air to refrigerant, a refrigerant circuit including a compressor and an expansion device and adapted to circulate refrigerant between the condenser and evaporator, a condenser water circuit including a supply conduit to circulate water from the water source to the water inlet of the condenser and a return conduit to circulate water from the water outlet of the condenser to the water source, and an air circuit adapted to receive return air from the space, to direct air through the evaporator, and to direct conditioned supply air to the space, the reheat assembly comprising: 
 a reheat heat exchanger to conduct heat from water to air and adapted to be installed in the air circuit downstream of the evaporator, wherein the reheat heat exchanger has a water inlet and a water outlet;    a reheat circulating pump for use with conduits to circulate water from the return conduit of the condenser water circuit to the water inlet of the reheat heat exchanger and from the water outlet of the reheat heat exchanger to the supply conduit of the condenser water circuit; and    a control assembly comprising a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the supply air entering the space and adapted to control the operation of the reheat circuit in response thereto.    
   
   
       11 . The reheat assembly of  claim 10  wherein the control assembly comprises a flow modulation assembly adapted to vary the amount of water circulated through the reheat circuit to maintain the supply air near a selected temperature.  
   
   
       12 . The reheat assembly system of  claim 11  wherein the flow modulation assembly comprises a diverting valve.  
   
   
       13 . The reheat assembly of  claim 12  wherein the diverting valve is located at the junction of the reheat circuit and the return conduit from the condenser.  
   
   
       14 . The reheat assembly of  claim 11  wherein the flow modulation assembly comprises a mixing valve.  
   
   
       15 . The reheat assembly of  claim 14  wherein the mixing valve is located at the junction of the reheat circuit and the supply conduit to the condenser.  
   
   
       16 . The reheat assembly of  claim 11  wherein the flow modulation assembly comprises a variable speed pump controller operatively connected to the pump of the reheat circuit.  
   
   
       17 . The reheat assembly of  claim 16  wherein the flow modulation assembly further comprises a check valve in the reheat circuit to prevent backflow of water from the water source through the condenser water reheat circuit.  
   
   
       18 . The reheat assembly of  claim 10  further comprising conduits sufficient to form a regenerative condenser water reheat circuit adapted to circulate water from the return conduit of the condenser to the water inlet of the reheat heat exchanger and from the water outlet of the heat exchanger to the supply conduit of the condenser.  
   
   
       19 . A method for reheating supply air in a water-cooled air conditioning system for conditioning the air in an enclosed space and that is associated with a water source, wherein the air conditioning system comprises a condenser adapted to conduct heat from a refrigerant to water and having a water inlet and a water outlet, an evaporator adapted to conduct heat from air to refrigerant, a refrigerant circuit including a compressor and an expansion device and adapted to circulate refrigerant between the condenser and evaporator, a condenser water circuit including a supply conduit to circulate water from the water source to the water inlet of the condenser and a return conduit to circulate water from the water outlet of the condenser to the water source, and an air circuit adapted to receive return air from the space, to direct it through the evaporator, and to direct supply air into the space, the method comprising: 
 in response to the temperature of the supply air leaving the air circuit, circulating condenser water from the return conduit of the condenser water circuit in heat exchange relation with air in the air circuit downstream of the evaporator to adjust the temperature of the supply air towards a target temperature and then returning the condenser water to the supply conduit of the condenser water circuit.    
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19  further comprising modulating the amount of the condenser water return flow that is circulated in heat exchange relation with the air to maintain the supply air near the target temperature.