Multi-Function Multichannel Heat Exchanger

Abstract

Heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVAC&R) systems and heat exchangers are provided which contain integrated auxiliary cooling loops. The heat exchangers include multiple sets of multichannel tubes located on independent closed refrigeration loops. One closed loop functions as the main refrigeration loop of the system while another closed loop provides auxiliary cooling to system components. The closed loops are contained within the same heat exchanger, thus, allowing the auxiliary cooling loop to be integrated into an existing system.

1 . A heating, ventilating, air conditioning or refrigeration system comprising:
 a compressor configured to compress a gaseous refrigerant;   a condenser configured to receive and to condense the compressed refrigerant;   an expansion device configured to reduce pressure of the condensed refrigerant; and   an evaporator configured to evaporate the refrigerant prior to returning the refrigerant to the compressor;   wherein at least one of the condenser and the evaporator includes a heat exchanger comprising a first manifold, a second manifold, a first baffle separating the first manifold into a first side and a second side, a second baffle separating the second manifold into a first side and a second side, a first plurality of multichannel tubes in fluid communication with the first side of the first manifold and with the first side of the second manifold, and a second plurality of multichannel tubes in fluid communication with the second side of the first manifold and the second side of the second manifold.   
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first plurality of multichannel tubes receives the refrigerant, and the second plurality of multichannel tubes receives a fluid other than the refrigerant. 
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the second plurality of multichannel tubes receives a lubricant from the compressor. 
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the second plurality of multichannel tubes receives a cooling fluid from a power electronic circuit. 
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the power electronic circuit is part of a variable speed drive providing drive signals to a motor coupled to the compressor. 
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the tubes of the first and second pluralities of multichannel tubes are substantially identical. 
   
   
       7 . A heating, ventilating, air conditioning or refrigeration system comprising:
 a compressor configured to compress a gaseous refrigerant;   a condenser configured to receive and to condense the compressed refrigerant;   an expansion device configured to reduce pressure of the condensed refrigerant; and   an evaporator configured to evaporate the refrigerant prior to returning the refrigerant to the compressor;   wherein at least one of the compressor and the evaporator includes a heat exchanger having multiple fluid separated sets of multichannel tubes, one set of multichannel tubes receiving the refrigerant, and another set of multichannel tubes receiving another system fluid that is heated or cooled in the heat exchanger.   
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the heat exchanger includes two fluid separated sets of multichannel tubes. 
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the other system fluid is a lubricant from the compressor. 
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the other system fluid is a cooling fluid from a power electronic circuit. 
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the power electronic circuit is part of a variable speed drive providing drive signals to a motor coupled to the compressor. 
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein at least one of the condenser and the evaporator includes multiple heat exchangers each having multiple fluid separated sets of multichannel tubes. 
   
   
       13 . The heat exchanger of  claim 7 , wherein the tubes of the first and second pluralities of multichannel tubes are substantially identical. 
   
   
       14 . A heat exchanger comprising:
 a first manifold;   a second manifold;   a first baffle separating the first manifold into a first side and a second side;   a second baffle separating the second manifold into a first side and a second side;   a first plurality of multichannel tubes in fluid communication with the first side of the first manifold and with the first side of the second manifold; and   a second plurality of multichannel tubes in fluid communication with the second side of the first manifold and the second side of the second manifold.   
   
   
       15 . The heat exchanger of  claim 14 , wherein at least one of the first and second manifolds includes an additional baffle to direct flow in multiple passes through one of the first or second plurality of multichannel tubes. 
   
   
       16 . A method for operating a heating, ventilating, air conditioning or refrigeration system comprising:
 circulating a refrigerant in a closed loop including a condenser and an evaporator, at least one of the compressor and the evaporator including a heat exchanger having multiple fluid separated sets of multichannel tubes, one set of multichannel tubes receiving the refrigerant;   circulating another system fluid other than the refrigerant through another of the fluid separated sets of multichannel tubes.   
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the other system fluid is a lubricant from a refrigerant compressor. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the other system fluid is a cooling fluid from a power electronic circuit. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the power electronic circuit is part of a variable speed drive providing drive signals to a motor coupled to a refrigerant compressor. 
   
   
       20 . A heating, ventilating, air conditioning or refrigeration system comprising:
 a compressor configured to compress a gaseous refrigerant;   a condenser configured to receive and to condense the compressed refrigerant;   an expansion device configured to reduce pressure of the condensed refrigerant;   an evaporator configured to evaporate the refrigerant prior to returning the refrigerant to the compressor;   a fan configured to draw cooling air across the condenser; and   an auxiliary heat exchanger section disposed adjacent to the condenser and cooled by the condenser fan for cooling a fluid other than the refrigerant.   
   
   
       21 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the other system fluid is a lubricant from the compressor. 
   
   
       22 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the other system fluid is a cooling fluid from a power electronic circuit. 
   
   
       23 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the power electronic circuit is part of a variable speed drive providing drive signals to a motor coupled to the compressor. 
   
   
       24 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein at least one of the condenser, the evaporator and the auxiliary heat exchanger includes a plurality of multichannel tubes. 
   
   
       25 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the auxiliary heat exchanger shares a common manifold with the condenser, and the common manifold includes a baffle to separate a flow of refrigerant from a flow of the fluid other than refrigerant.