Apparatus and method for modulating cooling

Abstract

This invention relates to a method and an apparatus for a modulating air conditioning system having increased energy efficiency and greater turndown capabilities. A modulating air conditioning system includes modulating at least one of the following components: a compressor, a compressor driver, a condenser fan, an evaporator fan, an effective evaporator surface area, an effective condenser surface area and/or an expansion device.

1 . An air conditioning apparatus for a residential or commercial building and including as components a compressor, a condenser coil, an expansion device, and an evaporator coil, the apparatus comprising:
 a modulating refrigerant distribution and/or expansion device selected from a group consisting of a variable displacement compressor device, a modulating expansion device, a modulating evaporator device, and combinations thereof; and   a controller for modulating the at least one modulating refrigerant distribution and/or expansion device.   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising at least one of a modulating condenser fan or a modulating evaporator fan. 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a variable stroke compressor as the variable displacement compressor device. 
   
   
       4 . The apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the variable displacement compressor device has a capacity of less than six tons. 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus according to  claim 3 , further comprising a motor for operating the compressor device, wherein the motor is cooled by air moving over the motor. 
   
   
       6 . The apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein the motor is detachably connected to the compressor unit and not cooled by the refrigerant. 
   
   
       7 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising the modulating evaporator device including more than one evaporator coil zone and a restriction device for each of the more than one evaporator coil zone, wherein each restriction device restricts and/or regulates a flow of refrigerant to a corresponding evaporator coil zone. 
   
   
       8 . The apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the controller operates the restriction device of each of the more than one evaporator coil zone. 
   
   
       9 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising the modulating expansion device including more than one expansion valve. 
   
   
       10 . An air conditioning apparatus for a residential or commercial building, the apparatus comprising:
 a compressor device for receiving and compressing a refrigerant; and   a motor for operating the compressor device, wherein the motor is air-cooled;   wherein the compressor device has a capacity of less than six tons or the motor has a power output of about 5,222 watts or less.   
   
   
       11 . The device according to  claim 10 , wherein the motor is detachably connected to the compressor unit and not cooled by the refrigerant. 
   
   
       12 . The device according to  claim 11 , wherein the motor comprises a motor driveshaft, the compressor device comprises a compressor driveshaft, and the motor driveshaft is separate from and in operating combination with the compressor driveshaft. 
   
   
       13 . The device according to  claim 10 , wherein the motor comprises a brushless DC motor or an electrically commutated motor. 
   
   
       14 . The device according to  claim 10 , wherein the compressor comprises a variable displacement compressor. 
   
   
       15 . The device according to  claim 14 , wherein the motor comprises a single speed motor. 
   
   
       16 . The device according to  claim 14 , further comprising a controller for modulating at least one of the variable displacement compressor or a speed of the motor. 
   
   
       17 . A method of conditioning air for a residential or commercial building, the method comprising:
 modulating a compressing of a refrigerant in a compressor;   condensing the compressed refrigerant within a condenser;   running the condensed refrigerant through an expansion device to cool the refrigerant;   absorbing heat from the residential or commercial building with the cooled refrigerant within an evaporator device;   modulating a flow of the refrigerant through the expansion device and/or the evaporator device; and   returning the heated refrigerant gas to the compressor.   
   
   
       18 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the compressor comprises a variable displacement compressor. 
   
   
       19 . The method according to  claim 17 , further comprising modulating a pressure drop of the refrigerant at the expansion device. 
   
   
       20 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the evaporator device comprises more than one evaporator coil zone and further comprising reducing or stopping for a time period a flow of refrigerant from one of the more than one evaporator coil zone. 
   
   
       21 . The method according to  claim 17 , further comprising reducing or stopping an air flow over a portion of the evaporator device.