Chiller system

Abstract

A chiller system is provided. The chiller system may include a plurality of chillers, each of which may include a compressor, a condenser, and an evaporator, and a controller that controls the plurality of chillers. The controller may determine an expected load and a chiller to be operated of the plurality of chillers on the basis of the determined expected load to operate the determined chiller.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A chiller system, comprising:
 a plurality of chillers, each of which comprises a compressor, a condenser, and an evaporator; and   a controller that controls the plurality of chillers, wherein the controller determines an expected load and a chiller of the plurality of chillers to be operated on the basis of the determined expected load, and operates the determined chiller.   
     
     
         2 . The chiller system according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of chillers have capacities different from each other. 
     
     
         3 . The chiller system according to  claim 1 , wherein the controller operates a portion or all of the plurality of chillers on the basis of the expected load. 
     
     
         4 . The chiller system according to  claim 1 , wherein the controller determines the expected load on the basis of an expected load factor and an expected head factor, wherein the expected load factor is determined on the basis of a temperature of cold water introduced into the evaporator and a target cold water outflow temperature, and wherein the expected head factor is determined on the basis of a temperature of cooling water introduced into the condenser and the target cold water outflow temperature. 
     
     
         5 . The chiller system according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of chillers comprise a first chiller, and a second chiller having a capacity greater than a capacity of the first chiller, and when it is determined that an operation method change is needed while one of the first chiller or the second chiller operates, the controller stops the operating chiller and operates the other chiller or simultaneously operates the first and second chillers. 
     
     
         6 . The chiller system according to  claim 5 , wherein the controller determines an expected load to determine whether an operation method change is needed according to the expected load. 
     
     
         7 . The chiller system according to  claim 6 , wherein a determination reference for determining whether the operation method change is needed comprises a determination reference when the expected load increases and a determination reference when the expected load decreases. 
     
     
         8 . The chiller system according to  claim 6 , wherein the controller determines the expected load on the basis of an expected load factor and an expected head factor, wherein the expected load factor is determined on the basis of a temperature of cold water discharged from the evaporator and a target cold water outflow temperature, and wherein the expected head factor is determined on the basis of a temperature of cooling water introduced into the condenser and the target cold water outflow temperature. 
     
     
         9 . The chiller system according to  claim 5 , wherein, if it is determined that the chiller to be operated changes to the second chiller while the first chiller operates, the controller performs a starting sequence of the second chiller and stops the operation of the first chiller after the starting sequence of the second chiller is completed. 
     
     
         10 . The chiller system according to  claim 5 , wherein, if it is determined that the chiller to be operated changes to the first chiller while the second chiller operates, the controller reduces an opening degree of a guide vane of the compressor of the second chiller and performs a starting sequence of the first chiller when the opening degree of the guide vane reaches a reference opening degree. 
     
     
         11 . The chiller system according to  claim 10 , wherein the controller stops the operation of the second chiller after the starting sequence of the first chiller is completed. 
     
     
         12 . A chiller system, comprising:
 a first chiller comprising a first compressor;   a second chiller comprising a second compressor having a capacity greater than a capacity of the first compressor; and   a controller to control the first and second chillers, wherein, when it is determined that an operation starting command is input, the controller determines a chiller to be operated of the first and second chillers and operates the determined chiller.   
     
     
         13 . The chiller system according to  claim 12 , wherein, when it is determined that an operation method change is needed while one chiller of the first and second chillers operates, the controller stops the operating chiller and operates the other chiller or simultaneously operates the first and second chillers. 
     
     
         14 . The chiller system according to  claim 12 , wherein, when it is determined that the operation method change is needed while the first and second chillers operate at the same time, the controller stops the first chiller or the second chiller. 
     
     
         15 . A chiller system, comprising:
 a first chiller comprising a first compressor;   a second chiller comprising a second compressor having a capacity greater than a capacity of the first compressor; and   a controller to control the first and second chillers, wherein, when it is determined that an operation method change is needed while at least one of the first chiller or the second chiller operates, the controller stops the operating chiller and operates the other chiller, or stops one chiller module while all of the chillers operate, or additionally operates the other chiller while the one chiller operates.   
     
     
         16 . The chiller system according to  claim 15 , wherein, if it is determined that the chiller to be operated changes to the second chiller while the first chiller operates, the controller performs a starting sequence of the second chiller and stops the operation of the first chiller after the starting sequence of the second chiller is completed. 
     
     
         17 . The chiller system according to  claim 15 , wherein, if it is determined that the chiller to be operated changes to the first chiller while the second chiller operates, the controller reduce an opening degree of a guide vane of the second compressor and performs a starting sequence of the first chiller when the opening degree of the guide vane reaches a reference opening degree. 
     
     
         18 . The chiller system according to  claim 17 , wherein the controller stops the operation of the second chiller after the starting sequence of the first chiller is completed. 
     
     
         19 . The chiller system according to  claim 17 , wherein the controller determines the expected load to determine whether an operation method change is needed according to the expected load. 
     
     
         20 . The chiller system according to  claim 19 , wherein a determination reference for determining whether the operation method change is needed comprises a determination reference when the expected load increases and a determination reference when the expected load decreases. 
     
     
         21 . A chiller system, comprising:
 a plurality of chillers, each of which comprises a compressor, a condenser, and an evaporator; and   a controller that controls the plurality of chillers, wherein the controller determines an expected load and a chiller or chillers of the plurality of chillers to be operated on the basis of the determined expected load, and operates the determined chiller or chillers, wherein the controller determines the expected load on the basis of an expected load factor and an expected head factor of an operating chiller, wherein the expected load factor is determined on the basis of a temperature of cold water introduced into the evaporator of the operating chiller and a target cold water outflow temperature, and wherein the expected head factor is determined on the basis of a temperature of cooling water introduced into the condenser of the operating chiller and the target cold water outflow temperature.   
     
     
         22 . The chiller system according to  claim 21 , wherein the plurality of chillers have capacities different from each other. 
     
     
         23 . The chiller system according to  claim 21 , wherein the plurality of chillers comprise a first chiller, and a second chiller having a capacity greater than a capacity of the first chiller, and when it is determined that an operation method change is needed while one of the first chiller or the second chiller operates, the controller stops the operating chiller and operates the other chiller or simultaneously operates the first and second chillers. 
     
     
         24 . The chiller system according to  claim 23 , wherein the controller determines the expected load of the operating chiller to determine whether an operation method change is needed according to the expected load of the operating chiller. 
     
     
         25 . The chiller system according to  claim 24 , wherein a determination reference for determining whether the operation method change is needed comprises a determination reference when the expected load of the operating chiller increases and a determination reference when the expected load of the operating chiller decreases. 
     
     
         26 . The chiller system according to  claim 23 , wherein, if it is determined that the chiller to be operated changes to the second chiller while the first chiller operates, the controller performs a starting sequence of the second chiller and stops the operation of the first chiller after the starting sequence of the second chiller is completed. 
     
     
         27 . The chiller system according to  claim 23 , wherein, if it is determined that the chiller to be operated changes to the first chiller while the second chiller operates, the controller reduces an opening degree of a guide vane of the compressor of the second chiller and performs a starting sequence of the first chiller when the opening degree of the guide vane reaches a reference opening degree. 
     
     
         28 . The chiller system according to  claim 27 , wherein the controller stops the operation of the second chiller after the starting sequence of the first chiller is completed.