Energy efficiency of air conditioning system by using dual suction compressor

Abstract

A method for selectively transferring latent and sensible heat from air in a cooling system of a building structure interior volume that includes at least the steps of: (1) providing a building structure air conditioning system that provides cooling to at least a portion of the interior volume of a building structure and (2) adjusting a ratio of a time coolant flows through the first evaporator to a time coolant flows through the second evaporator such that coolant flows through the first evaporator for more time than the second evaporator when more latent heat is removed from the air and more coolant flows through the second evaporator for more time than the first evaporator when more sensible heat is removed from the air.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for selectively transferring latent and sensible heat from air in a cooling system of a building structure interior volume, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing a building structure air conditioning system that provides cooling to at least a portion of the interior volume of a building structure wherein the air conditioning system comprises:   a compressor having a suction valve or suction valves;   a condenser having a condenser fan associated with the condenser that moves air to cool the condenser;   at least two evaporators wherein a first evaporator operates at a first evaporator pressure and a second evaporator operates at a second evaporator pressure that is different than the first evaporator pressure;   at least a first throttling device in coolant fluid communication with the first evaporator and a second throttling device associated with the second evaporator and wherein the first throttling device and the second throttling device have different throttling characteristics with the first throttling device being less restrictive than a second throttling device; and   a plurality of refrigerant conduits containing refrigerant fluid fluidly connecting the compressor, condenser, the first throttling device, the second throttling device, the first evaporator, and the second evaporator; and   wherein a refrigerant fluid leaves the compressor along at least one refrigerant flow-path, through the condenser and into the first and second throttling devices that thereafter deliver refrigerant fluid to the first evaporator and to the second evaporator and wherein the first evaporator circuit portion operates at a higher temperature than the second evaporator circuit portion to increase the dynamic efficiency of the cooling system; and   adjusting a ratio of a time coolant flows through the first evaporator to a time coolant flows through the second evaporator such that coolant flows through the first evaporator for more time than the second evaporator when more latent heat is removed from the air and more coolant flows through the second evaporator for more time than the first evaporator when more sensible heat is removed from the air; and   managing the opening and closing of the compressor suction valve or valves or adjusting the timing of valve opening and compressor piston or vane stoke position to adjust the first evaporator pressure and the second evaporator pressure; and   wherein a person within the interior volume of the building structure obtains enhanced control of the temperature and humidity within the interior volume.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of adjusting the ratio of time coolant flows through the first evaporator to the time the coolant flows through the second evaporator utilized a control unit operably connected to at least the compressor, wherein the control unit changes the ratio to regulate both humidity and temperature of the building structure interior volume. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the compressor is a dual suction compressor. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the refrigerant fluid leaves the compressor along a single, common refrigerant flow-path, and wherein the refrigerant fluid passes through the condenser and into the first and second throttling devices and wherein the refrigerant fluid splits from the common flow-path portion of the refrigerant circuit prior to passing through the first throttling device and the second throttling device such that refrigerant fluid is delivered to the first evaporator through a first evaporator circuit portion of the refrigerant fluid circuit and refrigerant fluid is delivered to the second evaporator through a second evaporator fluid circuit. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the dual suction compressor is one of: a linear compressor, a reciprocating compressor, a rotary compressor, or a scroll compressor. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the dual suction compressor is one of: an oil-less compressor; a linear compressor, a reciprocating compressor, or a scroll compressor. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first evaporator is positioned in fluid relationship with an outdoor air intake. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising the step of regulating the opening and closing of the outdoor air intake to allow exterior air into the air conditioning system that thereby improves the air quality of the at least a portion of the interior volume of the building structure. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein at least two of the evaporator rows are in a reduced conductive thermal exchange relationship with one another. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the first evaporator circuit portion and the second evaporator circuit portion merge and rejoin the common refrigerant flow-path portion within the dual suction compressor. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first evaporator and the second evaporator are in the same air flow supply path that supplies chilled air to one or more living areas within a building. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the first evaporator circuit portion delivers refrigerant to the dual suction compressor via a first intake port of the dual suction compressor and the second evaporator circuit portion delivers refrigerant to the dual suction compressor via a second intake port of the dual suction compressor, and the dual suction compressor delivers a refrigerant to the common refrigerant flow-path. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein each of the first and second throttling devices are a capillary tube and wherein the compressor is a dual suction compressor and the dual suction compressor switches between providing suction to the refrigerant conduit connected to the first evaporator and the refrigerant conduit connected to the second evaporator. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the first evaporator and the second evaporator are in a common air flow passageway that supplies chilled air to one or more living areas within the interior volume of the building structure. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the air conditioning system further comprises a three-way valve having two refrigerant intakes that receive refrigerant fluid from the first evaporator and second evaporator and a single refrigerant outlet that delivers refrigerant fluid to an intake port of the compressor and wherein the two intakes from the first and the second evaporators individually receive refrigerant fluid from the first evaporator circuit portion and the second evaporator circuit portion after the refrigerant fluid has passed through the first evaporator and the second evaporator. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of preconditioning exterior air from an exterior air intake using the first evaporator such that the first evaporator removes humidity and pre-cools the exterior air and wherein the second evaporator is positioned in a primary air passageway that provides more sensible cooling than latent cooling. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the compressor is a dual suction and dual discharge compressor that feeds and receives refrigerant fluid through two separate refrigerant circuits wherein a first refrigerant circuit comprises a first condenser coil, the first throttling device, and the first evaporator and the second refrigerant circuit comprises a second condenser coil, the second throttling device and the second evaporator and wherein the output of refrigerant to the first condenser coil and the second condenser coil and the suction from the first evaporator and the second evaporator and wherein the condenser fan is associated with both the first condenser coil and the second condenser coil. 
     
     
         18 . A method for selectively transferring latent and sensible heat from air in a cooling system of a building structure interior volume comprising the steps of:
 providing a building structure air conditioning system that provides cooling to at least a portion of the interior volume of a building structure wherein the air conditioning system comprises:   a dual suction compressor;   a control unit in signal communication with at least the dual suction compressor;   a condenser;   at least two evaporators wherein a first evaporator operates at a first evaporator pressure and a second evaporator operates at a second evaporator pressure that is different than the first evaporator pressure;   at least a first throttling device in coolant fluid communication with the first evaporator and a second throttling device associated with the second evaporator and wherein the first throttling device and the second throttling device have different throttling characteristics with the first throttling device being less restrictive than a second throttling device; and   a plurality of refrigerant conduits containing refrigerant fluid fluidly connecting the compressor, condenser, the first throttling device, the second throttling device, the first evaporator, and the second evaporator; and   wherein a refrigerant fluid leaves the compressor along at least one refrigerant flow-path, through the condenser and into the first and second throttling devices that thereafter deliver refrigerant fluid to the first evaporator and to the second evaporator and wherein the first evaporator circuit portion operates at a higher temperature than the second evaporator circuit portion to improve the dynamic efficiency of the cooling system, and wherein the first evaporator circuit portion and the second evaporator circuit portion merge and rejoin the common refrigerant flow-path portion; and   using the dual suction compressor to adjust a ratio of a time coolant flows through the first evaporator to a time coolant flows through the second evaporator to vary the temperature differential between the two evaporators to effect the energy usage and or to effect the ratio of latent to sensible cooling of the conditioned air stream; wherein a person within the interior volume of the building structure obtains enhanced control of the temperature and humidity within the interior volume.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the compressor is a dual suction and dual discharge compressor that feeds and receives refrigerant fluid through two separate refrigerant circuits wherein a first refrigerant circuit comprises a first condenser coil, the first throttling device, and the first evaporator and the second refrigerant circuit comprises a second condenser coil, the second throttling device and the second evaporator and wherein the output of refrigerant to the first condenser coil and the second condenser coil and the suction from the first evaporator and the second evaporator. 
     
     
         20 . A method for selectively transferring latent and sensible heat from air in a cooling system of a building structure interior volume comprising the steps of:
 providing a building structure forced air, air conditioning system that provides cooling to at least a portion of the interior volume of a building structure wherein the air conditioning system comprises:   a compressor positioned outside the building structure having at least a first suction port and a second suction port;   a control unit in signal communication with at least the compressor that controls at least the operation of the compressor;   at least one condenser positioned outside the building structure;   at least two evaporators wherein a first evaporator operates at a first evaporator pressure and a second evaporator operates at a second evaporator pressure that is different than the first evaporator pressure;   at least a first throttling device in coolant fluid communication with the first evaporator and a second throttling device associated with the second evaporator and wherein the first throttling device and the second throttling device have different throttling characteristics with the first throttling device being less restrictive than a second throttling device; and   a plurality of refrigerant conduits containing refrigerant fluid fluidly connecting the compressor, condenser, the first throttling device, the second throttling device, the first evaporator, and the second evaporator;   a supply fan that circulates air past at least the first evaporator section and circulates air to and from the one or more building areas within the building structure; and   wherein a refrigerant fluid leaves the compressor along at least one refrigerant flow-path, through the condenser and into the first and second throttling devices that thereafter deliver refrigerant fluid to the first evaporator and to the second evaporator and wherein the first evaporator circuit portion operates at a higher temperature than the second evaporator circuit portion; and   using the control unit to control the compressor and use the compressor to control a ratio of a time coolant flows through the first evaporator to a time coolant flows through the second evaporator such that coolant flows through the first evaporator for more time than the second evaporator when more latent heat is removed from the air and more coolant flows through the second evaporator for more time than the first evaporator when more sensible heat is removed from the air; wherein a person within the interior volume of the building structure obtains enhanced control of the temperature and humidity within the interior volume.