Multi-Split HVAC System

Abstract

A heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) system has a first variable refrigerant flow outdoor unit, a first ducted variable speed indoor unit configured to selectively exchange refrigerant with the first variable refrigerant flow outdoor unit, and a second indoor unit configured to selectively exchange refrigerant with the first variable refrigerant flow outdoor unit.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) system, comprising:
 a first variable refrigerant flow outdoor unit;   a second variable refrigerant flow outdoor unit; and   a first ducted variable speed indoor unit configured to selectively exchange refrigerant with each of the first variable refrigerant flow outdoor unit and the second variable refrigerant outdoor unit.   
     
     
         2 . The HVAC system of  claim 1 , wherein the first variable refrigerant flow outdoor unit and the second variable refrigerant flow outdoor unit are configured to selectively cooperate in exchanging refrigerant with the first ducted variable speed indoor unit. 
     
     
         3 . The HVAC system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a second indoor unit configured to selectively exchange refrigerant with each of the first variable refrigerant flow outdoor unit and the second variable refrigerant outdoor unit.   
     
     
         4 . The HVAC system of  claim 3 , wherein the second indoor unit is ducted unit. 
     
     
         5 . The HVAC system of  claim 3 , wherein the second indoor unit is a non-ducted unit. 
     
     
         6 . The HVAC system of  claim 3 , wherein the second indoor unit is a variable speed unit. 
     
     
         7 . The HVAC system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a system controller configured to control the speed of each of the first variable refrigerant flow outdoor unit, the second variable refrigerant flow outdoor unit, and the first ducted variable speed indoor unit.   
     
     
         8 . The HVAC system of  claim 7 , wherein the speed of the first variable refrigerant flow outdoor unit and the speed of the second variable refrigerant outdoor unit are controlled by the system controller as a function of a demand associated with a zone conditioned by the first variable speed indoor unit. 
     
     
         9 . The HVAC system of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a system controller configured to control the speed of each of the first variable refrigerant flow outdoor unit, the second variable refrigerant flow outdoor unit, the first ducted variable speed indoor unit, and the second indoor unit.   
     
     
         10 . The HVAC system of  claim 9 , wherein the speed of the first variable refrigerant flow outdoor unit and the speed of the second variable refrigerant outdoor unit are controlled by the system controller as a function of a demand associated with a zone conditioned by the second indoor unit. 
     
     
         11 . A method of operating a heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) system, comprising:
 providing a first variable refrigerant flow outdoor unit;   providing a second variable refrigerant flow outdoor unit;   providing a first ducted variable speed indoor unit; and   operating the first ducted variable speed indoor unit to selectively exchange refrigerant with each of the first variable refrigerant flow outdoor unit and the second variable refrigerant outdoor unit.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the first variable refrigerant flow outdoor unit and the second variable refrigerant flow outdoor unit are configured to selectively cooperate in exchanging refrigerant with the first ducted variable speed indoor unit. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 providing a second indoor unit; and   operating the second indoor unit to selectively exchange refrigerant with each of the first variable refrigerant flow outdoor unit and the second variable refrigerant outdoor unit.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the second indoor unit is ducted unit. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the second indoor unit is a non-ducted unit. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the second indoor unit is a variable speed unit. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 providing a system controller; and   controlling the speed of each of the first variable refrigerant flow outdoor unit, the second variable refrigerant flow outdoor unit, and the first ducted variable speed indoor unit.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 controlling the speed of the first variable refrigerant flow outdoor unit and the speed of the second variable refrigerant outdoor unit as a function of a demand associated with a zone conditioned by the first variable speed indoor unit.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 providing a system controller; and   controlling the speed of each of the first variable refrigerant flow outdoor unit, the second variable refrigerant flow outdoor unit, the first ducted variable speed indoor unit, and the second indoor unit.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 controlling the speed of the first variable refrigerant flow outdoor unit and the speed of the second variable refrigerant outdoor unit as a function of a demand associated with a zone conditioned by the second indoor unit.