Heat exchanger arrangement for hvac systems

Abstract

A multiple circuit refrigerant system includes a first refrigerant circuit having a first condenser and a first compressor. The first compressor is an intermediate discharge valve (IDV) compressor. The multiple circuit refrigerant system also includes a second refrigerant circuit having a second condenser and a second compressor. The second condenser is disposed downstream of the first condenser relative to an air flow directed across the first condenser and the second condenser.

1 . A multiple circuit refrigerant system, comprising:
 a first refrigerant circuit having a first condenser and a first compressor, wherein the first compressor is an intermediate discharge valve (IDV) compressor; and   a second refrigerant circuit having a second condenser and a second compressor, wherein the second condenser is disposed downstream of the first condenser relative to an air flow directed across the first condenser and the second condenser.   
     
     
         2 . The multiple circuit refrigerant system of  claim 1 , comprising a controller configured to actuate the first compressor in response to a request for part-load operation of the multiple circuit refrigerant system. 
     
     
         3 . The multiple circuit refrigerant system of  claim 1 , wherein the second compressor is a non-IDV compressor. 
     
     
         4 . The multiple circuit refrigerant system of  claim 1 , wherein the first refrigerant circuit comprises a greater quantity of IDV compressors than the second refrigerant circuit. 
     
     
         5 . The multiple circuit refrigerant system of  claim 1 , wherein the first refrigerant circuit and the second refrigerant circuit are equal in rated compressor tonnage. 
     
     
         6 . The multiple circuit refrigerant system of  claim 1 , wherein the first condenser is configured to operate at a first condensing temperature that is lower than a second condensing temperature of the second condenser, during part load operation of the multiple circuit refrigerant system. 
     
     
         7 . The multiple circuit refrigerant system of  claim 1 , wherein the first refrigerant circuit has a third compressor fluidly coupled to the first condenser, wherein the second refrigerant circuit has a fourth compressor fluidly coupled to the second condenser, and
 wherein the third compressor is an IDV compressor and the fourth compressor is an IDV compressor, the third compressor is an IDV compressor and the fourth compressor is a non-IDV compressor, or the third compressor is a non-IDV compressor and the fourth compressor is a non-IDV compressor.   
     
     
         8 . The multiple circuit refrigerant system of  claim 1 , wherein the first condenser and the second condenser are in a stacked arrangement. 
     
     
         9 . The multiple circuit refrigerant system of  claim 8 , wherein, in the stacked arrangement, the first condenser comprises a first outward-facing surface and a first inward-facing surface, the second condenser comprises a second outward-facing surface and a second inward-facing surface, and the first inward-facing surface faces the second inward-facing surface. 
     
     
         10 . The multiple circuit refrigerant system of  claim 9 , wherein the first inward-facing surface and the second inward-facing surface are in contact with one another. 
     
     
         11 . A multiple circuit refrigerant system, comprising:
 a first refrigerant circuit having a first condenser and a first compressor assembly fluidly coupled to the first condenser; and   a second refrigerant circuit having a second condenser and a second compressor assembly fluidly coupled to the second condenser, wherein the second condenser is disposed downstream of the first condenser relative to an air flow directed across the first condenser and the second condenser, and wherein the first compressor assembly comprises a greater quantity of intermediate discharge valve (IDV) compressors than the second compressor assembly.   
     
     
         12 . The multiple circuit refrigerant system of  claim 11 , wherein the second compressor assembly comprises a non-IDV compressor. 
     
     
         13 . The multiple circuit refrigerant system of  claim 11 , wherein the first compressor assembly comprises a first IDV compressor fluidly coupled with a second IDV compressor in parallel, and wherein the second compressor assembly comprises a first non-IDV compressor fluidly coupled in with a second non-IDV compressor in parallel. 
     
     
         14 . The multiple circuit refrigerant system of  claim 11 , wherein the first compressor assembly comprises a first IDV compressor fluidly coupled with a second IDV compressor in parallel, and wherein the second compressor assembly comprises a third IDV compressor fluidly coupled with a non-IDV compressor in parallel. 
     
     
         15 . The multiple circuit refrigerant system of  claim 11 , comprising a controller communicatively coupled to the first compressor assembly and the second compressor assembly, wherein the controller is configured to instruct the first compressor assembly, the second compressor assembly, or both to control a respective refrigerant flow through the first refrigerant circuit, the second refrigerant circuit, or both. 
     
     
         16 . The multiple circuit refrigerant system of  claim 11 , wherein the first refrigerant circuit and the second refrigerant circuit are fluidly independent from one another. 
     
     
         17 . The multiple circuit refrigerant system of  claim 11 , comprising a third refrigerant circuit having a third condenser and a third compressor assembly fluidly coupled to the third condenser, wherein the third condenser is disposed downstream of the second condenser relative to the air flow, and wherein the first compressor assembly comprises a greater quantity of IDV compressors than the third compressor assembly. 
     
     
         18 . The multiple circuit refrigerant system of  claim 17 , wherein the second compressor assembly comprises a same quantity of IDV compressors as the third compressor assembly. 
     
     
         19 . A multiple circuit refrigerant system, comprising:
 a first refrigerant circuit comprising a first condenser and a first compressor, wherein the first compressor is an intermediate discharge valve (IDV) compressor comprising an IDV;   a second refrigerant circuit comprising a second condenser and a second compressor, wherein the second condenser is disposed downstream of the first condenser relative to an air flow directed across the first condenser and the second condenser; and   a controller configured to actuate the first compressor in response to a request for part-load operation of the multiple circuit refrigerant system, wherein the first compressor is configured to actuate the IDV during the part-load operation of the multiple circuit refrigerant system.   
     
     
         20 . The multiple circuit refrigerant system of  claim 19 , wherein a cooling capacity demand associated with the part-load operation is greater than a cooling capacity of the first refrigerant circuit, and wherein the controller is configured to actuate the second compressor in response to the request for part-load operation of the multiple circuit refrigerant system. 
     
     
         21 . The multiple circuit refrigerant system of  claim 20 , wherein the first condenser is configured to operate at a lower condensing temperature than the second condenser during the part-load operation of the multiple circuit refrigerant system. 
     
     
         22 . The multiple circuit refrigerant system of  claim 19 , wherein the second compressor comprises a non-IDV compressor. 
     
     
         23 . The multiple circuit refrigerant system of  claim 19 , wherein the controller is configured to actuate the first compressor and the second compressor in response to a request for full-load operation of the multiple circuit refrigerant system.