Refrigerant flow management for modulating reheat system

Abstract

A heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system includes a housing, a plurality of compressors, a condenser, a reheater, and an evaporator arranged in fluid communication. The condenser and the reheater are arranged in parallel and the plurality of compressors are arranged in parallel. A fluid management system is operable to actively manage a flow of a fluid within the HVAC system provided to the reheater.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system comprising:
 a housing;   a plurality of compressors, a condenser, a reheater, and an evaporator in fluid communication, the condenser and the reheater being arranged in parallel, and the plurality of compressors being arranged in parallel; and   a fluid management system operable to actively manage a flow of a fluid within the HVAC system provided to the reheater.   
     
     
         2 . The HVAC system of  claim 1 , further comprising a filter drier arranged downstream from and in fluid communication with the condenser and the reheater, the filter drier being arranged within the housing. 
     
     
         3 . The HVAC system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of compressors includes a first compressor and a second compressor, the first compressor having a first capacity and the second compressor having a second capacity different from the first capacity. 
     
     
         4 . The HVAC system of  claim 1 , wherein the housing includes an access panel and the filter drier is positioned adjacent to the access panel. 
     
     
         5 . The HVAC system of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid management system further comprises a modulating valve movable to direct the fluid output from the plurality of compressors to at least one of the condenser and the reheater. 
     
     
         6 . The HVAC system of  claim 3 , further comprising a plurality of flow loops, and the fluid management system is operable to control a portion of the fluid provided to each of the plurality of flow loops. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the plurality of flow loops includes a first fluid loop and a second fluid loop, the condenser being arranged within the first fluid loop and the reheater being arranged within the second fluid loop. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the fluid management system further comprises:
 a first valve arranged within the first fluid loop downstream from the condenser, the first valve being configured to allow the fluid to flow in only a first direction; and   a second valve arranged within the second fluid loop downstream from the reheater, the second valve being configured to allow the fluid to flow in only a second direction.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein at least one of the first valve and the second valve is passive. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein at least one of the first valve and the second valve is a check valve. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the system further comprises a controller and at least one of the first valve and the second valve is actively controlled by the controller. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the fluid management system further comprises a controller operably coupled to at least one sensor, the controller being configured to operable to actively manage the flow of fluid through the HVAC system in response to the at least one sensor. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one sensor is associated with the reheater. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one sensor is configured to monitor a temperature of a flow of supply air at or downstream from the reheater. 
     
     
         15 . A method of operating a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system, comprising:
 providing a HVAC system including a plurality of compressors, an evaporator, a condenser, and a reheater, the plurality of compressors being arranged in parallel and the condenser and the reheater being arranged in parallel to define a plurality of fluid flow loops;   receiving information about at least one parameter of the HVAC system;   selecting at least one of the plurality of compressors in response to the information about the at least one parameter of the HVAC system;   determining a position of a modulating valve of a refrigerant management system of the HVAC system in response to the information about the at least one parameter of the HVAC system; and   moving the modulating valve to the determined position to control a fluid flow through the plurality of fluid flow loops.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the information about the at least one parameter of the HVAC system is collected by a sensor. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the sensor is operable to monitor a temperature of a supply air output from the reheater. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one parameter of the HVAC system includes an operational mode of the HVAC system. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one parameter of the HVAC system includes an on/off status of the HVAC system. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the plurality of fluid flow loops includes a first fluid loop and a second fluid loop, the method further comprising:
 blocking a fluid within the second fluid loop from entering the first fluid loop via a first valve; and   blocking a fluid within the first fluid loop from entering the second fluid loop via a second valve.