Multi-feed chiller-heater production module and method of controlling the same

Abstract

A packaged heating and/or cooling unit for a production module for a heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVACR) system. The packaged unit includes a heat pump configured to provide heating and/or cooling; a connection to a piping distribution system to selectively connect to a hot fluid circuit and/or a cold fluid circuit; and a controller. The controller is configured to connect to and receive a signal from a building automation system for a heating requirement or a cooling requirement, and further configured to selectively control connection to either the hot fluid circuit or the cold fluid circuit and independently control the packaged heating and/or cooling unit based on the signal from the building automation system for either the heating requirement or the cooling requirement.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A packaged heating and/or cooling unit for a production module for a heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVACR) system, the packaged heating and/or cooling unit comprising:
 a heat pump configured to provide heating and/or cooling to the fluid;   a connection to a piping distribution system to selectively connect to a hot fluid circuit and/or a cold fluid circuit; and   a controller configured to connect to and receive a signal from a building automation system for a heating requirement or a cooling requirement, and further configured to selectively control connection to either the hot fluid circuit or the cold fluid circuit and independently control the packaged heating and/or cooling unit based on the signal from the building automation system for either the heating requirement or the cooling requirement.   
     
     
         2 . The packaged heating and/or cooling unit of  claim 1 , further comprising a pump configured to pump a fluid through the packaged heating and/or cooling unit. 
     
     
         3 . The packaged heating and/or cooling unit of  claim 1 , further comprising a tempering valve configured to temper an entrance fluid temperature of the fluid to the packaged heating and/or cooling unit. 
     
     
         4 . The packaged heating and/or cooling unit of  claim 1 , further comprising a strainer between the fluid pump and the piping distribution system. 
     
     
         5 . The packaged heating and/or cooling unit of  claim 2 , wherein the pump is a variable speed pump. 
     
     
         6 . The packaged heating and/or cooling unit of  claim 1 , further comprising a sensor on a fluid inlet and/or outlet piping to detect at least a temperature and/or pressure and/or flow rate in the packaged heating and/or cooling unit, wherein the controller is configured to adjust a speed of a compressor of the heat pump and/or the pump based on the detected temperature and/or pressure and/or flow rate. 
     
     
         7 . The packaged heating and/or cooling unit of  claim 1 , wherein the piping distribution system is selected from a dual feed piping or a triple feed piping arrangement to supply the fluid to at least the hot fluid circuit, the cold fluid circuit, and/or a cool fluid circuit. 
     
     
         8 . The packaged heating and/or cooling unit of  claim 1 , wherein the heat pump unit further comprises a fan configured to control airflow to condense or evaporate the working fluid. 
     
     
         9 . The packaged heating and/or cooling unit of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is connected to a production module controller that is configured to receive the signal from the building automation system for the heating requirement or the cooling requirement and select the packaged heating and/or cooling unit or another packaged heating and/or cooling unit for either the heating requirement or the cooling requirement by sending the signal to the controller of the packaged heating and/or cooling unit. 
     
     
         10 . The packaged heating and/or cooling unit of  claim 9 , wherein the signal is a temperature setpoint for either the hot fluid circuit or the cold fluid circuit, and wherein the packaged heating and/or cooling unit is distributively controlled to maintain the temperature setpoint. 
     
     
         11 . The packaged heating and/or cooling unit of  claim 9 , wherein the signal is a temperature setpoint for the hot fluid circuit and a temperature setpoint for the cold fluid circuit, and wherein the controller is configured to control the packaged heating and/or cooling unit to maintain the respective temperature setpoint for the hot fluid circuit or the respective temperature setpoint for the cold fluid circuit. 
     
     
         12 . The packaged heating and/or cooling unit of  claim 9 , wherein when the signal from the building automation system is for the cooling requirement and the packaged heating and/or cooling unit has a predetermined fluid flow rate equal to or higher than a minimum allowed flow for the heat pump, another packaged heating and/or cooling unit is signaled for operation for the cooling requirement, and
 wherein the production module controller is further configured to implement a variable primary and variable secondary flow control logic between the packaged heating and/or cooling unit and the another packaged heating and/or cooling unit to provide the cooling requirement.   
     
     
         13 . The packaged heating and/or cooling unit of  claim 9 , wherein when the signal from the building automation system is for the heating requirement and the packaged heating and/or cooling unit has a second predetermined fluid design flow rate equal to or higher than a minimum allowed flow for the heat pump, another packaged heating and/or cooling unit is signaled for operation for the heating requirement, and
 wherein the production module controller is further configured to implement a variable primary and variable secondary flow control logic between the packaged heating and/or cooling unit and the another packaged heating and/or cooling unit to provide the heating requirement.   
     
     
         14 . A controller for a packaged heating and/or cooling unit for a production module for a heating, ventilation, air condition, and refrigeration (HVACR) system, the controller being configured to:
 connect to and receive a signal from a building automation system for a heating requirement or a cooling requirement,   control connection of the packaged heating and/or cooling unit to either a hot fluid circuit or a cold fluid circuit, and   independently control the packaged heating and/or cooling unit based on the signal from the building automation system for either the heating requirement or the cooling requirement,   wherein the packaged heating and/or cooling unit comprises a heat pump and a connection to a piping distribution system.   
     
     
         15 . A method to control a packaged heating and/or cooling unit for a production module for a heating, ventilation, air condition, and refrigeration (HVACR) system, the method comprising:
 connecting to and receiving a signal from a building automation system for a heating requirement or a cooling requirement,   selectively controlling connection of the packaged heating and/or cooling unit to either a hot fluid circuit or a cold fluid circuit, and   independently controlling the packaged heating and/or cooling unit based on the signal from the building automation system for either the heating requirement or the cooling requirement,   wherein the packaged heating and/or cooling unit comprises a heat pump and a connection to a piping distribution system.