Variable air variable refrigerant flow (vavrf)

Abstract

The present disclosure describes various embodiments of a new HVAC system and apparatuses (and related methods) that combine the efficiencies of VRF and VAV systems. An exemplary system comprises a plurality of indoor units located in different zones of a building, each comprising a damper operable to modulate airflow through the indoor unit into a building space and a valve operable to modulate a flow of refrigerant through the indoor unit; an air handling unit having a supply fan that is configured to generate the airflow that is received by the plurality of indoor units; and a controller unit operable to control the damper and the valve simultaneously for each of the plurality of indoor units, wherein the controller unit is operable to control the supply fan and an amount of airflow generated by the supply fan.

Therefore, at least the following is claimed: 
     
         1 . An air conditioning system comprising:
 a plurality of indoor units located in different zones of a building, each comprising a damper operable to modulate airflow through the indoor unit into a building space and a valve operable to modulate a flow of refrigerant through the indoor unit;   an air handling unit having a supply fan that is configured to generate the airflow that is received by the plurality of indoor units; and   a controller unit operable to control the damper and the valve simultaneously for each of the plurality of indoor units, wherein the controller unit is operable to control the supply fan and an amount of airflow generated by the supply fan.   
     
     
         2 . The air conditioning system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller unit is operable to control a temperature of the refrigerant flowing through an individual indoor unit. 
     
     
         3 . The air conditioning system of  claim 1 , further comprising an outdoor unit comprising a condensing unit and a compressor. 
     
     
         4 . The air conditioning system of  claim 3 , wherein the outdoor unit is packaged with the air handling unit as a single unit. 
     
     
         5 . The air conditioning system of  claim 3 , wherein the outdoor unit is physically separate from the air handling unit. 
     
     
         6 . The air conditioning system of  claim 1 , wherein an individual indoor unit includes a refrigerant coil, an airflow sensor that measures a speed of the airflow, a first temperature sensor that measures a temperature of the airflow, and a second temperature sensor that measures a temperature of the refrigerant before and after exiting the refrigerant coil, wherein the controller unit is configured to receive sensor measurements from the airflow sensor, the first temperature sensor, and the second temperature sensor. 
     
     
         7 . The air conditioning system of  claim 6 , further comprising a duct pressure sensor located in ductwork connecting the air handling unit and the plurality of indoor units, wherein the controller unit is configured to receive a pressure reading from the duct pressure sensor and to adjust a speed of the supply fan of the air handling unit based on the pressure reading from the duct pressure sensor. 
     
     
         8 . The air conditioning system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller unit is operable to perform simultaneous heating and cooling operations in the different zones of the building being serviced by the air conditioning system. 
     
     
         9 . The air conditioning system of  claim 1 , wherein the air handling unit further comprises a relief fan that controls building pressurization using pressure sensors. 
     
     
         10 . A method comprising:
 directing airflow through an air handling unit to a plurality of indoor units located in different zones of a building, each indoor unit comprising a damper operable to modulate airflow through the indoor unit into a building space and a valve operable to modulate a flow of refrigerant through the indoor unit;   controlling, via a controller unit, an amount of airflow generated by a supply fan of the air handling unit; and   controlling, via a controller unit, the damper and the valve simultaneously for each of the plurality of indoor units.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising controlling, via the controller unit, a temperature of the refrigerant flowing through an individual indoor unit. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 obtaining, via the controller unit, a measurement a speed of the airflow at an individual indoor unit;   obtaining, via the controller unit, a temperature reading of the airflow at the individual indoor unit;   obtaining, via the controller unit, a temperature reading of the refrigerant before and after exiting a refrigerant coil at the individual indoor unit; and   adjusting, via the controller unit and the damper and valve of the individual indoor unit, the speed of the airflow at the individual indoor unit, a flow of the refrigerant at the individual indoor unit, and the temperature of the refrigerant at the individual indoor unit based on the obtained measurement and readings.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 obtaining, by the controller unit, a pressure reading within ductwork connecting the air handling unit and the plurality of indoor units; and   adjusting, via the controller unit, a speed of the supply fan of the air handling unit based on the pressure reading.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising performing simultaneous heating and cooling operations in the different zones of the building being serviced by the controller unit. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the air handling unit further comprises a relief fan, the method further comprising controlling building pressurization using pressure sensors and the relief fan.