Water chiller assembly suitable for heating, ventilation or air conditioning (HVAC) systems

Abstract

The invention provides a water chilling unit assembly. The water chilling unit assembly comprises a frame; a first vapor compression circuit including a first compressor configured to circulate a first refrigerant through a first condenser coil and a first evaporator of the first vapor compression circuit; a second vapor compression circuit including a second compressor configured to circulate a second refrigerant through a second condenser coil and a second evaporator of the second vapor compression circuit; a process fluid circuit passing through the first evaporator and the second evaporator, where the first evaporator and the second evaporator are configured to place the first refrigerant and the second refrigerant in a heat exchange relationship with a process fluid of the process fluid circuit.

Description

[0001] Cross-reference to related applications This application claims the benefit and priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 525,538, filed July 7, 2023, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. Background Technology

[0002] This disclosure generally relates to systems and methods for thermal management and heat exchangers. More specifically, this disclosure relates to a cooling system for a heating, ventilation, or air conditioning (HVAC) system, the cooling system comprising one or more chillers.

[0003] Building equipment, such as heating, ventilation, or cooling (HVAC) systems, is installed and operated to alter environmental conditions within one or more spaces of a building. A building may be occupied by equipment (e.g., computing devices) and / or human occupants. Building occupants may contribute to the building's heat load. Chillers may be used to cool / regulate various areas of a building. Summary of the Invention

[0004] One embodiment of this disclosure relates to a chiller assembly for a heating, ventilation, or air conditioning (HVAC) system. The chiller assembly includes: a frame defining a longitudinal axis; a first vapor compression circuit including a first compressor configured to circulate a first refrigerant through a first condenser coil and a first evaporator; a second vapor compression circuit including a second compressor configured to circulate a second refrigerant through a second condenser coil and a second evaporator; and a process fluid circuit passing through the first and second evaporators, wherein the first and second evaporators are configured to allow the first and second refrigerants to exchange heat with a process fluid in the process fluid circuit.

[0005] In some embodiments, the first evaporator and the second evaporator are arranged in an orientation that is angled relative to the longitudinal axis.

[0006] In some embodiments, the first evaporator defines a first length, and the second evaporator defines a second length different from the first length.

[0007] In some embodiments, the first evaporator includes a first evaporator assembly having a first evaporator section and a second evaporator section arranged in parallel within the first vapor compression circuit, and the second evaporator includes a second evaporator assembly having a third evaporator section and a fourth evaporator section arranged in parallel within the second vapor compression circuit.

[0008] In some embodiments, a manifold defining a single body is connected between the first evaporator and the second evaporator.

[0009] Some embodiments relate to a chiller assembly for a heating, ventilation, or air conditioning (HVAC) system. The chiller assembly includes: a frame defining a longitudinal axis; a first vapor compression circuit including a first compressor configured to circulate a first refrigerant through a first condenser coil and a first evaporator; a second vapor compression circuit including a second compressor configured to circulate a second refrigerant through a second condenser coil and a second evaporator; and a process fluid circuit passing through the first and second evaporators. The first and second evaporators are configured to allow the first and second refrigerants to exchange heat with the process fluid in the process fluid circuit. The chiller assembly may have one of several arrangements, including but not limited to: 1. the first evaporator and the second evaporator are arranged at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis; 2. the first evaporator defines a first length and the second evaporator defines a second length different from the first length; 3. the first evaporator includes a first evaporator assembly having a first evaporator section and a second evaporator section arranged in parallel within the first vapor compression circuit, and the second evaporator includes a second evaporator assembly having a third evaporator section and a fourth evaporator section arranged in parallel within the second vapor compression circuit; or 4. the chiller assembly includes a manifold defining a single body, the manifold being connected between the first evaporator and the second evaporator.

[0010] In some embodiments, the first evaporator and the second evaporator are arranged at the angle relative to the longitudinal axis. In some embodiments, the first evaporator defines the first length, and the second evaporator defines the second length, which is different from the first length. In some embodiments, the manifold defines a single body that connects the first evaporator and the second evaporator.

[0011] In some embodiments, the single entity is a single piece of material including a first fluid passage connected to the first evaporator and a second fluid passage connected to the second evaporator. In some embodiments, the first fluid passage is connected to a first plurality of inlets for the first evaporator and a first outlet connected to the first compressor. In some embodiments, the second fluid passage is connected to a second plurality of inlets for the second evaporator and a second outlet connected to the second compressor.

[0012] In some embodiments, the longitudinal axis extends along the length of the frame and is parallel to the first evaporator. In some embodiments, the angle is an acute angle or an oblique angle. In some embodiments, the angle is between 15 degrees and 75 degrees.

[0013] Some embodiments relate to a chiller assembly for a heating, ventilation, or air conditioning (HVAC) system. The chiller assembly includes: a frame defining a longitudinal axis; a first evaporator; and a second evaporator. The chiller assembly may have one of several arrangements, including but not limited to: 1. the first evaporator and the second evaporator are arranged at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis; 2. the first evaporator defines a first length, and the second evaporator defines a second length different from the first length; 3. the first evaporator includes a first evaporator assembly having first evaporator sections and second evaporator sections arranged in parallel; and the second evaporator includes a second evaporator assembly having third evaporator sections and fourth evaporator sections arranged in parallel; or 4. the chiller assembly includes a manifold defining a single body, the manifold connecting between the first evaporator and the second evaporator.

[0014] In some embodiments, the first evaporator and the second evaporator are arranged at the angle relative to the longitudinal axis. In some embodiments, the first evaporator defines the first length, and the second evaporator defines the second length, which is different from the first length. In some embodiments, the manifold defines a single body that connects the first evaporator and the second evaporator.

[0015] In some embodiments, the single body is a single piece of material including a first fluid passage connected to the first evaporator and a second fluid passage connected to the second evaporator. In some embodiments, the first fluid passage communicates with a first plurality of inlets for the first evaporator and a first outlet communicating with a first compressor. In some embodiments, the second fluid passage communicates with a second plurality of inlets for the second evaporator and a second outlet communicating with a second compressor. In some embodiments, the longitudinal axis extends along the length of the frame and is parallel to the first evaporator. In some embodiments, the angle is between 15 degrees and 75 degrees.

[0016] Some embodiments relate to a chiller assembly for a heating, ventilation, or air conditioning (HVAC) system. The chiller assembly includes: a frame defining a longitudinal axis; a first tubular evaporator; and a second tubular evaporator. The chiller assembly may have one of several arrangements, including but not limited to: 1. the first evaporator and the second evaporator are arranged in an orientation angled relative to the longitudinal axis, wherein each of the first evaporator and the second evaporator has a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the first evaporator is adjacent to the first end of the second evaporator, and the second end of the first evaporator is opposite to the first end of the first evaporator, and the second end of the second evaporator is opposite to the first end of the second evaporator; 2. the first evaporator has a first length along the longitudinal axis, and the second evaporator has... 3. The first evaporator includes a first evaporator assembly having a first evaporator section and a second evaporator section arranged in parallel, and the second evaporator includes a second evaporator assembly having a third evaporator section and a fourth evaporator section arranged in parallel, or 4. The chiller assembly includes a manifold defining a single body connecting the first evaporator and the second evaporator, wherein the longitudinal axis of the frame crosses the manifold.

[0017] Those skilled in the art will understand that the overview is illustrative only and is not intended to be limiting in any way. Other aspects, inventive features, and advantages of the apparatus and / or process described herein, as defined solely by the claims, will become apparent from the specific embodiments set forth herein and in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Attached Figure Description

[0018] The various objects, aspects, features, and advantages of this disclosure will become more apparent and better understood through the detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, throughout which similar reference numerals identify corresponding elements. In the drawings, the same reference numerals generally denote identical, functionally similar, and / or structurally similar elements.

[0019] Figure 1 This is a perspective view of a building equipped with an HVAC system according to some embodiments.

[0020] Figure 2 According to some embodiments, it can be used to serve Figure 1 A block diagram of the central unit for the building's energy load.

[0021] Figure 3 According to some embodiments, it is possible to Figure 1A block diagram of the air-side system implemented in the building.

[0022] Figure 4 According to some embodiments, it can be used for monitoring and control. Figure 1 A block diagram of the building management system (BMS) of the building.

[0023] Figure 5 This is a block diagram of a building according to some embodiments.

[0024] Figure 6 This is a perspective view of a freight container according to some embodiments.

[0025] Figure 7 According to some embodiments Figure 6 A schematic diagram of the chiller components inside a freight container.

[0026] Figure 8 According to some embodiments Figure 7 Front perspective view of the chiller assembly.

[0027] Figure 9 According to some embodiments Figure 7 Side perspective view of the chiller assembly.

[0028] Figure 10 According to some embodiments Figure 7 Detailed view of the chiller components.

[0029] Figure 11 According to some embodiments Figure 7 A schematic diagram of the vapor compression system of the chiller assembly.

[0030] Figure 12 According to some embodiments Figure 7 Side view of the heat exchanger of the chiller assembly.

[0031] Figure 13 According to some embodiments Figure 12 A partial exploded view of the heat exchanger.

[0032] Figure 14 According to some embodiments Figure 7 A perspective view of the compressor and evaporator components of a chiller.

[0033] Figure 15 According to some embodiments Figure 7 A cross-sectional view of the compressor component of a chiller.

[0034] Figure 16 According to some embodiments Figure 7 A block diagram of the chiller components.

[0035] Figure 17 According to some embodiments Figure 7 The user interface and graphical user interface of the chiller components.

[0036] Figure 18 This is a top view of a chiller assembly with an angled evaporator according to some embodiments.

[0037] Figure 19 This is a top view of a chiller assembly having an evaporator connected to a manifold, according to some embodiments.

[0038] Figure 20 This is a perspective view of a manifold connected to an evaporator according to some embodiments.

[0039] Figure 21 This is a top view of a manifold connected to an evaporator according to some embodiments.

[0040] Figure 22 This is a top view of a chiller assembly with evaporators of different lengths according to some embodiments.

[0041] Figure 23 This is a top view of a chiller assembly with an evaporator assembly according to some embodiments.

[0042] Figure 24 This is a top view of a chiller assembly with an evaporator assembly according to some embodiments. Detailed Implementation

[0043] Overview Referring generally to the accompanying drawings, systems and methods for improving and compact high-capacity chiller assemblies are illustrated according to various exemplary embodiments.

[0044] Typical cooling systems for commercial applications (e.g., data centers, hospitals, industrial buildings, banks, schools, apartment buildings, etc.) utilize a vast and complex network of individual HVAC components connected at the construction site for fluid, electrical, and structural connections. Cooling systems for commercial applications can consume significant amounts of fresh water. For example, some cooling systems for commercial applications (e.g., data centers). With advancements in building technologies and construction methods, the height and number of floors in commercial buildings tend to increase. Taller buildings with the same footprint generate greater heat loads than shorter buildings, leaving less roof space for cooling system equipment. Additionally, commercial buildings are being built in increasingly remote locations that are not easily accessible using traditional equipment transportation methods. Skilled workers and qualified installers may be scarce in remote locations, potentially leading to increased costs and installation delays. Furthermore, buildings in extreme climates (e.g., hot climates) face greater challenges in dissipating heat loads to the surrounding environment. Some commercial buildings house large numbers of electronic devices (e.g., servers, data mining equipment, data centers, supercomputers, etc.) that generate dense heat loads. To address these and other technical challenges described herein, this application provides various technical solutions, as discussed in more detail below.

[0045] Buildings and HVAC systems Now for reference Figure 1 The diagram shows a perspective view of building 10. Building 10 may be serviced by a building management system (BMS). A BMS is typically a system configured to control, monitor, and manage equipment in or around a building or building area. A BMS may include, for example, HVAC systems, security systems, lighting systems, fire alarm systems, any other systems capable of managing building functions or installations, or any combination thereof.

[0046] The BMS serving building 10 may include HVAC system 100. HVAC system 100 may include multiple HVAC units (e.g., heaters, chillers, air handling units, pumps, fans, thermal storage devices, etc.) configured to provide heating, cooling, ventilation, or other services to building 10. For example, HVAC system 100 is shown as including a water-side system 120 and an air-side system 130. Water-side system 120 may provide heated or cooled fluid to the air handling unit of air-side system 130. Air-side system 130 may use this heated or cooled fluid to heat or cool the airflow provided to building 10. In some embodiments, water-side system 120 may be replaced or supplemented by a central unit or central energy facility (see reference). Figure 2 (For a more detailed description) Reference Figure 3 A more detailed description of an example of an air-side system that can be used in HVAC system 100.

[0047] HVAC system 100 is shown as including chiller 102, boiler 104, and roof air handling unit (AHU) 106. Water-side system 120 can use boiler 104 and chiller 102 to heat or cool working fluids (e.g., water, glycol, etc.) and can circulate the working fluids to AHU 106. In various embodiments, the HVAC unit of water-side system 120 may be located in or around building 10 (e.g., Figure 1 The working fluid may be located in a central unit (e.g., a chiller unit, steam unit, heat unit, etc.) or an off-site location. In some embodiments, the chiller 102 is a rooftop unit (e.g., an air-cooled chiller). Depending on whether heating or cooling is required in the building 10, the working fluid may be heated in the boiler 104 or cooled in the chiller 102. The boiler 104 may add heat to the circulating fluid, for example, by burning a combustible material (e.g., natural gas) or by using an electric heating element. The chiller 102 may allow the circulating fluid to exchange heat with another fluid (e.g., a refrigerant) in a heat exchanger (e.g., an evaporator) to absorb heat from the circulating fluid. The working fluid from the chiller 102 and / or the boiler 104 may be delivered to the AHU 106 via conduit 108.

[0048] AHU 106 allows the working fluid to exchange heat with an airflow passing through it (e.g., via one or more cooling and / or heating coils). The airflow can be, for example, outside air, return air from within building 10, or a combination of both. AHU 106 can transfer heat between the airflow and the working fluid to heat or cool the airflow. For example, AHU 106 may include one or more fans or blowers configured to allow airflow to pass through or through the heat exchanger containing the working fluid. The working fluid can then be returned to chiller 102 or boiler 104 via conduit 110.

[0049] Air-side system 130 can deliver airflow supplied by AHU 106 (i.e., supply airflow) to building 10 via supply air duct 112, and can supply return air from building 10 to AHU 106 via return air duct 114. In some embodiments, air-side system 130 includes a plurality of variable air volume (VAV) units 116. For example, air-side system 130 is shown as including a separate VAV unit 116 on each floor or zone of building 10. VAV unit 116 may include dampers or other flow control elements operable to control the amount of supply airflow supplied to various zones of building 10. In other embodiments, air-side system 130 delivers supply airflow to one or more zones of building 10 (e.g., via supply air duct 112) without using intermediate VAV units 116 or other flow control elements. AHU 106 may include various sensors (e.g., temperature sensors, pressure sensors, etc.) configured to measure properties of the supply airflow. The AHU 106 can receive input from sensors located within the AHU 106 and / or within building zones, and can adjust the flow rate, temperature, or other properties of the supply airflow through the AHU 106 to achieve setpoint conditions for the building zones.

[0050] Central unit Now for reference Figure 2 A block diagram of a central unit 200 is shown according to some embodiments. In various embodiments, the central unit 200 may supplement or replace the water-side system 120 in the HVAC system 100, or it may be implemented separately from the HVAC system 100. When implemented in the HVAC system 100, the central unit 200 may include a subset of the HVAC units in the HVAC system 100 (e.g., boiler 104, chiller 102, pumps, valves, etc.) and may be operable to supply heated or cooled fluids to the AHU 106. The HVAC units of the central unit 200 may be located within the building 10 (e.g., as part of the water-side system 120) or at an off-site location, such as a central energy facility serving multiple buildings.

[0051] The central unit 200 is shown as comprising multiple sub-units 202-208. Sub-units 202-208 can be configured to convert energy or resource types (e.g., water, natural gas, electricity, etc.). For example, sub-units 202-208 are shown as including a heater sub-unit 202, a heat recovery chiller sub-unit 204, a chiller sub-unit 206, and a cooling tower sub-unit 208. In some embodiments, sub-units 202-208 consume resources purchased from utilities to serve the energy load (e.g., hot water, chilled water, electricity, etc.) of a building or campus. For example, heater sub-unit 202 can be configured to heat water in a hot water loop 214 that circulates hot water between heater sub-unit 202 and building 10. Similarly, chiller sub-unit 206 can be configured to cool water in a chilled water loop 216 that circulates chilled water between chiller sub-unit 206 and building 10.

[0052] The heat recovery chiller sub-unit 204 can be configured to transfer heat from the chilled water loop 216 to the hot water loop 214 to provide additional heating for the hot water and additional cooling for the chilled water. The condenser water loop 218 can absorb heat from the chilled water in the chiller sub-unit 206 and either discharge the absorbed heat into the cooling tower sub-unit or transfer the absorbed heat to the hot water loop 214. In various embodiments, the central unit 200 may include an electrical sub-unit configured to generate electricity (e.g., one or more generators) or any other type of sub-unit configured to convert energy or resource types.

[0053] Hot water loop 214 and cold water loop 216 can deliver heated and / or cooled water to an air processor (e.g., AHU 106) located on the roof of building 10 or to individual floors or zones of building 10 (e.g., VAV unit 116). The air processor pushes air through a heat exchanger (e.g., heating or cooling coils), through which water flows to provide heating or cooling to the air. The heated or cooled air can be delivered to individual zones of building 10 to serve the heat load of building 10. The water then returns to sub-units 202-206 to receive further heating or cooling.

[0054] Although sub-units 202-206 are shown and described as heating and cooling water used for circulation to the building, it should be understood that any other type of working fluid (e.g., ethylene glycol, CO2, etc.) may be used instead of or supplement water to serve the thermal load. In other embodiments, sub-units 202-206 may provide heating and / or cooling directly to the building or campus without the need for an intermediate heat transfer fluid. These and other variations to the central unit 200 are within the teachings of this disclosure.

[0055] Each of sub-units 202-206 may include multiple devices configured to facilitate the function of the sub-unit. For example, heater sub-unit 202 is shown as including multiple heating elements 220 (e.g., boiler, electric heater, etc.) configured to add heat to hot water in hot water loop 214. Heater sub-unit 202 is also shown as including several pumps 222 and 224 configured to circulate hot water in hot water loop 214 and control the flow rate of hot water through the individual heating elements 220. Chiller sub-unit 206 is shown as including multiple chillers 232 configured to remove heat from chilled water in chilled water loop 216. Chillers 232 may include any of the chiller assemblies disclosed herein or other types of chiller assemblies. The chiller subunit 206 is also shown as including several pumps 234 and 236 configured to circulate chilled water in the chilled water loop 216 and to control the flow rate of chilled water through the individual chillers 232.

[0056] The heat recovery chiller subunit 204 is shown as including multiple heat recovery heat exchangers 226 (e.g., refrigeration loops) configured to transfer heat from a chilled water loop 216 to a hot water loop 214. The heat recovery chiller subunit 204 is also shown as including several pumps 228 and 230 configured to circulate hot and / or chilled water through the heat recovery heat exchangers 226 and to control the flow rate of water through the individual heat recovery heat exchangers 226. The cooling tower subunit may include multiple cooling towers configured to remove heat from condensate water in a condensate water loop.

[0057] In some embodiments, one or more of the pumps in the central unit 200 (e.g., pumps 222, 224, 228, 230, 234, and / or 236) or the piping in the central unit 200 include an associated isolation valve. The isolation valve may be integrated with the pump or located upstream or downstream of the pump to control fluid flow in the central unit 200. In various embodiments, the central unit 200 may include more, fewer, or different types of units and / or sub-units, depending on the specific configuration of the central unit 200 and the type of load served by the central unit 200.

[0058] Still referencing Figure 2 The central unit 200 is shown as including a high-temperature thermal energy storage device (TES) 210 and a low-temperature thermal energy storage device (TES) 212. The high-temperature TES 210 and the low-temperature TES 212 can be configured to store high-temperature and low-temperature thermal energy for subsequent use. For example, the high-temperature TES 210 may include one or more hot water storage tanks 242 configured to store hot water generated by the heater subunit 202 or the heat recovery chiller subunit 204. The high-temperature TES 210 may also include one or more pumps or valves configured to control the flow rate of hot water entering or leaving the high-temperature TES tank 242.

[0059] Similarly, the cryogenic TES 212 may include one or more chilled water storage tanks 244 configured to store chilled water generated by the chiller subunit 206 or the heat recovery chiller subunit 204. The cryogenic TES 212 may also include one or more pumps or valves configured to control the flow rate of chilled water entering or leaving the cryogenic TES tank 244. In some embodiments, the central unit 200 includes an energy storage device (e.g., one or more batteries) or any other type of device configured to store resources. The stored resources may be purchased from a utility, generated by the central unit 200, or otherwise obtained from any source.

[0060] air-side system Now for reference Figure 3 A block diagram of an air-side system 300 is shown according to some embodiments. In various embodiments, the air-side system 300 may supplement or replace the air-side system 130 in the HVAC system 100, or it may be implemented separately from the HVAC system 100. When implemented in the HVAC system 100, the air-side system 300 may include a subset of the HVAC devices in the HVAC system 100 (e.g., AHU 106, VAV unit 116, ducts 112-114, fans, dampers, etc.) and may be located in or around the building 10. The air-side system 300 can be operated to heat or cool the airflow supplied to the building 10 using heated or cooled fluid supplied by the central unit 200.

[0061] The air-side system 300 is shown as including an energy-efficient type air handling unit (AHU) 302. The energy-efficient type AHU modifies the amount of outside air and return air used by the air handling unit for heating or cooling. For example, the AHU 302 may receive return air 304 from building partition 306 via return air duct 308 and may deliver supply air 310 to building partition 306 via supply air duct 312. In some embodiments, the AHU 302 is a roof unit located on the roof of building 10 (e.g., as shown in the image). Figure 1 The AHU 302 (shown as AHU 106) may be otherwise positioned to receive both return air 304 and outside air 314. The AHU 302 may be configured to operate an exhaust damper 316, a mixing damper 318, and an outside air damper 320 to control the amount of outside air 314 and return air 304 combined to form the supply air 310. Any return air 304 that does not pass through the mixing damper 318 may be discharged from the AHU 302 as exhaust 322 through the exhaust damper 316.

[0062] Each of the dampers 316-320 can be operated by an actuator. For example, exhaust damper 316 can be operated by actuator 324, mixing damper 318 can be operated by actuator 326, and external air damper 320 can be operated by actuator 328. Actuators 324-328 can communicate with AHU controller 330 via communication link 332. Actuators 324-328 can receive control signals from AHU controller 330 and can provide feedback signals to AHU controller 330. Feedback signals may include, for example, indications of the current actuator or damper position, the amount of torque or force applied by the actuator, diagnostic information (e.g., results of diagnostic tests performed by actuators 324-328), status information, adjustment information, configuration settings, calibration data, and / or other types of information or data that can be collected, stored, or used by actuators 324-328. The AHU controller 330 may be an energy-saving controller configured to use one or more control algorithms (e.g., state-based algorithms, extreme value search control (ESC) algorithms, proportional-integral (PI) control algorithms, proportional-integral-derivative (PID) control algorithms, model predictive control (MPC) algorithms, feedback control algorithms, etc.) to control actuators 324-328.

[0063] Still referencing Figure 3 AHU 302 is shown as including a cooling coil 334, a heating coil 336, and a fan 338 positioned within a supply air duct 312. The fan 338 can be configured to force supply air 310 through the cooling coil 334 and / or the heating coil 336 and to supply the supply air 310 to building compartment 306. AHU controller 330 can communicate with fan 338 via communication link 340 to control the flow rate of supply air 310. In some embodiments, AHU controller 330 controls the amount of heating or cooling applied to supply air 310 by adjusting the speed of fan 338.

[0064] Cooling coil 334 can receive cooled fluid from central unit 200 (e.g., from chilled water loop 216) via conduit 342 and can return cooled fluid to central unit 200 via conduit 344. Valve 346 can be positioned along conduit 342 or conduit 344 to control the flow rate of cooled fluid through cooling coil 334. In some embodiments, cooling coil 334 includes a multi-stage cooling coil that can be independently activated and deactivated (e.g., by AHU controller 330, by BMS controller 366, etc.) to regulate the amount of cooling applied to supply air 310.

[0065] Heating coil 336 can receive heated fluid from central unit 200 (e.g., from hot water loop 214) via conduit 348 and can return heated fluid to central unit 200 via conduit 350. Valve 352 can be positioned along conduit 348 or conduit 350 to control the flow rate of heated fluid through heating coil 336. In some embodiments, heating coil 336 includes a multi-stage heating coil that can be independently activated and deactivated (e.g., by AHU controller 330, by BMS controller 366, etc.) to regulate the amount of heating applied to supply air 310.

[0066] Each of valves 346 and 352 can be controlled by an actuator. For example, valve 346 can be controlled by actuator 354, and valve 352 can be controlled by actuator 356. Actuators 354-356 can communicate with AHU controller 330 via communication links 358-360. Actuators 354-356 can receive control signals from AHU controller 330 and can provide feedback signals to controller 330. In some embodiments, AHU controller 330 receives a measurement of the supply air temperature from temperature sensor 362 located in air duct 312 (e.g., downstream of cooling coil 334 and / or heating coil 336). AHU controller 330 can also receive a measurement of the temperature of building partition 306 from temperature sensor 364 located in building partition 306.

[0067] In some embodiments, the AHU controller 330 operates valves 346 and 352 via actuators 354-356 to regulate the amount of heating or cooling supplied to the supply air 310 (e.g., to achieve a setpoint temperature for the supply air 310 or to maintain the temperature of the supply air 310 within a setpoint temperature range). The positions of valves 346 and 352 affect the amount of heating or cooling supplied to the supply air 310 by the cooling coil 334 or heating coil 336, and may be related to the amount of energy consumed to achieve the desired supply air temperature. The AHU controller 330 can control the temperature of the supply air 310 and / or building zone 306 by activating or deactivating coils 334-336, adjusting the speed of fan 338, or a combination of both.

[0068] Still referencing Figure 3Air-side system 300 is shown as including a building management system (BMS) controller 366 and a client device 368. BMS controller 366 may include one or more computer systems (e.g., a server, supervisory controller, subsystem controller, etc.) that act as a system-level controller, application or data server, head node, or master controller for air-side system 300, central unit 200, HVAC system 100, and / or other controllable systems serving building 10. BMS controller 366 may communicate with multiple downstream building systems or subsystems (e.g., HVAC system 100, security system, lighting system, central unit 200, etc.) via communication link 370 according to similar or different protocols (e.g., LON, BACnet, etc.). In various embodiments, AHU controller 330 and BMS controller 366 may be separate (e.g., ...). Figure 3 (as shown in the diagram) or integrated. In an integrated implementation, the AHU controller 330 may be a software module configured for execution by the processor of the BMS controller 366.

[0069] In some embodiments, the AHU controller 330 receives information (e.g., commands, setpoints, operating boundaries, etc.) from the BMS controller 366 and provides information to the BMS controller 366 (e.g., temperature measurements, valve or actuator positions, operating status, diagnostics, etc.). For example, the AHU controller 330 may provide the BMS controller 366 with temperature measurements from temperature sensors 362-364, equipment on / off status, equipment operational capabilities, and / or any other information that the BMS controller 366 may use to monitor or control variable states or conditions within building partition 306.

[0070] Client device 368 may include one or more human-machine interfaces or client interfaces (e.g., graphical user interfaces, reporting interfaces, text-based computer interfaces, client-oriented network services, web servers providing pages to network clients, etc.) for controlling, viewing, or otherwise interacting with HVAC system 100, its subsystems, and / or devices. Client device 368 may be a computer workstation, client terminal, remote or local interface, or any other type of user interface device. Client device 368 may be a fixed terminal or a mobile device. For example, client device 368 may be a desktop computer, a computer server with a user interface, a laptop computer, a tablet computer, a smartphone, a PDA, or any other type of mobile or non-mobile device. Client device 368 may communicate with BMS controller 366 and / or AHU controller 330 via communication link 372.

[0071] Building Management System Now for reference Figure 4A block diagram of a building management system (BMS) 400 is shown according to some embodiments. The BMS 400 can be implemented in building 10 to automatically monitor and control various building functions. The BMS 400 is shown as including a BMS controller 366 and a building subsystem 428, and can be implemented using a server (e.g., a cloud-based platform) or one or more thermostats. The building subsystem 428 is shown as including a building electrical subsystem 434, an information and communication technology (ICT) subsystem 436, a security subsystem 438, an HVAC subsystem 440, a lighting subsystem 442, an elevator / escalator subsystem 432, and a fire safety subsystem 430. In various embodiments, the building subsystem 428 may include fewer, additional, or alternative subsystems. For example, the building subsystem 428 may additionally or alternatively include a refrigeration subsystem, an advertising or signage subsystem, a cooking subsystem, a vending subsystem, a printer or copy service subsystem, or any other type of building subsystem that uses controllable devices and / or sensors to monitor or control building 10. In some embodiments, building subsystem 428 includes water-side system 120 and / or air-side system 300, as referenced Figures 2 to 3 As described.

[0072] Each of the building subsystems 428 may include any number of devices, controllers, and connections for performing its various functions and control activities. The HVAC subsystem 440 may contain many of the same components as the HVAC system 100, as referenced in [reference]. Figures 1 to 3 As described. For example, HVAC subsystem 440 may include chillers, boilers, any number of air handling units, energy savers, field controllers, monitoring controllers, actuators, temperature sensors, and other devices for controlling temperature, humidity, airflow, or other variable conditions within building 10. Lighting subsystem 442 may include any number of lighting fixtures, ballasts, lighting sensors, dimming devices, or other devices configured to controllably adjust the amount of light supplied to the building space. Security subsystem 438 may include occupancy sensors, video surveillance cameras, digital video recorders, video processing servers, intrusion detection devices, access control devices and servers, or other security-related devices.

[0073] Still referencing Figure 4The BMS controller 366 is shown as including a communication interface 407 and a BMS interface 409. Interface 407 facilitates communication between the BMS controller 366 and external applications (e.g., monitoring and reporting application 422, enterprise control application 426, remote systems and applications 444, applications residing on client devices 448, etc.) to allow users to control, monitor, and adjust the BMS controller 366 and / or subsystem 428. Interface 407 also facilitates communication between the BMS controller 366 and client devices 448. BMS interface 409 facilitates communication between the BMS controller 366 and building subsystems 428 (e.g., HVAC, lighting safety, elevators, power distribution, enterprise, etc.).

[0074] Interfaces 407 and 409 may be or include wired or wireless communication interfaces (e.g., jacks, antennas, transmitters, receivers, transceivers, terminal blocks, etc.) for data communication with building subsystem 428 or other external systems or devices. In various embodiments, communication via interfaces 407 and 409 may be direct (e.g., local wired or wireless communication) or via communication network 446 (e.g., WAN, Internet, cellular network, etc.). For example, interfaces 407 and 409 may include Ethernet cards and ports for sending and receiving data via Ethernet-based communication links or networks. In another example, interfaces 407 and 409 may include Wi-Fi transceivers for communication via wireless communication networks. In another example, one or both of interfaces 407 and 409 may include cellular or mobile phone communication transceivers. In one embodiment, communication interface 407 is a power-line communication interface, and BMS interface 409 is an Ethernet interface. In other embodiments, both communication interface 407 and BMS interface 409 are Ethernet interfaces or the same Ethernet interface.

[0075] Still referencing Figure 4 The BMS controller 366 is shown as including processing circuitry 404, which includes a processor 406 and a memory 408. Processing circuitry 404 may be communicatively connected to BMS interface 409 and / or communication interface 407, such that processing circuitry 404 and its various components can send and receive data via interfaces 407, 409. Processor 406 may be implemented as a general-purpose processor, application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), one or more field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), a group of processing components, or other suitable electronic processing components.

[0076] Memory 408 (e.g., memory, memory cell, storage device, etc.) may include one or more means (e.g., RAM, ROM, flash memory, hard disk storage device, etc.) for storing data and / or computer code for performing or facilitating the various processes, layers, and modules described herein. Memory 408 may be or include volatile or non-volatile memory. Memory 408 may include database components, object code components, script components, or any other type of information structure for supporting the various activities and information structures described herein. According to some embodiments, memory 408 is communicatively connected to processor 406 via processing circuitry 404 and includes computer code for performing (e.g., via processing circuitry 404 and / or processor 406) one or more processes described herein.

[0077] In some embodiments, the BMS controller 366 is implemented within a single computer (e.g., a server, a enclosure, etc.). In various other embodiments, the BMS controller 366 may be distributed across multiple servers or computers (e.g., it may exist in distributed locations). Furthermore, although... Figure 4 Applications 422 and 426 are shown as existing outside the BMS controller 366, but in some embodiments, applications 422 and 426 may be hosted within the BMS controller 366 (e.g., within memory 408).

[0078] Still referencing Figure 4 The memory 408 is shown as including an enterprise integration layer 410, an automated measurement and verification (AM&V) layer 412, a demand response (DR) layer 414, a fault detection and diagnostic (FDD) layer 416, an integrated control layer 418, and a building subsystem integration layer 420. Layers 410-420 can be configured to receive input from building subsystem 428 and other data sources, determine optimal control actions for building subsystem 428 based on the inputs, generate control signals based on the optimal control actions, and provide the generated control signals to building subsystem 428. The following paragraphs describe some of the common functions performed by each of layers 410-420 in the BMS 400.

[0079] Enterprise integration layer 410 can be configured to provide information and services to client or local applications to support a variety of enterprise-level applications. For example, enterprise control application 426 can be configured to provide cross-subsystem control to a graphical user interface (GUI) or to any number of enterprise-level business applications (e.g., billing systems, user identification systems, etc.). Enterprise control application 426 can also be configured to provide a configuration GUI for configuring BMS controller 366. In other embodiments, enterprise control application 426 can work with layers 410-420 to optimize building performance (e.g., efficiency, energy use, comfort, or security) based on input received at interface 407 and / or BMS interface 409.

[0080] The building subsystem integration layer 420 can be configured to manage communication between the BMS controller 366 and the building subsystem 428. For example, the building subsystem integration layer 420 can receive sensor data and input signals from the building subsystem 428 and provide output data and control signals to the building subsystem 428. The building subsystem integration layer 420 can also be configured to manage communication between the building subsystems 428. The building subsystem integration layer 420 converts communications (e.g., sensor data, input signals, output signals, etc.) across multiple multi-vendor / multi-protocol systems.

[0081] Demand response layer 414 can be configured to optimize resource use (e.g., electricity use, gas use, water use, etc.) and / or the monetary cost of such resource use in response to meeting the needs of building 10. Optimization may be based on time-of-use pricing, cutoff signals, energy availability, or other data received from utility providers, distributed energy generation systems 424, energy storage devices 427 (e.g., high-temperature TES tank 242, low-temperature TES tank 244, etc.), or other sources. Demand response layer 414 may receive input from other layers of BMS controller 366 (e.g., building subsystem integration layer 420, integrated control layer 418, etc.). Inputs received from other layers may include environmental or sensor inputs, such as temperature, carbon dioxide levels, relative humidity levels, air quality sensor outputs, occupancy sensor outputs, room schedules, etc. Inputs may also include inputs such as electricity consumption (e.g., expressed in kWh), heat load measurements, pricing information, planned pricing, smoothing pricing, utility cutoff signals, etc.

[0082] According to some embodiments, the demand response layer 414 includes control logic for responding to data and signals received therein. These responses may include communicating with control algorithms in the integrated control layer 418, changing control strategies, altering setpoints, or activating / deactivating building equipment or subsystems in a controlled manner. The demand response layer 414 may also include control logic configured to determine when to utilize stored energy. For example, the demand response layer 414 may determine to utilize energy from energy storage device 427 just before the start of peak usage periods.

[0083] In some embodiments, the demand response layer 414 includes a control module configured to proactively initiate control actions (e.g., automatically changing the setpoint) that minimize energy costs based on one or more inputs representing demand or demand-based inputs (e.g., price, cut signals, demand levels, etc.). In some embodiments, the demand response layer 414 uses an equipment model to determine the optimal group control actions. The equipment model may include, for example, a thermodynamic model describing the inputs, outputs, and / or functions performed by each group of building equipment. The equipment model may represent a collection of building equipment (e.g., sub-units, chiller arrays, etc.) or individual devices (e.g., individual chillers, heaters, pumps, etc.).

[0084] The demand response layer 414 may further include or utilize one or more demand response strategy definitions (e.g., database, XML file, etc.). The strategy definitions can be edited or adjusted by the user (e.g., via a graphical user interface) so that the control actions initiated in response to demand inputs can be customized for the user's application, desired comfort level, specific building equipment, or based on other issues. For example, the demand response strategy definition may specify which equipment can be turned on or off in response to a specific demand input, how long the system or equipment should be disconnected, which setpoints can be changed, what the allowable setpoint adjustment range is, how long a high demand setpoint is maintained before returning to the normally scheduled setpoint, the extent to which capacity limits are approached, which equipment modes are used, the energy transfer rates to and from energy storage devices (e.g., thermal storage tanks, battery packs, etc.) (e.g., maximum rate, alarm rate, other rate boundary information, etc.), and when to dispatch on-site power generation (e.g., via fuel cells, electric generator sets, etc.).

[0085] The integrated control layer 418 can be configured to make control decisions using data inputs or outputs from the building subsystem integration layer 420 and / or the demand response layer 414. Due to the subsystem integration provided by the building subsystem integration layer 420, the integrated control layer 418 can integrate the control activities of subsystem 428, making subsystem 428 behave as a single integrated supersystem. In some embodiments, the integrated control layer 418 includes control logic that provides greater comfort and energy efficiency than a single subsystem could provide on its own, using inputs and outputs from multiple building subsystems. For example, the integrated control layer 418 can be configured to make energy-saving control decisions for a second subsystem using inputs from a first subsystem. The results of these decisions can be fed back to the building subsystem integration layer 420.

[0086] The integrated control layer 418 is shown as logically subordinate to the demand response layer 414. The integrated control layer 418 can be configured to enhance the effectiveness of the demand response layer 414 by enabling the building subsystem 428 and its corresponding control loops to be controlled collaboratively with the demand response layer 414. This configuration advantageously reduces disruptive demand response behavior compared to conventional systems. For example, the integrated control layer 418 can be configured to ensure that demand response-driven upward adjustments to the setpoint of the cooling water temperature (or another component that directly or indirectly affects the temperature) do not result in an increase in fan energy (or other energy used for cooling the space) that would cause the building's total energy usage to exceed the energy savings at the chiller.

[0087] The integrated control layer 418 can be configured to provide feedback to the demand response layer 414, allowing the demand response layer 414 to check whether constraints (e.g., temperature, lighting levels, etc.) are being properly maintained, even during demand-side load shedding. Constraints may also include setpoints or sensed boundaries relating to safety, equipment operating limits and performance, comfort, fire regulations, electrical regulations, energy regulations, etc. The integrated control layer 418 is also logically lower than the fault detection and diagnostic layer 416 and the automated measurement and verification layer 412. The integrated control layer 418 can be configured to provide calculated inputs (e.g., summaries) to these higher levels based on outputs from more than one building subsystem.

[0088] The Automated Measurement and Verification (AM&V) layer 412 can be configured to verify that control strategies commanded by the Integrated Control layer 418 or the Demand Response layer 414 are functioning appropriately (e.g., using data aggregated by the AM&V layer 412, Integrated Control layer 418, Building Subsystem Integration layer 420, FDD layer 416, or other layers). Calculations performed by the AM&V layer 412 can be based on building system energy models and / or equipment models for individual BMS units or subsystems. For example, the AM&V layer 412 can compare model predicted outputs with actual outputs of building subsystem 428 to determine the accuracy of the model.

[0089] The Fault Detection and Diagnosis (FDD) layer 416 can be configured to provide continuous fault detection for building subsystems 428, building subsystem devices (i.e., building equipment), and control algorithms used by the demand response layer 414 and the integrated control layer 418. The FDD layer 416 can receive data input from the integrated control layer 418, directly from one or more building subsystems or devices, or from another data source. The FDD layer 416 can automatically diagnose and respond to detected faults. Responses to detected or diagnosed faults may include providing warning messages to users, maintenance scheduling systems, or being configured to attempt to repair or circumvent the fault using control algorithms.

[0090] FDD layer 416 can be configured to use detailed subsystem inputs available at building subsystem integration layer 420 to output a specific identification of the faulty component or the cause of the fault (e.g., a loose damper linkage). In other exemplary embodiments, FDD layer 416 is configured to provide a "fault" event to integrated control layer 418, which executes control strategies and policies in response to the received fault event. According to some embodiments, FDD layer 416 (or strategies executed by an integrated control engine or business rules engine) can shut down a system or direct control activities around a faulty device or system to reduce energy waste, extend equipment life, or ensure appropriate control response.

[0091] FDD layer 416 can be configured to store or access various system data repositories (or data points of real-time data). FDD layer 416 can use some content from the data repositories to identify faults at the device level (e.g., a specific chiller, a specific AHU, a specific terminal unit, etc.) and other content to identify faults at the component or subsystem level. For example, building subsystem 428 can generate time-series data indicating the performance of BMS 400 and its various components. The data generated by building subsystem 428 can include measured or calculated values ​​that present statistical characteristics and provide information about erroneous execution of the corresponding system or process (e.g., temperature control process, flow control process, etc.) relative to its setpoint. These processes can be examined by FDD layer 416 to identify when system performance degradation begins and to alert the user to repair the fault before it becomes more severe.

[0092] Data Center like Figure 5 As shown, the indoor air temperature T in data center 500 is... ia It has heat capacity C ia Indoor air temperature T ia Subjected to various heat transfer processes entering the data center 500 The impact is described in detail below. It should be understood that, although in Figure 5 The diagram shows all the heat transfers directed to data center 1200. (For example, thermal energy), but heat transfer One or more heat transfer values ​​can be negative, causing heat to flow out of the data center 500.

[0093] Data center equipment 502 contributes heat transfer to data center 500. DCE Data center equipment 502 includes servers, processors, computers, and other electronic devices within data center 500 that generate heat through resistance during operation of data center equipment 502. The heat transferred from data center equipment 502 to data center 500 is represented as... DCE Heat transfer DCE Predictive circuits can be used to predict / model the data.

[0094] Building Quality 504 contributes building quality heat transfer to Data Center 500 m Building mass 504 includes the physical structure of a building, such as walls, floors, ceilings, furniture, etc., all of which can absorb or dissipate heat. Building mass 504 has temperature... Tm and concentrated mass heat capacity C m The resistance to heat exchange between the building mass 504 and the indoor air 501 (e.g., due to insulation, material thickness / number of layers, etc.) can be characterized as mass thermal resistance. R mi 。

[0095] Outdoor air 506 contributes external air heat transfer to data center 500 oa Outdoor air 506 refers to the air outside building 10, and the outdoor air temperature is... T oa Outdoor air temperature T oa Fluctuates with weather and climate. Barriers (e.g., walls, closed windows, insulation) between outdoor air 506 and indoor air 501 create outdoor-indoor thermal resistance to heat exchange between them. R oi .

[0096] HVAC system 599 also contributes heat to data center 500, which is denoted as... HVAC The HVAC system 599 includes an HVAC device 510, a controller 512, an indoor air temperature sensor 514, and an outdoor air temperature sensor 516. The HVAC device 510 may include any suitable equipment for controllably supplying heating and / or cooling to the data center 500. Typically, the HVAC device 510 is controlled by the controller 512 to provide heating to the data center 500 (e.g., ...). HVAC (positive value) or cooling (e.g., HVAC (negative values).

[0097] Indoor air temperature sensor 514 is located in data center 500 and measures indoor air temperature. T ia and provide to controller 512 T ia The measured value. The outdoor air temperature sensor 516 is located outside the building and measures the outdoor air temperature. T oa and provide to controller 512 T oa The measured value.

[0098] In some embodiments, the controller 512 receives temperature measurements. T oa and Tia It generates and transmits control signals for HVAC equipment 510 to HVAC equipment 510. As discussed in more detail herein, various chillers can be utilized as part of HVAC equipment 510 to remove heat from data centers or other spaces or areas.

[0099] Chiller components Now for reference Figures 6 to 17 According to one embodiment, a chiller assembly 700 is shown. According to some embodiments, the chiller assembly 700 is configured to receive heated fluid (e.g., via conduit 344), cooled fluid (e.g., cooling, lowering the temperature of the fluid, etc.), and return the cooled fluid to a cooled conduit (e.g., via conduit 342). As discussed in more detail below, the chiller assembly 700 may be a dual-loop, high-capacity chiller utilizing a dual-stacked condenser configuration to supply cooled fluid to air handling units or other components of an HVAC system and / or data centers or other spaces.

[0100] like Figure 6 and Figure 7 As shown, the chiller assembly 700 provides volumetrically dense cooling. The chiller assembly 700 can be installed within a multimodal container (e.g., a freight container, a standardized cargo container, etc.) shown as a freight container 600. The freight container 600 can be an International Organization for Standardization (ISO) compliant freight container. For example, the freight container 600 can have a length L*, width W*, and height H* conforming to ISO standards. Figure 6 and Figure 7As shown, the freight container 600 is a 40-foot container (e.g., L* is 40 feet, W* is 8 feet, and H* is 8.5 feet). The internal volume of the freight container 600 can be 39.5 feet long × 7.75 feet wide × 7.83 feet high. A chiller assembly 700 can be placed in the internal space of the freight container 600, for example, during storage and transport. In some embodiments, the chiller assembly 700 includes a frame, shown as a frame 702. The frame 702 can extend from a first end 704 of the chiller assembly 700 to a second end 706 of the chiller assembly 700. In some embodiments, the distance L between the first end 704 and the second end 706 is less than the length L* of the freight container 600. For example, the distance L between the first end 704 and the second end 706 can be less than 40 feet. In some embodiments, an intermediate frame 708 is supported by the frame 702 and coupled (e.g., welded to, fastened to, adhered to, etc.) to the frame. The intermediate frame 708 may include a track 710 spanning over the frame 702. The track 710 may be supported by one or more frame beams 712. The space 714 between the intermediate frame 708 and the frame 702 may accommodate one or more compressor assemblies 716, thermal expansion devices 718 (e.g., thermal expansion valves), and / or evaporators 720. In some embodiments, the intermediate frame 708 is coupled to and supports one or more condenser assemblies 722. In some embodiments, the chiller assembly 700 includes nine condenser assemblies 722. In some embodiments, the chiller assembly 700 includes ten condenser assemblies 722. In some embodiments, the chiller assembly 700 does not include the intermediate frame 708. For example, the condenser assemblies 722 may be directly coupled to the frame 702. In some embodiments, the evaporator 720, compressor assembly 716, and / or thermal expansion device 718 are coupled to the frame 702 in the space defined between the frame and the condenser assemblies 722. For example, the evaporator 720, compressor assembly 716, and / or thermal expansion device 718 may be coupled below the condenser assemblies 722 and above the base of the frame 702.

[0101] In some embodiments, the freight container 600 is a 10-foot container (e.g., external 9'9.75" × 8' × 8'6", internal 9'3" × 7'8" × 7'10", with a floor area of ​​approximately 75 square feet), a 20-foot container (e.g., external 19'10.5" × 8' × 8'6", internal 9'3" × 7'8" × 7'10", with a floor area of ​​approximately 150 square feet), a 20-foot high cube container (e.g., external 19'10.5" × 8' × 9'6", internal 19'3" ​​× 7'8" × 8'10", with a floor area of ​​approximately 150 square feet), a 40-foot container (e.g., external 40' × 8' × 8'6", internal 39'5" × 7'8" × 7'10", with a floor area of ​​approximately 300 square feet), or a 40-foot high cube container (e.g., external... 40' × 8' × 9' 6" (internal dimensions 39' 5" × 7' 8" × 8' 10" with a footprint of approximately 300 square feet). In some embodiments, the shipping container is a rectangular box. In some embodiments, the chiller assembly 700 is configured to pass through an opening in the shipping container (e.g., a door approximately 7' 8" × 7' 5" or approximately 7' 8" × 8' 5. 5" in size) when assembled (e.g., fully constructed). That is, the chiller assembly 700 is fully assembled within the shipping container 600. According to some embodiments, installers can fluidly and electrically connect the chiller assembly 700 to the building system without requiring on-site unpacking and construction of the components of the chiller assembly 700 (e.g., welding, riveting, crane lifting and positioning, etc.). Advantageously, the chiller assembly 700 facilitates rapid and efficient installation and deployment into the building system.

[0102] like Figure 11 As shown, the vapor compression system 1100 of the chiller assembly 700 includes a first vapor compression circuit 1102 and a second vapor compression circuit 1104. The first vapor compression circuit 1102 includes a compressor assembly 716A, the coils of the condenser assembly 722, an expansion valve 718A, and an evaporator 720A. The second vapor compression circuit 1104 includes a compressor assembly 716B, the coils of the condenser assembly 722, an expansion valve 718B, and an evaporator 720B. Using the dual-circuit design of the chiller assembly 700 can reduce the load on each individual circuit and allow the chiller assembly to have a relatively high capacity while maintaining a relatively small packaging space (e.g., for assembly within the aforementioned container).

[0103] like Figure 11As shown, a fluid loop, illustrated as water loop 1106, travels from the building to and through evaporator 720A, then to and through evaporator 720B, and then to a downstream component (e.g., AHU). A first vapor compression loop 1102 circulates fluid (e.g., refrigerant) traveling counter-currently relative to the fluid in water loop 1106. A second vapor compression loop 1104 circulates fluid (e.g., refrigerant) traveling counter-currently relative to the fluid in water loop 1106 (e.g., water, process fluid, working fluid, etc.). That is, according to some embodiments, in water loop 1106, evaporator 720A is upstream of evaporator 720B. According to some embodiments, evaporator 720A is arranged in series with evaporator 720B within water loop 1106. In some embodiments, evaporators 720A and 720B are positioned such that chiller assembly 700 can be assembled within container 600. For example, evaporators 720A and 720B may be arranged generally in a straight line with each other along the length of the chiller assembly 700, arranged parallel to each other and spaced apart or overlapping each other along the length of the chiller assembly 700, arranged at an angle relative to each other and / or along the longitudinal axis extending along the length of the chiller assembly 700, or evaporators 720A and 720B may be positioned in another suitable arrangement that allows the chiller assembly 700 to be placed within the container 600. Furthermore, although both evaporators 720A and 720B are shown operating in a counter-current arrangement, other configurations may be used according to various other embodiments (e.g., one or both of evaporators 720A and 720B may use different flow arrangements / directions).

[0104] In some embodiments, the chiller assembly 700 provides a cooling capacity between 500 tons of cooling (TOR) and 1000 TOR at standard temperature and pressure (STP), i.e., between 6,000,000 British thermal units (BTU) / hour (BTUh) and 12,000,000 BTUh, i.e., between 1758 kilowatts (kW) and 3516 kW. In some embodiments, the chiller assembly 700 provides a cooling capacity between 700 TOR and 800 TOR at standard temperature and pressure (STP), i.e., between 2462 kW and 2813 kW, i.e., between 8,400,000 BTUh and 9,600,000 BTUh. In other embodiments, the chiller assembly 700 provides a cooling capacity between 700 tons of cooling and 800 tons of cooling at a temperature between 70°F and 80°F. For example, the chiller assembly can provide a cooling capacity of at least 700 TOR, at least 740 TOR, or at least 800 TOR. In some embodiments, the chiller assembly 700 is configured to provide a cooling capacity between 400 TOR and 800 TOR at standard temperature and pressure (STP), i.e., between 1407 kW and 2813 kW, i.e., between 4,800,000 BTUh and 9,600,000 BTUh. In some embodiments, the chiller assembly 700 is configured to provide a cooling capacity between 400 TOR and 600 TOR at standard temperature and pressure (STP), i.e., between 1407 kW and 2110 kW, i.e., between 4,800,000 BTUh and 7,200,000 BTUh.

[0105] In some embodiments, a first vapor compression circuit 1102 is configured to facilitate cooling of a process fluid having an inlet temperature (i.e., flow temperature) to an intermediate reflux temperature, and a second vapor compression circuit 1104 is configured to facilitate cooling of the process fluid from the intermediate reflux temperature to a reflux temperature (e.g., outlet temperature). That is, the first vapor compression circuit 1102 receives the process fluid at its inlet temperature and cools it to the intermediate reflux temperature before supplying it to the second vapor compression circuit 1104. The second vapor compression circuit 1104 then cools the process fluid from the intermediate reflux temperature to the reflux temperature. In some embodiments, the first vapor compression circuit 1102 is adjusted, optimized, configured, etc., to provide enhanced cooling of the process fluid at a temperature between the flow temperature and the intermediate reflux temperature. The second vapor compression circuit 1104 may be adjusted, optimized, configured, etc., to provide enhanced cooling of the process fluid at a temperature between the intermediate reflux temperature and the reflux temperature. For example, the first vapor compression circuit 1102 may operate with a first refrigerant, and the second vapor compression circuit 1104 may operate with a second refrigerant different from the first refrigerant. In this manner, for example, at the intermediate reflux temperature and the reflux temperature of the process fluid, the second refrigerant can more effectively promote heat transfer between the process fluid and the refrigerant and / or between the refrigerant and the surrounding environment than the first refrigerant. In this manner, for example, the first vapor compression circuit 1102 is configured to promote enhanced cooling of the process fluid within a first temperature range, and the second vapor compression circuit is configured to cool the process fluid in a second temperature range different from the first temperature range. That is, the chiller assembly 700 can provide enhanced cooling for the corresponding temperature range. In some embodiments, one circuit is regulated for a low level of water inlet and outlet temperatures, while the other circuit is regulated for a higher level of inlet and outlet temperatures.

[0106] In some embodiments, the chiller assembly 700 is configured to provide cooling at ambient air temperatures up to 140 degrees Fahrenheit (i.e., 60 degrees Celsius). In some embodiments, the first vapor compression loop 1102 and / or the second vapor compression loop 1104 operate with a low global warming potential (GWP) refrigerant, such as R-1234ze. In some embodiments, the first vapor compression loop 1102 and the second vapor compression loop 1104 can facilitate operation at high ambient air temperatures (e.g., 140°F) by, for example, the first vapor compression loop 1102 cooling the process fluid from the flow temperature to an intermediate reflux temperature, and the second vapor compression loop 1104 further cooling the process fluid from the intermediate reflux temperature to the reflux temperature. Providing increased capacity and greater environmental tolerance within a relatively compact package can help reduce space requirements for the chiller assembly 700, including during freight, installation, etc., particularly in applications where space may be constrained (e.g., rooftops, etc.).

[0107] In some embodiments, chiller assembly 700 is configured to reduce vibrations transmitted through the frame (e.g., to the building) and / or air (e.g., as sound). For example, chiller assembly 700 may include suspensions configured to isolate the frame of chiller 102 from the building and / or one or more compressor assemblies in compressor assembly 716. In some embodiments, condenser assembly includes one or more low-noise fan blades configured to reduce sound output from operating fans (e.g., reduce tip cavitation). In some embodiments, chiller assembly 700 outputs a maximum of 97 dBA.

[0108] In some embodiments, chiller assembly 700 may include some or all of the features and functions of chiller 232. Components of chiller 232 may include some or all of the features and functions of chiller assembly 700.

[0109] Chiller condenser assembly Figure 12 A heat exchanger or condenser according to some embodiments is shown. Examples of heat exchangers that may be used in chiller assembly 700 are described in U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 871,826, filed January 15, 2018, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. Figure 12As shown, the condenser assembly 722 may have a portion 1227 having separate, stacked sections or coils 1234. The (V-shaped) outer section or coil 1235 of the heat exchanger or condenser portion 1227 may be part of one refrigerant circuit, and the (V-shaped) inner section or coil 1237 of the heat exchanger or condenser portion 1227 may be part of a second refrigerant circuit. Discharge vapor or gas from the compressor may enter each section or coil 1234 at connections 1229 at the top and middle of the section or coil 1234. Liquid refrigerant may exit each section or coil 1234 from a connection 1231 near the bottom of the section or coil 1234. In some embodiments, each section or coil 1234 may be identical in design, configuration, or arrangement, with two refrigerants passing through the section or coil 1234. In some embodiments, the sections or coils may have different designs, sizes, or configurations, and different numbers of refrigerant passes. Using a section or coil 1234 with two passages results in the inlet and outlet connections being located at the same end of the section or coil 1234, and can provide cooler air leaving the cryogenic cooling section of the upstream section or coil for use by the cryogenic cooling section of the downstream section or coil.

[0110] In some embodiments, a single-pass or odd-pass configuration may be used for each section or coil 1234 or a specific section or coil 1234. The single-pass or odd-pass configuration may result in the corresponding refrigerant manifold for the section or coil 1234 being located at opposite ends of the section or coil 1234 to provide sufficient space for easy assembly and installation of pipe connections.

[0111] Figure 13 A partially exploded view of the condenser assembly 722 is shown. The condenser assembly 722 may include an upper assembly 1328 comprising a shroud 1330 and one or more fans 1332. Heat exchanger sections or coils 1334 may be positioned below the shroud 1330 and above, or at least partially above, other components such as the compressor assembly 716, the expander 718, or the evaporator 720. The heat exchanger sections or coils 1334 may be mounted using the same or common structural components and may be assembled as part of a packaged unit. The sections or coils 1334 may be positioned at any angle between zero and ninety degrees to provide enhanced airflow through the coils 1334 and facilitate liquid drainage from the coils 1334. In some embodiments, stacking the heat exchanger sections or coils 1334 as part of a packaged unit provides a compact unit that can be shipped in a standard shipping container. Furthermore, the stacked coil condenser design allows the chiller assembly to have relatively high capacity while maintaining a relatively small package size.

[0112] Chiller compressor assembly like Figures 14 to 15 As shown, according to some embodiments, chiller assembly 700 includes compressor assemblies 1400A and 1400B and evaporators 720A and 720B. Compressor assembly 1400A may include some or all of the features of compressor assembly 1400B. Similarly, compressor assembly 1400B may include some or all of the features of compressor assembly 1400A. Compressor assembly 1400A includes a compressor 1402 driven by motor 1404. Examples of compressors that may be used in chiller assembly 700 are described in U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 182,410, filed November 6, 2018, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0113] Motor 1404 can be powered by a variable speed drive (VSD) 1410. VSD 1410 receives AC power with a specific fixed line voltage and fixed line frequency from an AC power source and supplies motor 1404 with power with variable voltage and frequency. Motor 1404 can be any type of motor that can be powered by VSD 1410. For example, motor 1404 can be a high-speed induction motor. Compressor 1402 is driven by motor 1404 to compress refrigerant vapor received from evaporator 720 via suction line 1412 and deliver the refrigerant vapor to condenser (e.g., condenser assembly 722) via discharge line 1424. Compressor 1402 can be a centrifugal compressor, screw compressor, scroll compressor, or any other suitable type of compressor. Figures 14 to 15 As shown, compressor 1402 is a centrifugal compressor.

[0114] Now for reference Figure 15 This image shows a cross-sectional view of a high-speed induction motor used to drive a centrifugal compressor. In some embodiments, the high-speed induction motor is substantially similar to motor 1404, and the centrifugal compressor is substantially similar to compressor 1402. Motor 1404 is shown as including a housing or enclosure 1502, a stator 1504, and a rotor 1506, among other components. The stator 1504 is the stationary portion of the motor's electromagnetic circuit, which applies radial and axial magnetic forces to the rotor 1506. In a properly aligned system, the sum of these forces is zero or close to zero. In some embodiments, the stator 1504 is partially enclosed by a motor housing 1510, and both the stator 1504 and the motor housing 1510 may have a substantially cylindrical shape. The motor housing 1510 may be made of aluminum and may be configured to optimize heat transfer from the stator 1504 to prevent overheating of the motor 1404.

[0115] Rotor 1506 is the rotating portion of the electromagnetic circuit of the motor. In various embodiments, rotor 1506 may be a squirrel-cage rotor, a wound rotor, a salient-pole rotor, or a cylindrical rotor. Rotor 1506 is coupled to shaft 1508. Shaft 1508 is shown as including a first end 1538 and a second end 1540. Rotor 1506 and shaft 1508 rotate together about a central axis 1526 to transmit torque and rotation to other parts and / or components coupled to motor 1404.

[0116] In some embodiments, the second end 1540 of the shaft 1508 is coupled to the impeller 1530 of the centrifugal compressor 1402 using a direct drive connection 1528. In some embodiments, the direct drive connection 1528 may include mechanical fasteners (e.g., bolts, pins) for coupling the shaft 1508 to the impeller 1530. In addition to the impeller 1530, the centrifugal compressor 1402 may include an inlet 1542, a diffuser assembly including a variable geometry diffuser (VGD) 1532 and a diffuser plate 1536, a collector or vortex assembly 1534, and other components. The inlet 1542 may include a tube for drawing fluid (e.g., LP refrigerant) into the impeller 1530, which is a rotating blade assembly that gradually applies kinetic energy to the vapor. Downstream of the impeller 1530 is a diffuser gap formed by the VGD 1532 and the diffuser plate 1536. As the steam flows and expands through the diffuser gap and before it leaves the centrifugal compressor via the collector or scroll assembly 1534, the steam's kinetic energy is converted into pressure energy.

[0117] Some induction motors utilize an interference fit to hold the stator within the housing. In an interference fit, the stator can be heated until thermal expansion creates a gap between the inner diameter of the motor housing and the outer diameter of the stator. In other embodiments, the stator is cooled until it contracts and a gap is created between the motor housing and the stator. Once the stator is inserted into the housing and both the housing and stator reach equilibrium temperatures, the gap between the housing and the stator decreases to zero. However, because the thermal expansion rates of the housing and the stator may not be the same, returning to equilibrium temperatures can cause deformation in the shape (e.g., roundness) of the stator. A deformed stator caused by an interference fit can lead to unbalanced magnetic forces on the rotor. When the system is improperly aligned such that the sum of the forces exerted by the stator on the rotor is not zero, designers must specify bearing assemblies beyond specifications (i.e., they must select magnetic bearings with oversized components) to avoid exceeding the rotor positioning capability of the magnetic bearing assembly.

[0118] Therefore, according to some embodiments, the gap region 1522 is maintained between the motor sleeve 1510 of the stator 1504 and the motor housing 1502 to prevent imperfect roundness of the housing 1502 from deforming the roundness of the stator. To prevent displacement and / or rotation of the motor sleeve 1510 and the stator 1504 relative to the motor housing 1502, a locating pin 1512 or key can be inserted through the housing 1502 and the motor sleeve 1510 and held within the stator 1504. To minimize unbalanced magnetic forces, according to some embodiments, the stator 1504 and the rotor 1506 are concentric, and the air gap 1524 between the stator and the rotor is maintained as a true cylindrical feature. The gap region 1522 between the motor sleeve 1510 and the motor housing 1502 can be controlled such that the deviation of the air gap 1524 is less than 10% of the nominal gap. The nominal gap can be defined as the perfect concentric alignment of the stator 1504 and the rotor 1506 along the central axis 1526.

[0119] The motor 1404 is also shown as including magnetic bearing assemblies 1514, 1516, and 1518, which support the rotor 1506 and shaft 1508 and allow the rotor 1506 and shaft 1508 to rotate relative to the stator 1504. The magnetic bearing assemblies use magnetic levitation to support the load and thus allow relative movement with very low friction and little or no mechanical wear. In some embodiments, magnetic bearing assemblies 1514, 1516, and 1518 are active magnetic bearing (AMB) assemblies. The AMB assemblies utilize electromagnetic actuators with continuously adjusted current values ​​to hold the rotor 1506 and shaft 1508 in a desired position and achieve stable levitation.

[0120] Magnetic bearing assemblies 1514 and 1518 may be radial bearing assemblies configured to control the position of shaft 1508 in the radial direction (i.e., perpendicular to the central axis 1526), ​​while magnetic bearing assembly 1516 may be a thrust bearing assembly configured to control the position of shaft 1508 in the axial direction (i.e., parallel to the central axis 1526). In some embodiments, radial magnetic bearing assembly 1514 may be located near a first end 1538 of shaft 1508, while radial magnetic bearing assembly 1518 may be located near a second end 1540 of shaft 1508. Thrust magnetic bearing assembly 1516 may be located between radial bearing assemblies 1514 and 1518, and close to the second end 1540 of shaft 1508 and impeller 1530. By positioning the thrust magnetic bearing assembly 1516 close to the impeller 1530, the proximity of the thrust magnetic bearing assembly 1516 allows the impeller 1530 to be precisely aligned within the compressor diffuser when the heat generated by the operation of the motor 1404 causes the shaft 1508 to expand, thereby achieving optimized aerodynamic performance.

[0121] As described above, motor 1404 can be semi-hermetic. Hermetic or semi-hermetic motor 1404 can refer to a motor exposed to the environment inside compressor assembly 716 (i.e., such that the motor can be cooled by the refrigerant circulating through the chiller assembly). In contrast, motors not designed to be hermetic or semi-hermetic can be enclosed in a separate housing and connected to the compressor via couplings and shaft seals. Motor 1404 can be considered semi-hermetic because end plate 1520 can be detachably fastened to housing 1502 using mechanical fasteners and seals (e.g., bolts, O-rings). In contrast, a fully hermetic compressor is a compressor that encapsulates the motor and may include a welded housing.

[0122] chiller evaporator like Figure 14 As shown, evaporator 720A includes an internal tube bundle, a supply line 1420A for supplying and removing process fluid from the internal tube bundle, and a return line 1422A. The supply line 1420A and return line 1422A may be in fluid communication with components within the HVAC system (e.g., air handlers) via conduits that circulate the process fluid. The process fluid is a cooling liquid used to cool a building and may be, but is not limited to, water, glycol (i.e., ethylene glycol), calcium chloride brine, sodium chloride brine, or any other suitable liquid. Evaporator 720A is configured to reduce the temperature of the process fluid as it passes through the tube bundle of evaporator 720A and exchanges heat with refrigerant passing through the refrigerant loop. Refrigerant vapor is formed in evaporator 720A by exchanging heat with the process fluid and undergoing a phase change as refrigerant liquid is delivered to evaporator 720A.

[0123] Refrigerant vapor delivered from evaporator 720A to condenser assembly 722 by compressor 1402 transfers heat to a fluid (e.g., air). Due to heat transfer with the fluid, the refrigerant vapor condenses into refrigerant liquid in condenser assembly 722. The refrigerant liquid from condenser assembly 722 flows through expansion device 718 (e.g., expansion valve) and returns to evaporator 720A to complete the refrigerant cycle of the first refrigerant loop (e.g., first refrigerant circuit) of chiller assembly 700.

[0124] In some embodiments, evaporator 720B may include some or all of the features and functions of evaporator 720A. In some embodiments, evaporator 720A may include some or all of the features and functions of evaporator 720B. In some embodiments, evaporator 720B includes an internal tube bundle, a supply line 1420B for supplying and removing process fluid to the internal tube bundle, and a return line 1422B. The supply line 1420B and return line 1422B may be in fluid communication with components within an HVAC system (e.g., an air handler) via conduits that circulate the process fluid. In some embodiments, the process fluid of evaporator 720A is delivered to evaporator 720B via one or more fluid conduits (e.g., pipes, etc.). Evaporator 720B is configured to reduce the temperature of the process fluid as it passes through the tube bundle of evaporator 720B and exchanges heat with refrigerant flowing through a refrigerant loop. Refrigerant vapor is formed in evaporator 720B by exchanging heat with the process fluid and undergoing a phase change as refrigerant liquid is delivered to evaporator 720B.

[0125] like Figure 14 As shown, supply line 1420B is fluidly connected to return line 1422A of evaporator 720A. In some embodiments, evaporators 720A and 720B are connected together by pipe 1440, which has one or more bends (e.g., elbows, corners, etc.) shown as bends 1442, 1444. In some embodiments, process fluid exits evaporator 720A in a first direction, travels within pipe 1440 in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and then enters evaporator 720B upward in a third direction parallel to the first direction. In some embodiments, supply line 1420B and return line 1422B are on a first end 1444B of evaporator 720B. In some embodiments, supply line 1420A and return line 1422A are on a first end 1446A of evaporator 720A. In some embodiments, the first end 1446A is proximal to the first end 1446B. In some embodiments, evaporators 720A and 720B extend along a longitudinal axis parallel to the length L of the chiller assembly 700.

[0126] Chiller controller like Figure 14 , Figure 16 and Figure 17As shown, the chiller assembly 700 includes a controller 1600 (e.g., a microcontroller, etc.). The controller 1600 is shown as including a communication interface 1602 and processing circuitry 1604 having a processor 1606 and a memory 1608. The communication interface 1602 may include a wired or wireless communication interface (e.g., a jack, antenna, transmitter, receiver, transceiver, terminal block, etc.) for transmitting data between the controller 1600 and external systems or devices (e.g., BMS 400, user device 1704, etc.). In some embodiments, the communication interface 1602 facilitates communication between the controller 1600 and external applications (e.g., remote systems and applications) to allow remote entities or users to control, monitor, and / or adjust components of the controller 1600. Communication via the communication interface 1602 may be direct (e.g., local wired or wireless communication) or via a network 446 (e.g., a WAN, the Internet, a cellular network, etc.). Furthermore, the communication interface 1602 can be configured to communicate with external systems and / or devices using any of the following communication protocols: HTTP(S), WebSocket, CoAP, MQTT, etc., industrial control protocols (e.g., MTConnect, OPC, OPC-UA, etc.), process automation protocols (e.g., HART, Profibus, etc.), home automation protocols, and / or any of various other protocols. Advantageously, the controller 1600 can acquire, ingest, and process data from any type of system or device, regardless of the communication protocol used by the system or device.

[0127] like Figure 17 As shown, controller 1600 communicates with user device 1704 and / or another external device or system (e.g., via communication interface 1602, network 446, etc.). For example, controller 1600 can receive physical access data from user device 1704, which may include data received via user interface 1610 (e.g., via user input). User interface 1610 may include display 1702 (e.g., screen, touchscreen, liquid crystal display, LED display, etc.), speakers, etc., and one or more user input devices (e.g., touch-sensitive surface, buttons, keyboard, joystick, etc.) shown as keyboard 1706 to control the operation of the vapor compression cycle within chiller assembly 700. For example, controller 1600 may be operatively coupled to chiller unit equipment 1620 and may receive sensor data from chiller unit equipment 1620 and generate command signals or transmit command signals to actuators of unit equipment 1620.

[0128] Evaporator configuration As described herein, the chiller assembly 700 can be designed to provide volumetrically dense cooling, enabling it to be fitted within a container or shipping container (e.g., shipping container 600). In some embodiments, evaporators 720A, 720B can be oriented within frame 702 to reduce the package size of the chiller assembly 700. In some embodiments, the fluid connection (e.g., manifold or housing) between evaporators 720A, 720B can provide a streamlined fluid passage between evaporators 720A, 720B, which helps to reduce the package size of the chiller assembly 700. In some embodiments, the geometry (e.g., longitudinal length) of evaporators 720A, 720B can be varied to better enclose the chiller assembly 700 within the shipping container 600. In some embodiments, evaporators 720A, 720B can each comprise two or more evaporators arranged in series with a refrigerant circuit and in parallel with a process fluid circuit.

[0129] Figure 18 An embodiment of a chiller assembly 700 with evaporators 720A and 720B in an angled orientation is shown. A frame 702 may define a longitudinal axis 1800 extending along the length of the frame 702, evaporator 720A may define a longitudinal axis 1802A extending along the length of evaporator 720A, and evaporator 720B may define a longitudinal axis 1802B extending along the length of evaporator 720B. In some embodiments, evaporator 720A may be arranged such that the angle 1804A defined between the longitudinal axis 1800 and the longitudinal axis 1802A is an acute angle or an oblique angle. In some embodiments, angle 1804A may be between about 5 degrees and about 85 degrees, or between about 10 degrees and about 80 degrees, or between about 15 degrees and about 75 degrees, or between about 20 degrees and about 70 degrees, or between about 25 degrees and about 65 degrees, or between about 30 degrees and about 60 degrees, or between about 35 degrees and about 55 degrees, or between about 40 degrees and about 50 degrees.

[0130] In some embodiments, the evaporator 720B may be arranged such that the angle 1804B defined between the longitudinal axis 1800 and the longitudinal axis 1802B is an acute angle or an oblique angle. In some embodiments, the angle 1804B may be between about 5 degrees and about 85 degrees, or between about 10 degrees and about 80 degrees, or between about 15 degrees and about 75 degrees, or between about 20 degrees and about 70 degrees, or between about 25 degrees and about 65 degrees, or between about 30 degrees and about 60 degrees, or between about 35 degrees and about 55 degrees, or between about 40 degrees and about 50 degrees.

[0131] In some embodiments, angle 1804A may be approximately the same as angle 1804B. In some embodiments, angle 1804A may be different from angle 1804B. In some embodiments, the angular orientation of evaporator 720A may differ from the angular orientation of evaporator 720B. For example, as Figure 18 As shown, longitudinal axis 1802A may define a negative slope relative to longitudinal axis 1800 (e.g., where the longitudinal axis defines the x-axis), and longitudinal axis 1802B may define a positive slope relative to longitudinal axis 1800. In other words, longitudinal axis 1802A may intersect longitudinal axis 1802B. In some embodiments, both longitudinal axis 1802A and longitudinal axis 1802B may define a positive slope relative to longitudinal axis 1800. In some embodiments, both longitudinal axis 1802A and longitudinal axis 1802B may define a negative slope relative to longitudinal axis 1800. In some embodiments, longitudinal axis 1802A may be approximately parallel to longitudinal axis 1802B.

[0132] In some embodiments, the first end 1806A of the evaporator 720A may be arranged at a first lateral distance (e.g., in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 1800) from the sidewall 1808 of the frame 702, and the first end 1806B of the evaporator 720B may be arranged at a second lateral distance from the sidewall 1808. In some embodiments, the first lateral distance is greater than the second lateral distance. In some embodiments, for example when both the longitudinal axis 1802A and the longitudinal axis 1802B define the same slope relative to the longitudinal axis 1800, the first lateral distance may be approximately the same as the second lateral distance.

[0133] Typically, the angled orientation of evaporators 720A and 720B can effectively position evaporators 720A and 720B within frame 702 and reduce the package volume defined by chiller assembly 700.

[0134] Figure 19An embodiment of a chiller assembly 700 is illustrated, wherein evaporators 720A and 720B are fluidly connected via a housing or manifold 1900. In some embodiments, the manifold 1900 may include a single body 1902 (e.g., formed as a single piece of material). In some embodiments, the single body 1902 may include a first fluid passage 1904A coupled to evaporator 720A and a second fluid passage 1904B coupled to evaporator 720B. In some embodiments, the first fluid passage 1904A may be defined between a first plurality of inlets 1906A and a first outlet 1908A on evaporator 720A. The first outlet 1908A may be fluidly coupled to compressor assembly 716A and then fluidly coupled to condenser assembly 722. In some embodiments, the second fluid passage 1904B may be defined between a second plurality of inlets 1906B and a second outlet 1908B on evaporator 720B. The second outlet 1908B may be fluidly coupled to compressor assembly 716B and then fluidly coupled to condenser assembly 722.

[0135] In some embodiments, fluid communication between the first fluid channel 1904A and the second fluid channel 1904B can be prevented or suppressed by a stop or wall 1910 disposed between the first fluid channel 1904A and the second fluid channel 1904B.

[0136] Typically, the manifold 1900 streamlines the fluid connections between the components of the chiller assembly 700 (e.g., by enabling the use of smaller diameter tubing or pipes), which reduces the package volume defined by the chiller assembly 700.

[0137] Figure 20 An embodiment of a manifold 1900 in the form of a cast manifold 2000 is shown. In some embodiments, the cast manifold 2000 is formed as a single component (e.g., formed as a single piece) via a casting process. In some embodiments, the cast manifold 2000 may be arranged in an in-line configuration, wherein the cast manifold 2000 is arranged along the same side of both evaporators 720A and 720B (e.g., each of evaporators 720A and 720B includes a cast manifold arranged along the same side of evaporators 720A and 720B).

[0138] Figure 21An embodiment of a manifold 1900 in the form of a cast manifold 2100 is shown. In some embodiments, the cast manifold 2100 is formed as a single component (e.g., formed as a single piece) via a casting process. In some embodiments, evaporators 720A and 720B may be arranged side-by-side, with the cast manifold 2100 between them. In other words, the cast manifold 2100 may be connected to a first side of evaporator 720A and to a second side of evaporator 720B (opposite to the first side). In some embodiments, a first outlet 1908A and a second outlet 1908B on the cast manifold 2100 may be arranged between evaporators 720A and 720B.

[0139] Figure 22 An embodiment of a chiller assembly 700 is shown, wherein evaporators 720A and evaporators 720B define different lengths. In some embodiments, evaporator 720A may define a length 2200A (e.g., defined along a longitudinal axis 1802A), and evaporator 720B may define a length 2200B (e.g., defined along a longitudinal axis 1802B). In some embodiments, length 2200A may be less than length 2200B (see, for example...). Figure 22 In some embodiments, length 2200A may be greater than length 2200B. In some embodiments, evaporator 720A may be laterally positioned (e.g., from...). Figure 22 From an angle (vertical or horizontal), the longitudinal axis 1802A is offset from the evaporator 720B. In other words, the longitudinal axis 1802A may be parallel to the longitudinal axis 1802B, but laterally offset from that longitudinal axis. In some embodiments, the evaporator 720A may be defined in an angled orientation with a different length than the evaporator 720B (see, for example...). Figure 18 In some embodiments, evaporator 720A may be defined in a different length in parallel orientation than evaporator 720B (see, for example...). Figure 19 ).

[0140] Typically, the varying lengths between evaporators 720A and 720B effectively position evaporators 720A and 720B within frame 702 and reduce the package volume defined by chiller assembly 700.

[0141] Figure 23An embodiment of a chiller assembly 700 is shown, wherein evaporators 720A and 720B each include a pair of evaporator sections. For example, evaporator 720A may include a first evaporator assembly 2300A having a first evaporator 2302A and a second evaporator 2304A, and evaporator 720B may include a second evaporator assembly 2300B having a third evaporator 2302B and a fourth evaporator 2304B. In some embodiments, the first evaporator 2302A and the second evaporator 2304A may be arranged in parallel within a first vapor compression circuit 1102. For example, the first evaporator 2302A and the second evaporator 2304A may be connected in parallel between the condenser assembly 722 and the compressor assembly 1400A (e.g., upstream of the compressor assembly 1400A). In some embodiments, the third evaporator 2302B and the fourth evaporator 2304B may be arranged in parallel within a second vapor compression circuit 1104. For example, the third evaporator 2302B and the fourth evaporator 2304B may be connected in parallel between the condenser assembly 722 and the compressor assembly 1400B (e.g., upstream of the compressor assembly 1400B).

[0142] In some embodiments, the first evaporator 2302A, the second evaporator 2304A, the third evaporator 2302B, and the fourth evaporator 2304B may be arranged in series along a process fluid loop (e.g., water loop 1106). In some embodiments, the first evaporator 2302A and the second evaporator 2304A may be arranged side-by-side, wherein the first longitudinal axis 2306A of the first evaporator 2302A and the second longitudinal axis 2308A of the second evaporator 2304A are arranged approximately perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 180°. In some embodiments, the third evaporator 2302B and the fourth evaporator 2304B may be arranged side-by-side, wherein the third longitudinal axis 2306B of the third evaporator 2302B and the fourth longitudinal axis 2308B of the fourth evaporator 2304B are arranged approximately perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 180°.

[0143] In some embodiments, the first evaporator 2302A and the second evaporator 2304A may be arranged in an angled orientation, such as... Figure 24As shown. For example, the first longitudinal axis 2306A may be at an angle 240° relative to the longitudinal axis. In some embodiments, the angle 2310 may be an oblique angle or an acute angle. In some embodiments, the angle 2310 may be the same as the angle defined between the second longitudinal axis 2308A and the longitudinal axis 180°. In some embodiments, the angle 2310 may be between about 5 degrees and about 85 degrees, or between about 10 degrees and about 80 degrees, or between about 15 degrees and about 75 degrees, or between about 20 degrees and about 70 degrees, or between about 25 degrees and about 65 degrees, or between about 30 degrees and about 60 degrees, or between about 35 degrees and about 55 degrees, or between about 40 degrees and about 50 degrees.

[0144] In some embodiments, the third evaporator 2302B and the fourth evaporator 2304B may be arranged in an angled orientation. For example, the third longitudinal axis 2306B may be at an angle 2402 relative to the longitudinal axis 1800. In some embodiments, the angle 2312 may be an oblique angle or an acute angle. In some embodiments, the angle 2312 may be the same as the angle defined between the fourth longitudinal axis 2308B and the longitudinal axis 1800. In some embodiments, the angle 2312 may be between about 5 degrees and about 85 degrees, or between about 10 degrees and about 80 degrees, or between about 15 degrees and about 75 degrees, or between about 20 degrees and about 70 degrees, or between about 25 degrees and about 65 degrees, or between about 30 degrees and about 60 degrees, or between about 35 degrees and about 55 degrees, or between about 40 degrees and about 50 degrees.

[0145] In some embodiments, angle 2310 may be different from angle 2312. In some embodiments, angle 2310 may be approximately the same as angle 2312. In some embodiments, the first longitudinal axis 2306A may be arranged at a different angle relative to the longitudinal axis 1800 compared to the second longitudinal axis 2308A. In some embodiments, the third longitudinal axis 2306B may be arranged at a different angle relative to the longitudinal axis 1800 compared to the fourth longitudinal axis 2308B.

[0146] Typically, including the first evaporator assembly 2300A and the second evaporator assembly 2300B can effectively position the evaporators 720A and 720B within the frame 702 and reduce the package volume defined by the chiller assembly 700.

[0147] Configuration of exemplary embodiments The construction and arrangement of the systems and methods illustrated in the various exemplary embodiments are merely illustrative. Although only a few embodiments are described in detail in this disclosure, many modifications are possible (e.g., variations in the size, scale, structure, shape and proportion of various elements, parameter values, installation arrangements, use of materials, color, orientation, etc.). For example, the positions of elements may be reversed or otherwise varied, and the nature or number or position of discrete elements may be altered or varied. Therefore, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of this disclosure. The order or sequence of any process or method steps may be varied or reordered according to alternative embodiments. Other substitutions, modifications, alterations, and omissions may also be made in terms of the design, operating conditions, and arrangement of the exemplary embodiments without departing from the scope of this disclosure.

[0148] This disclosure contemplates methods, systems, and program products for performing various operations on any machine-readable medium. Embodiments of this disclosure may be implemented using existing computer processors, or by a dedicated computer processor for (incorporated for the purposes of implementing embodiments of this disclosure or for another purpose), or by a hardwired system. Embodiments within the scope of this disclosure include program products comprising machine-readable media for carrying or storing machine-executable instructions or data structures. Such machine-readable media can be any available medium accessible by a general-purpose or special-purpose computer or other machine having a processor. For example, such machine-readable media may include RAM, ROM, EPROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM or other optical disk storage devices, magnetic disk storage devices or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium that can be used to carry or store desired program code in the form of machine-executable instructions or data structures and accessible by a general-purpose or special-purpose computer or other machine having a processor. Combinations of the above are also included within the scope of machine-readable media. Machine-executable instructions include, for example, instructions and data that cause a general-purpose computer, special-purpose computer, or special-purpose processing machine to perform a function or group of functions.

[0149] Although the accompanying drawings show a specific order of method steps, the order of steps may differ from that depicted. Furthermore, two or more steps may be performed simultaneously or partially simultaneously. Such variations will depend on the chosen software and hardware system and the designer's choices. All such variations are within the scope of this disclosure. Similarly, software implementations can be accomplished using standard programming techniques with rule-based logic and other logic to perform various connection steps, processing steps, comparison steps, and decision steps.

Claims

1. A chiller assembly for a heating, ventilation, or air conditioning (HVAC) system, the chiller assembly comprising: A frame that defines the longitudinal axis; A first vapor compression circuit, the first vapor compression circuit including a first compressor configured to circulate a first condenser coil and a first evaporator through the first vapor compression circuit; A second vapor compression circuit, the second vapor compression circuit including a second compressor configured to circulate a second refrigerant through a second condenser coil and a second evaporator; as well as A process fluid loop configured to pass through a first evaporator and a second evaporator, wherein the first evaporator and the second evaporator are configured to allow the first and second refrigerants to exchange heat with the process fluid of the process fluid loop. Wherein the first evaporator and the second evaporator are arranged at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis, or Wherein the first evaporator is defined with a first length, and the second evaporator is defined with a second length different from the first length, or The first evaporator includes a first evaporator assembly having a first evaporator section and a second evaporator section arranged in parallel within the first vapor compression circuit, and the second evaporator includes a second evaporator assembly having a third evaporator section and a fourth evaporator section arranged in parallel within the second vapor compression circuit, or... The manifold, which defines a single entity, is connected between the first evaporator and the second evaporator.

2. The chiller assembly according to claim 1, wherein the first evaporator and the second evaporator are arranged at the angle relative to the longitudinal axis.

3. The chiller assembly of claim 1, wherein the first evaporator defines the first length, and the second evaporator defines a second length different from the first length.

4. The chiller assembly according to claim 1, wherein the manifold defines a single body and is connected between the first evaporator and the second evaporator.

5. The chiller assembly of claim 1, wherein the single body is a single material, the single material comprising a first fluid channel connected to the first evaporator and a second fluid channel connected to the second evaporator.

6. The chiller assembly of claim 5, wherein the first fluid passage is connected to a first plurality of inlets for the first evaporator and a first outlet connected to the first compressor.

7. The chiller assembly of claim 6, wherein the second fluid passage is in communication with a second plurality of inlets for the second evaporator and a second outlet in communication with the second compressor.

8. The chiller assembly of claim 2, wherein the longitudinal axis extends along the length of the frame and is parallel to the first evaporator.

9. The chiller assembly according to claim 2, wherein the angle is an acute angle or an oblique angle.

10. The chiller assembly of claim 2, wherein the angle is between 15 degrees and 75 degrees.

11. A chiller assembly for a heating, ventilation, or air conditioning (HVAC) system, the chiller assembly comprising: A frame that defines the longitudinal axis; First evaporator; Second evaporator; Wherein the first evaporator and the second evaporator are arranged at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis, or Wherein the first evaporator is defined with a first length, and the second evaporator is defined with a second length different from the first length, or The first evaporator includes a first evaporator assembly having a first evaporator section and a second evaporator section arranged in parallel, and the second evaporator includes a second evaporator assembly having a third evaporator section and a fourth evaporator section arranged in parallel, or... The manifold, which defines a single entity, is connected between the first evaporator and the second evaporator.

12. The chiller assembly of claim 11, wherein the first evaporator and the second evaporator are arranged at the angle relative to the longitudinal axis.

13. The chiller assembly of claim 11, wherein the first evaporator defines the first length, and the second evaporator defines a second length different from the first length.

14. The chiller assembly of claim 11, wherein the manifold defines a single body and is connected between the first evaporator and the second evaporator.

15. The chiller assembly of claim 11, wherein the single body is a single material, the single material comprising a first fluid passage connected to the first evaporator and a second fluid passage connected to the second evaporator.

16. The chiller assembly of claim 15, wherein the first fluid passage is in communication with a first plurality of inlets for the first evaporator and a first outlet in communication with the first compressor.

17. The chiller assembly of claim 16, wherein the second fluid passage is in communication with a second plurality of inlets for the second evaporator and a second outlet in communication with the second compressor.

18. The chiller assembly of claim 12, wherein the longitudinal axis extends along the length of the frame and is parallel to the first evaporator.

19. The chiller assembly of claim 12, wherein the angle is between 15 degrees and 75 degrees.

20. A chiller assembly for a heating, ventilation, or air conditioning (HVAC) system, the chiller assembly comprising: A frame that defines the longitudinal axis; First type of tubular evaporator; Second tubular evaporator; as well as The first evaporator and the second evaporator are arranged in an orientation at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis, wherein each of the first evaporator and the second evaporator has a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the first evaporator is close to the first end of the second evaporator, and the second end of the first evaporator is opposite to the first end of the first evaporator, and the second end of the second evaporator is opposite to the first end of the second evaporator; or The first evaporator has a first length along the longitudinal axis, and the second evaporator has a second length along the longitudinal axis that is different from the first length, wherein the longitudinal axis of the first evaporator is offset relative to the longitudinal axis of the second evaporator; or The first evaporator includes a first evaporator assembly having a first evaporator section and a second evaporator section arranged in parallel; and the second evaporator includes a second evaporator assembly having a third evaporator section and a fourth evaporator section arranged in parallel; or A manifold defining a single entity is connected between the first evaporator and the second evaporator, wherein the longitudinal axis of the frame crosses the manifold.

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