Low height high pressure receiver and condenser

Abstract

A heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVAC&R) system (10) includes a vapor compression system (30). The vapor compression system (30) includes a compressor (162) configured to pressurize a working fluid, a condenser (124) configured to receive the working fluid from the compressor (162), and a receiver vessel (126) configured to receive the working fluid from the condenser (124), wherein the condenser (124) and the receiver vessel (126) are packaged together in a single unit (110).

Description

LOW HEIGHT HIGH PRESSURE RECEIVER AND CONDENSERCROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims priority from and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 551,987, entitled “LOW HEIGHT HIGH PRESSURE RECEIVER AND CONDENSER,” filed February 9, 2024, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes.BACKGROUND

[0002] This section is intended to introduce the reader to various aspects of art that may be related to various aspects of the present disclosure, which are described below. This discussion is believed to be helpful in providing the reader with background information to facilitate a better understanding of the various aspects of the present disclosure. Accordingly, it should be understood that these statements are to be read in this light, and not as admissions of prior art.

[0003] Many applications exist for heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVAC&R) HVAC&R systems. For example, HVAC&R systems may be utilized in residential, light commercial, commercial, and industrial refrigeration settings to maintain temperature control in a structure. These systems generally operate by implementing a thermal cycle in which fluids are heated and cooled to provide a desired temperature in a controlled space. For example, HVAC&R systems may operate by circulating a working fluid (e.g., refrigerant) through a closed circuit (e.g., closed loop) between a heat exchanger (e.g., evaporator) where the fluid is evaporated to absorb heat and a heat exchanger (e.g., a condenser) where the fluid condenses to release heat. The working fluid flowing within the circuit is generally formulated to undergo phase changes within the normal operating temperatures and pressures of the system so that considerable quantities of heat may be exchanged by virtue of the latent heat of vaporization of the fluid. Certain HVAC&R systems may include additional components configured to enable efficient operation of the HVAC&R systems. However, such HVAC&R systems may require a significant amount of space to accommodate each of the components, and transportation, maintenance, and / or assembly of such HVAC&R systems may be difficult due to the arrangement of the various components employed by the HVAC&R systems. Accordingly, it is now recognized that there is a need forimproved HVAC&R systems that reduce the difficulty associated with manufacturing, transporting, assembling, and / or maintaining such HVAC&R systems.SUMMARY

[0004] A summary of certain embodiments disclosed herein is set forth below. It should be understood that these aspects are presented merely to provide the reader with a brief summary of these certain embodiments and that these aspects are not intended to limit the scope of this disclosure. Indeed, this disclosure may encompass a variety of aspects that may not be set forth below.

[0005] In an embodiment, a heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVAC&R) system includes a vapor compression system. The vapor compression system includes a compressor configured to pressurize a working fluid, a condenser configured to receive the working fluid from the compressor, and a receiver vessel configured to receive the working fluid from the condenser, wherein the condenser and the receiver vessel are packaged together in a single unit.

[0006] In another embodiment, a condensing unit for a heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVAC&R) system includes a housing having a plurality of sides that collectively define an interior volume of the housing, one or more compressors disposed within the interior volume and configured to pressurize a working fluid, a first set of condensers and a second set of condensers disposed within the interior volume and configured to receive the working fluid from the one or more compressors, wherein each of the first set of condensers and the second set of condensers extends in a direction along a vertical axis of the housing, and a receiver vessel disposed within the interior volume and configured to receive the working fluid from the first set of condensers and the second set of condensers.

[0007] In another embodiment, a packaged modular unit for a heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVAC&R) system includes a compressor configured to pressurize a working fluid, one or more condensers configured to receive the working fluid from the compressor, and a receiver vessel configured to receive the working fluid from the one or morecondensers, wherein each of the compressor, the one or more condensers, and the receiver vessel are contained within the packaged modular unit.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] Various aspects of this disclosure may be better understood upon reading the following detailed description and upon reference to the drawings in which:

[0009] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVAC&R) system that may be utilized in an industrial refrigeration setting, in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure;

[0010] FIG. 2 is a schematic view of an embodiment of a vapor compression system that may be employed in an HVAC&R system, in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure;

[0011] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a condensing unit that may be employed in an HVAC&R system, in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure; and

[0012] FIG. 4 is an end view of an embodiment of a condensing unit that may be employed in an HVAC&R system, in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0013] One or more specific embodiments of the present disclosure will be described below. These described embodiments are examples of the presently disclosed techniques. Additionally, in an effort to provide a concise description of these embodiments, all features of an actual implementation may not be described in the specification. It should be appreciated that in the development of any such actual implementation, as in any engineering or design project, numerous implementation-specific decisions may be made to achieve the developers’ specific goals, such as compliance with system-related and business-related constraints, which may vary from one implementation to another. Moreover, it should be appreciated that such a development effort might be complex and time consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking of design, fabrication, and manufacture for those of ordinary skill having the benefit of this disclosure.

[0014] When introducing elements of various embodiments of the present disclosure, the articles “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. The terms “comprising,” “including,” and “having” are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements. Additionally, it should be understood that references to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” of the present disclosure are not intended to be interpreted as excluding the existence of additional embodiments that also incorporate the recited features.

[0015] As used herein, the terms “approximately,” “generally,” “substantially,” and so forth, are intended to convey that the property value being described may be within a relatively small range of the property value, as those of ordinary skill would understand. For example, when a property value is described as being “approximately” equal to (or, for example, “substantially similar” to) a given value, this is intended to convey that the property value may be within + / - 5%, within + / - 4%, within + / - 3%, within + / - 2%, within + / - 1%, or even closer, of the given value. Similarly, when a given feature is described as being “substantially parallel” to another feature, “generally perpendicular” to another feature, and so forth, this is intended to convey that the given feature is within + / - 5%, within + / - 4%, within + / - 3%, within + / - 2%, within + / - 1%, or even closer, to having the described nature, such as being parallel to another feature, being perpendicular to another feature, and so forth. Mathematical terms, such as “parallel” and “perpendicular,” should not be rigidly interpreted in a strict mathematical sense, but should instead be interpreted as one of ordinary skill in the art would interpret such terms. For example, one of ordinary skill in the art would understand that two lines that are substantially parallel to each other are parallel to a substantial degree, but may have minor deviation from exactly parallel.

[0016] As briefly discussed above, HVAC&R systems may be employed in a variety of applications, including residential, light commercial, commercial, and industrial refrigeration settings to maintain temperature control in a structure. Such systems may employ various components, thereby enabling a working fluid to undergo phase changes to exchange heat and provide desired temperature control to the structure. For example, the HVAC&R systems may employ one or more compressors to circulate a working fluid (e.g., ammonia) through a circuit (e g., vapor compression circuit), and one or more heat exchangers (e.g., evaporator, condenser) to place the working fluid in a heat exchange relationship with another fluid directed through theheat exchangers. Additionally, such HVAC&R systems may employ a receiver vessel disposed along the circuit between a first heat exchanger (e.g., condenser) and a second heat exchanger (e.g., evaporator) of the HVAC&R system. The receiver vessel may be utilized to store liquid working fluid that exits the first heat exchanger when a load on the second heat exchanger is low.

[0017] In traditional HVAC&R systems, the receiver vessel may be placed below a condenser of the HVAC&R system relative to gravity to enable efficient operation of the receiver vessel. For example, traditional HVAC&R systems may employ a first modular unit that houses the receiver vessel and / or other associated components (e.g., compressor, evaporator, expansion valve, portion of the circuit) and a second modular unit that houses the condenser and / or other associated components (e.g., conduit). The second modular unit housing the condenser may be positioned above and / or mounted on top of the first modular unit relative to gravity (e.g., installed on a steel frame), thereby facilitating proper drainage and equalization of the working fluid within the circuit. That is, traditional systems may require the condenser to be mounted significantly higher than the receiver vessel to facilitate proper drainage and equalization, which may increase the cost, complexity, and assembly time associated with such HVAC&R systems. For example, additional field labor may be demanded to provide piping between the first modular unit and the second modular unit and / or additional materials may be demanded to provide structural support for mounting the second modular unit above the first modular unit, thereby increasing costs associated with the assembly of traditional HVAC&R systems. Additionally, traditional HVAC&R systems may include components that must be shipped separately, thereby increasing costs associated with the transportation of such systems. Further still, maintenance complexity may be increased based on the orientation of the first and second modular units and / or the materials utilized to support the second modular unit above the first modular unit. Thus, it is now recognized that improved HVAC&R systems that decrease costs and / or complexity associated with the manufacture, transportation, assembly, and / or maintenance of HVAC&R systems are desired.

[0018] Accordingly, the present disclosure is directed to a packaged HVAC&R system that includes a first heat exchanger unit (e.g., condensing unit) and a receiver vessel within a common enclosure. The condensing unit may be oriented in a manner that enables proper drainage and equalization between the condensing unit and the receiver vessel without demanding an entirety of the condensing unit to be mounted above the receiver vessel (e.g., via a frame). For example,the receiver vessel may be disposed adjacent a bottom portion (e.g., base) of the common enclosure, and one or more condensers of the condensing unit may be positioned along a lateral side of the common enclosure. The condensers may extend along the lateral side of the enclosure in a direction (e.g., vertical direction) along a vertical axis extending through the common enclosure. Thus, in certain embodiments, the condensers within the common enclosure may be at least partially disposed in a vertical orientation. At least a portion of each of the condensers of the condensing unit may be disposed above the receiver vessel, thereby facilitating proper drainage and equalization between the condensing unit and the receiver vessel without mounting the condensing unit above the receiver vessel (e.g., within a separate housing or structure, via a frame). In this way, costs associated with the manufacture, assembly, and maintenance of the HVAC&R systems discussed herein may be decreased. Further, by housing the condensing unit and the receiver vessel within a common enclosure, the HVAC&R system may be transported as a single unit, thereby decreasing costs associated with the transportation of such HVAC&R systems.

[0019] Turning now to the drawings, FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVAC&R) system 10 that may be employed in an industrial refrigeration application to maintain temperature control within a structure or space. In certain embodiments, the HVAC&R system 10 may be positioned proximate (e.g., within a threshold distance of) a building (e.g., temperature-controlled structure or space) and may be configured to satisfy and / or maintain temperature control within the building, structure, or space. In the illustrated embodiment, the HVAC&R system 10 is a single package unit that may include a vapor compression circuit and various other components that are tested, charged, wired, piped, and ready for installation, thereby reducing costs associated with the manufacture and assembly of the HVAC&R system 10. Further, the HVAC&R system 10 may be configured to be shipped in a single package (e.g., via a single truck), thereby decreasing costs associated with the transportation of the HVAC&R system 10.

[0020] As shown in the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 1, a housing 12 (e.g., enclosure) encloses the HVAC&R system 10 and provides structural support and protection to the internal components from environmental and / or other contaminants. For example, the housing 12 may include multiple sides 14 that collectively define an interior volume 16 of the HVAC&R system 10. Each of the sides 14 may receive and / or be at least partially defined by one or more panels 18that may be removably coupled to the sides 14, thereby enabling an operator to service components of the HVAC&R system 10 disposed within the interior volume 16.

[0021] For example, the HVAC&R system 10 may include one or more compressors, one or more heat exchangers (e.g., evaporator, condenser), receiver vessels, expansion valves, conduits, piping, fans, blowers, actuators (e.g., motors), accumulators, and various other components that enable the HVAC&R system 10 to operate to satisfy load demands (e.g., satisfy cooling demand, satisfy heating demand). Tubes within the heat exchangers may circulate a working fluid therethrough, such as ammonia, and an additional fluid (e.g., water, air) may be circulated across the tubes of the heat exchangers to exchange heat with the working fluid. A portion of the additional fluid that has exchanged heat with the working fluid may then be directed toward the temperature-controlled structure to satisfy demands (e.g., cooling demands) of the structure. In certain embodiments, the housing 12 may divide the HVAC&R system 10 into various sections or compartments. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, the HVAC&R system 10 includes a first section 20 (e.g., evaporating section, evaporating compartment) and a second section 22 (e.g., condensing section, condensing compartment), and each section 20, 22 may house various components, as discussed in greater detail below.

[0022] FIG. 2 is a schematic view of an embodiment of a vapor compression system 30 that can be used in the HVAC&R system 10 described above. The vapor compression system 30 may circulate a working fluid (e.g., ammonia) through a circuit 31 starting with a compressor 32. The circuit 31 may also include a first heat exchanger 34 (e.g., condenser), a receiver vessel 36 (e.g., high pressure receiver vessel), an expansion valve(s) or device(s) 38, and a second heat exchanger 40 (e.g., evaporator). The vapor compression system 30 may further include a control panel 42 (e g., controller) that has an analog to digital (A / D) converter 44, a microprocessor 46, a nonvolatile memory 48, and / or an interface board 50. The control panel 42 and its components may function to regulate operation of the vapor compression system 30 based on feedback from an operator, from sensors of the vapor compression system 30 that detect operating conditions, and so forth. For example, in certain embodiments, one or more sensors 51 may be disposed about the vapor compression system 30 and may be communicatively coupled to the control panel 42. The one or more sensors 51 may be configured to detect various operating parameters of the vapor compression system 30 and may transmit such data to the control panel 42, thereby enabling thecontrol panel 42 to control and / or regulate operation of the vapor compression system 30 to satisfy a load 52 of the vapor compression system 30 (e.g., a load on the evaporator 40).

[0023] In certain embodiments, the vapor compression system 30 may use one or more of a variable speed drive (VSDs) 54, a motor 56, the compressor 32, the heat exchanger 34, the receiver vessel 36, the expansion valve or device 38, and the heat exchanger 40. The motor 56 may drive the compressor 32 and may be powered by the VSD 54. The VSD 54 receives alternating current (AC) power having a particular fixed line voltage and fixed line frequency to the motor 56. In other embodiments, the motor 56 may be powered directly from an AC or direct current (DC) power source. The motor 56 may include any type of electric motor that can be powered by the VSD 54 or directly from an AC or DC power source, such as a switched reluctance motor, an induction motor, an electronically commutated permanent magnet motor, or another suitable motor.

[0024] The compressor 32 compresses (e.g., pressurizes) a working fluid vapor (e.g., vaporous ammonia) and delivers the working fluid vapor to the condenser 34 through a discharge passage. In certain embodiments, the compressor 32 may be a centrifugal compressor. The working fluid vapor delivered by the compressor 32 to the condenser 34 may transfer heat to a fluid (e.g., water, air, heat transfer fluid) passing across the condenser 34 (e.g., across tubes of the condenser 34), thereby cooling the working fluid. Thus, the working fluid vapor may condense to a working fluid liquid (e g., liquid ammonia) in the condenser 34 as a result of thermal heat transfer with the fluid passing across the condenser 34 (e.g., around tubes of the condenser 34). The working fluid liquid from the condenser 34 may flow toward the receiver vessel 36. For example, the receiver vessel 36 may be disposed in the circuit 31 between the condenser 34 and the expansion valve or device 38. The receiver vessel 36 may be configured to temporarily receive and store working fluid liquid that exits the condenser 34 when a load on the evaporator 40 is below a threshold value (e.g., when the load on the evaporator 40 is low). For example, when the expansion valve or device 38 is modulated to allow a portion of the working fluid liquid to flow toward the evaporator 40 (e.g., allow less than a total amount of the working fluid exiting the condenser 34 to flow toward the evaporator 40), the remaining working fluid liquid (e.g., portion of working fluid not directed to the evaporator) may be stored in the receiver vessel 36. In certain embodiments, the receiver vessel36 may be sized to accommodate different volumes of working fluid liquid based on the various load demands of the HVAC&R system 10.

[0025] The working fluid liquid stored by the receiver vessel 36 may flow through the expansion valve or device 38 to the evaporator 40. The working fluid liquid delivered to the evaporator 40 may absorb heat from another liquid stream (e.g., water, air, glycol, cooling fluid), which may be used to satisfy the load 52 (e.g., cooling load) of the vapor compression system 30. For example, the working fluid liquid in the evaporator 40 may undergo a phase change from the working fluid liquid to a working fluid vapor (e.g., vaporous ammonia) based on a heat exchange relationship with the liquid stream directed across tubes of the evaporator 40. In this manner, the evaporator 40 may reduce the temperature of the liquid stream via thermal heat transfer with the working fluid directed through the tubes of the evaporator 40. Thereafter, the working fluid vapor exits the evaporator 40 and returns to the compressor 32 by a suction line to complete the vapor compression cycle.

[0026] In should be noted that any of the features described herein may be incorporated with the HVAC&R system 10, or other HVAC&R systems. Additionally, while the features disclosed herein are described in the context of providing cooling for HVAC&R systems, embodiments of the present disclosure may be applicable to other HVAC&R systems as well. For example, the features described herein may be applied to mechanical cooling systems, free cooling systems, heat pump systems, chiller systems, or other refrigeration applications.

[0027] As noted above, traditional HVAC&R systems may employ separate modular units to house various components, such as a condensing unit and a receiver vessel, to facilitate operation of the various components. For example, a first modular unit may be employed to house and / or support a condenser of the HVAC&R system, while a second modular unit may be employed to house and / or support a receiver vessel of the HVAC&R system. The first modular unit housing the condenser may be mounted above (e.g., on top of) the second modular unit housing the receiver vessel such that an entirety (e.g., entire footprint) of the condenser is positioned and / or oriented above the receiver vessel relative to gravity, thereby ensuring proper drainage and equalization between the condenser and the receiver vessel. However, because two separate units are employed to house the various components of the traditional HVAC&R systems, costs associated with themanufacture, assembly, and / or transportation of the separate units may be increased. For example, a height of the two units when assembled may inhibit the two units from being shipped together in a single package. Additionally, because the first modular unit is mounted to the second modular unit, the time and cost associated with assembling traditional HVAC&R systems may also be increased.

[0028] To address the shortcomings of traditional HVAC&R systems, present embodiments are directed to an HVAC&R system that may include a condenser and receiver vessel, along with other components of the HVAC&R system, packaged in a single unit and shipped together, thereby decreasing costs associated with the transportation of such HVAC&R systems. Additionally, by packaging the condenser and receiver vessel in a single unit, costs associated with the manufacture and assembly of such HVAC&R systems may also be decreased relative to traditional HVAC&R systems. For example, packaging the condenser and the receiver vessel in a single unit may obviate the need for an operator to utilize various materials (e.g., frames) to provide support for the condenser to be mounted above the receiver vessel, and / or may reduce the time and complexity associated with assembling the HVAC&R system discussed herein. For example, present embodiments are directed toward an HVAC&R system that includes one or more condensers that extend in a direction of a height of a housing in which the condensers are disposed (e.g., arranged in a vertical orientation). Additionally, a receiver vessel may be disposed proximate a base of the housing, such that at least a portion of the condensers extend for a height above the receiver vessel. By orienting the condensers in a direction (e.g., vertical direction) along a height of the housing (e.g., along a vertical axis of the housing, by orienting the condensers in a vertical orientation) and by positioning the receiver vessel proximate a base of the housing such that at least a portion of the condensers extend above the receiver relative to gravity, proper drainage and equalization between the condensers and the receiver vessel may be achieved while still enabling the HVAC&R system to be shipped in a single package. Further, by employing fewer components to support the condenser (e.g., framing, separate modular units), costs associated with the labor and materials needed to assemble the HVAC&R system may be reduced.

[0029] With the preceding in mind, FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a condensing unit 100 (e g., receiver and condenser unit, low height, high-pressure receiver and condenser unit, packaged receiver and condenser unit, that may be employed in HVAC&Rsystems, such as the HVAC&R system 10 of FIG. 1. For example, the condensing unit 100 may correspond to the second section 22 of the HVAC&R system 10 of FIG. 1 and / or may correspond to a portion of the vapor compression system 30 of FIG. 2 (e.g., portion having the compressor 32, the condenser 34, and the receiver vessel 36). In the illustrated embodiment, the condensing unit 100 is oriented along a longitudinal axis 102, a lateral axis 104, and a vertical axis 106, and includes a housing 110 (e.g., enclosure, unit, housing 12) with multiple components disposed therein. For example, the housing 110 may include a first side 112 (e.g., first end), a second side 114 (e.g., second end) opposite the first side 112, a pair of lateral sides 115, 116, a top side 118 (e.g., a roof), and a bottom side 120 (e.g., base). Each of the sides 112, 114, 115, 116, 118, 120 may collectively define an interior volume 122 (e.g., volume 16) of the condensing unit 100, and the interior volume 122 may be configured to house various components of the condensing unit 100. For example, one or more condensers 124 (e.g., condenser 34) and a receiver vessel 126 (e.g., receiver vessel 36) may be disposed within the interior volume 122 (e.g., within a single modular unit), along with valves, conduits, piping, and the like, thereby enabling the condensing unit 100 to condense a working fluid (e.g., ammonia) and direct the condensed working fluid toward another section of an HVAC&R system, such as an evaporating section (e.g., first section 20 of the HVAC&R system 10) of an HVAC&R system.

[0030] In certain embodiments, the one or more condensers 124 may be arranged and / or may extend in a direction (e.g., vertical direction) along a height of the housing 110 (e.g., the one or more condensers 124 may be arranged in a vertical orientation such that at least a portion of the condensers 124 extend in a direction along the vertical axis 106). Thus, in certain embodiments, one or more of the condensers 124 employed by the condensing unit 100 may extend along one or more of the lateral sides 115, 116 of the condensing unit 100 in a direction (e.g., vertical direction) along the vertical axis 106. For example, a first set 123 of the condensers 124 may be positioned proximate a first lateral side 115 (e.g., within a threshold distance of the first lateral side 115), and a second set 125 of the condensers 124 (illustrated in FIG. 4) may be positioned proximate a second lateral side 116 (e.g., within a threshold distance of the second lateral side 116). In certain embodiments, the first set 123 of condensers 124 and the second set 125 of condensers 124 may each extend for a distance 127 (e.g., length) from the first end 112 to the second end 114 of the condensing unit 100 in a direction (e.g., horizontal direction) along the longitudinal axis 102. Forexample, each condenser 124 within a respective set 123, 125 of condensers 124 may extend for a distance 129 (e.g., length) in a direction (e.g., horizontal direction) along the longitudinal axis 102, and a sum of the distances 129 of each of the condensers 124 within a respective set 123, 125 may correspond to the length 127. Additionally, each of the first set 123 of condensers 124 and the second set 125 of condensers 124 may be positioned within a threshold distance of a respective lateral side 115, 116 of the condensing unit 100 and may extend along the respective lateral side 115, 116 of the condensing unit 100 in a direction (e.g., vertical direction) along the vertical axis 106 from the top side 118 to the bottom side 120 of the condensing unit 100.

[0031] In certain embodiments, the condensing unit 100 may include one or more support assemblies 128 configured to support the condensers 124. For example, the support assemblies 128 may extend from the bottom side 120 of the condensing unit 100 in a direction (e.g., vertical direction) along the vertical axis 106. Additionally, the support assemblies 128 may extend in a direction (e.g., horizontal direction) along the longitudinal axis 102 through the condensing unit 100 from the first end 112 to the second end 114, and the support assemblies 128 may be positioned proximate (e.g., within a threshold distance of) and / or adjacent to the lateral sides 115, 116 of the condensing unit 100. In this way, the condensers 124 may be coupled to the support assemblies 128 such that the condensers 124 are positioned above the bottom side 120 of the condensing unit 100 relative to gravity. For example, in certain embodiments, each of the support assemblies 128 may extend for a distance 130 (e.g., a height) in a direction (e.g., vertical direction) along the vertical axis 106 such that the condensers 124 supported by the support assemblies 128 are separated or offset from the bottom side 120 of the condensing unit 100 by the support assemblies 128 (e.g., by the distance 130). Further, each of the support assemblies 128 may include multiple supports (e.g., individual supports) coupled to one another such that each condenser 124 employed by the condensing unit 100 is supported by a corresponding support of a respective support assembly 128. Additionally, or alternatively, each of the support assemblies 128 may correspond to a frame structure extending in a direction (e.g., horizontal direction) along the longitudinal axis 102 and each frame structure may be configured to support a number (e.g., one, two, three, four, or more) of condensers 124 positioned thereon.

[0032] The condensers 124 of the condensing unit 100 may extend from the support assemblies 128 toward the top side 118 of the condensing unit 100. For example, in certain embodiments, thecondensing unit 100 may extend for a distance 132 (e.g., height) in a direction (e.g., vertical direction) along the vertical axis 106 from the top side 118 to the bottom side 120, and each of the condensers 124 may extend for a distance 134 (e.g., height) in a direction (e.g., vertical direction) along the vertical axis 106. A sum of the height 130 of the support assemblies 128 and the height 134 of the condensers 124 may be less than the height 132 of the condensing unit 100, thereby enabling the support assemblies 128 and the condensers 124 to fit within the interior volume 122 of the condensing unit 100. In certain embodiments, a gap 136 (e.g., space) may be formed between a top side of the condensers 124 and the top side 118 of the condensing unit 100 to provide clearance for the condensers 124 within the condensing unit 100 and / or to accommodate other components of the condensing unit 100. It should be appreciated that in certain embodiments, a sum of the height 130 of the support assemblies 128 and the height 134 of the condensers 124 may be substantially similar to the height 132 of the condensing unit 100 such that the support assemblies 128 and the condensers 124 collectively extend across an entirety of the height 132 of the condensing unit 100.

[0033] The receiver vessel 126 may be positioned within the interior volume 122 at a location between the first set 123 of condensers 124 and the second set 125 of condensers 124. For example, the condensing unit 100 may extend for a distance 138 (e.g., width) in a direction (e.g., horizontal direction) along the lateral axis 104, and the receiver vessel 126 may be positioned at a midway point along the width 138 of the condensing unit 100. Additionally, the receiver vessel 126 may be positioned proximate (e.g., within a threshold distance of) and / or adjacent to the bottom side 120 of the condensing unit 100. In certain embodiments, the receiver vessel 126 may extend for a distance 140 (e.g., length) in a direction (e.g., horizontal direction) along the longitudinal axis 102. Further, the condensing unit 100 may extend for a distance 142 (e.g., length) in a direction (e.g., horizontal direction) along the longitudinal axis 102. The distance 140 may be less than the distance 142, thereby enabling the receiver vessel 126 to fit within the interior volume 122 of the condensing unit 100. Additionally, in certain embodiments, the distance 127 of the first set 123 and / or the second set 125 of condensers 124 may be greater than the distance 140 of the receiver vessel 126 such that at least a portion of the first set 123 of condensers 124 and the second set 125 of condensers 124 (e.g., an end portion, a portion positioned proximate the first side 112 or the second side 114 of the condensing unit 100) extends beyond a dimension (e.g., an end) ofthe receiver vessel 126 in a direction (e.g., horizontal direction) along the longitudinal axis 102. Further, in certain embodiments, the distance 127 of the first set 123 and / or the second set 125 of condensers 124 may be substantially similar to the distance 142 such that the first set 123 and / or the second set 125 of condensers extend through an entirety (e.g., an entire longitudinal dimension) of the condensing unit 100. However, it should be appreciated that in certain embodiments, fewer condensers 124 may be employed within a respective set 123, 125 of condensers such that the distance 127 (e.g., the sum of the distances 129 of the condensers 124 employed by the condensing unit 100) is less than the distance 142.

[0034] As noted above, in certain embodiments, the condensers 124 may be positioned and / or oriented within the condensing unit 100 such that at least a portion of the condensers 124 extends in a direction (e.g., vertical direction) above the receiver vessel 126 (e.g., relative to gravity) to facilitate proper drainage and equalization of the working fluid from the condensers 124 to the receiver vessel 126. As such, in certain embodiments, a diameter 144 of the receiver vessel 126 may be substantially similar to the height 130 of the support assemblies 128 such that a bottom side of the condensers 124 is disposed level with or slightly above the receiver vessel 126 relative to gravity (e.g., relative to the vertical axis 106). It should be appreciated that in certain embodiments, the diameter 144 of the receiver vessel 126 may be greater than the height 130 of the support assemblies such that at least a portion (e.g., a bottom portion) of the condensers 124 is positioned below the receiver vessel 126. However, in such embodiments, a majority portion of the condensers 124 may be positioned above the receiver vessel 126 to facilitate proper drainage and equalization of the working fluid directed through the condensers 124 and toward the receiver vessel 126.

[0035] The condensing unit 100 may also include various other components to facilitate operation of the condensing unit 100. For example, the condensing unit 100 may include one or more fans 150 configured to generate an air flow across the condensers 124. The air flow may cool working fluid directed through tubes of the condensers 124, thereby causing working fluid vapor (e.g., vaporous ammonia) flowing within the tubes of the condensers 124 to change phases (e.g., condense) into a working fluid liquid (e.g., liquid ammonia). The working fluid liquid may then exit the condensers 124 and be directed to the receiver vessel 126 via one or more conduits. The receiver vessel 126 may be configured to temporarily store working fluid liquid that exits thecondensers 124 when a load on an evaporator (e.g., load 52 on evaporator 40) fluidly coupled to the receiver vessel 126 is low (e.g., when a load on an evaporator is less than a threshold value). For example, an expansion valve disposed downstream of the receiver vessel 126 relative to a direction of working fluid through the receiver vessel 126 may be modulated to allow a portion of the working fluid liquid to flow toward a heat exchanger positioned downstream of the expansion valve (e.g., an evaporator), while the remaining portion of working fluid liquid is stored in the receiver vessel 126.

[0036] FIG. 4 is an end view of an embodiment of the condensing unit 100. In the illustrated embodiment, the condensing unit 100 is coupled to a frame 160. Additionally, in the illustrated embodiment, one or more compressors 162 may be disposed within the interior volume 122, and the one or more compressors 162 may be configured to compress (e.g., pressurize) working fluid before discharging the working fluid toward the condensers 124. For example, each condenser 124 may be fluidly coupled to a respective compressor 162 via a conduit. The compressors 162 may discharge high pressure working fluid vapor into tubes 166 (e.g., condenser tubes) of the condensers 124, and as an air flow is directed across the tubes 166 (e.g., via the fans 150), the working fluid vapor may transfer heat to the air flow, thereby enabling the working fluid to change phases (e.g., condense) into a working fluid liquid. The working fluid liquid may then exit the condensers 124 and flow into the receiver vessel 126 to be temporarily stored, as described above.

[0037] As noted above, a significant or substantial portion (e g., greater than 80 percent, greater than 90 percent) of the condensers 124 may be positioned above the receiver vessel 126 relative to gravity to facilitate proper drainage and equalization between the condensers 124 and the receiver vessel 126. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, a first portion 170 of the condensers 124 may be disposed at a position that is level with and / or slightly below a top side 180 (e.g., apex) of the receiver vessel 126, while a remaining portion 172 is positioned level with and / or above the top side 180 of the receiver vessel 126. In certain embodiments, the height 130 of the support assemblies 128 may be substantially similar to (e.g., the same as) the diameter 144 of the receiver vessel 126 such that a base or bottom side of the condensers 124 supported by the support assemblies 128 is aligned with a top side 180 (e.g., apex) of the receiver vessel 126. Notably, the tubes 166 of the condensers 124 are contained within the remaining portion 172 such that a substantial portion (e.g., greater than 90 percent, greater than 95 percent) of the tubes 166employed by the condensers 124 are positioned above the receiver vessel 126 relative to gravity. In this way, proper drainage and equalization between the condensers 124 and the receiver vessel 126 may be achieved.

[0038] As set forth above, the present disclosure may provide one or more technical effects useful in manufacturing, transporting, assembling, and maintaining HVAC&R systems. Embodiments of the present disclosure may include a single package unit that includes a condensing section with a receiver vessel disposed therein, thereby obviating the need for a condensing unit that is mounted above a unit housing a receiver vessel of an HVAC&R system. For example, the condensing units discussed herein may include condensers that extend in a vertical direction along lateral sides of the unit, and a receiver vessel that is positioned proximate a base or bottom side of the unit. Tubes of the condensing units may be positioned above the receiver vessel, thereby facilitating proper drainage and equalization between the condensers and receiver vessel. By orienting the condensers in a vertical direction and by including the receiver vessel in the condensing unit along with the condensers, costs associated with the manufacture, transportation, assembly, and maintenance of HVAC&R systems employing the condensing units discussed herein may be reduced. Further, the service and manufacturing simplicity of a single, compact package enables the systems to be standardized and automated, thereby further increasing savings associated with the manufacture, transportation, assembly, and maintenance of such HVAC&R systems. The technical effects and technical problems in the specification are examples and are not limiting. It should be noted that the embodiments described in the specification may have other technical effects and can solve other technical problems.

[0039] While only certain features and embodiments have been illustrated and described, many modifications and changes may occur to those skilled in the art (e.g., variations in sizes, dimensions, structures, shapes and proportions of the various elements, values of parameters (e.g., temperatures, pressures, etc.), mounting arrangements, use of materials, colors, orientations, etc.) without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the subject matter recited in the claims. The order or sequence of any process or method steps may be varied or re-sequenced according to alternative embodiments. It is, therefore, to be understood that the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit of the disclosure. Furthermore, in an effort to provide a concise description of the exemplaryembodiments, all features of an actual implementation may not have been described (i.e., those unrelated to the presently contemplated best mode of carrying out the disclosure, or those unrelated to enabling the claimed disclosure). It should be appreciated that in the development of any such actual implementation, as in any engineering or design project, numerous implementation specific decisions may be made. Such a development effort might be complex and time consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking of design, fabrication, and manufacture for those of ordinary skill having the benefit of this disclosure, without undue experimentation.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVAC&R) system, comprising; a vapor compression system, comprising: a compressor configured to pressurize a working fluid; a condenser configured to receive the working fluid from the compressor; and a receiver vessel configured to receive the working fluid from the condenser, wherein the condenser and the receiver vessel are packaged together in a single unit.

2. The HVAC&R system of claim 1, wherein the working fluid is ammonia.

3. The HVAC&R system of claim 1, comprising a housing having a plurality of sides that collectively define an interior volume of the HVAC&R system, wherein the condenser comprises: a first set of condenser tubes arranged along a first lateral side of the plurality of sides of the housing; and a second set of condenser tubes arranged along a second lateral side of the plurality of sides of the housing.

4. The HVAC&R system of claim 3, wherein the receiver vessel is disposed proximate a base of the housing and between the first set of condenser tubes and the second set of condenser tubes.

5. The HVAC&R system of claim 4, wherein a first portion of the first set of condenser tubes and a second portion of the second set of condenser tubes are disposed above the receiver vessel relative to gravity.

6. The HVAC&R system of claim 5, comprising a plurality of support assemblies configured to support the first set of condenser tubes and the second set of condenser tubes,wherein a first subset of the plurality of support assemblies configured to support the first set of condenser tubes is disposed proximate the base of the housing and along the first lateral side, and a second subset of the plurality of support assemblies configured to support the second set of condenser tubes is disposed proximate the base of the housing and along the second lateral side.

7. The HVAC&R system of claim 6, wherein each of the plurality of support assemblies extends from the base of the housing for a height in a direction along a vertical axis of the housing to offset the first portion of the first set of condenser tubes and the second portion of the second set of condenser tubes above the receiver vessel relative to gravity.

8. The HVAC&R system of claim 7, wherein a diameter of the receiver vessel and the height of the plurality of support assemblies are the same.

9. A condensing unit for a heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVAC&R) system, comprising: a housing comprising a plurality of sides that collectively define an interior volume of the housing; one or more compressors disposed within the interior volume and configured to pressurize a working fluid; a first set of condensers and a second set of condensers disposed within the interior volume and configured to receive the working fluid from the one or more compressors, wherein each of the first set of condensers and the second set of condensers extends in a direction along a vertical axis of the housing; and a receiver vessel disposed within the interior volume and configured to receive the working fluid from the first set of condensers and the second set of condensers.

10. The condensing unit of claim 9, wherein the working fluid comprises ammonia.

11. The condensing unit of claim 9, wherein the first set of condensers is arranged along a first lateral side of the plurality of sides, the second set of condensers is arranged along a second lateral side of the plurality of sides, and the receiver vessel is arranged along a bottom side of theplurality of sides and positioned between the first set of condensers and the second set of condensers.

12. The condensing unit of claim 11, comprising a plurality of support assemblies arranged along the bottom side of the housing and configured to support the first set of condensers and the second set of condensers.

13. The condensing unit of claim 12, wherein each of the plurality of support assemblies extends from the bottom side of the housing for a first height in the direction, each of the first set of condensers and the second set of condensers extends for a second height in the direction, the housing extends for a third height in the direction, and a sum of the first height and the second height is less than the third height to provide a gap between a top side of the first set of condensers and the second set of condensers and a roof of the housing.

14. The condensing unit of claim 13, wherein a diameter of the receiver vessel is equal to the first height of each of the plurality of support assemblies such that a first base of the first set of condensers and a second base of the second set of condensers are aligned with an apex of the receiver vessel.

15. The condensing unit of claim 13, wherein a diameter of the receiver vessel is greater than the first height of each of the plurality of support assemblies such that a first base of the first set of condensers and a second base of the second set of condensers are positioned below an apex of the receiver vessel relative to gravity.

16. A packaged modular unit for a heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVAC&R) system, comprising: a compressor configured to pressurize a working fluid; one or more condensers configured to receive the working fluid from the compressor; and a receiver vessel configured to receive the working fluid from the one or more condensers, wherein each of the compressor, the one or more condensers, and the receiver vessel are contained within the packaged modular unit.

17. The packaged modular unit of claim 16, wherein the one or more condensers comprise a first set of condensers arranged along a first lateral side of the packaged modular unit and a second set of condensers arranged along a second lateral side of the packaged modular unit.

18. The packaged modular unit of claim 17, wherein the receiver vessel is arranged along a bottom side of the packaged modular unit and positioned between the first set of condensers and the second set of condensers.

19. The packaged modular unit of claim 17, wherein each of the first set of condensers and the second set of condensers extends for a first distance in a direction along a longitudinal axis of the packaged modular unit, the receiver vessel extends for a second distance in the direction along the longitudinal axis, and the first distance is greater than the second distance such that at least a portion of the first set of condensers and the second set of condensers extends beyond an end of the receiver vessel in the direction along the longitudinal axis.

20. The packaged modular unit of claim 17, wherein a first set of condenser tubes associated with the first set of condensers and a second set of condenser tubes associated with the second set of condensers are each positioned above a top side of the receiver vessel relative to gravity.

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