Row Split Coil Configuration for HVAC Air Bypass Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
HVAC systems with interlaced or stacked refrigeration coils experience reduced operating efficiency due to air bypass, which leads to incomplete heat transfer and increased humidity, especially during part-load operations.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a row split coil system where condenser and evaporator coils are arranged in a nested configuration, allowing air to flow sequentially through active coils, reducing temperature lift and entropy generation, and enhancing the coefficient of performance by ensuring all air passes through active coil sections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If interlaced or stacked coil configuration is used, then space utilization is improved, but operating efficiency deteriorates due to air bypass
Solution Approach 1:
The coil assembly is segmented into active coil sections and inactive coil sections along the airflow direction. During part-load operation, only the necessary number of coil sections are activated based on capacity requirements, while other sections remain inactive. This segmentation allows the system to optimize both space utilization and operating efficiency by activating only the required portion of the coil assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the number of active coil sections based on real-time capacity requirements. The controller activates or deactivates specific coil sections according to the cooling or heating load, enabling the system to adapt its configuration dynamically rather than operating all sections continuously. This dynamic adjustment eliminates air bypass and optimizes operating efficiency across varying load conditions.
2Shape
If multiple refrigeration circuits are arranged in interlaced or stacked configuration, then compactness is improved, but heat transfer completeness deteriorates due to air bypass
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple refrigeration circuits are arranged in a modular coil assembly where each circuit has dedicated active and inactive sections. The segmentation allows independent control of each circuit's active sections, ensuring that air flows completely through the active portions for reliable heat transfer, while maintaining compact overall configuration through the stacked arrangement of multiple circuits.
Solution Approach 2:
Different sections of the coil assembly have different functional qualities - active sections are designed for heat transfer while inactive sections are temporarily non-functional. This local quality differentiation allows the system to maintain compact multi-circuit configuration while ensuring that air bypass only occurs in inactive sections, not in the active heat transfer zones.
3Power
If all coil sections are activated continuously, then cooling capacity is maintained, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the number of active coil sections based on real-time capacity requirements. During part-load operation, only the necessary number of coil sections are activated, reducing energy consumption proportionally to the load. The controller monitors system demands and activates or deactivates specific sections to match capacity output with actual cooling needs, optimizing the ratio of cooling capacity to energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The system temporarily deactivates (discards) portions of the coil assembly that are not needed for current load requirements, and can reactivate them when demand increases. This allows the system to reduce energy consumption during low-demand periods while maintaining the full cooling capacity potential when needed, effectively recovering the capability rather than continuously consuming energy for unused capacity.
4Device complexity
If air bypass occurs through inactive coil portions, then system simplicity is maintained, but dehumidification performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The coil assembly is segmented into active and inactive sections, with the inactive sections being portions that are temporarily non-functional. By segmenting the coils and controlling activation based on capacity needs, the system maintains simplicity without requiring complex additional components, while preventing air bypass through active sections to improve dehumidification performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The system ensures continuous useful action through the active coil sections by preventing air bypass. During part-load operation, the inactive sections are configured to minimize or eliminate air bypass, ensuring that all air passing through the active sections undergoes complete heat and moisture exchange. This continuous effective action through active sections improves dehumidification without requiring complex additional dehumidification equipment.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration lowers compressor power requirements, increases efficiency, and improves dehumidification performance by ensuring all air flows through active coil sections, even during part-load operations, resulting in improved cooling capacity and reduced energy consumption.
Implementation Method 1
a first condenser coil of a first refrigeration circuit and a second condenser coil of a second refrigeration circuit... arranged in a first row split configuration... allowing air to flow sequentially through active coils
Implementation Method 2
condenser where the refrigerant releases heat... undergo phase changes within the normal operating temperatures and pressures
Implementation Method 3
a first evaporator coil of the first refrigeration circuit and a second evaporator coil of the second refrigeration circuit... arranged in a second row split configuration... air flow to pass sequentially through the second evaporator coil and the first evaporator coil
Implementation Method 4
evaporator where the refrigerant absorbs heat... undergo phase changes within the normal operating temperatures and pressures... latent heat of vaporization
Data Source
AI summary
A multiple-circuit heating and cooling system includes a first refrigeration circuit having a first condenser and a first evaporator and a second refrigeration circuit having a second condenser and a second evaporator. The first condenser and the second condenser are arranged in a first row split configuration, and the second condenser is downstream of the first condenser relative to a first air flow directed across the second condenser and the first condenser. Additionally, the first evaporator and the second evaporator are arranged in a second row split configuration, and the first evaporator is downstream of the second evaporator relative to a second air flow directed across the first evaporator and the second evaporator.