System and method for operating a condenser at low ambient conditions

Abstract

A condenser arrangement for control of condenser temperature and condenser pressure. The condenser arrangement includes a condenser coil and a plurality of fans disposed adjacent to the condenser coil. The plurality of fans are arranged and disposed to circulate air through the condenser coil. At least one baffle is positioned between adjacent fans of the plurality of fans and forms a plurality of channels extending from a surface of the condenser coil. The channels include a variable flow channel having a plurality of adjacent fans of the plurality of fans. The condenser arrangement also includes a control system to control operation of the plurality of fans. The control system is configured to independently control each fan of the plurality of fans in response to a sensed condition.

1 . A condenser arrangement comprising: 
 a condenser coil;    a plurality of fans disposed adjacent to the condenser coil, the plurality of fans being arranged and disposed to circulate air through the condenser coil;    at least one baffle positioned between adjacent fans of the plurality of fans, the at least one baffle is configured and disposed to form a plurality of channels extending from a surface of the condenser coil, the plurality of channels including at least one variable flow channel having two or more fans of the plurality of fans to control airflow through the at least one variable flow channel; and    a control system to control operation of the plurality of fans; the control system being configured to independently control each fan of the plurality of fans in response to a sensed condition to obtain a desired condenser operating condition.    
   
   
       2 . The condenser arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the at least on baffle forms a plurality of variable flow channels having two or more fans of the plurality of fans to control airflow through the plurality of variable flow channels.  
   
   
       3 . The condenser arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the condenser arrangement includes a plurality of baffles.  
   
   
       4 . The condenser arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the sensed conditions are selected from the group consisting of refrigerant pressure, refrigerant temperature, inlet air temperature, outlet air temperature, and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       5 . The condenser arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the control system activates and deactivates a predetermined combination of the plurality of fans in response to the sensed condition.  
   
   
       6 . The condenser arrangement of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one constant flow channel formed by the at least one baffle, wherein the constant flow channel includes an airflow that is substantially constant in a substantially singular direction when the fan or fans arranged to circulate air through the constant flow channel are operating.  
   
   
       7 . An HVAC system comprising: 
 a compressor, an evaporator and a condenser arrangement connected in a closed refrigerant loop;    the condenser arrangement includes a condenser coil and a plurality of fans disposed adjacent to the condenser coil, the plurality of fans being arranged and disposed to circulate air through the condenser coil;    at least one baffle positioned between adjacent fans of the plurality of fans, the at least one baffle is configured and disposed to form a plurality of channels extending from a surface of the condenser coil, the plurality of channels including at least one variable flow channel having two or more fans of the plurality of fans to control airflow through the at least one variable flow channel; and    a control system to control operation of the plurality of fans; the control system being configured to independently control each fan of the plurality of fans in response to a sensed condition to obtain a desired condenser operating condition.    
   
   
       8 . The condenser arrangement of  claim 7 , wherein the at least on baffle forms a plurality of variable flow channels having two or more fans of the plurality of fans to control airflow through the plurality of variable flow channels. The system of  claim 7 , wherein the condenser arrangement includes a plurality of baffles.  
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the sensed conditions are selected from the group consisting of refrigerant pressure, refrigerant temperature, inlet air temperature, outlet air temperature, and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the control system activates and deactivates a predetermined combination of the plurality of fans in response to the sensed condition.  
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the system comprises a plurality of compressors connected in the closed refrigerant loop.  
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the system comprises a plurality of closed refrigerant loops, wherein each of the plurality of closed refrigerant loops includes the condenser arrangement.  
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 7 , further comprising at least one constant flow channel formed by the at least one baffle, wherein the constant flow channel includes an airflow that is substantially constant in a substantially singular direction when the fan or fans arranged to circulate air through the constant flow channel are operating.  
   
   
       14 . A method for controlling a condenser operating condition comprising: 
 providing a condenser arrangement having a condenser coil, a plurality of fans disposed adjacent to the condenser coil, and a plurality of channels extending from a surface of the condenser coil, the channels including a variable flow channel having two or more fans of the plurality of fans to control airflow through the variable flow channel;    circulating air through the condenser coil by activating one or more of the plurality of fans;    sensing a condition of refrigerant in the condenser coil or a condition of inlet air to the condenser coil; and    deactivating at least one fan of the two or more fans of the variable flow channel in response to sensed condition to provide a mixture of air being discharged from the variable flow channel comprising air through the condenser coil and bypass air from an area adjacent a deactivated fan.    
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the sensing step includes sensing conditions selected from the group consisting of refrigerant pressure, refrigerant temperature, inlet air temperature, outlet air temperature, and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the step of deactivating is in response to a sensed refrigerant pressure.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the step of deactivating is in response to a sensed inlet air temperature  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the step of deactivating includes deactivation of a predetermined combination of two or more fan of the variable flow channel.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising circulating air through at least one constant flow channel formed by the at least one baffle, wherein the constant flow channel provides airflow that is substantially constant in a substantially singular direction.