Air-treatment system with secondary circuit

Abstract

An air-treatment system includes a cooling circuit, a first heat exchanger in thermal communication with the cooling circuit, and a secondary circuit in thermal communication with the first heat exchanger. The air-treatment system also includes a controller in communication with at least one of the cooling circuit, the first heat exchanger, and the secondary circuit. The controller is operable to receive at least one input indicative of a desired ambient condition, operable to receive at least one input indicative of current ambient conditions, operable to receive at least one input indicative of at least one of the cooling circuit operation and secondary circuit operation, and operable to change the operation of at least one of the cooling circuit and the secondary circuit when the current ambient condition is outside of a desired operation condition range.

1 .- 34 . (canceled) 
   
   
       35 . An air-treatment system, comprising:
 a cooling circuit;   a first heat exchanger in thermal communication with the cooling circuit;   a secondary circuit in thermal communication with the first heat exchanger, a first area, and a second area, the secondary circuit operable to selectively transfer heat between the first heat exchanger and the first area or the second area; and   a controller in communication with at least one of the cooling circuit, the first heat exchanger, and the secondary circuit, the controller having a storage medium storing a desired ambient condition range, the controller operable to:
 receive a first set of values indicative of a first current ambient condition and a first desired ambient condition of the first area and a second set of values indicative of a second current ambient condition and a second desired ambient condition of the second area, 
 based on the received first and second sets of values, determine that the first current ambient condition or the second current ambient condition is outside of the desired ambient condition range, and 
 initiate a transfer of heat between the first heat exchanger and the first area or between the first heat exchanger and the second area based on the determination and the first or second desired ambient conditions. 
   
   
   
       36 . The air-treatment system of  claim 35 , wherein the value indicative of the first current ambient condition includes a solar load. 
   
   
       37 . The air-treatment system of  claim 36 , wherein the solar load is the intensity of solar light. 
   
   
       38 . The air-treatment system of  claim 35 , wherein the cooling circuit includes:
 a compressor;   a condenser in fluid communication with the compressor; and   an expansion valve in fluid communication with the condenser.   
   
   
       39 . The air-treatment system of  claim 35 , further including:
 a second expansion valve in fluid communication with the condenser; and   a second heat exchanger in fluid communication with the second expansion valve and the compressor.   
   
   
       40 . The air-treatment system of  claim 35 , wherein the secondary circuit includes:
 at least one pump;   at least one heat exchanger in fluid communication with the pump; and   at least one fan proximally disposed relative to the at least one heat exchanger, the fan operable to cause a flow of air across the at least one heat exchanger.   
   
   
       41 . The air-treatment system of  claim 35 , further including a heating device proximally disposed relative to the at least one heat exchanger and fan, wherein the airflow from the fan is first directed across the at least one heat exchanger and subsequently the heating device. 
   
   
       42 . The air-treatment system of  claim 35 , wherein the values indicative of the first or second current ambient conditions includes at least one of an air temperature or a fan speed. 
   
   
       43 . The air-treatment system of  claim 35 , wherein the values indicative of the first or second desired ambient conditions includes at least one of a temperature, a treatment mode, or a fan speed. 
   
   
       44 . The air-treatment system of  claim 43 , wherein the treatment mode includes at least one of a cooling mode, a defrost mode, or a ventilation mode. 
   
   
       45 . An air-treatment method, comprising:
 receiving, by a controller, a first set of values indicative of a first current ambient condition and a first desired ambient condition of a first area and a second set of values indicative of a second current ambient condition and a second desired ambient condition of a second area, wherein the controller is in communication with a first heat exchanger, the controller having a storage medium storing a desired ambient condition range;   determining, by the controller, that the first current ambient condition or the second current ambient condition is outside of the desired ambient condition range based on the received first and second sets of values; and   initiating a transfer of heat between the first heat exchanger and the first area or between the first heat exchanger and the second area based on the determination and the first or second desired ambient conditions.   
   
   
       46 . The air-treatment system of  claim 45 , wherein the value indicative of the first current ambient condition includes a solar load. 
   
   
       47 . The air-treatment system of  claim 46 , wherein the solar load is the intensity of solar light. 
   
   
       48 . The air-treatment system of  claim 45 , wherein the values indicative of the first or second current ambient conditions includes at least one of an air temperature or a fan speed. 
   
   
       49 . The air-treatment system of  claim 45 , wherein the values indicative of the first or second desired ambient conditions includes at least one of a temperature, a treatment mode, or a fan speed. 
   
   
       50 . The air-treatment system of  claim 49 , wherein the treatment mode includes at least one of a cooling mode, a defrost mode, or a ventilation mode.