Refrigerant system with adaptive hot gas reheat

Abstract

A refrigerant system incorporates a hot gas reheat circuit. The hot gas reheat circuit includes a reheat valve for selectively tapping at least a portion of refrigerant from a location downstream of a compressor and upstream of a condenser, and through a reheat heat exchanger. At least one refrigerant flow control device controls the amount of refrigerant passing through the reheat heat exchanger. A control for the refrigerant system is operable to receive inputs from an indoor environment, and to control the amount of refrigerant passing through the reheat heat exchanger to achieve desired temperature and humidity in the conditioned environment.

1 . A refrigerant system comprising:
 a compressor for compressing and delivering refrigerant to a heat rejection heat exchanger, refrigerant from the heat rejection heat exchanger passing through an expansion device, and then to a heat accepting heat exchanger;   a reheat circuit including a reheat valve for selectively tapping at least a portion of refrigerant from a location downstream of the compressor and upstream of the heat rejection heat exchanger, and through a reheat heat exchanger, the reheat heat exchanger being positioned to be in a path of air having passed over the heat accepting heat exchanger, and to be delivered into an indoor environment to be conditioned, a refrigerant flow control device to selectively control the amount of refrigerant passing through said reheat heat exchanger; and   a control for the refrigerant system, the control being operable to receive inputs from the conditioned environment, and to control said refrigerant flow control device to achieve desired temperature and humidity in the conditioned environment.   
     
     
         2 . The refrigerant system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the refrigerant flow control device is a second valve that controls the amount of refrigerant passing through the reheat heat exchanger. 
     
     
         3 . The refrigerant system as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein the second valve is provided within the reheat circuit downstream of said reheat valve. 
     
     
         4 . The refrigerant system as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein the second valve is provided on a bypass line bypassing said reheat circuit. 
     
     
         5 . The refrigerant system as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein the second valve is positioned on a bypass line bypassing said reheat heat exchanger. 
     
     
         6 . The refrigerant system as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein the second valve is controlled by at least one of pulsation or modulation technique to achieve precise control over the amount of refrigerant passing through the reheat heat exchanger. 
     
     
         7 . The refrigerant system as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein there are two of said second valves, with one valve positioned on a bypass line bypassing said reheat circuit, and another valve positioned within the reheat circuit downstream of said reheat valve. 
     
     
         8 . The refrigerant system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said refrigerant flow control device is said reheat valve precisely controlling the amount of refrigerant passing through said reheat heat exchanger. 
     
     
         9 . A method of operating a refrigerant system including the steps of:
 providing a reheat circuit of a refrigerant system including a reheat valve for selectively tapping at least a portion of refrigerant from a location downstream of a compressor and upstream of a heat rejection heat exchanger, and controlling the amount of refrigerant passing through said reheat heat exchanger based upon inputs from an indoor environment to be conditioned to provide precise control over temperature and humidity within the conditioned environment.   
     
     
         10 . The method as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein a second valve controls the amount of refrigerant passing through the reheat heat exchanger. 
     
     
         11 . The method as set forth in  claim 10 , wherein the second valve is provided within the reheat circuit downstream of said reheat valve. 
     
     
         12 . The method as set forth in  claim 10 , wherein the second valve provides bypass around said reheat circuit. 
     
     
         13 . The method as set forth in  claim 10 , wherein the second valve provides bypass around said reheat heat exchanger. 
     
     
         14 . The method as set forth in  claim 10 , wherein the second valve is controlled by at least one of pulsation or modulation technique to achieve precise control over the amount of refrigerant passing through the reheat heat exchanger. 
     
     
         15 . The method as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein said reheat valve is a regulating valve that precisely controls the amount of refrigerant passing through said reheat heat exchanger.