Modular cooling and heating systems

Abstract

A module for use in a cooling and heating system includes an enclosure having a number of cartridge-receiving slots and at least one cartridge interchangeably disposed in one of the slots. The cartridge contains components for producing chilled fluid. The system can include a refrigerated load that is supplied with chilled fluid from the cartridge and a heat sink to which the cartridge rejects heat. The cooling and heating system can be configured to have at least one refrigeration circuit charged with a refrigerant and including a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device, and a heat exchanger, and at least one secondary cooling circuit charged with a coolant and including the heat exchanger, and a cooling coil. Heat is transferred from the coolant to the refrigerant in the heat exchanger. The system further includes a heating circuit for transferring heat from the condenser to a heating load.

1 . A module for use in a cooling and heating system, said module comprising:
 an enclosure having a number of cartridge-receiving slots;   an electronic controller mounted to said enclosure; and   a cartridge interchangeably disposed in a first one of said cartridge-receiving slots so as to make an electrical connection with said electronic controller, wherein said cartridge includes a compressor, a condenser and a chiller heat exchanger.   
     
     
         2 . The module of  claim 1  wherein said compressor, said condenser and said chiller heat exchanger are mounted on a base plate. 
     
     
         3 . The module of  claim 2  wherein said cartridge further includes an expansion device and a pump mounted on said base plate. 
     
     
         4 . The module of  claim 1  further comprising a further cartridge interchangeably disposed in a second one of said cartridge-receiving slots so as to make an electrical connection with said electronic controller, wherein said further cartridge includes a compressor, a condenser and a chiller heat exchanger. 
     
     
         5 . The module of  claim 1  wherein said enclosure is a vertical cabinet. 
     
     
         6 . A modular cooling and heating system comprising:
 at least one module, said module comprising an enclosure having a number of cartridge-receiving slots; an electronic controller mounted to said enclosure; and a cartridge interchangeably disposed in a first one of said cartridge-receiving slots so as to make an electrical connection with said electronic controller, wherein said cartridge includes a compressor, a condenser and a chiller heat exchanger;   a refrigerated load wherein said cartridge supplies chilled fluid to said refrigerated load; and   a heat sink wherein said cartridge rejects heat to said heat sink.   
     
     
         7 . The modular cooling and heating system of  claim 6  further comprising:
 a second cartridge interchangeably disposed in a second one of said cartridge-receiving slots so as to make an electrical connection with said electronic controller, wherein said second cartridge includes a compressor, a condenser and a chiller heat exchanger; and 
 a second refrigerated load wherein said second cartridge supplies chilled fluid to said second refrigerated load. 
 
     
     
         8 . The modular cooling and heating system of  claim 7  wherein said second cartridge rejects heat to said heat sink. 
     
     
         9 . The modular cooling and heating system of  claim 7  further comprising a second heat sink, wherein said second cartridge rejects heat to said second heat sink. 
     
     
         10 . The modular cooling and heating system of  claim 6  wherein said refrigerated load is selected from the group consisting of refrigerated fixture cooling coils, HVAC cooling coils, and water-cooled, self-contained refrigerated fixture condensers. 
     
     
         11 . The modular cooling and heating system of  claim 6  wherein said heat sink is a heating load selected from the group consisting of domestic hot water heating, facility space heating, outdoor air-cooled fluid coolers, outdoor evaporative fluid coolers, and water-cooled heat exchangers. 
     
     
         12 . A modular cooling and heating system comprising:
 a first refrigeration circuit charged with a refrigerant and comprising a first compressor, a first condenser, a first expansion device, and a first heat exchanger all connected together in series flow communication;   a first secondary cooling circuit charged with a coolant and comprising said first heat exchanger, and a first cooling coil all connected together in series flow communication, wherein heat is transferred from said coolant to said refrigerant in said first heat exchanger; and   a heating circuit charged with a heat transfer fluid and comprising said first condenser, at least one heating load, and a pump for circulating said heat transfer fluid between said first condenser and said heating load, wherein heat is transferred to said heat transfer fluid in said first condenser and heat is transferred from said heat transfer fluid in said heating load.   
     
     
         13 . The modular cooling and heating system of  claim 12  further comprising:
 a second refrigeration circuit charged with a refrigerant and comprising a second compressor, a second condenser, a second expansion device, and a second heat exchanger all connected together in series flow communication; 
 a second secondary cooling circuit charged with a coolant and comprising said second heat exchanger, and a second cooling coil all connected together in series flow communication, wherein heat is transferred from said coolant of said second secondary cooling circuit to said refrigerant of said second refrigeration circuit in said second heat exchanger; and 
 wherein said heating circuit further comprises said second condenser and said pump also circulates said heat transfer fluid between said second condenser and said heating load, and wherein heat is transferred to said heat transfer fluid in said second condenser. 
 
     
     
         14 . The modular cooling and heating system of  claim 13  wherein said first refrigeration circuit operates at a higher temperature than said second refrigeration circuit. 
     
     
         15 . The modular cooling and heating system of  claim 12  further comprising:
 a fluid cooler having an inlet and an outlet, said outlet of said fluid cooler being connected to an inlet of said first condenser; and 
 a first three-way valve having an inlet connected to an outlet of said first condenser, a first outlet connected to said heating load, and a second outlet connected to said inlet of said fluid cooler, said first three-way valve being able to selectively direct heat transfer fluid being discharged from said outlet of said first condenser to said heating load and/or said fluid cooler. 
 
     
     
         16 . The modular cooling and heating system of  claim 15  further comprising:
 a third heat exchanger having first and second inlets and first and second outlets, said first outlet of said third heat exchanger being connected to said inlet of said fluid cooler, said second inlet of said third heat exchanger being connected to receive coolant diverted from said first secondary cooling circuit, and said second outlet of said third heat exchanger being connected to return coolant to said first secondary cooling circuit; and 
 a second three-way valve having an inlet connected to said outlet of said fluid cooler, a first outlet connected to said first inlet of said third heat exchanger, and a second outlet connected to said inlet of said first condenser, said second three-way valve being able to selectively direct heat transfer fluid being discharged from said outlet of said fluid cooler to said third heat exchanger and/or said first condenser. 
 
     
     
         17 . The modular cooling and heating system of  claim 16  further comprising a pump for circulating said heat transfer fluid through said third heat exchanger and said fluid cooler. 
     
     
         18 . The modular cooling and heating system of  claim 12  wherein said heating load is a hydronic heating system. 
     
     
         19 . The modular cooling and heating system of  claim 12  wherein said heating load is a hot water heater.