Flexible tubing for hvac system

Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed toward a heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) unit that includes a heat exchanger configured to establish a heat exchange relationship between a refrigerant flowing through a refrigerant loop of the HVAC unit and an air flow, where the heat exchanger has a refrigerant coil, a tubing segment configured to couple the refrigerant coil of the heat exchanger to another component of the HVAC unit, where the tubing segment has a flexible material, and a releasable connecting element, where the releasable connecting element is configured to couple the tubing segment to the heat exchanger.

1 . A heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) unit, comprising:
 a heat exchanger configured to establish a heat exchange relationship between a refrigerant flowing through a refrigerant loop of the HVAC unit and an air flow, wherein the heat exchanger comprises a refrigerant coil;   a tubing segment configured to couple the refrigerant coil of the heat exchanger to another component of the HVAC unit, wherein the tubing segment comprises a flexible material; and   a releasable connecting element, wherein the releasable connecting element is configured to couple the tubing segment to the heat exchanger.   
     
     
         2 . The HVAC unit of  claim 1 , wherein the tubing segment is a first tubing segment, the releasable connecting element is a first releasable connecting element, the refrigerant coil is a first refrigerant coil, the first releasable connecting element is configured to couple the first tubing segment to the first refrigerant coil of the heat exchanger, and the HVAC unit comprises:
 a second refrigerant coil of the heat exchanger;   a second tubing segment configured to couple to the second refrigerant coil; and   a second releasable connecting element configured to couple the second tubing segment to the second refrigerant coil, wherein the first and second tubing segments are configured to couple to one another via a first valve of the first tubing segment and a second valve of the second tubing segment.   
     
     
         3 . The HVAC unit of  claim 2 , wherein the first valve comprises a first biasing member and the second valve comprises a second biasing member, wherein the first biasing member and the second biasing member are configured to adjust the first valve and the second valve, respectively, from an open position to a closed position. 
     
     
         4 . The HVAC unit of  claim 3 , wherein the first biasing member and the second biasing member each comprises a spring loaded mechanism. 
     
     
         5 . The HVAC unit of  claim 3 , wherein the first valve and the second valve are both in the open position when the first valve and the second valve are coupled to one another. 
     
     
         6 . The HVAC unit of  claim 5 , wherein the refrigerant is configured to flow through the first valve and the second valve when the first valve and the second valve are both in the open position. 
     
     
         7 . The HVAC unit of  claim 3 , wherein the first valve and the second valve are both in the closed position when the first valve and the second valve are decoupled from one another. 
     
     
         8 . The HVAC unit of  claim 2 , wherein the first refrigerant coil and the second refrigerant coil are positioned to form an angle between 0 degrees and 90 degrees with respect to one another, wherein the angle is adjustable when the first refrigerant coil and the second refrigerant coil are coupled to one another via the first and second tubing segments. 
     
     
         9 . The HVAC unit of  claim 2 , wherein the first releasable connecting element and the second releasable connecting element each comprises threads. 
     
     
         10 . The HVAC unit of  claim 1 , wherein the refrigerant coil comprises a condenser coil. 
     
     
         11 . The HVAC unit of  claim 1 , wherein the tubing segment comprises a metal layer and a polymer layer. 
     
     
         12 . The HVAC unit of  claim 11 , wherein the metal layer comprises aluminum, carbon steel, stainless steel, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The HVAC unit of  claim 11 , wherein the polymer layer comprises polyethylene, nylon, polyvinyl chloride, polypropylene, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         14 . The HVAC unit of  claim 1 , wherein the releasable connecting element comprises a clamp to couple the tubing segment to the heat exchanger. 
     
     
         15 . The HVAC unit of  claim 14 , wherein the clamp is disposed about a central passage of the releasable connecting element. 
     
     
         16 . The HVAC unit of  claim 14 , wherein the clamp is configured to secure the tubing segment to the connecting element by surrounding an outer circumference of the tubing segment. 
     
     
         17 . A heat exchanger for a heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) system, comprising:
 a first coil configured to couple to a first releasable connecting element; and   a second coil configured to couple to a second releasable connecting element, wherein the first coil and the second coil are configured to be in fluid communication with one another via a tubing assembly, wherein the tubing assembly comprises:
 a first tubing segment configured to couple to the first releasable connecting element at a first end of the first tubing segment and a first valve disposed at a second end of the first tubing segment, wherein the first valve is configured to be removably coupled to a second valve; and 
 a second tubing segment configured to couple to the second releasable connecting element at a third end of the second tubing segment, wherein the second valve is disposed at a fourth end of the second tubing segment. 
   
     
     
         18 . The heat exchanger of  claim 17 , wherein the first valve and the second valve each comprises a biasing member to adjust the first valve and the second valve from an open position to a closed position, and wherein the first valve and the second valve are each configured to be in the open position when the first valve and the second valve are coupled to one another and are each configured to be in the closed position when the first valve and the second valve are decoupled from one another. 
     
     
         19 . The heat exchanger of  claim 18 , wherein the first releasable connecting element and the second releasable connecting element each comprises a clamp configured to couple to the first tubing segment and the second tubing segment, respectively, and wherein the clamp is disposed about a central passage on the respective first and second connecting elements. 
     
     
         20 . The HVAC unit of  claim 18 , wherein the first tubing segment, or the second tubing segment, or both comprises a metal layer and a polymer layer. 
     
     
         21 . A method of assembling a heat exchanger for a heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) system, comprising:
 coupling a first coil of the heat exchanger to a first releasable connecting element;   coupling a second coil of the heat exchanger to a second releasable connecting element;   coupling a first end of a first tubing segment to the first releasable connecting element;   coupling a second end of a second tubing segment to the second releasable connecting element; and   coupling a first valve of the first tubing segment to a second valve of the second tubing segment, wherein the first valve comprises a first biasing member and the second valve comprises a second biasing member, and wherein the first biasing member and the second biasing member are configured to adjust the first valve and the second valve, respectively, from a closed position to an open position when the first and second valves are coupled to one another.   
     
     
         22 . The method of assembling the heat exchanger of  claim 21 , wherein the first valve is disposed at a third end of the first tubing segment opposite the first end, and the second valve is disposed at a fourth end of the second tubing segment opposite the second end. 
     
     
         23 . The method of assembling the heat exchanger of  claim 21 , comprising decoupling the first valve from the second valve to adjust the first valve and the second valve from the open position to the closed position. 
     
     
         24 . The method of assembling the heat exchanger of  claim 21 , wherein the first tubing segment comprises a first flexible material, and the second tubing segment comprises a second flexible material. 
     
     
         25 . The method of assembling the heat exchanger of  claim 21 , wherein the first releasable connecting element comprises a clamp, threads, a friction fit connector, an interference fit connector, and interlocking connector, or any combination thereof.