Integrated chilled beam / chiller direct outside air system unit

Abstract

An air handling system is disclosed that includes an integral chilled water refrigeration system. The air handling system additionally includes a first coil section that provides cooling and a second coil section that provides heating. The second coil section and associated terminal units are in fluid communication with the first refrigeration system.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An air handling system comprising:
 a. an enclosure defining a first airflow path extending between a first air inlet and a first air outlet;   b. a first fan located between the first air inlet and outlet;   c. a first coil section located between the first air inlet and outlet, the first coil section being configured to provide cooling to air flowing through the first coil section;   d. a second coil section located between the first cooling coil section and the first outlet, the second coil section being configured to provide cooling to air flowing through the second coil section;   e. a first refrigeration system that provides cooling to the first coiling coil;   f. a second refrigeration system configured to provide cooling to terminal units associated with the air handling system and heating to the second coil section.   
     
     
         2 . The air handling system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 a. the first refrigeration system is a direct expansion type refrigeration system.   
     
     
         3 . The air handling system of  claim 1 , wherein the second refrigeration system is an air-cooled chiller. 
     
     
         4 . The air handling system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a. a second fan located between a second air inlet and a second air outlet defining a second airflow path.   
     
     
         5 . The air handling system of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 a. a heat exchanger extending between the first and second airflow paths.   
     
     
         6 . The air handling system of  claim 5 , wherein the heat exchanger is a passive desiccant enthalpy wheel. 
     
     
         7 . An air conditioning system comprising:
 a. an air handling unit providing a supply airflow, the air handling unit including:
 i. a first heat exchanger for cooling the supply airflow; 
 ii. a second heat exchanger for reheating the supply airflow cooled by the first heat exchanger; 
 iii. a first refrigeration system providing cooling to the first heat exchanger; and 
 iv. a second refrigeration system providing cooling to the second heat exchanger; 
   b. a plurality of terminal units in fluid communication with the supply airflow generated by the air handling unit;   c. a plurality of radiant panels or chilled beams in fluid communication with the second refrigeration system; and   d. a pump circulating a working fluid from the second refrigeration system, to the radiant cooling panels or chilled beams, to the air handling unit second heat exchanger, and back to the second refrigeration system.   
     
     
         8 . The air conditioning system of  claim 7 , wherein:
 a. the first refrigeration system is a direct expansion type refrigeration system.   
     
     
         9 . The air conditioning system of  claim 7 , wherein the second refrigeration system is an air-cooled chiller. 
     
     
         10 . The air conditioning system of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a. a second fan located between a second air inlet and a second air outlet defining a second airflow path.   
     
     
         11 . The air conditioning system of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a. a heat exchanger extending between the first and second airflow paths.   
     
     
         12 . The air conditioning system of  claim 11 , wherein the heat exchanger is a passive desiccant enthalpy wheel. 
     
     
         13 . The air conditioning system of  claim 7 , wherein each terminal unit includes at least one of the plurality of radiant cooling panels or chilled beams. 
     
     
         14 . A method of conditioning a space, the method comprising:
 a. cooling a first working fluid with a first refrigeration system;   b. cooling a second working fluid with a second refrigeration system;   c. cooling a supply air flow with a first heat exchanger utilizing the first working fluid;   d. heating the supply airflow with a second heat exchanger utilizing the second heat exchanger;   e. cooling one or more radiant cooling panels or chilled beams utilizing the second working fluid prior to the step of heating the supply airflow with the second working fluid; and   f. delivering the supply airflow to an interior space.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the second working fluid is one of water, glycol, and a combination of water and glycol. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , further including the step of cooling the supply airflow with a fourth heat exchanger prior to the step of cooling the supply airflow with the first heat exchanger. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the step of cooling the supply airflow with the fourth heat exchanger includes transferring heat from a return airflow from the interior space to the supply airflow. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the step of cooling the supply airflow with the fourth heat exchanger includes passing the supply and return airflows through a passive desiccant enthalpy wheel. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the first refrigeration system is a direct expansion type system and the second refrigeration system is an air cooled chiller. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the step of cooling the one or more radiant cooling panels or chilled beams with the second working fluid includes delivering the second working fluid to the radiant cooling panels or chilled beams at a temperature that is equal to or above a measured dew point temperature of the interior space.