Hvac&r system with chiller and free cooling

Abstract

A heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and/or refrigeration (HVAC&R) system includes a vapor compression loop configured to receive a working fluid, an additional fluid loop configured to selectively bias an additional fluid to a condenser of the vapor compression loop and an evaporator of the vapor compression loop, and an air-cooled heat exchanger disposed on the additional fluid loop and configured to selectively cool the additional fluid.

1 . A heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and/or refrigeration (HVAC&R) system, comprising:
 a vapor compression loop configured to receive a working fluid;   an additional fluid loop configured to selectively bias an additional fluid to a condenser of the vapor compression loop and an evaporator of the vapor compression loop; and   an air-cooled heat exchanger disposed on the additional fluid loop and configured to selectively cool the additional fluid.   
     
     
         2 . The HVAC&R system of  claim 1 , wherein the additional fluid loop is configured to circulate the additional fluid to a process load heat exchanger. 
     
     
         3 . The HVAC&R system of  claim 1 , comprising a valve disposed on the additional fluid loop between a process load heat exchanger and a condenser inlet to the condenser, the air-cooled heat exchanger, or both, wherein the valve is configured to be actuated between:
 a first setting that enables a flow of the additional fluid from the process load heat exchanger to the condenser, the air-cooled heat exchanger, or both; and   a second setting that blocks the flow of the additional fluid from the process load heat exchanger to the condenser, the air-cooled heat exchanger, or both.   
     
     
         4 . The HVAC&R system of  claim 1 , comprising a valve disposed on the additional fluid loop upstream of a condenser inlet to the condenser, wherein the valve is configured to be actuated between:
 a first setting that enables a flow of the additional fluid; and   a second setting that blocks the flow of the additional fluid.   
     
     
         5 . The HVAC&R system of  claim 4 , comprising an additional valve disposed on a bypass line extending between an additional fluid loop condenser inlet segment and an additional fluid loop condenser outlet segment, wherein the additional valve is configured to be actuated between:
 an open setting when the valve is actuated to the first setting; and   a closed setting when the valve is actuated to the second setting.   
     
     
         6 . The HVAC&R system of  claim 1 , comprising a valve disposed on a return loop line downstream from the air-cooled heat exchanger relative to a flow of the additional fluid, wherein the valve is configured to be actuated between:
 a first setting configured to direct the additional fluid back to the air-cooled heat exchanger; and   a second setting configured to direct the additional fluid toward the evaporator, a process load heat exchanger, or both.   
     
     
         7 . The HVAC&R system of  claim 1 , comprising:
 a first pump configured to control a first flow of the additional fluid through the air-cooled heat exchanger;   a second pump configured to control a second flow of the additional fluid toward a process load heat exchanger; and   a third pump configured to control a third flow of the additional fluid toward an evaporator disposed on the vapor compression loop.   
     
     
         8 . The HVAC&R system of  claim 1 , comprising a control valve controllable between two or more settings to:
 control a first amount of the additional fluid directed toward the evaporator; and   control a second amount of the additional fluid recirculated to the evaporator.   
     
     
         9 . The HVAC&R system of  claim 1 , comprising:
 at least one sensor configured to detect at least one ambient or operating condition; and   a controller configured to control at least one valve of the additional fluid loop based on sensor feedback received from the at least one sensor.   
     
     
         10 . The HVAC&R system of  claim 9 , wherein the additional fluid loop comprises a first branch circuit interfacing with the condenser, the air-cooled heat exchanger, or both, wherein the additional fluid loop comprises a second branch circuit interfacing with the evaporator, and wherein the at least one valve comprises:
 a first valve disposed on the first branch circuit at or adjacent to an inlet or an outlet of the first branch circuit;   a second valve disposed on the first branch circuit adjacent to a condenser inlet to the condenser;   a third valve disposed on a bypass line of the first branch circuit, wherein the bypass line extends between an additional fluid loop condenser inlet segment and an additional fluid loop condenser outlet segment of the first branch circuit;   a fourth valve disposed on a return loop line of the first branch circuit, wherein the return loop line extends between an outlet of the air-cooled heat exchanger and the condenser inlet;   a fifth valve disposed on the second branch circuit at or adjacent to an inlet or an outlet of the second branch circuit; and   at least one sixth valve disposed adjacent to an additional fluid loop evaporator inlet segment of the second branch circuit.   
     
     
         11 . The HVAC&R system of  claim 9 , wherein the additional fluid loop comprises a first branch circuit interfacing with the condenser, the air-cooled heat exchanger, or both, wherein the additional fluid loop comprises a second branch circuit interfacing with the evaporator, and wherein the at least one valve comprises:
 a first valve disposed on the first branch circuit at or adjacent to an inlet or an outlet of the first branch circuit;   a second valve disposed on the first branch circuit adjacent to a condenser inlet to the condenser;   a third valve disposed on a bypass line of the first branch circuit, wherein the bypass line extends between an additional fluid loop condenser inlet segment and an additional fluid loop condenser outlet segment of the first branch circuit;   a fourth valve disposed on a return loop line of the first branch circuit, wherein the return loop line extends between an outlet of the air-cooled heat exchanger and the condenser inlet;   a fifth valve disposed on the second branch circuit at or adjacent to an inlet or an outlet of the second branch circuit; or   at least one sixth valve disposed adjacent to an additional fluid loop evaporator inlet segment of the second branch circuit.   
     
     
         12 . A method of operating a heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and/or refrigeration (HVAC&R) system, comprising:
 biasing a working fluid through a vapor compression loop;   selectively biasing an additional fluid through an additional fluid loop to a condenser of the vapor compression loop and an evaporator of the vapor compression loop; and   cooling the additional fluid via an air-cooled heat exchanger of the additional fluid loop.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , comprising:
 biasing the additional fluid through the additional fluid loop to a process load heat exchanger; and   controlling a valve disposed on the additional fluid loop between the process load heat exchanger and a condenser inlet to the condenser, the air-cooled heat exchanger, or both between:
 a first setting that enables a flow of the additional fluid from the process load heat exchanger to the condenser, the air-cooled heat exchanger, or both; and 
 a second setting that blocks the flow of the additional fluid from the process load heat exchanger to the condenser, the air-cooled heat exchanger, or both. 
   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , comprising:
 controlling a valve disposed on the additional fluid loop upstream of a condenser inlet to the condenser between a first setting that enables a flow of the additional fluid and a second setting that blocks the flow of the additional fluid; and   controlling an additional valve disposed on a bypass line extending between an additional fluid loop condenser inlet segment and an additional fluid loop condenser outlet segment between an open setting when the valve is actuated to the first setting and a closed setting when the valve is actuated to the second setting.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , comprising controlling a valve disposed on a return loop line downstream from the air-cooled heat exchanger relative to a flow of the additional fluid between:
 a first setting configured to direct the additional fluid back to a condenser inlet to the condenser; and   a second setting configured to direct the additional fluid toward the evaporator, a process load heat exchanger, or both.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , comprising controlling a control valve between two or more settings to:
 control a first amount of the additional fluid directed toward the evaporator; and   control a second amount of the additional fluid recirculated to the evaporator.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , comprising controlling, based on sensor feedback indicative of at least one ambient or operating condition, at least one valve of the additional fluid loop, wherein the additional fluid loop comprises a first branch circuit interfacing with the condenser, the air-cooled heat exchanger, or both, wherein the additional fluid loop comprises a second branch circuit interfacing with the evaporator, and wherein the at least one valve of the additional fluid loop comprises at least one of:
 a first valve disposed on the first branch circuit at or adjacent to an inlet or an outlet of the first branch circuit;   a second valve disposed on the first branch circuit adjacent to a condenser inlet to the condenser;   a third valve disposed on a bypass line of the first branch circuit, wherein the bypass line extends between an additional fluid loop condenser inlet segment and an additional fluid loop condenser outlet segment of the first branch circuit;   a fourth valve disposed on a return loop line of the first branch circuit, wherein the return loop line extends between an outlet of the air-cooled heat exchanger and the condenser inlet;   a fifth valve disposed on the second branch circuit at or adjacent to an inlet or an outlet of the second branch circuit; or   at least one sixth valve disposed adjacent to an additional fluid loop evaporator inlet segment of the second branch circuit.   
     
     
         18 . A heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and/or refrigeration (HVAC&R) system, comprising:
 a vapor compression loop configured to receive a working fluid;   a process load heat exchanger; and   an additional fluid loop comprising an air-cooled heat exchanger, wherein the additional fluid loop is configured to circulate an additional fluid through the process load heat exchanger and selectively bias the additional fluid to the air-cooled heat exchanger and one or more components of the vapor compression loop.   
     
     
         19 . The HVAC&R system of  claim 18 , wherein the one or more components comprise a condenser, an evaporator, or both. 
     
     
         20 . The HVAC&R system of  claim 18 , comprising:
 a first branch circuit of the additional fluid loop, wherein the first branch circuit interfaces with the air-cooled heat exchanger, a condenser of the vapor compression loop, or both;   a second branch circuit of the additional fluid loop, wherein the second branch circuit interfaces with an evaporator of the vapor compression loop;   a sensor configured to detect at least one ambient or operating condition; and   a controller configured to control, based on sensor feedback from the sensor, at least one valve of the additional fluid loop, wherein the at least one valve of the additional fluid loop comprises at least one of:
 a first valve disposed on the first branch circuit at or adjacent to an inlet or an outlet of the first branch circuit; 
 a second valve disposed on the first branch circuit adjacent to a condenser inlet to the condenser; 
 a third valve disposed on a bypass line of the first branch circuit, wherein the bypass line extends between an additional fluid loop condenser inlet segment and an additional fluid loop condenser outlet segment; 
 a fourth valve disposed on a return loop line of the first branch circuit, wherein the return loop line extends between an outlet of the air-cooled heat exchanger and the condenser inlet; 
 a fifth valve disposed on the second branch circuit at or adjacent to an inlet or an outlet of the second branch circuit; or 
 a sixth valve disposed adjacent to an additional fluid loop evaporator inlet segment of the second branch circuit.