Refrigeration system including an air-moving chamber, and methods of use thereof

Abstract

The various embodiments described herein include methods, devices, and systems for operating an air-moving chamber fluidically coupled with a refrigeration system. A system includes a refrigerant loop, a second air-mover, a first air-mover, an air-moving chamber, a first airflow-control door, a second airflow-control door, and a controller. The air-moving chamber includes an adjustable door, a plurality of inlets, and a plurality of outlets. The air-moving chamber fluidically couples the second and first air-movers such that actuation of the adjustable door controls a first amount of air directed towards the second air-mover via a first inlet of the plurality of inlets and a first outlet of the plurality of outlets, and a second amount of air directed towards the first air-mover via a second inlet of the plurality of inlets and a second outlet of the plurality of outlets. The controller selectively controls operation of the compressor and/or the adjustable door.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system, comprising:
 a refrigerant loop, comprising:
 a compressor configured to compress a gas refrigerant to a compressed refrigerant, 
 a first heat exchanger configured to remove heat from the compressed refrigerant and convert the compressed refrigerant to a liquid refrigerant, 
 an expansion device configured to remove pressure from the liquid refrigerant such that a second heat exchanger can change a state of the liquid refrigerant, and 
 the second heat exchanger configured to absorb heat from a compartment and convert the liquid refrigerant to the gas refrigerant; 
   a second air-mover configured to direct airflow into the compartment;   a first air-mover configured to direct airflow outside of the compartment;   an air-moving chamber including:
 an adjustable door, 
 a plurality of inlets, and 
 a plurality of outlets, and 
 wherein the air-moving chamber fluidically couples the second air-mover and the first air-mover such that actuation of the adjustable door controls:
 a first amount of air directed towards the second air-mover via a first selected inlet of the plurality of inlets and a first selected outlet of the plurality of outlets, and 
 a second amount of air directed towards the first air-mover via a second selected inlet of the plurality of inlets and a second selected outlet of the plurality of outlets; and 
 
   a controller for selectively controlling operation of one or more of (i) the compressor and (ii) the adjustable door.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first airflow-control door coupled adjacent to the first heat exchanger, the first airflow-control door configured to control a third amount of air entering the system and directed towards a first inlet of the plurality of inlets; and   a second airflow-control door adjacent to the second heat exchanger, the second airflow-control door configured to control a fourth amount of air entering the system and directed towards a second inlet of the plurality of inlets.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the controller is configured to operate the system in one or more modes, and the controller causing the system to operate in a first mode includes:
 adjusting the adjustable door such that:
 the second inlet of the plurality of inlets and the first outlet of the plurality of outlets direct the first amount of air towards the second air-mover, and 
 the first inlet of the plurality of inlets and the second outlet of the plurality of outlets direct the second amount of air towards the first air-mover; 
   adjusting the first airflow-control door such that the third amount of air entering the system and directed towards the first inlet of the plurality of inlets is outside air; and   adjusting the second airflow-control door such that the fourth amount of air entering the system and directed towards the second inlet of the plurality of inlets is return air.   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the controller is configured to operate the system in one or more modes, and the controller causing the system to operate in a second mode includes:
 adjusting the adjustable door such that:
 the first inlet of the plurality of inlets and the first outlet of the plurality of outlets direct the first amount of air towards the second air-mover, and 
 the second inlet of the plurality of inlets and the second outlet of the plurality of outlets direct the second amount of air towards the first air-mover; 
   adjusting the first airflow-control door such that the third amount of air entering the system and directed towards the first inlet of the plurality of inlets is return air; and   adjusting the second airflow-control door such that the fourth amount of air entering the system and directed towards the second inlet of the plurality of inlets is outside air.   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the controller is configured to operate the system in one or more modes, and the controller causing the system to operate in a third mode includes:
 adjusting the adjustable door such that:
 the first inlet of the plurality of inlets and the first outlet of the plurality of outlets direct the first amount of air towards the second air-mover, and 
 the second inlet of the plurality of inlets and the second outlet of the plurality of outlets direct the second amount of air towards the first air-mover; 
   adjusting the first airflow-control door such that the third amount of air entering the system and directed towards the first inlet of the plurality of inlets is return air; and   adjusting the second airflow-control door such that the fourth amount of air entering the system and directed towards the second inlet of the plurality of inlets is return air.   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the controller changes an operational mode of the system without use of a reversing valve. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 3 , further comprising one or more sensors and wherein the controller is further configured to:
 receive sensor data from one or more sensors coupled with the system;   determine an operational mode of a plurality of operational modes based on the sensor data; and   cause the system to operate in a determined mode by adjusting the adjustable door, the first airflow-control door, and the second airflow-control door.   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the sensor data includes a measured temperature, and the controller is further configured to:
 determine whether the measured temperature is within a predetermined threshold; and   in accordance with a determination that the measured temperature is greater than the predetermined threshold, cause the system to operate in the first mode of the one or more modes.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the sensor data includes a measured temperature, and the controller is further configured to:
 determine whether the measured temperature is within a predetermined threshold; and   in accordance with a determination that the measured temperature is less than the predetermined threshold, cause the system to operate in a second mode of the one or more modes.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the sensor data includes a measured CO2 level and the controller is further configured to:
 determine whether the measured CO2 level is above a predetermined level; and   in accordance with a determination that the measured CO2 level is above the predetermined level, adjust the first airflow-control door and/or the second airflow-control door to control an amount of outside air in the system.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the sensor data includes a measured humidity level, and the controller is further configured to:
 determine whether the measured humidity level is within a predetermined humidity range; and   in accordance with a determination that the measured humidity level is not within the predetermined humidity range, adjust the first airflow-control door and/or the second airflow-control door to control an amount of outside air in the system.   
     
     
         12 . A method, comprising:
 at a system including a refrigerant loop thermally coupled with a compartment, a second air-mover configured to direct airflow into the compartment, a first air-mover configured to direct airflow outside of the compartment, and an air-moving chamber fluidically coupling the second air-mover and the first air-mover:
 adjusting the adjustable door such that:
 a first amount of air is directed towards the second air-mover via a first selected inlet of a plurality of inlets and a first selected outlet of a plurality of outlets, and 
 a second amount of air is directed towards the first air-mover via a second selected inlet of the plurality of inlets and a second selected outlet of the plurality of outlets. 
 
   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the system further comprises a first airflow-control door coupled adjacent to a first heat exchanger and a second airflow-control door adjacent to a second heat exchanger, and the method further comprises:
 adjusting the first airflow-control door to control a third amount of air entering the system and directed towards a first inlet of the plurality of inlets; and   adjusting the second airflow-control door to control a fourth amount of air entering the system and directed towards a second inlet of the plurality of inlets.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 adjusting the adjustable door such that:
 the second inlet of the plurality of inlets and the first outlet of the plurality of outlets direct the first amount of air towards the second air-mover, and 
 the first inlet of the plurality of inlets and the second outlet of the plurality of outlets direct the second amount of air towards the first air-mover; 
   adjusting the first airflow-control door such that the third amount of air entering the system and directed towards the first inlet of the plurality of inlets is outside air; and   adjusting the second airflow-control door such that the fourth amount of air entering the system and directed towards the second inlet of the plurality of inlets is return air.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 adjusting the adjustable door such that:
 the first inlet of the plurality of inlets and the first outlet of the plurality of outlets direct the first amount of air towards the second air-mover, and 
 the second inlet of the plurality of inlets and the second outlet of the plurality of outlets direct the second amount of air towards the first air-mover; 
   adjusting the first airflow-control door such that the third amount of air entering the system and directed towards the first inlet of the plurality of inlets is return air; and   adjusting the second airflow-control door such that the fourth amount of air entering the system and directed towards the second inlet of the plurality of inlets is outside air.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 adjusting the adjustable door such that:
 the first inlet of the plurality of inlets and the first outlet of the plurality of outlets direct the first amount of air towards the second air-mover, and 
 the second inlet of the plurality of inlets and the second outlet of the plurality of outlets direct the second amount of air towards the first air-mover; 
   adjusting the first airflow-control door such that the third amount of air entering the system and directed towards the first inlet of the plurality of inlets is return air; and   adjusting the second airflow-control door such that the fourth amount of air entering the system and directed towards the second inlet of the plurality of inlets is return air.   
     
     
         17 . A non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium including instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of a system comprising a refrigerant loop thermally coupled with a compartment, a second air-mover configured to direct airflow into the compartment, a first air-mover configured to direct airflow outside of the compartment, and an air-moving chamber fluidically coupling the second air-mover and the first air-mover, cause the system to:
 adjust the adjustable door such that:
 a first amount of air is directed towards the second air-mover via a first selected inlet of a plurality of inlets and a first selected outlet of a plurality of outlets, and 
 a second amount of air is directed towards the first air-mover via a second selected inlet of the plurality of inlets and a second selected outlet of the plurality of outlets. 
   
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium of  claim 17 , wherein the system further comprises a first airflow-control door coupled adjacent to a first heat exchanger and a second airflow-control door adjacent to a second heat exchanger, and wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors of the system, further cause the system to:
 adjust the first airflow-control door to control a third amount of air entering the system and directed towards a first inlet of the plurality of inlets; and   adjust the second airflow-control door to control a fourth amount of air entering the system and directed towards a second inlet of the plurality of inlets.   
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium of  claim 18 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors of the system, further cause the system to:
 adjust the adjustable door such that:
 the second inlet of the plurality of inlets and the first outlet of the plurality of outlets direct the first amount of air towards the second air-mover, and 
 the first inlet of the plurality of inlets and the second outlet of the plurality of outlets direct the second amount of air towards the first air-mover; 
   adjusting the first airflow-control door such that the third amount of air entering the system and directed towards the first inlet of the plurality of inlets is outside air; and   adjusting the second airflow-control door such that the fourth amount of air entering the system and directed towards the second inlet of the plurality of inlets is return air.   
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium of  claim 18 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors of the system, further cause the system to:
 adjust the adjustable door such that:
 the first inlet of the plurality of inlets and the first outlet of the plurality of outlets direct the first amount of air towards the second air-mover, and 
 the second inlet of the plurality of inlets and the second outlet of the plurality of outlets direct the second amount of air towards the first air-mover; 
   adjusting the first airflow-control door such that the third amount of air entering the system and directed towards the first inlet of the plurality of inlets is return air; and   adjusting the second airflow-control door such that the fourth amount of air entering the system and directed towards the second inlet of the plurality of inlets is outside air.