IP Library Granted Patent US 10,830,538
Granted Patent B2
US 10,830,538 · App. 15/937,630 · Granted Nov 10, 2020

Variable circuitry heat exchanger system

Inventors: Ryan L. Snider (York, PA); Nicholas P. Mislak (Bel Air, MD); Kristen Velez-Diaz (York, PA); Kevin R. Stockton (York, PA); Stacy S. Lemkelde (York, PA); Douglas A. Kester (York, PA)
Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
F28D1/0417F24F11/70F25B29/003F25B30/02F25B41/04F28D21/00F28F1/10F24F3/001F24F2140/50F25B2313/02731F28D2021/0068
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,830,538
App. No.
15/937,630
Granted
Nov 10, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

A heat exchanger that includes a plurality of conduits that transmit a refrigerant therethrough. A valve that actuates to fluidly couple a first set of conduits of the plurality of conduits in a first setting and fluidly couple a second set of conduits of the plurality of conduits in a second setting.

Claims (35)

1. A heat exchanger, comprising:

a plurality of conduits each configured to transmit a refrigerant therethrough; and

a valve configured to actuate to fluidly couple a first set of conduits of the plurality of conduits in a first setting and fluidly couple a second set of conduits of the plurality of conduits in a second setting, wherein the first set of conduits and the second set of conduits are different, and wherein the valve comprises a three-way valve configured to:

direct the refrigerant from a first conduit of the plurality of conduits to a second conduit of the plurality of conduits in a first position, and

direct the refrigerant from the first conduit of the plurality of conduits to a third conduit of the plurality of conduits in a second position,

wherein the first conduit, the second conduit, and the third conduit axially overlap with one another.

2. The heat exchanger of claim 1 , comprising a plurality of fins coupled to the plurality of conduits to increase heat transfer.

3. The heat exchanger of claim 1 , wherein the first set of conduits and the second set of conduits share at least one conduit of the plurality of conduits.

4. The heat exchanger of claim 1 , wherein the first set of conduits comprises a first flow path having a first length, and the second set of conduits comprises a second flow path having a second length different from the first length.

5. The heat exchanger of claim 1 , comprising a controller configured to actuate the valve based on a load of an HVAC system.

6. The heat exchanger of claim 1 , comprising a controller configured to actuate the valve based on an operating mode of an HVAC system.

7. The heat exchanger of claim 1 , wherein the first set of conduits and the second set of conduits axially overlap with each another.

8. A heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system, comprising:

a heat exchanger having a coil, wherein the coil is configured to transmit a refrigerant fluid through a plurality of conduits; and

a valve fluidly coupling at least two conduits of the plurality of conduits to actuate and redirect the refrigerant fluid through at least a subset of the plurality of conduits, wherein the valve comprises a three-way valve configured to:

direct the refrigerant fluid from a first conduit of the plurality of conduits to a second conduit of the plurality of conduits in a first position, and

direct the refrigerant fluid from the first conduit of the plurality of conduits to a third conduit of the plurality of conduits in a second position,

wherein the first conduit, the second conduit, and the third conduit axially overlap with one another.

9. The HVAC system of claim 8 , comprising a plurality of fins coupled to the coil and configured to increase heat transfer.

10. The HVAC system of claim 8 , comprising a controller configured to actuate the valve based on a load of the HVAC system.

11. The HVAC system of claim 8 , comprising a controller configured to actuate the valve based on an operating mode of the HVAC system.

12. The HVAC system of claim 8 , wherein the valve is configured to operate in a first state to direct the refrigerant fluid through a first flow path and to operate in a second state to direct the refrigerant fluid through a second flow path, wherein the first flow path and the second flow path share at least one conduit of the plurality of conduits.

13. The HVAC system of claim 12 , wherein the first flow path comprises a first length and the second flow path comprises a second length different from the first length.

14. The HVAC system of claim 8 , comprising a manifold of the heat exchanger, wherein the manifold is coupled to the plurality of conduits.

15. The HVAC system of claim 8 , wherein the valve is a first valve, and further comprising a second valve fluidly coupling at least two additional conduits of the plurality of conduits.

16. A heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system, comprising:

a heat exchanger coil, wherein the heat exchanger coil comprises:

a plurality of conduits configured to transmit a refrigerant therethrough;

a fin coupled to the plurality of conduits; and

a three-way valve fluidly coupled to a first conduit, a second conduit, and a third conduit of the plurality of conduits, wherein the three-way valve is configured to actuate and redirect a flow path of the refrigerant from the first conduit to the second conduit of the plurality of conduits in a first position of the three-way valve and from the first conduit to the third conduit of the plurality of conduits in a second position of the three-way valve,

wherein the first conduit, the second conduit, and the third conduit of the plurality of conduits axially overlap with one another.

17. The HVAC system of claim 16 , comprising a controller coupled to the three-way valve and configured to actuate the three-way valve to adjust the flow path in response to an operating condition of the HVAC system.

18. The HVAC system of claim 16 , wherein the three-way valve is configured to fluidly couple a first set of the plurality of conduits comprising the first conduit and the second conduit in the first position and fluidly couple a second set of the plurality of conduits comprising the first conduit and the third conduit in the second position.

19. The HVAC system of claim 18 , wherein the first set of the plurality of conduits defines a first flow path length, and the second set of the plurality of conduits comprises a second flow path length different from the first flow path length.

20. The HVAC system of claim 16 , wherein the heat exchanger coil is an evaporator coil or a condenser coil.

Assignments (5)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 30, 2025
From: JOHNSON CONTROLS TECHNOLOGY COMPANY
To: JOHNSON CONTROLS TYCO IP HOLDINGS LLP
Reel/Frame 072298/0096 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 24, 2025
From: TYCO FIRE & SECURITY GMBH
To: JOHNSON CONTROLS LIGHT COMMERCIAL IP GMBH
Reel/Frame 070179/0435 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 24, 2024
From: JOHNSON CONTROLS TYCO IP HOLDINGS LLP
To: TYCO FIRE & SECURITY GMBH
Reel/Frame 067832/0947 →
NUNC PRO TUNC ASSIGNMENT Recorded Feb 4, 2022
From: JOHNSON CONTROLS TECHNOLOGY COMPANY
To: JOHNSON CONTROLS TYCO IP HOLDINGS LLP
Reel/Frame 058959/0764 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 28, 2018
From: SNIDER, RYAN L.; MISLAK, NICHOLAS P.; VELEZ-DIAZ, KRISTEN; STOCKTON, KEVIN R.; LEMKELDE, STACY S.; KESTER, DOUGLAS A.
To: JOHNSON CONTROLS TECHNOLOGY COMPANY
Reel/Frame 045371/0044 →