A temperature control (“TC”) unit and associated method for providing simultaneous independent temperature control of conditioned air to first and second rooms. The TC unit includes a cabinet. The cabinet may be divided into first and second compartments, the first compartment being adapted to receive and exhaust air from and to, respectively, the first room, and the second compartment being adapted to receive and exhaust air from and to, respectively, the second room. Sound dampening insulation may be positioned between the first and second compartments. First and second evaporators may be positioned within the cabinet so that: air from the first room passes through the first evaporator before exhausting back to the first room; and air from the second room passes through the second evaporator before exhausting back to the second room. The TC unit may be or include a vertical terminal air conditioning (“VTAC”) unit.

A relay unit includes: a heat medium heat exchanger; a casing; a first refrigerant pipe connection port connected to one of two refrigerant pipes through which refrigerant circulates between the heat medium heat exchanger and the heat source side unit; a second refrigerant pipe connection port connected to an other of the refrigerant pipes; a first heat medium pipe connection port connected to one of two heat medium pipes through which a heat medium circulates between the heat medium heat exchanger and the load side unit; and a second heat medium pipe connection port connected to an other of the heat medium pipes. The first refrigerant pipe connection port, the second refrigerant pipe connection port, the first heat medium pipe connection port, and the second heat medium pipe connection port are provided on a top surface of the casing and face in a direction opposite to a direction of gravity.

A heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system in which a primary water loop is used as a heat transfer reservoir for both heating and cooling. A plurality of micro chillers are provided, with each micro chiller being connected to the primary water loop. Each micro chiller includes its own heat engine. Each micro chiller includes one or more fan coil units that exchange heat between the micro chiller and the air in a building. In a first mode a micro chiller transfers heat from the air in the building to the water circulating within the primary water loop. In a second mode the micro chiller transfers heat from the water circulating in the primary water loop to the air in the building. A primary water loop regulation system is provided to control the temperature of the water circulating in the primary water loop.

Methods for providing heating or cooling to a plurality of zones in a conditioned space, include adjusting a temperature of a primary airflow using a heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVACR) system including a heat pump circuit and distributing the primary airflow to a plurality of terminals in the zones. The methods further include directing heat from the heat pump circuit to at least one of the plurality of terminals and heating air at the at least one of the plurality of terminals using the heat directed from the heat pump circuit. The methods can further include utilizing sources and sinks of the heat pump circuit to efficiently provide the heating or cooling. Systems include the heat pump circuit, terminals, heat distribution, and can include a controller to operate those components.

A method of controlling operation of an air conditioning system (10) includes measuring a compressor speed of one or more chillers (12) of an air conditioning system and measuring a refrigerant pressure of the one or more chillers of the air conditioning system. A chiller load is calculated using the compressor speed and the refrigerant pressure. An air conditioning system includes one or more chillers. Each chiller includes a compressor (22), a condenser (30) operably connected to the compressor, and an evaporator (28) operably connected to the compressor and the condenser. A controller (34) is operably connected to the one or more chillers and is configured to calculate a chiller load utilizing a measurement of compressor speed and a measurement of refrigerant pressure of the chiller.

A method of controlling operation of an air conditioning system (10) includes measuring a compressor speed of one or more chillers (12) of an air conditioning system and measuring a refrigerant pressure of the one or more chillers of the air conditioning system. A chiller load is calculated using the compressor speed and the refrigerant pressure. An air conditioning system includes one or more chillers. Each chiller includes a compressor (22), a condenser (30) operably connected to the compressor, and an evaporator (28) operably connected to the compressor and the condenser. A controller (34) is operably connected to the one or more chillers and is configured to calculate a chiller load utilizing a measurement of compressor speed and a measurement of refrigerant pressure of the chiller.

An arrangement of multiple environmental control systems for a multi-unit structure has a first environmental control system installed in a first unit, a second environmental control system installed in a second unit, a system monitor in communication with each of the environmental control systems and a firewall. Each environmental control system has a control unit coupled to the system monitor through the firewall that prevents unauthorized devices from accessing the respective control unit and a HVAC system device coupled to the respective control unit through the firewall. For each unit, a local user device that is located inside the unit is coupled to the control unit through a local communication interface, and an external user device that is located outside the unit communicates with the control unit through the firewall.

An arrangement of multiple environmental control systems for a multi-unit structure has a first environmental control system installed in a first unit, a second environmental control system installed in a second unit, a system monitor in communication with each of the environmental control systems and a firewall. Each environmental control system has a control unit coupled to the system monitor through the firewall that prevents unauthorized devices from accessing the respective control unit and a HVAC system device coupled to the respective control unit through the firewall. For each unit, a local user device that is located inside the unit is coupled to the control unit through a local communication interface, and an external user device that is located outside the unit communicates with the control unit through the firewall.

An HVAC system for a multi-unit building having a riser stack in flow communication with a single unit HVAC system. The single unit HVAC system has a first heat exchanger thermally connected to the riser stack, a second heat exchanger thermally connected to a fluid distribution system within the unit, and a closed loop fluid flow path extending between the first and second heat exchangers. The first heat exchanger exchanges heat between a riser stack fluid in the riser stack and the closed loop fluid in the closed loop fluid flow path and the second heat exchanger exchanges heat between the closed loop fluid and a distribution fluid of the fluid distribution system.

An HVAC system for a multi-unit building having a riser stack in flow communication with a single unit HVAC system. The single unit HVAC system has a first heat exchanger thermally connected to the riser stack, a second heat exchanger thermally connected to a fluid distribution system within the unit, and a closed loop fluid flow path extending between the first and second heat exchangers. The first heat exchanger exchanges heat between a riser stack fluid in the riser stack and the closed loop fluid in the closed loop fluid flow path and the second heat exchanger exchanges heat between the closed loop fluid and a distribution fluid of the fluid distribution system.