An air handling unit and its control system

Abstract

The present invention provides an air handling unit and its control system, which relates to the technical field of air conditioning equipment. It includes a return air duct and a supply air duct. The return air duct is sleeved outside the supply air duct, and a return air channel is formed between the two. Indoor air is transported from the indoor to the outdoor through the return air channel, and outdoor fresh air is transmitted from the outdoor to the indoor through the supply air duct. A return air fan and a return air valve are sequentially arranged in the return air channel from the input end to the output end of the indoor air. A supply air valve, a filter, a cooling coil, a heating coil, and a supply air fan are sequentially arranged in the supply air duct from the input end to the output end of the outdoor fresh air. A first telescopic pipe and a second telescopic pipe that can extend outside the return air duct are respectively arranged at both ends of the supply air duct. The present invention effectively solves many problems existing in traditional air handling units through a compact structural design and an efficient heat exchange mechanism.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of air conditioning equipment, and particularly to an air handling unit and its control system. Background Art

[0002] In the current rapid urbanization process, building environment control has become one of the key factors to improve the quality of life of residents. However, traditional air handling units face many challenges in dealing with modern building space limitations and energy efficiency requirements. These units are generally bulky, not only occupying valuable indoor space, but also bringing many inconveniences in installation and maintenance. Especially in residential and small office spaces with limited space, their application is severely restricted. In addition, the lack of heat recovery and reuse in traditional units results in a large amount of energy being wasted during the indoor and outdoor air exchange process, which does not conform to the concept of energy conservation and emission reduction promoted globally. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The present invention aims to provide a compact, efficient and energy-saving air handling unit and its control system to solve the problems existing in traditional air handling units.

[0004] The above technical object of the present invention is achieved by the following technical solutions: An air handling unit includes a return air duct and a supply air duct. The return air duct is sleeved outside the supply air duct, and an air return channel is formed therebetween. Indoor air is transported from the indoor to the outdoor through the air return channel, and outdoor fresh air is transmitted from the outdoor to the indoor through the supply air duct.

[0005] An air return fan and an air return valve are sequentially arranged in the air return channel from the input end to the output end of the indoor air.

[0006] A supply air valve, a filter, a cooling coil, a heating coil and a supply air fan are sequentially arranged in the supply air duct from the input end to the output end of the outdoor fresh air. First and second telescopic pipes that can extend outside the return air duct are respectively arranged at both ends of the supply air duct.

[0007] In some embodiments, an air return grille and a supply air grille are respectively arranged at the input ends of the return air duct and the supply air duct.

[0008] In some embodiments, the filter includes a longitudinal filter and a transverse filter, which are sequentially arranged after the supply air valve and before the cooling coil.

[0009] In some embodiments, the supply air duct is composed of a front section pipe, a rear section pipe and several heat exchange pipes. The heat exchange pipes connect the front section pipe and the rear section pipe to form a heat exchange area. The cooling coil, the heating coil and the supply air fan are all arranged in the rear section pipe, and the rest of the components are arranged in the front section pipe.

[0010] In some embodiments, a wind guiding mechanism is provided on the inner wall of the return air duct for guiding the indoor air in the return air passage to the heat exchange tube.

[0011] A control system for an air handling unit includes:

[0012] An air quality monitoring module for real-time monitoring of the pollutant concentration and harmful gas content in indoor air;

[0013] A temperature and humidity monitoring module for real-time monitoring of the indoor and outdoor temperature and humidity;

[0014] An intelligent control unit that receives and processes the data from the monitoring modules and automatically adjusts the operating parameters of the unit;

[0015] An actuator that responds to the instructions of the intelligent control unit and performs corresponding mechanical actions.

[0016] In some embodiments, it further includes a user interaction panel connected to the intelligent control unit for providing a user interface that enables users to set preference parameters and view the real-time status.

[0017] In some embodiments, it further includes an adaptive learning module connected to the intelligent control unit for optimizing the control strategy based on historical data and user habits.

[0018] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present invention are:

[0019] The present invention adopts a nested structure, with the return air duct sleeved outside the supply air duct, greatly reducing the space required for the unit and making the unit more suitable for installation environments with limited space. This design not only reduces the requirements for installation space but also improves the space utilization rate, making the indoor layout more flexible and variable.

[0020] Through the comprehensive heat exchange between the return air passage and the supply air duct, the present invention realizes the transfer of the heat (or cold) of the exhaust gas to the fresh air, achieving the effect of pre-cooling or pre-heating. This design reduces the workload of the subsequent cooling coil and heating coil, improves the energy usage efficiency, directly reduces the operating cost, and conforms to the environmental protection trend of energy conservation and emission reduction.

[0021] The close setting of the indoor air output end and the fresh air input end of the present invention realizes the direct return of part of the indoor air, cleverly utilizes the residual temperature of the indoor air, helps balance the initial temperature of the fresh air, reduces the need for large-scale temperature adjustment of the fresh air, and further realizes the energy-saving effect. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the unit of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 2Schematic diagram of the air duct distribution of the unit of the present invention in the working state;

[0024] Figure 3 Detailed structural drawing of the return air duct of the unit of the present invention;

[0025] Figure 4 Detailed structural drawing of the supply air duct of the unit of the present invention.

[0026] In the figure: 1, return air duct; 101, return air grille; 102, return air valve; 103, air guiding mechanism; 104, return air fan; 2, supply air duct; 201, front section pipe; 202, heat exchange pipe; 203, rear section pipe; 2011, first telescopic pipe; 2012, supply air grille; 2013, supply air valve; 2014, longitudinal filter; 2015, transverse filter; 2031, cooling coil; 2032, heating coil; 2033, supply air fan; 2034, second telescopic pipe; 3, wall. Detailed implementation manners

[0027] The embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below. The examples of the embodiments are shown in the accompanying drawings, where the same or similar reference numerals denote the same or similar elements or elements having the same or similar functions throughout. The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary and are intended to explain the present invention and should not be construed as limiting the present invention.

[0028] In the description of the present invention, it should be understood that the orientation or positional relationships indicated by the terms "length", "width", "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", etc. are based on the orientation or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing the present invention and simplifying the description, rather than indicating or implying that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as limiting the present invention.

[0029] In addition, the terms "first" and "second" are only used for descriptive purposes and cannot be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly indicating the quantity of the indicated technical features. Thus, the features defined with "first" and "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of such features. In the description of the present invention, "a plurality of" means two or more unless otherwise specifically defined.

[0030] In the present invention, unless otherwise clearly specified and defined, terms such as "installation", "connection", "linkage", "fixation" shall be understood in a broad sense. For example, it may be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral one; it may be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it may be a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium, and it may be the internal communication between two components or the interaction relationship between two components. For those of ordinary skill in the art, the specific meanings of the above terms in the present invention can be understood according to specific circumstances.

[0031] As Figures 1-4 shown, this embodiment provides an air handling unit, which includes a return air duct 1 and a supply air duct 2. The return air duct 1 is sleeved outside the supply air duct 2, and an air return channel is formed therebetween. Indoor air is transported from the indoor to the outdoor through the air return channel, and outdoor fresh air is transmitted from the outdoor to the indoor through the supply air duct 2. The unit sleeves the return air duct 1 outside the supply air duct 2, and this nested structure significantly reduces the space required for the unit. Compared with the traditional separated air return and air supply systems, while maintaining high-efficient air handling capacity, the present invention realizes miniaturization of volume, and is very suitable for installation environments with limited space, such as residential houses, small offices, etc. This feature not only reduces the requirement for installation space, but also improves the space utilization rate, making the indoor layout more flexible and changeable.

[0032] Inside the air return channel, a return air fan 104 and a return air valve 102 are sequentially arranged from the input end to the output end of the indoor air. Inside the supply air duct 2, a supply air valve 2013, a filter, a cooling coil 2031, a heating coil 2032, and a supply air fan 2033 are sequentially arranged from the input end to the output end of the outdoor fresh air. At both ends of the supply air duct 2, a first telescopic tube 2011 and a second telescopic tube 2034 that can extend outside the return air duct 1 are respectively provided. During the process of the indoor air being discharged to the outdoor through the air return channel, the entire supply air duct 2 is wrapped inside, forming a natural heat exchange area. In this way, the heat (or cold) of the exhaust gas can be effectively transferred to the newly entering fresh air, achieving the effect of precooling or preheating, thereby reducing the working burden of the subsequent cooling coil 2031 and heating coil 2032. This design not only improves the energy use efficiency, but also directly reduces the operation cost, meeting the current environmental protection trend of energy conservation and emission reduction.

[0033] Moreover, through the close arrangement of the indoor air output end and the fresh air input end, the unit realizes the direct return of part of the indoor air. This means that when the indoor air is discharged, part of the air will naturally mix into the fresh air supply duct 2 and then be sent into the indoor after being mixed with the fresh air. This design cleverly utilizes the residual temperature of the indoor air to help balance the initial temperature of the fresh air, reducing the need for large-scale temperature adjustment of the fresh air, and reducing the burden on the coil again, achieving an additional energy-saving effect.

[0034] In addition, the unit adjusts the distance between the fresh air output and input ends and the indoor air input and output ends by adjusting the expansion and contraction of the first telescopic tube 2011 and the second telescopic tube 2034, so as to adjust the degree of mutual influence between the indoor air and the fresh air during the input and output processes. The closer the indoor air output end is to the fresh air input end, the more discharged indoor air will be re-introduced into the room along with the fresh air. This can automatically adjust the extended length of the first telescopic tube 2011 according to the indoor carbon dioxide concentration. And when the unit is working, the second telescopic tube 2034 at the fresh air output end can be adjusted to the longest to maximize the distance between the fresh air output end and the indoor air input end, avoiding the newly input fresh air being drawn away with the return air and causing waste of fresh air. While during the period of waiting for installation or transportation of the unit, the first telescopic tube 2011 and the second telescopic tube 2034 can be fully retracted to reduce the occupied space.

[0035] In summary, through its compact structural design, efficient heat exchange mechanism, innovative temperature balance strategy, and flexible telescopic tube adjustment function, this unit not only significantly improves the air treatment efficiency, but also greatly reduces the energy consumption, enhances the adaptability and practicality of the system, and provides users with an air treatment solution that is both efficient and energy-saving.

[0036] In some embodiments, as Figures 3-4 shown, air return grilles 101 and air supply grilles 2012 are respectively arranged at the input ends of the air return duct 1 and the air supply duct 2;

[0037] The air return grille 101 is located at the input end of the air return duct 1, and its main function is to filter and guide the indoor air into the air return channel. The design of the air return grille 101 can block large particles of dust, debris, etc. from entering the interior of the unit, thereby protecting the components inside the unit from damage and extending the service life of the unit. At the same time, the air return grille 101 can also effectively guide the air flow to ensure that the indoor air can smoothly enter the air return channel and improve the air treatment efficiency of the unit.

[0038] The air supply grille 2012 is located at the input end of the air supply duct 2, and its function is to filter and guide the outdoor fresh air into the air supply duct 2. The air supply grille 2012 can also block large particle impurities in the outdoor air and ensure the quality of the fresh air entering the room. In addition, the air supply grille 2012 can adjust the entering speed and direction of the fresh air, so that the fresh air can be evenly distributed to each corner of the room, improving the indoor air quality and comfort.

[0039] The synergistic effect of the return air grille 101 and the supply air grille 2012 enables precise control of the indoor and outdoor air exchange process. By adjusting the opening degree of the grille, the air exchange volume between the indoor and outdoor can be flexibly adjusted to meet different usage requirements. For example, when the indoor air quality is poor, the opening degree of the return air grille 101 can be increased to increase the discharge volume of indoor air; when the outdoor air quality is good, the opening degree of the supply air grille 2012 can be increased to increase the intake volume of fresh air. This flexible adjustment method not only improves the adaptability of the unit but also further reduces energy consumption.

[0040] In summary, the settings of the return air grille 101 and the supply air grille 2012 not only protect the components inside the unit, improve the air treatment efficiency of the unit and the indoor air quality, but also achieve precise control of the indoor and outdoor air exchange process and reduce energy consumption. These technical effects together constitute an important part of the air handling unit of the present invention, providing users with an efficient, energy-saving and comfortable air treatment solution.

[0041] In some embodiments, as Figure 4 shown, the filter includes a longitudinal filter 2014 and a transverse filter 2015, which are sequentially arranged after the supply air valve 2013 and before the cooling coil 2031;

[0042] The longitudinal filter 2014 is located after the supply air valve 2013, and its main function is to initially filter larger particulate matters and impurities in the outdoor fresh air. Since outdoor air often contains impurities such as dust, pollen, and leaf fragments, if these impurities directly enter the interior of the unit, they will not only affect the normal operation of the unit but may also damage sensitive components such as the cooling coil 2031 and the heating coil 2032. The setting of the longitudinal filter 2014 effectively blocks these large particulate impurities, protects the components inside the unit, and extends the service life of the unit.

[0043] Following the longitudinal filter 2014 immediately is the transverse filter 2015, whose main role is to further refine the filtration of fine particulate matters and harmful gases in the outdoor fresh air. With the increasing severity of air pollution problems, outdoor air may contain fine particulate matters such as PM2.5 and PM10, as well as harmful gases such as sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides. If these fine particulate matters and harmful gases enter the indoor environment, they will have a serious impact on human health. The design of the transverse filter 2015 uses high-efficiency filter materials, which can effectively remove these fine particulate matters and harmful gases, ensuring the quality of the fresh air entering the indoor environment.

[0044] The combined use of the vertical filter 2014 and the horizontal filter 2015 achieves double filtration of outdoor fresh air, greatly improving the filtration efficiency. This double-filtration design not only ensures the quality of the fresh air entering the room but also reduces the cleaning and maintenance frequency of the internal components of the unit, thus reducing the usage cost.

[0045] In some embodiments, such as Figure 4 shown, the air supply duct 2 is composed of a front section duct 201, a rear section duct 203, and a number of heat exchange tubes 202 disposed between the front section duct 201 and the rear section duct 203 for connecting the two. The cooling coil 2031, the heating coil 2032, and the air supply fan 2033 are all disposed within the rear section duct 203, while the remaining components are all disposed within the front section duct 201;

[0046] These heat exchange tubes 202 not only undertake the task of connecting the front section duct 201 and the rear section duct 203, but more importantly, they form an effective heat exchange area. When the indoor air is discharged outdoors through the return air passage, the heat or cold of the exhaust gas can be transferred to the newly entering fresh air through the heat exchange tubes 202, achieving the effect of precooling or preheating. This design not only improves the energy usage efficiency but also directly reduces the working burden of the subsequent cooling coil 2031 and heating coil 2032, thereby reducing the operating cost.

[0047] Moreover, by centrally disposing key components such as the cooling coil 2031, the heating coil 2032, and the air supply fan 2033 within the rear section duct 203, while disposing components such as the filter and the air supply valve 2013 within the front section duct 201, this functional zoning design makes the air treatment process inside the unit more orderly. After being purified by the filter, the fresh air directly enters the rear section duct 203 for heat exchange and air supply treatment, reducing unnecessary flow paths and vortex phenomena, thereby enhancing the air treatment efficiency. And by centrally disposing components such as the air supply fan 2033 that generate noise and vibration within the rear section duct 203 and isolating them from the front section duct 201 through the heat exchange tubes 202, this design effectively reduces the noise and vibration levels during the operation of the unit. This not only improves the comfort of users but also reduces the interference of the unit to the surrounding environment.

[0048] In some embodiments, such as Figure 3 shown, a wind guiding mechanism 103 is provided on the inner wall of the return air duct 1. The wind guiding mechanism 103 is used to guide the indoor air in the return air passage to the heat exchange tubes 202. The design of the wind guiding mechanism 103 enables the indoor air to be orderly guided to the heat exchange tubes 202 when flowing in the return air passage. In this way, the heat or cold of the exhaust gas can be more fully transferred to the newly entering fresh air, thereby improving the heat exchange efficiency. This design not only helps to precool or preheat the fresh air but also reduces the working burden of the subsequent cooling coil 2031 and heating coil 2032, further reducing the energy consumption.

[0049] This embodiment also proposes a control system for an air handling unit, which includes:

[0050] An air quality monitoring module for real-time monitoring of the pollutant concentration and harmful gas content in indoor air;

[0051] A temperature and humidity monitoring module for real-time monitoring of the indoor and outdoor temperature and humidity to ensure precise temperature and humidity control;

[0052] An intelligent control unit that receives and processes data from the monitoring modules and automatically adjusts the operating parameters of the air handling unit according to preset algorithms and user settings, including but not limited to the opening degrees of the return air valve 102 and the supply air valve 2013, the telescopic lengths of the first telescopic pipe 2011 and the second telescopic pipe 2034, as well as the operating states of the cooling coil 2031, the heating coil 2032, and the rotational speed of the supply fan 2033;

[0053] An actuator that responds to the instructions of the intelligent control unit and performs corresponding mechanical actions to achieve the efficient operation of the air handling unit;

[0054] In this control system, the air quality monitoring module uses high-precision sensors to be able to real-time monitor the concentrations of pollutants such as PM2.5, PM10, carbon dioxide, formaldehyde, etc. and the harmful gas content in indoor air, ensuring the accuracy and real-time nature of the data. The temperature and humidity monitoring module, through precise temperature and humidity sensors, real-time monitors the changes in indoor and outdoor temperature and humidity, providing accurate temperature and humidity data support for the intelligent control unit.

[0055] The intelligent control unit, as the core of the control system, receives and processes data from the monitoring modules and automatically adjusts the operating parameters of the air handling unit according to preset advanced algorithms and user-set preferences. For example, when the indoor air quality is poor, the intelligent control unit will increase the opening degree of the return air valve 102, increase the discharge amount of indoor air, and adjust the opening degree of the supply air valve 2013 to introduce more fresh air; at the same time, according to the indoor and outdoor temperature and humidity differences, the intelligent control unit will precisely control the operating states of the cooling coil 2031 and the heating coil 2032, as well as the rotational speed of the supply fan 2033, to maintain the balance of indoor temperature and humidity. In addition, the intelligent control unit can also flexibly adjust the distances between the fresh air output and input ends and the indoor air input and output ends according to the telescopic lengths of the first telescopic pipe 2011 and the second telescopic pipe 2034 to optimize the indoor and outdoor air exchange efficiency.

[0056] The actuator, as the executive component of the control system, responds to the instructions of the intelligent control unit and performs corresponding mechanical actions. For example, according to the instructions of the intelligent control unit, the actuator adjusts the opening degrees of the return air valve 102 and the supply air valve 2013 to control the discharge of indoor air and the introduction of fresh air; at the same time, the actuator also adjusts the telescopic lengths of the first telescopic pipe 2011 and the second telescopic pipe 2034 to optimize the working performance of the air handling unit. In addition, the actuator can also control the working states of the cooling coil 2031 and the heating coil 2032 and the rotational speed of the supply fan 2033 to ensure the efficient operation of the air handling unit.

[0057] In summary, the control system realizes the intelligent management of the air handling unit by real-time monitoring of key parameters such as indoor air quality, temperature and humidity, and automatically adjusting the working parameters of the air handling unit according to the preset algorithm and user settings. This intelligent control method not only improves the air handling efficiency, but also greatly reduces the energy consumption, and enhances the adaptability and practicability of the system. At the same time, the control system can also be personalized according to the actual needs and preferences of users, providing users with an efficient and comfortable air handling solution.

[0058] In some embodiments, the control system further includes a user interaction panel, which is connected to the intelligent control unit and used to provide a user interface, enabling users to set preference parameters and view the real-time status; through this panel, users can conveniently set various preference parameters, such as the desired indoor temperature, humidity, air quality level, etc. These preference parameters will be transmitted to the intelligent control unit in real time and used as an important basis for adjusting the working parameters of the air handling unit. At the same time, the user interaction panel can also display in real time key data such as the current indoor air quality, temperature and humidity, as well as the working status of the air handling unit, enabling users to understand the actual situation of the indoor environment at any time.

[0059] In some embodiments, the control system further includes an adaptive learning module, which is connected to the intelligent control unit and is used to continuously optimize the control strategy according to historical data and user habits, so as to improve system performance and user satisfaction; the adaptive learning module can continuously collect and analyze the historical data during the operation of the air handling unit, including but not limited to the changes in indoor and outdoor temperature and humidity, air quality fluctuations, user-set preference parameters, and the working status of the unit, etc. By training with an AI model to process the above data, the adaptive learning module can identify the user's habits and demand patterns, such as the preferred indoor temperature and humidity range of the user, sensitivity to air quality, and daily activity patterns, etc. Based on these analysis results, the adaptive learning module will continuously adjust and optimize the control strategy of the intelligent control unit. For example, if the user often adjusts the indoor temperature within a certain time period, the adaptive learning module will learn this habit and automatically adjust the working parameters of the unit during this time period in the future to meet the user's comfort preferences in advance. Similarly, if the user has high requirements for air quality, the adaptive learning module will strengthen the control of fresh air introduction and air purification to ensure that the indoor air always remains at the level expected by the user.

[0060] This specific embodiment is only an explanation of the present invention and does not limit the present invention. After reading this specification, those skilled in the art can make modifications to this embodiment without creative contributions as needed, but as long as they are within the scope of the claims of the present invention, they are protected by the patent law.

Claims

1. An air handling unit, comprising a return air duct (1) and an air supply duct (2), characterized in that: The return air duct (1) is sleeved on the outside of the supply air duct (2), and a return air channel is formed between the two. Indoor air is transported from indoors to outdoors through the return air channel, and outdoor fresh air is transported from outdoors to indoors through the supply air duct (2); A return air fan (104) and a return air valve (102) are arranged in sequence from the input end to the output end of the indoor air in the return air passage; An air supply valve (2013), a filter, a cooling coil (2031), a heating coil (2032) and an air supply fan (2033) are sequentially arranged in the air supply pipe (2) from the input end to the output end of the outdoor fresh air. A first telescopic pipe (2011) and a second telescopic pipe (2034) capable of extending out of the return air pipe (1) are also respectively arranged at both ends of the air supply pipe (2). The air supply pipe (2) is composed of a front section pipe (201), a rear section pipe (203) and a plurality of heat exchange pipes (202); the heat exchange pipe (202) connects the front section pipe (201) and the rear section pipe (203) to form a heat exchange area; the cooling coil (2031), the heating coil (2032) and the air supply fan (2033) are all arranged in the rear section pipe (203), and the remaining components are arranged in the front section pipe (201); An air guide mechanism (103) is provided on the inner wall of the return air duct (1) for guiding the indoor air in the return air channel to the heat exchange tube (202).

2. An air handling unit according to claim 1, characterized in that: A return air grille (101) and a supply air grille (2012) are respectively arranged on the input ends of the return air duct (1) and the supply air duct (2).

3. An air handling unit according to claim 1, characterized in that: The filter comprises a longitudinal filter (2014) and a transverse filter (2015), which are arranged in sequence after the air supply valve (2013) and before the cooling coil (2031).

4. A control system for an air handling unit, the system being based on the air handling unit according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: include: Air quality monitoring module, used to monitor the concentration of pollutants and harmful gas content in indoor air in real time; Temperature and humidity monitoring module, used to monitor indoor and outdoor temperature and humidity in real time; Intelligent control unit receives and processes data from the monitoring module and automatically adjusts the unit's operating parameters; The actuator responds to the instructions of the intelligent control unit and performs corresponding mechanical actions.

5. The control system of an air handling unit according to claim 4, characterized in that: A user interaction panel is also included, which is connected to the intelligent control unit and is used to provide a user interface so that the user can set preferred parameters and view real-time status.

6. The control system of an air handling unit according to claim 4, characterized in that: It also includes an adaptive learning module, which is connected to the intelligent control unit and is used to optimize the control strategy based on historical data and user habits.

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