416 results about "Air handler" patented technology

A method is provided including installing a variable frequency drive unit to drive a previously non-variable air handler fan of an HVAC system. The method includes setting a control strategy for the variable frequency drive. The control strategy includes a drive speed for each mode of the HVAC system. The method includes operating the HVAC system in each mode and monitoring the HVAC system. The method includes adjusting the HVAC system or the control strategy of the variable frequency drive to increase drive speed based on monitoring the HVAC system.

A system and method for cooling and heating of buildings consisting of an integrated assembly of devices, including a variable speed air handler, hot water heating coil, outside air damper, controller, and optional compressor-based air conditioner. During summer the system utilizes nighttime outside air for cooling and uses air temperature predictions to provide information about optimal control settings and to maintain comfort. During winter the system varies airflow with heating demand and ventilates with outside air to maintain indoor air quality.

Airflow rates within a ventilation system are controlled using motor speed or torque and motor electric current or pressure. Fan speed or torque may be varied to compensate for differing restriction in ductwork, and may provide a constant airflow rate over a range of varying airflow restriction. Air handlers or air conditioning units may be mass produced in common configurations, and installed in different buildings or structures with different ductwork configurations. Methods operate a fan motor at a present speed or torque, sample speed or torque, sample current of the fan motor or pressure within the ventilation system, calculate a present airflow rate within the ventilation system, calculate a new input setting using the present airflow rate and a target airflow rate, change the speed or torque to the new input setting, and repeat these steps to converge on the target airflow rate, often avoiding overshoot.

A high-efficiency air handler that is suitable for moving large volumes of air. The air handler comprises a coil and a fan. The total air volume moving through the unit is preferably over about 2000 CFM, with a total fan static pressure rise of less than about 0.5 inches and preferably less than 0.2 inches of water. The fan is preferably a modified ceiling fan with a rotational speed of less than about 450 rpm. The air handler is preferably part of a system where dehumidification and sensible cooling functions are separate. The separate dehumidification allows for much higher supply air temperatures, preferably within about 10° F. of the space temperature. Low-velocity air distribution through a ceiling plenum or a vent into the space allows for very low fan static pressures, which greatly reduces fan energy use compared to conventional ducted systems. The low static pressures and high supply-air temperatures allow the use of existing drop ceiling construction with little modification. The system can also include low-cost thermal storage. Latent thermal storage is in the form of a concentrated liquid desiccant solution. Chilled water storage is another option. The result is a major improvement in energy efficiency and comfort while reducing installed cost and peak electrical demand of the system.

A system and method for cooling and heating of buildings comprising an integrated assembly of devices, including a variable speed air handler, hot water heating coil, outside air damper, controller, and optional compressor-based air conditioner. During the summer the system utilizes nighttime outside air for cooling and uses air temperature predictions to provide information about optimal control settings and to maintain comfort. During the winter the system varies airflow with heating demand and ventilates with outside air to maintain indoor air quality.

The invention is directed to a direct replacement air filtration or handler filter that is placed within an air flow channel within an air handler unit having a housing. A motor in communication with a controller and having an at least one sensor input or a timer or a transceiver and processing module. A filter media storage area is located on one end of the housing, with a pleated, folded filter media folded and compactly stored inside the filter media storage area. An exposed filter media containment area is located on an opposed end within the housing with the filter media extending therebetween. The filter media being paid out or advanced from the filter media storage area across the housing where it is exposed to air within the air flow channel as it removes contaminants from the air. The motor can be activated by said controller in response to input from the at least one sensor or based on a timed input from said timer and rotate an at least one movement member to move the filter media across the exposure area. This allows for higher efficiency operation and reduces maintenance and energy costs. The sensors and communications capability allow for the use of the filter in providing Air Quality Management (AQM). AQM allows the filter to monitor the quality of the air as it passes through the filter and interact with a network system to monitor the air quality at the point of filtration.

A heat pump heat pump system, operating with an R-410A refrigerant, comprised of at least one of an air source heat pump system, a water source heat pump system, and a direct expansion heat pump system, preferably for use in a Deep Well Direct Expansion heat pump system, which incorporates a three-mode receiver and an interior air handler, with at least one fan, with such air handler comprised of a combination of two sets of refrigerant to air heat exchange tubing / interior air heat exchange means, with by-pass lines and solenoid valves to facilitate system operation in the desired operational mode, all enabling optimum system performance in one of the desired heating mode, cooling mode, and dehumidification mode of system operation, as controlled by at least one of a thermostat / humidistat.

A method for protecting an HVAC system of an air handling unit from low temperature outdoor ventilation air. The air handling unit may include an outdoor fresh air region, a return air region, a supply air region, and a damper situated in or adjacent to the fresh air region to regulate the flow of outdoor air into the air handling unit. The air handling unit mixes the outdoor fresh air and the return air to provide a mixed air stream to the HVAC system. In one illustrative embodiment, one or more sensors are used to measure the temperature and flow rate of the air entering or passing through the outdoor fresh air region, the temperature of the air entering or passing through the return air region and the flow rate of the air passing through the supply air region. The temperature of the mixed air stream, which is provided to the HVAC system, is then calculated using a controller or the like. In some cases, when the temperature of the mixed air stream falls below a threshold value, the controller may instruct the damper to close and reduce the fresh outdoor air that is brought into the air handler unit. Various other embodiments and algorithms are disclosed.

An air conditioning system may comprise an air handler, heat pump or fossil fuel furnace and may include a variable speed blower for conducting air through the system and operably connected to a controller which is also connected to a thermostat and / or humidity sensor. A discharge air temperature sensor may be disposed downstream of or embedded in a heat exchanger of the air conditioning system and connected to the controller for controlling the blower speed and airflow through the system. The amount of heating or cooling effect produced by the heat exchanger or blower speed may be adjusted to provide a constant discharge temperature or lower the humidity of air returning to a controlled space.

This invention details apparatus and methods for a unique integrated duct probe assembly system that enables multipoint sampling systems to cost effectively measure air parameters in partially confined locations such as ductwork, plenums, and air handlers with both remote and local sensors with a minimum of duct penetrations.

An air handler unit (AHU) in communication with a building automation system (BAS) or through direct programming of one or more smart valves within the AHU operates to meter an amount of water that flows through a coil in the AHU. In one embodiment, the BAS transmits a temperature setpoint signal to the smart valve and allows the smart valve to control its valve position without additional input from the BAS. In another embodiment, the AHU includes a master smart valve and a second valve. The BAS provides the temperature setpoint signal to the master smart valve, which in turn provides another temperature setpoint signal to the second valve. The second valve may take the form of a slave smart valve or a slave non-smart valve.

A quick chill and thaw system includes an air handler mounted in a fresh food compartment of a refrigerator and drawing air from a freezer compartment for rapid chilling of items inside a slide-out pan. The air handler produces convective airflow at temperatures within the pan at temperatures above and below a temperature of the fresh food compartment to achieve both chilling and thawing of items in the pan.

An inline air handler system and associated method of use is disclosed. This includes a member, at least one sensor operatively attached to the member, at least one ultraviolet light operatively attached to the member, at least one electronic input device, at least one electronic output device, a control unit, which includes a processor, that is electronically in communication with the at least one sensor, the at least one ultraviolet light, the at least one electronic input device and the at least one electronic output device, a water purification mechanism that includes an ultraviolet radiation chamber to allow water to flow between the inlet and the outlet through the ultraviolet radiation chamber and the ultraviolet radiation chamber can be positioned adjacent to at least one ultraviolet light. The air filtration unit and the member are positioned in a chamber located within a heating, ventilation, evaporative cooling and / or air conditioning system.

A system and method to control environmental parameters of pre-defined zones within an environment using an electronic controller are disclosed. The system includes a non-proprietary electronic controller which enables a weighting value to be assigned to each zone within the environment. The electronic controller also detects any zone service calls from sensor devices associated with each of the zones and determines a cumulative weighting value in response to the detected zone service calls. The electronic controller selects an equipment staging combination from at least two possible equipment staging combinations in response to thermal capacity, and an air handler stage is selected in response to at least the cumulative zone weighting value.

A vehicle HVAC noise control system includes a controller. An air handler provides airflow to a passenger compartment. An inputting device sets a target temperature for the passenger compartment. A temperature sensor measures a current temperature within the passenger compartment. A sensor detects an ambient condition outside of the passenger compartment. A blower motor moves the air flowing through the air handler into the passenger compartment at an adjustable operating airflow rate. The controller is connected to the air handler, the inputting device, the temperature sensor, the exterior sensor, and the blower motor. The controller determines and implements adjustments to the operating airflow rate in order to reduce airflow noise level based on at least the ambient condition, a comparison between the target temperature and the current temperature within the passenger compartment and a noise level of the airflow in the passenger compartment.

A combination fan and light unit comprises a housing surrounding a coaxial fan disposed such that air impelled by the fan passes through the housing and is directed as desired by orienting the housing or by diffusers disposed across the air path. Disposed above and / or below the housing, a light optionally enclosed within a globe coupled to the housing also provides illumination from the fan light unit. Fan light units may be arrayed in various configurations, including single or multiple sconce arrays supported on walls, one or more pendant fan lights suspended from ceilings, satellite fan lights arrayed around a central body at the ends of radial arms to form a fan chandelier or in many other configurations to achieve both aesthetic lighting and directed air flow. The fan lights preferably have separate controls, and multiple units in a collective array such as a fan chandelier may be individually or collectively controllable. The fan light units may include heater strips to warm the air and filters to clean the air as it passes through the air handler.

A base assembly for air handlers having a filter. Four metallic legs each have a distal end. The metallic legs also have first through holes at first predetermined distances from their respective distal ends. The metallic legs have a rectangular or square cross section, and each distal end mounts to a floor. First and second metallic upper frames have vertical extensions to telescopically receive the four metallic legs respectively. The first and second metallic upper frames further have braces member and air filter C-shaped tracks. The first and second metallic upper frames each further have elongated male horizontal arms and elongated female horizontal arms that join whereby the air filter C-shaped tracks face each other to receive a filter.

A direct expansion geothermal heat exchange system including certain requisite heating / cooling load calculations, certain operational refrigerant pressures, refrigerant tubing design lengths in varying soils, refrigerant tubing sizing per ton of system design capacity, refrigerant tubing sizing at varying sub-surface installation depths, lowering refrigerant tubing into a borehole via rope, encasing the lower segment of refrigerant tubing within a solid encasement, providing a bar for rope attachment, using a winch to raise and lower refrigerant tubing, certain sizing of the compressor, certain air handler sizing, certain accumulator sizing, certain sizing of metering devices in the heating mode and in the cooling mode, parameters for charging the system, certain sizing of the receiver, utilizing certain grout for corrosion protection and for enhanced heat transfer, providing a fluid filled pipe within a borehole to contain accessible refrigerant tubing, providing a certain fluid fill for the pipe, one of providing a certain time delay on the low pressure cut off switch and of eliminating the switch, providing a certain oil separator return line location, and providing a certain amount of lubricating oil.

Demand Flow operates chilled water plants at substantially improved efficiency, regardless of plant load conditions. In general, Demand Flow utilizes an operating strategy which controls chilled and condenser water pumping according to a constant Delta T line, which is typically near or at design Delta T. This reduces or eliminates Low Delta T Syndrome and reduces energy usage by chilled and condenser water pumps for given load conditions. Operation of chilled water pumps in this manner creates a synergy which generally balances flow rates throughout the plant, reducing undesirable bypass mixing and energy usage at air handler fans and other components of the chilled water plant. At plant chillers, application of Demand Flow increases the refrigeration effect through refrigerant sub-cooling and superheating, while preventing stacking. Demand Flow includes a critical zone reset feature which allows the constant Delta T line to be reset to adjust to changing load conditions.

An improved HVAC air handler and control system adapted for measuring and monitoring operating characteristics, the leakage of supply and return ducts to which it is connected, the infiltration leakage of the building it serves, the blockage of air return paths and the watts drawn and air flow generated by its blower. Leakages are measured by blocking outlets of all supply ducts or all return ducts, opening one side of the air handler to outdoor air, running the air handler blower, and measuring the air flow. Airflow may be measured by opening or closing orifices mounted in plenums attached to the air hander or built into the air handler cabinet, or by varying the speed of the blower motor, in connection with an integrated manometer. Thermostat firmware controls all functions.

A clean room air handling system is disclosed. The system includes an air handler adapted to receive an air flow, the air handler further provided with a cooling apparatus, and at least one supply fan for generating the air flow without a cooling apparatus directly associated therewith, and modulation means for operating said system.

There are disclosed methods of controlling the presence of surface and airborne microorganisms in an air handler. The method may comprise: energizing a germicidal lamp to emit distributed UVC radiation; positioning the germicidal lamp in proximity to the heat transfer coil, wherein the intensity of the UVC radiation striking a heat transfer coil of the air handler is to a degree independent of the distance of the germicidal lamp to the heat transfer coil; directing the UVC radiation across the coil face to the coil's tube and fins; reflecting and directing the ultraviolet by the coil's tube and the fins-throughout the coil, thereby increasing the flux density of the ultraviolet radiation and the dosage of the radiation applied to airborne microorganisms and microorganisms carried on the surface; continuing to irradiate the surface with the UVC radiation from the germicidal lamp at least intermittently until the surface is organically clean.

A system for utilizing solar energy for home utility supply includes an air collector coupled to a solar module disposed to collect ambient air carrying thermal energy generated from the solar module. The system includes an energy transfer module (ETM) comprising a first heat-exchanger configured to process a first air stream from the air collector and output a second air stream carrying a portion of the thermal energy. Additionally, the system includes an air-conditioning module for processing a third air stream from interior space. The system includes an air processor comprising a desiccant material to pre-condition the third air stream utilizing the second air stream in the ETM and form a fourth air stream for the air-conditioning module and a fifth air stream in the ETM. Furthermore, the system uses a second heat-exchanger to process the fourth air stream and form a six air stream with reduced temperature and humidity.

The invention discloses an air processor with air heating and purifying functions, which comprises a shell, and a fan and an electric component which are arranged in the shell; the wall of the shell is provided with an air inlet and an air outlet; a passage is arranged in the shell; and the fan is arranged in the passage. The air processor is characterized in that: an air purifying device capableof removing solid particles in the air is arranged in the air inlet of the shell and an air heater is arranged in the air outlet of the shell. The purifying device comprises one or combination of an electrostatic presipitator, a filter, an activated carbon purifier, a photocatalyst sterilizer, an ultraviolet light sterilizing lamp and the like; and the air heater is a PTC ceramic heating element or heating cords, a metal electrical heated tube with radiating fins and the like. The air processor can heat indoor air and purify indoor air, and simultaneously meets requirements of people on air purifying and heating by one device, thereby greatly improving the utilization rate of the device, saving expense of the device, reducing the use cost and saving the occupied space. The air processor brings enormous social and economic benefits after being popularized and applied.

An intelligent auxiliary power supply system for supplying power to a load such as a furnace or air handler using a rechargeable power source. An intelligent controller determines appropriate periods for switching to auxiliary power, thus allowing the user to realize increased energy related cost savings. A plurality of sensors including a current transducer, an indoor and outdoor temperature sensor, and a clock transmit information to the intelligent controller. Implementing user configured algorithms, the intelligent controller continuously compares information transmitted from said sensors and said load, to information inputted by the user via an electronic device to determine the appropriate power configuration. A remote electronic device may also be connected to the system, allowing the user to control the system while not in close proximity to said system and also allowing the user's energy provider to send requests to switch to auxiliary power.

The invention relates to a manual simulation plant climate box, which comprises a box body and an equipment room, wherein the equipment room is located at the back side of the box body; the box body is constituted of a top cover, a base plate and a side plate; an electrical box, a refrigerating unit, a humidifier and a carbon dioxide steel cylinder are set in the equipment room; the box body is also provided with a camera, an ultraviolet ray lamp tube, a sensor unit, a plant cultivation frame and an air processor; an air flow channel is set between a top plate and the top cover and the air flow channel is shaped like a long strip; the top plate is provided with an inserted buckle; an inserted-type light-supplementing lamp bar is mounted in the inserted buckle; and a top plate at the outskirt of the inserted-type light-supplementing lamp bar is provided with a ventilation hole. The advantages are that comprehensive simulation to natural environment or specified environment is performed; each of factor is controlled separately and also coordinated as a whole; specified light strength, temperature, humidity and carbon dioxide concentration can be acquired; the best growth environment of plants in each stage inside the box body can be simulated; and comparative test can be performed by controlling certain environmental factors.

An arrangement for use in connection with an air handling unit includes a controller and a processing circuit. The controller is configured to control a device within an air handler unit, which includes at least a first coil. The processing circuit is configured to receive first information representative of a maximum liquid flow rate through the first coil and second information representative of a maximum air flow rate of the first coil. The processing circuit is further configured to generate a time constant estimate, based on the first information and second information, for use in the controller in performing control of the device.

Ventilating units that include a recovery wheel, a supply air outlet from the wheel, an outdoor air supply fan that moves outdoor air through the recovery wheel, an economizer damper that opens to bring outdoor air directly into the supply air outlet, and an exhaust air discharge fan that moves exhaust air through the recovery wheel and to outdoors; HVAC units that include air conditioning with an air handler supply fan, a recovery wheel, an economizer section, an outdoor air supply fan, and controls; and methods of controlling airflow in an HVAC unit that include controlling an economizer damper based on outdoor and return air temperature and enthalpy or dew point. Some ventilating units connect to a packaged air handler and other ventilating units include the air handler, cooling coil, and air handler supply fan. Some embodiments include another damper that opens to bypass the recovery wheel for power exhaust.