System and apparatus for conditioning of indoor air
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing chilled beam control systems are complex and costly, limiting their adoption due to high installation costs and inability to efficiently provide simultaneous heating and cooling, as well as maximum cooling rates tailored to varying dew point temperatures across different conditioned spaces.
Innovation Solution
A control system that independently controls each chilled beam using a recirculation pump and control valve to combine return water with cold-water supply, adjusting flow and temperature to achieve desired input conditions, eliminating the need for secondary piping and allowing for precise temperature management based on ambient and user-defined setpoints.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a control system independently controls each chilled beam with recirculation pump and control valve, then temperature management precision and responsiveness to specific heating/cooling demands are improved, but device complexity and installation cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the building into multiple independent conditioned spaces, each with its own chilled beam equipped with individual control valve and recirculation pump. This segmentation allows each zone to be controlled independently based on its specific thermal requirements, achieving precise temperature management while allowing for modular installation that can be scaled according to needs.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system dynamically adjusts the position of control valves and recirculation pump operation based on real-time temperature sensors and user-defined setpoints. This dynamic control enables the system to respond to changing thermal demands in each conditioned space, optimizing temperature precision while adapting to varying conditions throughout the day.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If water temperature is optimized to prevent condensation by maintaining it a few degrees above dew point, then condensation prevention is improved, but cooling effectiveness and maximum cooling rates are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts water temperature based on real-time dew point calculations from humidity sensors. By continuously monitoring ambient conditions and adjusting the water temperature to be a few degrees above the calculated dew point, the system prevents condensation while maximizing cooling effectiveness. This dynamic adjustment allows the water temperature to vary throughout the day rather than maintaining a fixed conservative temperature.
Solution Approach 2:
Temperature and humidity sensors provide continuous feedback to the control system, which calculates the dew point and adjusts the water temperature accordingly. This feedback mechanism ensures that the water temperature is always optimized to prevent condensation while maintaining maximum cooling capacity, resolving the contradiction between safety and performance.
3Adaptability or versatility
If chilled beam system is designed to provide simultaneous heating and cooling in different conditioned spaces, then adaptability to varying thermal demands is improved, but system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The chilled beam units are designed to provide both heating and cooling functions within the same physical infrastructure. By equipping each chilled beam with independent control valves and recirculation pumps, the system can simultaneously deliver cooled water to some beams and heated water to others based on the specific demands of each conditioned space, achieving multi-functionality without requiring separate systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The piping system is segmented into independently controllable zones, each with its own control valve and recirculation pump. This segmentation allows different portions of the system to operate in different modes (heating or cooling) simultaneously, providing the adaptability needed for buildings with varying thermal demands across different spaces while keeping the overall system manageable through modular design.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution reduces installation costs, enhances responsiveness to specific heating and cooling demands, and prevents condensation by optimizing water temperature, thus improving comfort and reducing energy consumption.
Implementation Method 1
Water is passed through a finned-tube coil of pipe which exchanges heat with the surrounding air through radiation and convection
Implementation Method 2
Water is passed through a finned-tube coil of pipe which exchanges heat with the surrounding air through radiation and convection
Implementation Method 3
A control system may pump a portion of the flow that has already passed through the chilled beam and combine it with liquid from the supply to achieve a flow into the chilled beam that has a desired input temperature
Implementation Method 4
A control valve and recirculation pump may be controlled to vary the relative amounts of the recirculation flow and supply flow to achieve the desired temperature for the liquid flowing into the chilled beam
Implementation Method 5
Energy Recovery Ventilators (ERVs) are a special type of DOAS, which make use of the energy recovery process by exchanging the energy contained in the exhausted building air and use it to condition the incoming, outdoor air
Implementation Method 6
An ERV is a type of air-to-air heat exchanger that not only transfers sensible heat but also latent heat
Implementation Method 7
This supply air is then forced through nozzles in order to create high velocity air streams which reduces the pressure, inducing room air up through the heating/cooling coil
Data Source
AI summary
A control system is provided for controlling heating and/or cooling with a conditioning load such as fan coils and chilled beams. Based on user input and ambient conditions, the control system determines a desired temperature for the liquid entering the load and combines fresh supply liquid (e.g., from a chiller or boiler) with a portion of the liquid that has passed through the load, to achieve the target load input temperature for the liquid. A recirculation pump may be used to return a portion of the liquid exiting the load for mixing with the fresh supply liquid and a control valve may be used to adjust the ratio of fresh supply liquid and recirculated liquid to achieve the targeted temperature. The control systems can be compatible with a variety of liquid supply systems such as two- and four-pipe systems.