Forced air conditioning system
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Solution Overview
Problem
Forced air conditioning systems face challenges in maintaining consistent air conditioning levels across multiple rooms, leading to human discomfort and excessive energy consumption due to disparities in heating or cooling requirements.
Innovation Solution
A forced air conditioning system with a recirculation mode that uses sensors and a controller to equalize air conditions between rooms by isolating and redistributing airflow through adjustable dampers and a blower, operating in both activated and deactivated states to manage airflow and energy usage efficiently.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the gas heater runs continuously to maintain air conditioning in all rooms, then the air conditioning level is improved, but energy consumption increases excessively
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies local quality by allowing different rooms to have different air conditioning requirements. The controller receives temperature inputs from individual room thermostats and selectively opens supply dampers for only those rooms that require heating or cooling, rather than forcing uniform conditioning across all spaces. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining adequate temperature control where needed while avoiding energy waste in rooms that already have acceptable conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs dynamic control through automatically adjusting supply dampers based on real-time temperature feedback from each room. The dampers modulate airflow dynamically rather than remaining fixed, allowing the system to respond to changing thermal conditions in different rooms. This dynamic adjustment prevents continuous operation of the gas heater while maintaining comfort, thereby reducing energy consumption without sacrificing temperature control quality.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the gas heater runs excessively to equalize air conditioning across rooms, then temperature uniformity is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system accepts and maintains local temperature variations between rooms rather than forcing uniformity. Each room's supply damper is controlled independently based on its specific temperature needs, allowing some rooms to be warmer while others are cooler. This approach maintains adequate comfort in each space without requiring the gas heater to run excessively to achieve uniform temperatures across all rooms, thereby reducing energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments the air conditioning control into independent zones for each room. Instead of treating the entire dwelling as a single controlled space, the controller manages each room's temperature independently through individual supply dampers and thermostats. This segmentation allows the system to satisfy temperature requirements in only those rooms that need it, avoiding the energy waste associated with heating or cooling the entire structure uniformly.
3Manufacturing precision
If supply dampers are used to control airflow to individual rooms, then temperature control precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system achieves multi-functionality by having the central gas heater and blower assembly serve all rooms through a common air handling unit, while individual supply dampers provide room-specific control. The controller integrates temperature monitoring and damper actuation functions, eliminating the need for separate control systems in each room. This universal approach provides precise temperature control for each room without proportionally increasing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The supply dampers act as intermediaries between the central air handling system and individual rooms. These dampers modulate airflow based on controller commands, providing precise temperature control without requiring complex modifications to the core heating equipment. The dampers translate control signals into physical airflow adjustments, enabling accurate temperature regulation while keeping the overall system architecture relatively simple and maintainable.
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
The system effectively reduces energy consumption by redistributing air between rooms when the air treatment device is deactivated, maintaining occupant comfort while optimizing energy efficiency by minimizing unnecessary heating or cooling.
Implementation Method 1
a first blower adapted to induce airflow in the supply and return air plenums
Implementation Method 2
an air treatment device adapted to condition air flowing from the return air plenum and into the supply air plenum when in an activated state
Data Source
AI summary
A forced air conditioning system includes supply and return air plenum, an air treatment device, first and second air return dampers, first and second sensors, and a controller. The plenums communicate with first and second rooms and the treatment device is adapted to condition air when activated and not condition air when deactivated. The air return dampers are adapted to isolate the respective first and second rooms when closed. The sensors are located in the respective first and second rooms and are configured to detect a condition of the air. The controller is configured to receive condition signals from the respective sensors, compare the signals to a preprogrammed air condition threshold, and output a command signal to close one of the dampers to substantially equalize the air condition between rooms when the preprogrammed air condition threshold is met, and the air treatment device is deactivated.