HVAC Excess Air Flow Routing Based on Zone Activation Likelihood
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Solution Overview
Problem
Modern HVAC systems often face inefficiencies due to excess air flow when only one zone requires conditioned air, leading to wasteful distribution methods such as evenly distributing excess air among all zones or directing it to specific, predetermined zones.
Innovation Solution
A device comprising a processor and memory that determines excess air flow and intelligently routes it to zones most likely to trigger subsequent activation conditions, based on differences from set points, occupancy, or rate of change, thereby optimizing energy consumption and extending HVAC equipment life.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the HVAC device is activated at a minimum setting to meet the needs of one zone, then the activation condition for that zone is satisfied, but excess air flow is generated that is more than needed for the signaling zone
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary identification of zones that are likely to need air flow in the near future, before they actually trigger HVAC activation. By analyzing zone characteristics, occupancy patterns, and historical data, the system pre-determines which zones should receive excess air flow, thereby eliminating waste while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of evenly distributing excess air flow across all zones or dumping it in a single location, the system applies local quality by routing excess air flow to specific zones based on their individual needs and characteristics. Each zone receives air flow tailored to its particular conditions, optimizing energy efficiency while maintaining comfort.
2Device complexity
If excess air flow is evenly distributed among all zones or directed to predetermined zones, then the routing method is simple, but energy efficiency is reduced due to wasteful distribution
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from static, predetermined routing to dynamic, adaptive routing. The excess air flow destination is not fixed but changes based on real-time and historical zone conditions, occupancy patterns, and environmental factors. This dynamic approach optimizes energy efficiency while the computational methods keep implementation complexity manageable.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms by continuously monitoring zone conditions, occupancy, and air flow effectiveness. This feedback informs the routing decisions, allowing the system to learn from past performance and improve its efficiency over time while maintaining a relatively simple operational framework.
3Reliability
If the HVAC device operates continuously to pre-condition zones, then subsequent activation conditions are less likely to be triggered, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of continuously operating the HVAC device to pre-condition all zones, the system applies partial action by selectively routing excess air flow only to specific zones that are most likely to need conditioning soon. This targeted approach provides sufficient pre-conditioning to prevent near-future activations without the excessive energy consumption of continuous operation across all zones.
Data Source
AI summary
Architectures and techniques are presented that can more efficiently route excess air flow by intelligently selecting the zones to which the excess air flow is to be routed. Excess air flow results from an HVAC device providing (e.g., at a minimum setting) a volume of air that is greater than what is demanded by a zone that triggers activation of the HVAC device. As one example, excess air flow can be routed to a zone or zones that are determined to be most likely to trigger a subsequent activation condition that would cause the HVAC device to be activated again at a future time.