Precision Air Device for Microzone HVAC Occupant Comfort Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current HVAC systems in office environments fail to accommodate individual comfort preferences, leading to inefficiencies and occupant discomfort, as they do not account for varying needs of occupants within a space, resulting in suboptimal air delivery and increased energy consumption.
Innovation Solution
A precision air device with a controller, air sensor, and actuator system that adjusts airflow based on occupant presence and comfort parameters, integrated into a microzone HVAC system, allowing for personalized air delivery and optimizing macrozone temperature settings through a precision air aggregator.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional VAV boxes deliver conditioned air to the entire space, then the HVAC system can maintain a baseline temperature, but individual occupant comfort preferences cannot be accommodated and energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the HVAC control into macrozone-level VAV boxes that provide baseline conditioning and microzone-level precision air devices that provide personalized airflow. Each precision air device operates independently to serve individual occupants, allowing the system to accommodate individual comfort preferences without conditioning the entire space uniformly, thereby reducing overall energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The precision air devices deliver customized airflow with specific velocities and temperatures tailored to each occupant's preferences and local conditions. This local quality approach allows different regions (microzones) within the macrozone to have different air delivery characteristics, enabling individual comfort accommodation while avoiding the energy waste of uniform conditioning across the entire space.
2Productivity
If air is delivered to unoccupied areas or areas requiring less airflow, then the HVAC system operates continuously, but this results in inefficient air delivery and increased energy consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The precision air devices incorporate sensors that detect occupancy status and continuously monitor local environmental conditions. This feedback mechanism enables the devices to adjust their operation dynamically - reducing or stopping airflow to unoccupied microzones while maintaining appropriate airflow to occupied areas, thereby eliminating energy waste associated with conditioning unoccupied spaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from static, continuous airflow delivery to dynamic, demand-responsive airflow control. The precision air devices can rapidly adjust their operational state based on real-time occupancy detection and comfort parameter feedback, delivering air only when and where needed, thus improving air delivery efficiency and reducing energy loss.
3Loss of energy
If the HVAC system raises macrozone temperatures to save energy, then overall energy consumption decreases, but individual occupant comfort may be compromised without precision air delivery
Solution Approach 1:
The system separates the thermal conditioning function at the macrozone level from the comfort customization function at the microzone level. The VAV boxes raise the macrozone temperature for energy savings, while the precision air devices independently provide personalized airflow with adjustable velocities and temperatures to individual occupants, maintaining comfort without compromising the energy-saving temperature raise.
Solution Approach 2:
The precision air devices enable independent parameter adjustment of airflow velocity and temperature at each microzone level. This allows the system to maintain higher macrozone temperatures for energy savings while locally modifying airflow parameters to achieve desired comfort conditions for individual occupants, effectively decoupling energy efficiency from comfort customization.
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 enhances occupant comfort and reduces energy consumption by providing tailored airflow to individuals, enabling the HVAC system to raise macrozone temperatures and decrease overall airflow while maintaining comfort, resulting in improved productivity and energy savings.
Implementation Method 1
The air mover may include a centrifugal impeller and a variable speed motor operatively coupled to the centrifugal impeller
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, apparatus and methods for providing personalized comfort to occupants of a conditioned space. A precision air device having a standalone controllable fan with directional nozzles is provided. The precision air device includes environmental and occupancy sensors, and communicates with a user device and with other precision air devices in the space. Application software installed on an occupant's user device enables the occupant to specify whether it is too cold or too warm within his or her personal space, or microzone. The collective demand of all microzones within a VAV macrozone is determined by a precision air aggregator to adjust a controllable VAV damper for that macrozone.