A modular HVAC-SHW/DHW system that provides comfort conditioning, sanitary hot water, and ventilation in the buildings is disclosed. The system includes HVAC units, SHW/DHW units, and one or more air-to-water heat pump (AWHP) units fluidically connected to the HVAC units and the SHW/DHW units through at least one water-to-water heat pump (WWHPs). The AWHP units are configured to enable the exchange of heat between the environment and the WWHPs, and the WWHP is configured to enable the exchange of rejected heat between any of the AWHP units, the HVAC units, and the SHW/DHW units. The system is designed in a packaged form factor or modular design, where the components/units of the system are configured within a housing that is easily installable at the desired locations in the building.

Systems and methods are provided for operating a central air conditioning and/or heating system within a building that includes one or more blowers and ducts communicating from the blower(s) to respective rooms within the building. The system includes a vent in each of the rooms including an actuator for selectively opening and closing the vent, one or more sensors in each room for detecting occupants, and a controller communicating with the actuators and the one or more sensors for directing the actuators to open or close respective vents based at least in part on data from the one or more sensors.

An air conditioning system includes: an air conditioner configured to supply air-conditioning air; and an air conditioner control device configured to control the air conditioner. The air conditioner includes: an outside air passage, through which outside air flows; a return air passage, through which return air flows; an outside air heat exchanger; a return air heat exchanger; an outside air vaporizing humidifier configured to humidity the outside air by utilizing evaporation of water; and a return air vaporizing humidifier configured to humidify the return air by utilizing evaporation of water. The air conditioner control device includes a first vaporizing cooler configured to operate at least one of the humidifiers to perform vaporization cooling of the air-conditioning air while preventing the air-conditioning air from exchanging heat with a heat exchange medium.

A controller includes a communications interface configured to provide a control input to and receive feedback from a plant. The feedback is representative of a response of the plant to the control input over a response period. The controller further includes a time constant estimator. The time constant estimator calculates a normalized variable based on the feedback, each value of the normalized variable representative of the response of the plant at a different time during the response period. The time constant estimator calculates a plurality of time constant estimates, based on the plurality of values of the normalized variable. The time constant estimator determines a maximum time constant from the time constant estimates. The controller further includes a control input generator that generates the control input for the plant using the maximum time constant. The control input affects a variable state or condition of the plant.

A controller includes a communications interface configured to provide a control input to and receive feedback from a plant. The feedback is representative of a response of the plant to the control input over a response period. The controller further includes a time constant estimator. The time constant estimator calculates a normalized variable based on the feedback, each value of the normalized variable representative of the response of the plant at a different time during the response period. The time constant estimator calculates a plurality of time constant estimates, based on the plurality of values of the normalized variable. The time constant estimator determines a maximum time constant from the time constant estimates. The controller further includes a control input generator that generates the control input for the plant using the maximum time constant. The control input affects a variable state or condition of the plant.

Provided is an air conditioner. The air conditioner includes a water tank to store water, a visual body disposed over the water tank and formed of a transparent material, a watering housing to draw water stored in the water tank and to spray the drawn water to the visual body, a water level sensor to measure a water level of the water tank in a multi-stage, a top cover assembly disposed over the visual body and having a water supply hole to supply water to the water tank, and a water level display unit disposed beside the water supply hole of the top cover assembly to display a water level measured by the water level sensor in a multi-stage.

An ultra-clean transportation and storage system includes a product storage container with a base having product supports and a segmented lid enclosing the product supports. Rollers on the base have grooved sidewalls receiving a rail to support the product storage container and rolling along the rail edges. Lift-off hinges allow lid removal only after a predetermined rotation. Seals, a one-way breather valve, and a gas inlet allow the interior of the enclosure to be purged. A friction brake on the product storage container has an integrated O-ring contact surface and a housing enclosing complementary acme threads for moving the brake. A transfer cart includes a rail on the lift arm to support the product storage container during movement, and alignment and docking mechanisms on a transfer end effector of the lift are for docking with either a storage spaced on a storage rack or a transfer space on a pass-through.

An ultra-clean transportation and storage system includes a product storage container with a base having product supports and a segmented lid enclosing the product supports. Rollers on the base have grooved sidewalls receiving a rail to support the product storage container and rolling along the rail edges. Lift-off hinges allow lid removal only after a predetermined rotation. Seals, a one-way breather valve, and a gas inlet allow the interior of the enclosure to be purged. A friction brake on the product storage container has an integrated O-ring contact surface and a housing enclosing complementary acme threads for moving the brake. A transfer cart includes a rail on the lift arm to support the product storage container during movement, and alignment and docking mechanisms on a transfer end effector of the lift are for docking with either a storage spaced on a storage rack or a transfer space on a pass-through.

Individual zone temperature control sensors in a multiple zone system are monitored by a controller, and when one zone calls, the calling zone is allocated all of the airflow from the HVAC system except for a predetermined minimum that is allocated to the other zones. If all zones have equal priority, then the airflow continues to be supplied to the first calling zone until a temperature condition is satisfied, at which time the full airflow is allocated to a second calling zone and only the predetermined minimum is supplied to the first and all other calling zones. When two or more zones having different priorities, or set point deviations, are calling at the same time, the zone with the highest priority or whose temperature is furthest from a set point will become the single zone that is open and receives all of the air except for the predetermined minimum. Air continues to be supplied to that zone until it has achieved a desired temperature, until a higher priority zone calls, or until another zone is furthest from the set point. In order to provide maximum airflow to single zones according to the method of the invention, duct and outlet sizes must be larger than is necessary for conventional systems in which more than the minimum airflow is simultaneously allocated to multiple zones. Instead of utilizing conventional duct size calculations that assume simultaneous allocation of airflow to multiple zones, the design sizes the ducts in each zone to carry 100% of the system's airflow less the predetermined minimum.

Individual zone temperature control sensors in a multiple zone system are monitored by a controller, and when one zone calls, the calling zone is allocated all of the airflow from the HVAC system except for a predetermined minimum that is allocated to the other zones. If all zones have equal priority, then the airflow continues to be supplied to the first calling zone until a temperature condition is satisfied, at which time the full airflow is allocated to a second calling zone and only the predetermined minimum is supplied to the first and all other calling zones. When two or more zones having different priorities, or set point deviations, are calling at the same time, the zone with the highest priority or whose temperature is furthest from a set point will become the single zone that is open and receives all of the air except for the predetermined minimum. Air continues to be supplied to that zone until it has achieved a desired temperature, until a higher priority zone calls, or until another zone is furthest from the set point. In order to provide maximum airflow to single zones according to the method of the invention, duct and outlet sizes must be larger than is necessary for conventional systems in which more than the minimum airflow is simultaneously allocated to multiple zones. Instead of utilizing conventional duct size calculations that assume simultaneous allocation of airflow to multiple zones, the design sizes the ducts in each zone to carry 100% of the system's airflow less the predetermined minimum.