F24F2140/40

Air circulation systems and methods
11692728 · 2023-07-04 · ·

Systems and methods for air flow circulation are described which utilize one or more air conditioning units as well as transfer grilles to move cooler air from one space to another. The transfer grilles can include bi-directional in-line fans to move air between spaces in discrete ducts located between the spaces. Motorized dampers can be controlled by a controller that receives information about various rooms and areas from temperature and occupancy sensors within those rooms or areas. In this manner, conditioned air can be directed to those rooms that are occupied and whose temperature needs correction based on a thermostat setting, and use of the air conditioning unit can be avoided when a cool air source is present in another space.

HVAC zoning devices, systems, and methods

A heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system may be zoned into one or more zone. The HVAC system may include HVAC components, sensors, and one or more register vents that may include vent dampers (e.g., electronically controllable vent dampers or manually operated vent dampers). Opening and closing of the vent dampers may facilitate creating zones or sub-zones in the HVAC system configuration. An HVAC control system may receive a request for conditioned air in one or more of the zones, determine a damper setting for at least one of the vent dampers, communicate the determined damper setting to a vent damper or user interface, determine which HVAC components should be active, if any, and/or provide controls signals to activate or keep active the HVAC components that are determined to be active.

Model-based control of zone dampers in an HVAC system

A method is provided for controlling an HVAC system. The method includes receiving zone airflow target values for zones of a conditioned space. The method includes accessing a duct model including a first term that describes a flow factor for a zone damper as a nonlinear function of damper position, and a second term that describes zone airflow as a function of the flow factor and a branch pressure across zone-specific branches of an air circulation path. The method includes applying the zone airflow target values to the duct model to determine a damper position set, and actuating zone dampers to respective damper positions of the damper position set. The method may also include determining a value of total airflow to achieve the zone airflow target values with a total pressure target, and causing a fan to provide conditioned air with the value of the total airflow.

PROCESS OF CONTROLLING AN AIR-CONDITIONING AND/OR HEATING PLANT AND RELATED AIR-CONDITIONING AND/OR HEATING PLANT
20220364757 · 2022-11-17 ·

Control process of a thermal plant including a distribution circuit for a carrier fluid having a delivery line and a return line, a central thermal treatment group placed on the circuit, and channels, each of which is hydraulically interposed between the delivery line and the return line to serve respective environments. For each of the channels, the plant includes a respective exchange unit, a flow regulator to regulate a flow rate of carrier fluid through in the respective channel, an ambient temperature detector, a temperature detector of the carrier fluid for detecting a delivery temperature of the carrier fluid in each channel, and a return temperature of the carrier fluid in each channel. The process also includes a thermal optimization procedure as a function of ambient temperature, delivery temperature and return temperature of the carrier fluid.

Inspection system and method for HVAC units
11497951 · 2022-11-15 · ·

An inspection system for an HVAC device includes an HVAC duct section, a damper positioned with the duct section, an actuator for selectively moving the damper to a closed position, and a verification camera for recording the position of the damper with a date stamp and a time stamp. The actuator is further configured to move the damper to its open position, and the verification camera is further configured to record the open position of the damper with a second date and time stamp.

Automated monitoring system for a forced air handling system and method of operation

A forced air handling system includes an automated monitoring system. A method of operating the automated monitoring system includes initiating a calibration mode of operation via a controller. A plurality of dampers may then close via the controller. Once closed, a duct in communication with the plurality of dampers may be pressurized. A first air flow measuring exiting each one of the plurality of dampers may be obtained by a flow sensor. The duct is then depressurized and a second airflow measurement is taken, via the controller, exiting each one of the plurality of dampers. The controller calculates a statistical difference between the first and second airflow measurements.

Control board systems and methods for diagnosis of HVAC components

The present disclosure includes an HVAC system that includes a plurality of dampers each corresponding to one building zone of a plurality of building zones, a plurality of sensors each corresponding to the one of the plurality of building zones, and a control board communicatively coupled with the plurality of dampers and sensors. The control board includes a plurality of status light sources, each corresponding to one damper the plurality of dampers, a plurality of communication light sources each corresponding to one sensor of the plurality of sensors, and a microcontroller programmed to control operation of equipment in the HVAC system. The microcontroller is configured to perform “a hardware test mode” to facilitate diagnosis of the plurality of dampers by causing the plurality of status light sources to sequentially execute a first light scheme or a second light scheme in response to instructions to the plurality of dampers.

SMART VENT SYSTEM FOR LOCALIZED AIR QUALITY CONTROL

An environmental control system for a building, the system including a vent. The vent includes one or more louvers configured to change position between an open position and a closed position to permit air from the air duct to enter a zone of the building or stop the air from entering the zone and a vent circuit configured to operate the one or more louvers based on one or more control commands. The system includes a controller device including a processing circuit configured to receive a selection of an operating profile from a plurality of predefined operating profiles for the vent, each of the plurality of predefined operating profiles indicating an intended use of the zone, determine, based on the operating profile, the one or more control commands, and cause the vent circuit to operate the one or more louvers based on the one or more control commands.

Incremental actuator with feedback control

A system for controlling a flow rate through an HVAC component is provided. The system includes a controller communicably coupled with a potentiometer and an actuator configured to drive the HVAC component between multiple positions to affect the flow rate. The controller configured to determine an actuator position setpoint based on a flow rate setpoint, drive the actuator to the actuator position setpoint using a calculated travel period, and set a current actuator position based on a voltage signal received from the potentiometer upon stopping the actuator at an expiration of the calculated travel period.