Two-channel air conditioner for the flexible climate control of a number of rooms

Abstract

The invention relates to a two-channel air-conditioner (10) for the climate control of a number of rooms (44, 46, 48) and/or room zones, having an air inlet device (52) in every room (44, 46, 48) to be climate controlled, having at least one pair of supply air channels (20, 22) wherein at least one supply channel (20, 22) comprises a cooling and/or heating register (32, 34; 58, 60) having at least one temperature regulator for each room (44, 46, 48) to be climate controlled, which keeps the room (44, 46, 48) to be climate controlled at a room temperature (T.sub.room target) which can be set, having valve units (54, 72), which connect the supply air channels (20, 22) to the air inlet device (52). The invention is characterized in that it allows switching, the cooling or heating register (32, 34; 58, 60) is only opened as needed if the temperature in at least on of the supply air channels (20,22) is insufficient for cooling or heating the room (44, 46, 48) to be climate controlled.

Claims

1. A two-channel air-conditioner for the climate control of a number of rooms and room zones, comprising: each of said rooms includes a common air inlet device in communication with said room; a first air supply channel and a second air supply channel; said first air supply channel includes a first temperature sensor and a first air pressure sensor therein, said first temperature sensor measures air temperature in said first air supply channel at a first air temperature and said first air pressure sensor measures air pressure in said first air supply channel; and, said second air supply channel includes a second temperature sensor and a second air pressure sensor therein, said second temperature sensor measures air temperature in said second air supply channel at a second air temperature and said second air pressure sensor measures air pressure in said second air supply channel; said first air supply channel includes a first cross-sectional area and said second air supply channel includes a second cross-sectional area; said second cross-sectional area of said second air supply channel is larger than said first cross-sectional area of said first supply channel; a cooling and a heating register in said first air supply channel; and, a cooling and a heating register in said second air supply channel; each room includes a temperature regulator set for a temperature, Troom target; a first valve unit and a second valve unit; said first valve unit interposed between said common air inlet device and said first air supply channel; said second valve unit interposed between said common air inlet device and said second air supply channel; said first air supply channel and said second air supply channel providing air into and through said common air inlet device and into said room; means for independently controlling said first valve unit and said second valve unit such that air quantities from said respective first and second air supply channels to said room to be climate controlled are adjusted independently from each other based on said first air temperature of said first air supply channel measured by said first temperature sensor in said first air supply channel and based on said second air temperature of said second air supply channel measured by said second temperature sensor in said second air supply channel.

2. A two-channel air-conditioner for the climate control of a number of rooms and room zones according to claim 1 wherein said first and second valve units are arranged and controlled such that only one of said first or second air supply channels is connected to said common air inlet device of a room to be climate controlled.

3. A two-channel air-conditioner for the climate control of a number of rooms and room zones according to claim 1: a first air density sensor for measuring first air density in said first air supply channel; a second air density sensor for measuring second air density in said second air supply channel; and wherein said first air pressure measured by said first pressure sensor in said first air supply channel and said first air density measured by said first air density sensor in said first air supply channel in said first air supply channel are adjusted independently from said second air pressure measured by said second pressure sensor in said second air supply channel and said second air density measured by said second air density sensor in said second air supply channel.

4. A two-channel air-conditioner for the climate control of a number of rooms and room zones according to claim 1 further comprising: said means for independently controlling said first valve unit and said second valve units includes a control circuit; said control circuit communicating with temperature sensors in said rooms, said temperature sensors in said supply air channels, said first temperature sensor in said first air supply channel and said second temperature sensor in said second air supply channel, and said temperature regulators in said rooms to be climate controlled; and, said control circuit outputs a control signal for opening said cooling or heating registers only when said temperature in said first or second air supply channels for cooling or heating said rooms to be climate controlled is not sufficient considering said amount of air required to heat or cool said rooms.

5. A two-channel air-conditioner for the climate control of a number of rooms and room zones according to claim 3 wherein said first air pressure and said second air pressure in said air supply channels is controlled depending on said required air quantities by said first and second valve units and by air supply motors, and wherein said first valve unit is a flap and said second valve unit is a flap.

6. A two-channel air-conditioner for the climate control of a number of rooms and room zones according to claim 1 wherein a further air supply channel also selectively comprises a heating and cooling register.

7. A two-channel air-conditioner for the climate control of a number of rooms and room zones according to claim 1 wherein said cooling and heating registers of said first and second air supply channels are adjustable in a pre-determined temperature range.

8. A two-channel air-conditioner for the climate control of a number of rooms and room zones according to claim 1 wherein the minimum supply air temperature in said first and second air supply channels corresponds essentially to the minimum temperature of the system.

9. A two-channel air-conditioner for the climate control of a number of rooms and room zones according to claim 1 wherein the amount of air supplied to said first and second air supply channels is independently controlled based on said target room temperature, Troom target.

10. A two-channel air-conditioner for the climate control of a number of rooms and room zones according to claim 1 wherein the quantity of air supplied varies from room to room or from zone to zone depending on the difference between the temperature (Troom actual) in the room to be climate controlled or the room zone to be climate controlled and the pre-determined temperature target value (Troom target).

11. A two-channel air-conditioner for the climate control of a number of rooms and room zones according to claim 1 further comprising moistening and de-moistening devices residing in said first air supply channel and said second air supply channel, said moistening and de-moistening devices are selectively activated.

12. A two-channel air-conditioner for the climate control of a number of rooms and room zones according to claim 11 comprising additional cooling and heating devices in said first air supply channel and said second air supply channel, said additional cooling and heating devices are selectively activated.

13. A two-channel air-conditioner for the climate control of a number of rooms and room zones according to claim 1, further comprising said cooling and heating registers and moistening and de-moistening devices are designed according to said maximum supply air quantity necessary in the respective air supply channel.

14. A two-channel air-conditioner for the climate control of a number of rooms and room zones according to claim 3, further comprising: a first moisture sensor for measuring moisture in said first air supply channel and a second moisture sensor for measuring moisture in said first air supply channel: and, wherein said control of said air quantities, pressures, temperatures and moisture values in said air supply channels are affected depending on said density values in said air supply channels and said rooms and room zones to be ventilated.

15. A two-channel air-conditioner for the climate control of a number of rooms and room zones, comprising: each of said rooms includes a common air inlet device in communication with said room; a first air supply channel and a second air supply channel; said first air supply channel includes a first temperature sensor and a first air pressure sensor therein, said first temperature sensor measures air temperature in said first air supply channel at a first air temperature and said first air pressure sensor measures air pressure in said first air supply channel; and, said second air supply channel includes a second temperature sensor and a second air pressure sensor therein, said second temperature sensor measures air temperature in said second air supply channel at a second air temperature and said second air pressure sensor measures air pressure in said second air supply channel; said first air supply channel includes a first cross-sectional area and said second air supply channel includes a second cross-sectional area; said second cross-sectional area of said second air supply channel is larger than said first cross-sectional area of said first supply channel; a cooling and a heating register in said first air supply channel and a cooling and a heating register in said second air supply channel; each room includes a temperature regulator set for a temperature, Troom target; a first branch channel connected to said first air supply channel; a first valve unit in said first branch channel; a second branch channel connected to said second air supply channel; a second valve unit in said second branch channel; said first and second branch channels being connected together forming a common branch channel, said common branch channel connected to said common air inlet device; and, said first air supply channel and said second air supply channel providing air into and through said first and second branch channels and said common branch channel and to and through said common air inlet device and into said room; means for independently controlling said first valve unit and said second valve unit such that air quantities from said respective first and second air supply channels to said room to be climate controlled are adjusted independently from each other based on said first air temperature of said first air supply channel measured by said first temperature sensor in said first air supply channel and based on said second air temperature of said second air supply channel measured by said second temperature sensor in said second air supply channel.

16. A two-channel air-conditioner for the climate control of a number of rooms and room zones according to claim 15 wherein said amounts of air supplied to said first and second air supply channels are independently controlled based on said target room temperature, Troom target.

17. A two-channel air-conditioner for the climate control of a number of rooms and room zones, comprising: each of said rooms includes a common air inlet device in communication with said room; a first air supply channel and a second air supply channel; said first air supply channel includes a first temperature sensor and a first air pressure sensor therein, said first temperature sensor measures air temperature in said first air supply channel at a first air temperature and said first air pressure sensor measures air pressure in said first air supply channel; and, said second air supply channel includes a second temperature sensor and a second air pressure sensor therein, said second temperature sensor measures air temperature in said second air supply channel at a second air temperature and said second air pressure sensor measures air pressure in said second air supply channel; said first air supply channel includes a first cross-sectional area and said second air supply channel includes a second cross-sectional area; said second cross-sectional area of said second air supply channel is larger than said first cross-sectional area of said first supply channel; a cooling and a heating register in said first air supply channel; and, a cooling and a heating register in said second air supply channel; each room includes a temperature regulator set for a temperature, Troom target; a first valve unit and a second valve unit; said first valve unit interposed between said common air inlet device and said first air supply channel; said second valve unit interposed between said common air inlet device and said second air supply channel; said first air supply channel and said second air supply channel providing air into and through said common air inlet device and into said room; a control circuit communicating with temperature sensors in said rooms to be climate controlled, said first temperature sensor in said first supply air channel, and said second temperature sensor in said second supply air channel; said control circuit outputs a control signal for opening said cooling or heating registers only when said temperature in said first or second air supply channels for cooling or heating said rooms to be climate controlled is not sufficient considering an amount of air required to heat or cool said rooms; and, said control circuit outputs a control signal for opening said first valve unit and said second valve unit such that air quantities from said respective first and second air supply channels to said room to be climate controlled are adjusted independently from each other based on said temperature measured by said first temperature sensor of said first air supply channel and based on said temperature measured by said second air temperature sensor of said second air supply channel.

Description

(1) The invention is described in more detail in the following with reference to the embodiment shown in the drawing. In the specification, the claims, the abstract and the drawing the terms used in the below list of reference signs and the related reference signs are used. In the drawings:

(2) FIG. 1 is a block circuit diagram of a two-channel air-conditioner according to the invention.

(3) In FIG. 1, a block circuit diagram of a two-channel air-conditioner 10 according to the invention is shown. The two-channel air-conditioner 10 comprises a central supply air channel 12. In this central supply air channel 12 a supply air motor 14 as well as a heating register 16 is inserted which is located downstream of the supply air motor 14. A temperature sensor 18 is arranged downstream of the heating register 16.

(4) The central supply air channel 12 is branching off into a first supply air channel 20 and a second supply air channel 22. In the first supply air channel 20, a flap 24 is inserted which is driven by a motor 26. In the same way, a flap 28 is inserted into the second supply air channel 22 which flap is driven by a motor 30. The variable amount of air for the first and the second supply air channel 20 and 22 is adjusted by the flaps 24, 26 and by the supply air motor 14.

(5) Downstream of the flap 24 in the first supply air channel, firstly, a cooling register 32, thereafter, a heating register 34 and, finally, a moistening device 36 are arranged. Finally, a temperature sensor 38, a moisture sensor 40 as well as a pressure sensor 42 are inserted into the first supply air channel 22 downstream of the moistening device 36. The first supply air channel is adapted to be connected to the rooms 44, 46 and 48 each.

(6) For this purpose, a branch channel 50 is provided each which is connected to a air inlet 52 in the middle of the respective room 44, 46, 48. The branch channel 50 is a part of the first supply air channel 20. In this branch channel 50, a flap 54 is provided which is adapted to be actuated by a motor 56.

(7) In the same way as in the first supply air channel 20, also the second supply air channel 22 is arranged. Downstream of the flap, a cooling register 58, a heating register 60 as well as a moistening device 62 are arranged. The moistening device 62 is followed by a temperature sensor 64, a moisture sensor 66 as well as a pressure sensor 68.

(8) From the second supply air channel 22, a second branch channel 70 each is branching of which is connected to the air inlet 52 of the respective rooms 44, 46, 48. In the second branch channel 70, a flap 72 is arranged which is actuated by a motor 74.

(9) A temperature sensor 76, a moisture sensor 78 as well as air quality sensor 80 are each provided in the rooms 44, 46, 48. The temperature in the room 44, 46, 48 is controlled by means of the individual sensors. In the control circuit, a respective target value is pre-defined for the respective room. Therein, the cooling register 32, 58, the heating register 34, 60 and the moisture device 36, 62 are activated in the respective supply air channel 20, 22 only in case the temperature for cooling or heating the room to be climate controlled or the degree of moistening is not achieved at least in one of the supply air channels 20, 22. As a rule, the air inlet 52 in the room 44, 46, 48 to be climate controlled, is only connected to one supply air channel 20 or 22. Therefore, the air is not mixed anymore contrary to the previously known state of the art, but is taken either from the first supply air channel 20 or the second supply air channel 22.

(10) The amount of air is respectively adjusted by the flaps 54 and 72. The quantity of supply air for the respective rooms 44, 46, 48 to be climate controlled varies depending on the difference between the temperature in the room to be climate controlled and the pre-defined temperature as well as depending on the supply air temperature. For this purpose, the respective temperature sensors 18, 38 and 76 are provided.

(11) The pressure in the supply air channels 20, 22 is controlled depending on the required amount of air in the rooms 44, 46, 48 to be climate controlled, by means of the flaps 24, 28, 54, 72 as well as the supply air motor 14.

(12) The cooling registers 32, 58, the heating registers 34, 60 as well as the moistening devices 36, 62 are only activated when the temperature in the respective supply air channels 20, 22 and/or the values of the density and/or the values of the moisture are not in conformity with the targets.

(13) The cooling registers 32, 58 as well as the heating registers 16, 34 and 60 are adapted to be adjusted in a pre-determined temperature range.

(14) The flaps 54 and 72 form a kind of valve installation. It is formed such that, according to the demand, also only one of the supply air channels 20, 22 is connected to the air inlet 52 in the rooms 44, 46, 48 to be climate controlled. By means of the flaps 54 and 72, furthermore, the amount of air from the respective supply air channel 20, 22 is controlled independently from each other.

(15) The air-conditioner according to the invention is able to maintain a variable temperature in each supply air channel, wherein a minimum supply air temperature may be adjusted to a minimum target value and/or the maximum supply air temperature may be adjusted to a maximum target value.

(16) The first supply air channel 20 and the second supply air channel 22 may comprise cross-sections of different size for supply air quantities of different amount and for cooling and/or heating registers having differing power. In the following, the first supply air channel 20 is designed for a lower supply air volume. The cross-section of the first supply air channel is smaller. The second supply air channel 22 is designed for a larger supply air volume. The cross-section of the second supply air channel 22 is larger.

EXAMPLE 1

(17) The rooms 44, 46, 48 have to be heated at an outside temperature of 0° C. In case the first supply air channel 20 is sufficient in order to cover up for the heating demand of the rooms 44, 46, 48, the second supply air channel 22 is decoupled from the rooms 44, 46, 48, i.e. the flaps 72, 28 are closed. The flaps 54 of the first supply air channel 20 are open. The heating register 34 in the first supply air channel 20 can also be open, whereas the heating register in the second supply air channel 22 is closed.

EXAMPLE 2

(18) The outside temperature is, for example, −10° C. In this case, it may happen that the heating power in the first supply air channel 20, as described in example 1, is not sufficient anymore in order to heat up the rooms 44, 46, 48. In this case, the first supply air channel 20 which comprises a lower heating power because of the smaller heating register 34 and because of the lower maximum supply air volume stream, can be closed. The second supply air channel 22 which has a higher heating power as compared to the First supply air channel 20, is opened, i.e. the flaps 74 are opened. The flaps 54 and 24 of the first supply air channel 20 are closed. The heating register 34 of the first supply air channel 20 is also closed. The heating register 60 of the second supply air channel 22 is opened.

EXAMPLE 3

(19) There is, for example, an outside temperature of −20° C. All rooms 44, 46, 48 have an increased heating demand. In this case, it may be that the heating power of the second supply air channel 22 with the heating register 60 provided therein, is not sufficient in order to heat up the rooms 44, 46, 48. Now, the first supply air channel 20 is additional opened in which the flaps 54 and 24 are opening up and the heating register 34 is also opening up.

(20) In case of a reduction of the heating power, the channels may be controlled down in analogy to the examples 1 to 3. The switching of the supply air channels 20, 22 according to the examples 1 to 3 is used in analogy in case of cooling. In the rooms 44, 46, 48, there is a cooling demand everywhere. The same is true for the case of cooling.

(21) The invention is characterized with respect to the previously known state of the art in that the temperature in the two supply air channels 20, 22 can vary extremely each, for example from 12° C. to 45° C. Furthermore, also the respective supply air quantity can vary from a minimum, i.e. the minimum fresh air supply in the respective rooms, to a maximum, i.e. the maximum heating or cooling or moistening or de-moistening.

(22) According to an embodiment of the invention, the first supply air channel 20 may comprise a smaller cross-sectional area than the second supply air channel 22. Thereby, differing amounts of air may be supplied in both supply air channels 20, 22 to the rooms 44, 46, 48. This is important in particular for differing heating and/or cooling demand.

(23) In case the cooling demand or the heating demand is very high in the rooms 44, 46, 48 as has been described above with reference to the examples 1 to 3, the supply air channel 22 having the larger cross-sectional area, is activated. In case the cooling or heating demand is lower, the supply air channel 20 having the smaller cross-sectional area, is activated.

(24) However, it is now also possible that a mixed operation takes place, i.e. that one or the other of the rooms 44, 46, 48 is cooled or one or the other of the rooms 44, 46, 48 is heated respectively. Depending on the larger cooling demand or heating demand for the room 44, 46, 48, the larger supply air channel, i.e. the second supply air channel 22 is activated for the cooling or heating demand, and, correspondingly, the first supply air channel 20 is activated at a lower supply air volume for the cooling or heating demand.

(25) For example in winter time, the second supply air channel 22 is a hot air channel, i.e. the rooms 44, 46, 48 are heated by this channel. The first supply air channel 20 having the smaller supply air volume, is activated for cooling, i.e. the rooms 44, 46, 48 are cooled through this supply air channel 20 on demand.

(26) In summer time, the second supply air channel 22 having the larger supply air volume, is, for example, than the cooling channel, and the first supply air channel 20 having the smaller supply air volume, is the heating channel. Correspondingly, the rooms 44, 46, 48 are cooled or heated through one or the other channel.

(27) Among others, the temperature value of the temperature sensor 38 in the first supply air channel 20 as well as the temperature value of the temperature sensor 64 in the second supply air channel 22 are used for opening and closing the respectively assigned flaps 54, 72 in the first or the second supply air channel 20 or 22. In case cooling or heating takes place in both supply air channels 20, 22, the flaps 54, 72 associated each to the supply air channels 20, 22, are opened or closed pro-rata. In case both channels have the same supply air temperature, the flap positions of the flaps 54, 72 are the same for the respective room 44, 46, 48. This means that, at high heating/cooling demand, both flaps are opened to 100%, in case the heating/cooling demand is essentially covered, the flaps are, for example opened only to 30%. The opening values of the flaps may vary from one room to the other.

(28) In analogy to the heating and cooling case of the rooms 44, 46, 48, the supply air channels can also be activated and de-activated for moistening and de-moistening.

(29) According to the invention, it is now possible that the valve units 54, 72 may be adjusted independently from each other. Thereby, far reaching possibilities are resulting. For example, it is now possible that the maximal possible supply air from the one channel as well as from the other channel is let into the room to be climate controlled in order to allow a fast heating or cooling, for example. Thereby, the flexibility of the system but also the reaction speed may be increased. Preferably, one of the factors pressure, temperature, moisture, density in the supply air channel may be adjusted independently from the respective factor in the other supply air channel.

(30) It is also a further aspect that, by decoupling the valve units, an on demand supply of at least one supply air channel 20, 22 with a further one-channel system provided upstream, is possible. By means of the independently adjustable valve units 54, 72, pressure variations incurred, can be balanced.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

(31) 10 two-channel air-conditioner 12 central supply air channel 14 supply air motor 16 heating register 18 temperature sensor 20 first supply air channel 22 second supply air channel 24 flap in the first supply air channel 26 motor in the first supply air channel 28 flap in the second supply air channel 30 motor in the second supply air channel 32 cooling register 34 heating register 36 moistening device 38 temperature sensor 40 moisture sensor 42 pressure sensor 44 room to be climate controlled 46 room to be climate controlled 48 room to be climate controlled 50 branch channel of the first supply air channel 52 air inlet in the room to be climate controlled, air inlet device 54 flap in the first branch channel 56 motor for the flap in the first branch channel 58 cooling register 60 heating register 62 moistening device 64 temperature sensor 66 moisture sensor 68 pressure sensor 70 second branch channel 72 flap in the second branch channel 74 motor for the flap in the second branch channel 76 temperature sensor 78 moisture sensor 80 air quality sensor