# US 10,119,711 B2 · Air handler unit including a smart valve > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,119,711 B2 - Document ID: US10119711B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/108,725 - Filed: 2013-12-17 - Published: 2015-06-18 - Granted: 2018-11-06 - Earliest claimed: 2013-12-17 - Assignees: Optimum Energy, LLC - Applicants: Optimum Energy LLC - Inventors: Ian Robert Dempster; Benjamin Paul Erpelding; Thomas Bennett Hartman; Chelsey Ann MacNeill - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10119711B2 ## CPC - F24F 11/84: using valves - F24F 3/044: Systems in which all treatment is given in the central station, i.e. all-air systems - F24F 3/08: with separate supply and return lines for hot and cold heat-exchange fluids {i.e. so-called "4-conduit" system} - F24F 11/30: for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring - F24F 11/58: using Internet communication - F24F 11/62: characterised by the type of control or by internal processing, e.g. using fuzzy logic, adaptive control or estimation of values - F24F 11/63: Electronic processing - F24F 11/83: by controlling the supply of heat-exchange fluids to heat-exchangers - F24H 3/08: by tubes - F24H 9/2064: {for air heaters} - F24H 15/176: Improving or maintaining comfort of users - F24H 15/208: Temperature of the air after heating - F24H 15/281: Input from user - F24H 15/31: of valves having only one inlet port and one outlet port, e.g. flow rate regulating valves - F24F 11/56: Remote control - F24F 2110/10: Temperature - F24F 2140/20: Heat-exchange fluid temperature - F24H 15/45: remotely accessible - Y02B 30/70: Efficient control or regulation technologies, e.g. for control of refrigerant flow, motor or heating - F24F: AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING (removing dirt or fumes from areas where they are produced B08B15/00; vertical ducts for carrying away waste gases from buildings E04F17/02; tops for chimneys or ventilating shafts, terminals for flues F23L17/02) - F24H: FLUID HEATERS, e.g. WATER OR AIR HEATERS, HAVING HEAT-GENERATING MEANS, e.g. HEAT PUMPS, IN GENERAL (steam generation F22) - Y02B: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS ## Abstract An air unit includes a coil located in an air stream of the air unit. The air stream has an air flow direction. An air temperature sensor is located in the air stream of the air unit and is further located downstream, relative to the air flow direction, of the coil. A smart valve is in fluid communication with the coil and in electronic communication with the air temperature sensor. The smart valve is operable to control an amount of water flow through the coil. The smart valve receives a temperature setpoint signal, and the smart valve is programmed to modulate a valve position of a smart valve actuator based on the temperature setpoint signal and based on a signal from the air temperature sensor. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An air handler unit comprising: a coil located in an air stream generated by a fan, the air stream having an air flow direction; an air temperature sensor located in the air stream and further located downstream, relative to the air flow direction, of the coil; and a smart valve in fluid communication with the coil and in electronic communication with the air temperature sensor, the smart valve operable to control an amount of water flow through the coil, the smart valve including an actuator and a processor programmed to determine and modulate, independent of an automation system, a desired valve position of the smart valve actuator based on a temperature setpoint signal and a signal from the air temperature sensor. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The air handler unit of claim 1, wherein the processor is further programmed to modulate the valve position of the smart valve actuator by maintaining a minimum temperature difference between a supply flow and a return flow of water flow through the coil. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The air handler unit of claim 1, wherein the processor receives the temperature setpoint from the automation system. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The air handler unit of claim 1, wherein the processor receives the temperature setpoint from a building automation system. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The air handler unit of claim 1, wherein the processor receives the temperature setpoint over a network connection. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The air handler unit of claim 1, wherein the processor modulates the valve position of the smart valve actuator based on the temperature setpoint signal, the signal from the air temperature sensor, and at least one value from a water temperature sensor in fluid communication with a water flow through the coil. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The air handler unit of claim 1, wherein the processor receives temperature values from a water supply line and a water return line of the coil. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The air handler unit of claim 1, wherein the coil comprises at least one of a heating coil and a cooling coil. ### Claim 9 An air handler unit in communication with an automation system, the air handler unit comprising: a coil located in an air stream generated by a fan, the air stream having an air flow direction; an air temperature sensor located in the air stream and further located downstream, relative to the air flow direction, of the coil; and a smart valve in signal communication with the automation system, the smart valve in fluid communication with the coil and in electronic communication with the air temperature sensor, the smart valve operable to control an amount of water flow through the coil, the smart valve including an actuator and a processor programmed to determine and modulate, independent of the automation system, a desired valve position of the smart valve actuator based on a temperature setpoint signal and a signal from the air temperature sensor. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The air handler unit of claim 9, wherein the processor is further programmed to modulate the valve position of the smart valve actuator by maintaining a minimum temperature difference between a supply flow and a return flow of water flow through the coil. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The air handler unit of claim 10, wherein the automation system is a building automation system. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The air handler unit of claim 9, wherein the processor receives the temperature setpoint from the automation system. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The air handler unit of claim 9, wherein the smart valve receives the temperature setpoint over a network connection. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The air handler unit of claim 9, wherein the processor modulates the valve position of the smart valve actuator based on the temperature setpoint signal, the signal from the air temperature sensor, and at least one value from a water temperature sensor in fluid communication with a water flow through the coil. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The air handler unit of claim 9, wherein the processor receives temperature values from a water supply line and a water return line of the coil. ### Claim 16 (depends on 9) The air handler unit of claim 9, wherein the coil comprises at least one of a heating coil and a cooling coil.