# US 10,309,662 B2 · Environment control system and devices

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- Number: US 10,309,662 B2
- Document ID: US10309662B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/467,009
- Filed: 2017-03-23
- Published: 2017-07-06
- Granted: 2019-06-04
- Earliest claimed: 2013-09-18
- Assignees: Alaska Structures, Inc.
- Applicants: Alaska Structures, Inc.
- Inventors: Gerald A. Alston
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10309662B2

## CPC

- F24F 1/04: Arrangements for portability
- F24F 1/022: comprising a compressor cycle
- F24F 5/001: {Compression cycle type}
- F24F 11/30: for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring
- F24F 11/52: Indication arrangements, e.g. displays
- F24F 11/56: Remote control
- F24F 11/63: Electronic processing
- F24F 11/77: by controlling the speed of ventilators
- F24F 11/83: by controlling the supply of heat-exchange fluids to heat-exchangers
- F24F 11/84: using valves
- F24F 11/86: by controlling compressors within refrigeration or heat pump circuits
- F24F 11/871: by controlling outdoor fans
- F24F 13/0218: {Flexible soft ducts, e.g. ducts made of permeable textiles}
- F24F 13/0263: {Insulation for air ducts}
- F25B 49/02: for compression type machines, plants or systems
- F24F 11/85: using variable-flow pumps
- F24F 2011/0002: {for admittance of outside air}
- F24F 2110/10: Temperature
- F24F 2110/20: Humidity
- F24F 2110/50: Air quality properties
- F24F 2140/60: Energy consumption
- F24F 2221/34: Heater, e.g. gas burner, electric air heater
- F25B 2600/0253: with variable speed
- F25B 2600/111: of condenser fans
- F25B 2600/112: of evaporator fans
- F25B 2600/2513: Expansion valves
- F25B 2700/151: of the compressor motor
- F25B 2700/171: of the compressor
- F25B 2700/172: of the condenser fan
- F25B 2700/173: of the evaporator fan
- F25B 2700/1931: Discharge pressures
- F25B 2700/1933: Suction pressures
- F25B 2700/21161: of the fluid heated by the condenser
- F25B 2700/21173: at the outlet
- 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)
- F25B: REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
- Y02B: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS

## Abstract

Heating, ventilating and air conditioning are provided to a temporary, flexible shelter, especially in a rugged, remote and/or extreme environment, including locations and/or conditions where access to electric power may be limited and/or expensive. A portable system may include a light weight HVAC unit, with variable-speed components that are dynamically managed for efficiency, reliability and safety, and a flexible, self-insulating duct for connecting the HVAC unit to the temporary shelter.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An environment control system for supplying conditioned air to a portable shelter, the control system comprising:
a refrigerant condenser, a condenser fan for moving air over the refrigerant condenser, and a variable-speed motor for operating the condenser fan;
an evaporator, an evaporator fan for moving air over the evaporator and into the portable shelter, and a variable-speed motor for operating the evaporator fan;
a compressor for receiving refrigerant from the evaporator and for transferring the refrigerant to the condenser; and
a management system including a memory device and a processor, the memory device being configured to store operating limits, and wherein the processor is configured to make determinations based on (1) the operating limits and (2) measured parameters, and to adjust one or more of the speed of the condenser fan, the speed of the evaporator fan, and the speed of the compressor in response to the determinations, to thereby optimize performance of the environment control system within the operating limits; and
wherein the environment control system includes an adjustable fresh air vent for allowing fresh air into the control system, and an air quality sensor for sensing a contamination level, and wherein the management system is configured to operate the control system in active and inactive modes, wherein the management system adjusts the fresh air vent in response to a signal from the air quality sensor to maintain the contamination level below a first threshold, in the active mode, and wherein the fresh air vent is closed regardless of the contamination level, in the inactive mode.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The control system of claim 1, wherein the management system is configured to adjust the condenser fan speed, the evaporator fan speed, and the compressor speed to maintain the refrigerant below a critical pressure or temperature.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The control system of claim 1, further comprising an adjustable expansion valve located between the condenser and the evaporator, and wherein the management system is configured to adjust the expansion valve to maintain temperatures at inlet and outlet sides of the compressor within safe limits.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The control system of claim 1, further comprising a relative humidity sensor located upstream from the evaporator, and wherein the management system is configured to adjust the compressor speed in response to a signal from the relative humidity sensor, to thereby adjust the humidity of air within the shelter.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The control system of claim 1, further comprising an electric resistance heater for heating air that is discharged into the shelter.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The control system of claim 5, wherein the management system is configured to prevent total operating power consumption of the control system, current draw of the variable-speed compressor motor, the evaporator fan speed, and a PWM duty cycle of the electric resistance heater from exceeding maximum levels.