US 12,631,368 B2 · Terminal unit and method for improved indoor cooling

Abstract

A terminal unit is provided for cooling a conditioned space. The terminal unit is provided conditioned air and augments cooling with a local heat exchanger. The terminal unit controls the flow of coolant through the heat exchanger. Latent cooling provided by the conditioned air is augmented by allowing moisture accumulation on the heat exchanger. The terminal unit lacks a drainage system so deleterious moisture accumulation (e.g., dripping) is avoided by monitoring moisture accumulation and controlling the terminal unit accordingly. If the moisture accumulation is below a threshold, the terminal unit is permitted to provide latent cooling locally. If the moisture accumulation is above a threshold, the terminal unit prevents further local latent cooling. Some sensor configurations allow for calculation of air flow rates, the latent cooling rate, and moisture accumulation. This information is used to achieve the desired room conditions more rapidly and precisely.

Claims12

Dependent claims

A system comprising:

a coil;
an actuator operably connected to the coil for regulating a temperature of coolant entering the coil;
a first humidity sensor to measure a humidity of ambient air;
a second humidity sensor to measure a humidity of air that has passed through the coil;
and
a controller operably connected to the actuator and operably connected to receive measurements from the first and second humidity sensors, and to (i) determine a rate of latent cooling in the system based at least in part on the humidity of air that has passed through the coil and the humidity of ambient air;
(ii) determine a target value for the temperature of the coolant entering the coil based at least in part on the humidity of the ambient air, a setpoint value for the humidity of the ambient air, and the rate of latent cooling;
and (iii) control the actuator to achieve the target value for the temperature of the coolant entering the coil.

5 more elements

A method of cooling a conditioned space, the method comprising acts of:

measuring with a first humidity sensor a humidity of ambient air in the conditioned space;
receiving a setpoint value for the humidity of the ambient air in the conditioned space;
measuring with a second humidity sensor a humidity of air that has passed through a coil in a cooling system for the conditioned space;
determining a rate of latent cooling in the cooling system based at least in part on the humidity of air that has passed through the coil and the humidity of the ambient air in the conditioned space;
determining a target value for a temperature of coolant entering the coil based at least in part on the humidity of the ambient air in the conditioned space, a setpoint value for the humidity of the ambient air in the conditioned space, and the rate of latent cooling;
and
controlling an actuator of the cooling system to achieve the target value for the temperature of the coolant entering the coil.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Terminal unit and method for improved indoor cooling

Life of this patent

Terminal unit and method for improved indoor cooling

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims12