Condensate reuse for HVAC efficiency improvement
AssigneeBudderfly, Inc.
InventorsDavid Gerald Cannon, Kenneth Buda
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system for improving the efficiency of HVAC systems by reusing condensate and spraying it onto the coils to cool them. The flow rate of the spray is adjusted based on condensate levels and peak usage, temperature, and cost periods. The system further learns and adapts to the energy usage pattern of the equipment and the condensate levels and optimizes the flow of condensate.
Claims21
A fluid distribution system for controlling distribution of fluid to cooling flow over a condenser of an air conditioning, refrigeration or heat pump system of an HVAC unit having an evaporator comprising:
- a controller;
- one or more sensors;
- one or more distribution elements configured to distribute fluid, the one or more distribution elements comprising first distributor and a second distributor;
- the controller configured to receive sensor data from the one or more sensors and in response to the sensor data, the controller configured to control one or more fluid distribution elements;
- a reservoir arranged to collect condensed fluid from the evaporator, the reservoir arranged to feed the fluid which is distributed into the cooling flow and the second distributor arranged to drain the reservoir;
- wherein when the sensor data indicates temperature above a first threshold value, the controller is configured to determine an amount of condensate production of the condensed fluid and an amount of the condensate in the reservoir to determine available condensate and the controller distributes the condensed fluid into cooling flow for the condenser using the first distributor based on the available condensate;
- wherein when the sensor data indicates temperature below a second threshold value, the controller is configured to adjust the second distributor to drain the fluid distribution system.
A fluid distribution system for controlling distribution of fluid to cooling flow over a condenser of an air conditioning, refrigeration or heat pump system of an HVAC unit having an evaporator comprising:
- a controller;
- one or more sensors;
- one or more distribution elements configured to distribute fluid, the one or more distribution elements comprising first distributor;
- a reservoir arranged to collect condensed fluid from the evaporator, the reservoir arranged to feed the fluid which is distributed into the cooling flow and the second distributor arranged to drain the reservoir
- the controller configured to receive sensor data from the one or more sensors and in response to the sensor data, the controller configured to control one or more fluid distribution elements;
- wherein when the sensor data indicates temperature above a first threshold value, the controller is configured to determine an amount of condensate production of the condensed fluid and an amount of the condensate in the reservoir to determine available condensate and the controller distributes the condensed fluid into cooling flow for the condenser using the first distributor based on the available condensate;
- wherein when the sensor data indicates temperature below the first threshold value, the controller is configured to not distribute fluid into the cooling flow.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.