Fan array control system
AssigneeHuntair, Inc.
InventorsLAWRENCE G. HOPKINS, Brian James Motland, Matthew Alan Gassaway
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fan array fan section in an air-handling system includes a plurality of fan units arranged in a fan array and positioned within an air-handling compartment. One preferred embodiment may include an array controller programmed to operate the plurality of fan units at peak efficiency by computing the power consumed in various configurations and selecting the configuration requiring minimum power to operate.
Claims34
1-10. (canceled)
A method for controlling an array of fan units in an air handling system that conditions air to be delivered to a building, the method comprising:
- providing a select level for an environmental parameter based on a building requirement, the environmental parameter representing at least one of static pressure or air flow;
- setting a number of operative fan units to an initial number;
- measuring, at a sensor, the environmental parameter to obtain a measured value representative of the at least one of the air flow or static pressure;
- operating a controller in a feedback control loop to control the operative fan units based on the select level for the environmental parameter and the measured value from the sensor;
- and
- varying the number of operative fan units to maintain the operative fan units within a desired range.
An air handling system comprising:
- a preselected number of fan units, said fan units arranged in a fan array, said array capable of operation with an initial number of operative fan units less than the preselected number of fan units to maintain a select level for an environmental parameter based on a building requirement, the environmental parameter representing at least one of static pressure or air flow;
- a sensor to measure the environmental parameter to obtain a measured value representative of at least one of the air flow or static pressure;
- and
- a controller configured to:
- control the operative fan units based on the select level for the environmental parameter;
- utilize the measured value and the select level in a feedback control loop to control the operative fan units;
- and
- vary the number of operative fan units to maintain the operative fan units within a desired range.
A method for controlling an array of fan units in an air handling system that conditions air to be delivered to a building, the method comprising:
- providing a select level for an environmental parameter based on a building requirement, the environmental parameter representing at least one of static pressure or air flow;
- measuring, at a sensor, the environmental parameter to obtain a measured value representative of at least one of the air flow or static pressure;
- obtaining information regarding motor operation;
- varying the number of operative fan units based on the information regarding motor operation in a feedback control loop to operate the operative fan units;
- and
- controlling the operative fan units based on the measured value and the select level for the environmental parameter.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.