# US 2022/0034547 A1 · Ductwork System for Modulating Conditioned Air > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2022/0034547 A1 - Document ID: US20220034547A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/359,590 - Filed: 2021-06-27 - Published: 2022-02-03 - Earliest claimed: 2020-08-03 - Inventors: Robert Joe Alderman - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20220034547A1 ## CPC - F24F 13/0263: {Insulation for air ducts} - F24F 5/0021: {using phase change material [PCM] for storage} - F24F 2221/14: mounted on the ceiling - Y02E 60/14: Thermal energy storage - 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) - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION ## Abstract A ductwork system including a temperature modulating blanket with phase change material. The system allows for attic installation of ductwork while substantially avoiding effects of excessive temperatures and temperature gradients of the attic space on conditioned air run through the ductwork. Thus, smaller HVAC and overall power requirements may be realized for air conditioning applications in structural facilities. This may be of particular benefit for structural facilities retrofitted with HVAC systems where attic space is more likely to be made greater use of for accommodating ductwork. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A ductwork system comprising: ductwork for installation in an attic space of a structural facility to channel conditioned air, the attic space prone to present a gradient of temperature across a height of the ductwork; and a temperature modulating blanket positioned on the ductwork and accommodating a phase change material therein with a predetermined melting range to minimize temperature variance of the conditioned air within the ductwork across the height thereof. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The ductwork system of claim 1 wherein the temperature modulating blanket is wrapped substantially around an entirety of an outer surface of the ductwork. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The ductwork system of claim 1 wherein the structural facility comprises a ceiling defining the attic space, the temperature modulating blanket positioned on an upper surface of the ceiling and around a portion of the ductwork. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The ductwork system of claim 1 wherein the phase change material is selected from a group consisting of water, calcium hexahydrate, calcium chloride hexahydrate, sodium sulfate, paraffin, coconut oil, NaA2SO4.10H2O, CACl26H2O, Na2S2O3.5H2O, NaCO3.10H2O and NaHPO4.12H2O. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The ductwork system of claim 1 wherein the temperature modulating blanket further comprises one of a thermally conductive layer and a reflective layer over the phase change material and substantially air-free, thermally conductive communication therewith. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The ductwork system of claim 1 wherein the one of the thermally conductive layer and the reflective layer are of a k value in excess of 0.15. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The ductwork system of claim 6 wherein the thermally conductive layer comprises one of a thermally conductive polymer and an adhesive tape. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The ductwork system of claim 6 wherein the reflective layer is aluminum foil. ### Claim 9 A structural facility comprising: a ceiling defining a facility space below; a roof over the ceiling defining an attic space between the ceiling and roof, the attic space prone to display a substantial temperature gradient between elevated and lowered locations thereof; ductwork installed in the attic space subject to the temperature gradient across a height thereof; and a temperature modulating blanket at least partially about an outer surface of the ductwork to minimize a temperature variance of conditioned air in the ductwork due to the gradient in the attic space. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The structural facility of claim 9 wherein the substantial temperature gradient is in excess of 50° F. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The structural facility of claim 9 further comprising walls accommodating temperature modulating blankets. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The structural facility of claim 9 wherein the temperature modulating blanket is wrapped substantially around an entirety of the outer surface of the ductwork. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The structural facility of claim 9 wherein the temperature modulating blanket is installed at an upper surface of the ceiling and around a portion of the ductwork. ### Claim 14 A method of modulating temperature of conditioned air, the method comprising: installing ductwork in an attic space of a structural facility, the attic space prone to present a gradient of temperature across a height of the ductwork; installing a temperature modulating blanket accommodating a phase change material at the ductwork; flowing the conditioned air through a channel of the ductwork; and employing the blanket for minimizing an effect of the gradient of temperature in the attic on the conditioned air in the channel. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14 wherein the minimizing comprises one of minimizing a mean temperature and minimizing a temperature variance in the channel. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14 wherein the structural facility is retrofitted with the ductwork after initial facility use. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16 wherein the temperature modulating blanket is retrofitted on the ductwork after use of the facility with flowing conditioned air. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14 further comprising melting the phase change material in a substantially uniform manner in response to the temperature gradient for the minimizing of the effect of the gradient. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18 wherein the substantially uniform melting of the phase change material is facilitated in part by one of a thermally conductive and a reflective layer in substantially air-free thermally conductive communication therewith. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18 further comprising refreezing the phase change material with the conditioned air flowing through the channel.