System and method for controlling air flow in air handling unit
AssigneeRheem Manufacturing Company
InventorBaojie Mu
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system for controlling air flow in an air handling unit having an air mover is provided. The system includes a first and a second sensing device, each receiving a first input indicative of electric power and a second input indicative of properties of air, respectively. The system further includes a processing unit to determine heat generated from a motor of the air mover based on the first input, determine density of air based on the heat generated from the motor based on the second input, and determine an actual air flow rate based on the density of the air, a speed of the motor, and dimensional characteristics of the air handling unit. Further, the speed of the motor is controlled when the actual air flow rate is different from a target air flow rate.
Claims19
A system for controlling air flow in an air handling unit having an air mover, the system comprising:
- a first sensing device configured to receive a first input indicative of an electric power supplied to the air handling unit;
- a second sensing device configured to receive a second input indicative of properties of air received within the air handling unit;
- and
- a processing unit in communication with the first sensing device and the second sensing device, the processing unit being configured to:
- determine heat generated from a motor of the air mover based on the first input;
- determine density of air received through an air inlet duct of the air handling unit based on the heat generated from the motor, and on the second input;
- determine an actual air flow rate based on the density of the air, a speed of the motor, and dimensional characteristics of the air handling unit;
- compare the actual air flow rate with a target air flow rate stored in the processing unit;
- and
- control the speed of the motor when the actual air flow rate is different from the target air flow rate.
A method of controlling air flow in an air handling unit having an air mover the method comprising:
- receiving, by a first sensing device, a first input indicative of an electric power supplied to the air handling unit;
- receiving, by a second sensing device, a second input indicative of properties of air received within the air handling unit;
- determining, by a processing unit, heat generated from a motor of the air mover based on the first input;
- determining, by the processing unit, density of air received through an air inlet duct of the air handling unit based on the heat generated from the motor, and on the second input;
- determining, by the processing unit, an actual air flow rate based on the density of the air, a speed of the motor and dimensional characteristics of the air handling unit;
- comparing, by the processing unit, the actual air flow rate with a target air flow rate stored in the processing unit;
- and
- controlling, by the processing unit, the speed of the motor when the actual air flow rate is different from the target air flow rate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.