Ductwork System for Modulating Conditioned Air
OwnerRobert Joe ALDERMANinventor
Life of this patent
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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.
Claims20
A method of cooling a facility space below a ceiling, the method comprising:
- installing ductwork in an attic space above the ceiling, the attic space to display a vertical delta temperature disparity;
- positioning a phase change material blanket about the ductwork;
- flowing conditioned air through the ductwork at a temperature below that of a temperature outside of the facility space;
- absorbing heat from the attic space with the phase change material blanket;
- melting phase change material of the blanket by the absorbing for reducing exposure of the ductwork to attic space heat to minimize a delta disparity of temperature to the flowing of the conditioned air;
- delivering the conditioned air from the ductwork to the facility space below.
A ductwork system for cooling a facility space below a ceiling, the system comprising:
- ductwork in an attic space above the ceiling to accommodate conditioned air flowing at a temperature below that of a temperature outside of the facility, the attic space to display an elevated vertical temperature gradient;
- and
- a phase change material blanket about an exterior of the ductwork, the blanket comprising a phase change material to absorb heat from the attic space to minimize a delta disparity of temperature to the flowing of the conditioned air.
A structural facility with a facility space below a ceiling that is of a temperature below that of an attic space above the ceiling, the facility comprising:
- ductwork in the attic space, the attic space to display an elevated vertical temperature gradient, the ductwork defining a channel to accommodate a flow of conditioned air at a temperature below that of a temperature outside of the facility space;
- a phase change material blanket about an exterior of the ductwork, the blanket comprising a phase change material to absorb attic space heat for minimizing a delta disparity of temperature to the flowing of the conditioned air.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.