Fan-powered mixing box assembly
AssigneeCarrier Corporation
InventorsJeffrey L. Parker, Edward Parker
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fan-powered mixing box assembly through which conditioned air is supplied to a plurality of zones is controlled by a programmable fan-box monitor. The assembly comprises a mixing box, a multi-speed fan and a heating element having several stages. The monitor receives data from and transmits data to a plurality of programmable zone thermostats each of which controls a zone via a duct damper through which air enters the zone. The monitor receives data from duct temperature and duct air pressure sensors for use in controlling the fan and heating element. Also, the monitor is responsive to signals representative of the real time for operating the assembly in setback modes when the various zones are not occupied. The monitor modulates a master damper for control of supply air.
Claims47
In a system employing a unit for controlling the condition of air supplied to a plurality of zones via a main duct when using a fan-powered mixing box assembly in said main duct and having a fan and at least one heating element for heating air supplied to said main duct to supply conditioned air to each said zone via a master damper means in a zone duct communicating between said main duct and each said zone, and means for controlling said assembly comprising a programmable fan-box monitor means, said programmable fan-box monitor means receiving information from a controller means located in each zone interfaced with and controlling respective said zone damper means in respective said zone duct, means for determining the condition of the air in each said zone and supplying such information to said fan-box monitor means, said fan-box monitor means operating said fan-powered mixing box assembly in accordance with its programming, and the condition of air in each zone, and in accordance with the information received from each said controller means to control said fan-powered mixing box in a heating and cooling mode.
A method of controlling the operation of a plurality of zone duct damper means located in respective zone ducts and a fan-powered mixing box assembly controlled by a controller means that supplies conditioned air into a main duct having a master damper means in the main duct which communicates with zone ducts associated with respective zones each having a zone damper means and a means of determining the desired zone setpoint and the zone temperature comprising the steps of:
- A. determining the demand for heating or cooling from all the zones;
- B. determining the number of the zones having a demand for heating and cooling;
- C. selecting a mode from the heating, cooling, and ventilating modes based upon mode demand;
- D. operating the appropriate zone damper means to closed position if the means controlling the appropriate dampers have no demand or demand a mode different than the mode selected in step C, and positioning open the other zone dampers;
- E. actuating the fan-powered mixing box assembly in the selected mode and operating the master damper until all zones demanding the selected mode have been satisfied;
- F. deactivating the fan-powered mixing box assembly;
- and
- G. repeating steps A-F for the other mode when demand for the other mode has been selected in accord with steps A-C.
A method of monitoring and controlling the condition of air within each of a plurality of zones being supplied with conditioned air through zone dampers and zone ducts from a fan-powered mixing box assembly via a main duct communicating with the zone ducts and a master damper means in the main duct, a programmable fan-box monitor controls the master damper means and the fan-powered mixing box assembly, and programmable zone thermostats in respective zones control respective zone dampers comprising the steps of:
- A. programming the setpoints of the zone thermostats during a plurality of distinct time periods;
- B. activating the mixing box assembly by the fan-box monitor in the selected mode until all the zone thermostats demanding the selected mode have been satisfied;
- C. positioning the zone duct damper means open if the zone thermostats are demanding the selected mode and closed for the other zone damper means;
- and
- D. deactivating the mixing box assembly by the fan-box monitor.
A method of controlling the operation of a plurality of zone duct damper means located in respective zone ducts and a fan-powered mixing box assembly controlled by a means supplying conditioned air into a main duct having air flow control means in the main duct which communicates with zone ducts associated with respective zones comprising the steps of:
- A. determining the demand for heating or cooling in all zones and whether the fan-powered mixing box has selected either the heating or cooling mode;
- B. controlling the fan-powered mixing box in the mode selected;
- C. operating zone duct dampers to close all not desiring conditioned air from the fan-powered mixing box in the mode selected and to open all desiring conditioned air in the mode selected;
- and
- D. operating the air flow control means and the fan-powered mixing box to control air supplied to the zones until all zones demanding the selected mode have been substantially satisfied.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.