US 7,891,573 B2Granted

Methods and apparatuses for controlling air to a building

AssigneeMicro Metl Corporation

InventorsJoseph E. Finkam, Eric M. Pratt

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Abstract

HVAC systems, including various HVAC system components, and methods for manufacturing the same are disclosed for controlling airflow into a building. Embodiments of the HVAC systems include apparatuses for controlling the volumetric airflow moving through at least one HVAC system component using a measurement device, for example an airflow detector, a regulator, for example a damper or blower, and a controller, where the controller receives input from the measurement device, manipulates the input with a control algorithm, and sends output commands to the regulator. Further embodiments include apparatuses and methods for development of the control algorithm by testing a similar HVAC system component, measuring the actual volumetric airflow through the HVAC system component, and comparing the actual volumetric airflow with the airflow measured by the measurement device. Still further embodiment include forming a plurality of similar HVAC components that each control airflow without requiring further testing.

Claims22

Dependent claims

A method for manufacturing at least one HVAC component adapted to connection to a building's HVAC system, wherein the HVAC component delivers a calibrated amount of air to the building's HVAC system, the method comprising the acts of:

forming a first HVAC component, said forming including:
forming a first housing with a first airflow passage configured and adapted to connect to HVAC ducting installed in a building with the first airflow passage in fluid communication with the HVAC ducting,
attaching a first airflow regulator to the first housing and, the first airflow regulator adapted to regulate the airflow through the first airflow passage,
attaching a first airflow detector to the first housing at a first location, the first airflow detector adapted to measure a measured airflow through the first airflow passage;
connecting a first controller with a memory to the first airflow regulator and to the first airflow detector, the first controller configured and adapted to receive a measured airflow valve from the first airflow detector and command the airflow regulator to change the amount of air moving through the first airflow passage,
calibrating the first HVAC component to deliver an actual volumetric airflow, said calibrating including:
moving air through the first airflow passage,
obtaining a measured airflow by measuring the airflow through the first airflow passage with the first airflow detector,
obtaining an actual volumetric airflow by determining the airflow through the first airflow passage with a calibrated test system,
determining a correction to convert the measured airflow to the actual airflow, and
applying the correction to the first controller, wherein the first controller:
commands the first airflow regulator to increase the airflow through the first airflow passage when the actual volumetric airflow is below a desired airflow, and
commands the first airflow regulator to decrease the airflow through the first airflow passage when the actual volumetric airflow is above a desired airflow.

10 more elements

A plurality of HVAC systems, each system with at least one HVAC component adapted to control the volumetric airflow through the HVAC system, each of the plurality of HVAC system components being substantially similar to one another, at least one of the HVAC system components comprising:

a first HVAC component, including:
a first housing with a first airflow passage configured and adapted to connect to one of the HVAC system's ducting with said first airflow passage in fluid communication with the HVAC system's ducting,
a first airflow regulator attached to said housing within said airflow passage and adapted to change the airflow through said airflow passage,
a first airflow detector attached to said housing within said airflow passage and adapted to measure the airflow passing through said first airflow passage, and
a first controller with a memory, said first controller connected to said first airflow regulator and said first airflow detector, wherein said first controller commands said first airflow regulator to change the airflow rate through said first airflow passage to achieve a desired actual airflow rate using a control algorithm;
means for deriving said control algorithm including means for measuring the actual volumetric airflow through said first HVAC system component, wherein the control algorithm converts input from the first airflow detector to an actual volumetric airflow rate through said first HVAC system component, and wherein the control algorithm compares the actual airflow rate to a desired airflow rate.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 11/682,198Filed 5 Mar 2007 · us provisional application
Priority: 3 Mar 2006
Published: US 2007/0205297 A16 Sep 2007
Granted: 22 Feb 2011
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification13 codes

F24F 11/74
For controlling the supply of treated air, e.g. its pressure: for controlling air flow rate or air velocity
F24F 11/30
Control or safety arrangements: for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring
F24F 2011/0006
For ventilation: using low temperature external supply air to assist cooling
F24F 2110/00
Control inputs relating to air properties