Abstract: An air-conditioning unit is provided, comprising: an input vent for receiving return air; an intermediate vent; an output vent; a blower fan proximate to the input vent for moving the return air from the input vent to the intermediate vent; and an air-conditioner coil between the intermediate vent and the output vent including an active portion including one or more operational air-conditioning coils that receive a first portion of the return air from the intermediate vent, for circulating a coolant, condition the first portion of the return air by heat exchange with the coolant to create conditioned air, and pass the conditioned air to the output vent, and an inactive portion that does not circulate coolant and passes a second portion of the return air as unconditioned air to the output vent, wherein the conditioned air and the unconditioned air pass through the output vent as supply air.

Abstract: A refrigeration cycle device, comprising: a compressor configured to compress a refrigerant; an outdoor air heat exchanger configured to exchange heat between the refrigerant and outside air located outside a target space; an indoor air heat exchanger configured to exchange heat between the refrigerant and inside air located inside the target space; a water heat exchanger configured to exchange heat between the refrigerant and water; a four-way valve located between an indoor port on the indoor air heat exchanger, an outdoor port on the outdoor air heat exchanger, an input port on the compressor, and an output port on the compressor; a bypass refrigerant line connecting the indoor port to the outdoor port; and a controllable valve located on the bypass refrigerant line, the controllable valve being configured to have an open state that passes the refrigerant and a closed state that prohibits passage of the refrigerant.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method is provided of controlling operation of an indoor fan in an air conditioning system, the method including: setting a fan speed of the indoor fan to a maximum value; storing a first low temperature as a low temperature threshold; measuring the indoor temperature in an indoor space as a current indoor temperature; subtracting a set point temperature from the current indoor temperature to determine a temperature difference; determining that the temperature difference is less than the low temperature threshold; and reducing the fan speed by a first adjustment interval, storing a second low temperature difference as the low temperature threshold, and storing a second high temperature as a high temperature threshold, all in response to the determining that the current temperature difference is less than the low temperature threshold.

Abstract: A coil assembly is provided, comprising: a direct expansion (DX) coil circulating refrigerant and cooling supply air passing over the DX coil by heat exchange to generate dehumidified air; a reheat coil circulating the refrigerant and heating the dehumidified air by heat exchange to generate output air; a first horizontal drain pan below the DX and reheat coils in a first horizontal position; a second horizontal drain pan below the DX and reheat coils in a second horizontal position; a first vertical drain pan below the DX and reheat coils in a vertical position, wherein the first and second horizontal drain pans are connected to the first vertical drain pan, the reheat coil is secured between the first and second horizontal drain pans, and the first horizontal drain pan is on an opposite side of the DX coil and the reheat coil from the second horizontal drain pan.

Abstract: An air handler, comprising: a heating and cooling coil to exchange heat with input air to generate conditioned air; an air diffuser to diffuse the conditioned air to generate diffused air; and an air blower to draw the input air into the air handler via an air inlet, pass the input air over the heating and cooling coil, pass the conditioned air through the diffuser, and expel the diffused air through an air outlet as output air, wherein the air diffuser contains one or more baffles to create two or more air passages that operate to control the expansion and reduction of kinetic energy of the conditioned air to generate the diffused air, a first direction represents a direction of a shortest line between the air blower and the outlet, the air diffuser passes air in a second direction displaced from the first direction by a deflection angle.

Abstract: A filter box mounts to an air intake opening of an air handler. The filter box includes an inner shell, insulator, and an outer shell. The inner shell is adapted to confine one or more filters therein. The inner shell defines an airflow channel from a front end opening of the inner shell through the filter(s) to a rear end opening of the inner shell. The outer shell defines a chamber from a front end opening of the outer shell to a rear end opening of the outer shell. The outer shell contains the inner shell in the chamber and the insulator is sandwiched between the outer shell and the inner shell. The inner shell and the outer shell are separated and spaced apart all over by the insulator and the insulator insulates and seals the inner shell from the outer shell.

Abstract: An air-conditioning unit is provided, comprising: an input vent for receiving return air; an intermediate vent; an output vent; a blower fan proximate to the input vent for moving the return air from the input vent to the intermediate vent; and an air-conditioner coil between the intermediate vent and the output vent including an active portion including one or more operational air-conditioning coils that receive a first portion of the return air from the intermediate vent, for circulating a coolant, condition the first portion of the return air by heat exchange with the coolant to create conditioned air, and pass the conditioned air to the output vent, and an inactive portion that does not circulate coolant and passes a second portion of the return air as unconditioned air to the output vent, wherein the conditioned air and the unconditioned air pass through the output vent as supply air.

Abstract: A heating, ventilation and air-conditioner (HVAC) remote controller for providing instructions for operation of an HVAC system, including a processor configured to control operation of the HVAC remote controller and to generate instructions for the operation of the HVAC system; a pixelated display configured to consume less power when the pixelated display is in a static state than when it is not in the static state; a local input device configured to accept data from an operator; a light configured to illuminate the pixelated display; an isolated power source configured to provide operational power to at least the processor, the pixelated display, and the light; wherein the controller is configured to keep the light turned off except when the processor is actively performing an operation to control the HVAC system.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method is provided of controlling a heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system having a heat pump and an auxiliary heater to heat an inside zone, the method comprising: setting values for an economic balance point and a temperature set point; setting a capacity balance point to be equal to the economic balance point; measuring an initial inside temperature in the inside zone and an outside temperature outside of a structure containing the inside zone; determining that the initial inside temperature is lower than the temperature set point; determining that the outside temperature is greater than the capacity balance point; activating the heat pump to heat the inside zone; waiting a heating interval while the heat pump is active; determining that the heat pump is not effective in heating the inside zone; and setting the capacity balance point to be equal to the outside temperature.

Abstract: An air-conditioner, comprising: an indoor coil; an outdoor coil; a drain pan under the indoor and outdoor coils, the drain pan including a slinging trough having a slinging depth, a draining trough having a draining depth, a pumping trough having a pumping depth, and a drain hole formed in a bottom surface of the draining trough; a drain valve for selectively allowing liquid to pass through the drain hole; a drain pump for selectively pumping liquid out of the pumping trough; a fan for blowing air on the outdoor coil and moving the liquid from the slinging trough onto the outdoor coil when the fan is operating; and a controller for controlling operation of at least the drain pump and the fan, wherein the pumping depth is greater than the draining depth, the draining depth is greater than the slinging depth.

Abstract: An air-conditioning unit is provided, comprising: an input vent for receiving return air; an intermediate vent; an output vent; a blower fan proximate to the input vent for moving the return air from the input vent to the intermediate vent; and an air-conditioner coil between the intermediate vent and the output vent including an active portion including one or more operational air-conditioning coils that receive a first portion of the return air from the intermediate vent, for circulating a coolant, condition the first portion of the return air by heat exchange with the coolant to create conditioned air, and pass the conditioned air to the output vent, and an inactive portion that does not circulate coolant and passes a second portion of the return air as unconditioned air to the output vent, wherein the conditioned air and the unconditioned air pass through the output vent as supply air.

Abstract: A refrigeration cycle device, comprising: a compressor configured to compress a refrigerant; an outdoor air heat exchanger configured to exchange heat between the refrigerant and outside air located outside a target space; an indoor air heat exchanger configured to exchange heat between the refrigerant and inside air located inside the target space; a water heat exchanger configured to exchange heat between the refrigerant and water; a four-way valve located between an indoor port on the indoor air heat exchanger, an outdoor port on the outdoor air heat exchanger, an input port on the compressor, and an output port on the compressor; a bypass refrigerant line connecting the indoor port to the outdoor port; and a controllable valve located on the bypass refrigerant line, the controllable valve being configured to have an open state that passes the refrigerant and a closed state that prohibits passage of the refrigerant.

Abstract: A wind baffle operable to control air movement to an air inlet of an air-conditioner, the wind baffle comprising: a frame defining an inlet side, an outdoor side opposite the inlet side, and a plurality of wall sections between the inlet side and the outdoor side; a back plate formed on the outdoor side; a first variable air vent formed on a first wall section and being configured to selectively pass or restrict a first air flow through the first variable air vent; a second variable air vent formed on a second wall section and being configured to selectively pass or restrict a second air flow through the second variable air vent; and a securing mechanism on the inlet side configured to attach the wind baffle to the air inlet such that the inlet side faces the air inlet, wherein the inlet side is unobstructed, allowing air to pass freely.

Abstract: A water-heating system, including: a controller; a refrigerant-water heat exchanger for exchanging heat between refrigerant and water; a sensor circuit for measuring a current water temperature of water in a water heater and providing the current water temperature to the controller; a first refrigerant pipe for passing the refrigerant from a refrigerant source to the refrigerant-water heat exchanger; a second refrigerant pipe for passing the refrigerant from the refrigerant-water heat exchanger to the refrigerant source; a first water pipe for passing the water from the water heater to the refrigerant-water heat exchanger; a second water pipe for passing the water from the refrigerant-water heat exchanger to the water heater; and a water pump for pumping water from the water heater to the refrigerant-water heat exchanger via the first water pipe and from the refrigerant-water heat exchanger to the water heater via the second water pipe based on a control signal.

Abstract: An air conditioning system with precisely controlled dehumidification functions is disclosed. The air conditioning system comprises an indoor air handling system comprising a primary heat exchanger and a secondary heat exchanger. The indoor air handling system can be coupled to an outdoor unit comprising a compressor and an outdoor heat exchanger. When a controller system receives a measured humidity that exceeds a set humidity, the controller system can increase the cooling capacity of the air conditioning system to meet a set temperature. Once the set temperature is met, the controller system can switch to a dehumidification mode wherein the primary heat exchanger is cooled and the secondary heat exchanger is activated. When the measured temperature exceeds the set temperature, the controller system can switch from the dehumidification mode back to cooling mode.

Abstract: A supplemental heat-providing system is provided for heating a refrigerant. The system includes an outdoor unit that can act as a heat pump located outside a building and configured to use the refrigerant to condition an indoor space inside the building; a hot water heater located in the building and connected to one or more points of use in the building, the hot water heater being configured to heat water and provide the water to the one or more points of use; a water-refrigerant heat exchanger containing a refrigerant pathway and a water pathway, configured to pass the refrigerant from the outdoor unit through the refrigerant pathway, to pass the water from the hot water heater through the water pathway, and to exchange heat from the water to the refrigerant; and a water pump configured to selectively pump the water from the hot water heater through water pathway.

Abstract: An air-conditioning system is provided, comprising: an air conditioner including a first fan having a first fan input configured to receive first input air, and a first fan output configured to generate a first output air stream in a horizontal direction, and a second fan having a second fan input configured to receive second input air, and a second fan output configured to generate a second output air stream in the horizontal direction; an air baffle including a first upflow duct attached to the air-conditioner and configured to direct the first output air stream into a first deflected air stream flowing in a first direction between 0 degrees and 45 degrees from vertical, and a second upflow duct attached to the air-conditioner and configured to direct the second output air stream into a second deflected air stream flowing in a second direction between 0 degrees and 45 degrees from vertical.

Abstract: A heat pump system with a hybrid heating system is disclosed. The heat pump system includes a first housing comprising a heat exchanger, a compressor, and a fan. The heat pump system also includes a second housing that includes a supplemental heat source that is activated when the outside air falls below a certain temperature. The second housing includes a series of dampers that permit recirculation of the air passing through the first housing so that the supplemental heat source can provide heat to the recirculated air. The supplemental heat source increases the heating capacity of the heat pump system.

Abstract: An air conditioning system includes: first and second utilization side heat exchangers and a heat source side heat exchanger respectively connected in series; a compressor connected between the first utilization side heat exchanger and the heat source side heat exchanger; an expansion valve connected between the first utilization side heat exchanger and the second utilization side heat exchanger; a pressure control device connected between the second utilization side heat exchanger and the heat source side heat exchanger; and a bypass valve connected between the expansion valve and the heat source side heat exchanger. The bypass valve provides a variable amount of liquid refrigerant flowing from the expansion valve to the heat source side heat exchanger. The pressure control device and the bypass valve cooperate with each other to keep a temperature of the compressor below a maximum allowable temperature predetermined for the compressor.