Abstract: An air handler includes a housing with a heat exchanger core. The housing includes a faceplate, a roof panel, a base panel, a first side panel, and a second side panel. A first tunnel and a second tunnel are connected to the housing at the faceplate. A septum protrudes from the faceplate and connects the core at a front edge. The air handler further includes a first recirculation path and a second recirculation path inside the housing. The first and second recirculation paths are defined by the septum, the housing, and the core. The first and second recirculation paths are configured to direct a portion of airflow from the first tunnel to the second tunnel. The air handler further includes a first damper and a second damper disposed on the faceplate and configured to obstruct the first recirculation path and the second recirculation path respectively.

Abstract: Example furnaces and methods related thereto include a burner box including at least one burner configured to combust a fuel/air mixture. In addition, the furnace includes a first blower including an inlet nozzle having an air inlet and fuel inlet. The inlet nozzle is configured such that operation of the first blower is to pull air and fuel into the inlet nozzle to produce the fuel/air mixture at a fuel/air ratio that is configured to produce flue products having less than 14 Nano-grams per Joule of nitrogen oxides when combusted. Operation of the first blower is configured to push the fuel/air mixture into the burner box. Further, the furnace includes a heat exchanger assembly fluidly coupled to the burner box through a vestibule, and a second blower configured to pull the flue products through the heat exchanger assembly.

Abstract: Embodiments of vibration damping clips for use within a climate control system are disclosed. In an embodiment, a vibration damping clip is engaged with three fluid lines of an outdoor unit of the climate control system, such as, for instance, a suction line of a compressor of the climate control system, a discharge line of the compressor, and a fluid line coupled to a pressure equalization valve (PEV) within the outdoor unit.

Abstract: A centrifugal fan for a heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVACR) system is disclosed. The centrifugal fan includes a volute housing having an inner surface and a curved inlet shroud. The volute housing defines an air outlet. The curved inlet shroud defines an air inlet. The air inlet has an inlet airflow cross-sectional area that lies substantially perpendicular to an outlet airflow cross-sectional area of the air outlet. The centrifugal fan also includes an impeller mounted for rotation about a rotational axis within the volute housing. The impeller has a plurality of fan blades. The plurality of fan blades has an outer surface. The centrifugal fan further includes a light source. The inner surface of the volute housing and the outer surface of the plurality of fan blades includes a photocatalyst layer. The light source is configured to emit light on the photocatalyst layer.

Abstract: A layered control panel for a heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVACR) unit includes an outer layer on which low-voltage components are placed, and an inner layer on which high-voltage components are placed. The outer layer is capable of taking a closed position where it blocks access to the inner layer, and an open position where the outer layer does not block access to the inner layer. The outer layer can include a lock to keep the outer layer in the closed position. The outer layer can be one or two or more panels mounted on hinges that allow the outer layer to swing between closed and open positions.

Abstract: Example embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a heat pump assembly including a system or method for detecting a fault in the heat pump. Some embodiments include a method for detecting a switch over valve fault where the heat pump includes a refrigerant cycle, a compressor, a metering device, a first heat exchanger, an second heat exchanger, a temperature sensor, and a switch over valve, and where the method includes operating the HVAC system in one either a heating mode or a cooling mode, monitoring a refrigerant temperature associated with the refrigerant cycle using the temperature sensor, monitoring an outdoor ambient air temperature, determining a temperature difference between the refrigerant temperature and the outdoor ambient temperature, determining whether the temperature difference is greater than a predetermined temperature difference threshold, and declaring a switch over valve fault when the temperature difference is greater than the predetermined temperature difference threshold.

Abstract: The technologies described and recited herein pertain to a permanent magnet motor having multiple voltage taps so that the motor may run in multiple configurations, e.g., a low-range and a high-range, and have multiple optimal operating points.

Abstract: An asymmetric scroll compressor includes a compressor housing. An orbiting scroll member and a non-orbiting scroll member disposed within the compressor housing. The orbiting scroll member and the non-orbiting scroll member each includes a baseplate and a wrap extending from the baseplate. The orbiting scroll member and the non-orbiting scroll member intermeshed to form a plurality of compression pockets. A driveshaft affixed to the orbiting scroll member and configured to orbit the orbiting scroll member from a first orbital position to a second orbital position. A communication port disposed on the baseplate of one of the orbiting scroll member and the non-orbiting scroll such that: in the first orbital position, the communication port communicates with a first enclosed pocket of the plurality of compression pockets, and in the second orbital position, the communication port communicates with a second enclosed pocket of the plurality of compression pockets.

Abstract: Methods and related systems for diagnosing a loss of capacity of a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system are disclosed. In an embodiment, the method includes summing a runtime of an auxiliary heat source of the HVAC system over a plurality of time blocks. Additionally, the method includes summing an expected runtime of the auxiliary heat source over the plurality of time blocks. Further, the method includes comparing the runtime sum with the expected runtime sum, wherein the expected runtime for each of the plurality of time blocks is a function of an outdoor ambient temperature over a time-delay block beginning before the corresponding time block.

Abstract: A method is provided for controlling combustion in a modulating gas furnace. The method includes receiving an indication of a firing rate setpoint for a burner assembly, and applying the firing rate setpoint to first and second continuous functions that map the firing rate setpoint to air-to-fuel ratio and combustion system pressure setpoints. A variable-speed draft inducer blower is set to drive to a combustion system pressure setpoint, and the modulating gas valve is controlled during combustion in the combustion system. In this regard, a combustion system pressure measurement is obtained and applied to an inverse of the first continuous function that outputs an adjusted firing rate for the combustion system pressure measurement. The adjusted firing rate is applied to a third continuous function that maps the firing rate to gas valve position, and outputs a gas valve position to which the modulating gas valve is set.

Abstract: Methods are directed towards dynamically determining refrigerant film thickness at the rolling-element bearing and for dynamically controlling refrigerant film thickness at the rolling-element bearing. Further, an oil free chiller system is configured for dynamically determining refrigerant film thickness at the rolling-element bearing of the oil free chiller system, wherein the oil free chiller system is also configured for dynamically controlling refrigerant film thickness at the rolling-element bearing of the oil free chiller system.

Abstract: Example embodiments of the present disclosure relate to improved HVAC devices and kits for HVAC devices that improve the sound attenuation associated with the device, particularly low-frequency noise. An example embodiment includes an improved furnace including a housing with a combustion air chamber, a heat exchanger chamber, and a circulation blower chamber, wherein the combustion air chamber comprises a burner assembly and a combustion air fan, the furnace also includes a sound attenuation layer including a first acoustic metamaterial layer coupled to the combustion air chamber and tuned to attenuate sound for a first frequency band, one or more housing openings fluidly connecting the combustion air chamber to an environment outside the housing, wherein the sound attenuation layer includes a discontinuous section that aligns with one or more of the housing openings.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a CAN network topology for an HVAC communication system. The CAN network topology comprises at least three primary nodes having a predetermined termination impedance and a plurality of end nodes coupled to each primary node, wherein the predetermined termination impedance is set to the optimal setting of 180 ohms. Advantageously, the present disclosure eliminates the need for physically setting CAN node terminations. This reduces install time and removes variability of the install settings. Further, removing this variability reduces the risk for post-installation call-backs due to incorrect system setup. The present disclosure optimizes signal slew rate, which improves signal reliability.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method and apparatus for maintaining computer software of a supervisory control unit (SCU) of an industrial control system (ICS) configured to control equipment of a facility. The method includes capturing status information for the SCU and equipment that indicates at least performance of the SCU and the equipment, and connectivity of the SCU with the equipment. The method includes patching the computer software automatically to update, change, fix, or improve the computer software. The method includes capturing corresponding status information for the SCU and equipment and performing an audit of the ICS after the patch in which the status information and the corresponding status information are compared to identify any deviations in the performance or the connectivity of the equipment resulting from the patch. The method includes generating an audit report of the ICS that indicates any of the deviations that satisfy a reporting threshold.

Abstract: Variable volume ratio compressors may be controlled using a switching parameter based on compressor speed and suction density to improve the matching of compressor volume ratio to desired discharge conditions. Delay periods may be implemented in the determination of when to change volume ratio to control the frequency of changes to the volume ratio. The switching parameter may be a product of the compressor speed and suction density. The volume ratio of the compressor may be controlled by switching valves directing pressure to a piston of a variable volume ratio system of the compressor.

Abstract: Permanent magnet rotors for electric motors, particularly electric motors for use in compressors, improve the electromagnetic efficiency of the motor. The rotors can include retention of surface permanent magnets using one or more of retaining features on the motor and/or pole spacers interfacing with corresponding features on a rotor core, the use of a monolithic magnet in the rotor, and/or use of a carbon fiber sleeve. The rotor can include an eddy current shield, disposed on the rotor core, on a surface of the rotor, or located within a sleeve surrounding the rotor. The rotor can be sized such that an air-gap between the rotor and a stator of a motor using the rotor is a predetermined amount that reduces electromagnetic losses such as eddy current losses.

Abstract: Systems and methods for configuring a temperature control system of a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system controller are described. The HVAC system controller includes a processor in communication with a memory and a user interface. The processor is configured to determine a dynamic parameter related to a dynamic property of a conditioned space and maintain a controlled environment within the conditioned space by utilizing the dynamic parameter.

Abstract: A system for remote diagnostic analysis of a heating, ventilation and air condition (HVAC) system is provided. The system includes a thermostat in operable communication with at least one peripheral component of the HVAC system and configured to receive information relating to the at least one peripheral component, and a server in operable communication with the thermostat for receiving and analyzing the information. The server causes the at least one peripheral component to conduct a diagnostic test and analyzes the test result to perform a root cause analysis of a system malfunction.

Abstract: A system and method of retrofitting a heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration system (HVACR) including one or more brazed, soldered, or mechanical connections between refrigerant lines is disclosed. The method includes removing a refrigerant from the HVACR system. The refrigerant that is removed is a non-flammable refrigerant. An enclosure is installed over the one or more brazed, soldered, or mechanical connections between refrigerant lines. A refrigerant is added to the HVACR system. The refrigerant being added has a global warming potential (GWP) that is relatively lower than the refrigerant removed from the HVACR system. The refrigerant being added has a relatively higher flammability than the refrigerant removed from the HVACR system.

Abstract: Described herein are heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVACR) systems and methods directed to indoor air quality. HVACR systems and methods are based on dynamic people modeling to simulate and/or to monitor airflow impact on pathogen spread in an indoor space. HVACR systems and methods model an indoor space with pathogen killing technology to deploy the pathogen killing technology. HVACR systems and methods are directed to control administration of a pathogen killing technology to an indoor space based on factors that impact airflow including from dynamic analytics, a known input, and/or detection.