Abstract: A grease filter has a filtering portion configured such that fumes enter a major face thereof and flow through a grease extraction filter therewithin in a direction parallel to the major face. A frame that fits into an opening of a hood defines a box structure that is configured to allow flow from the end (or ends) of the filtering portion where flow exits.

Abstract: An exhaust hood captures and contains a thermal plume with a minimum of exhaust air by defining a short-throw planar jet around a protected perimeter. Corner interference is mitigated by various mechanisms including having at least one of adjacent planar jets run only partly along a respective edge such that said first and second curtain jets do not meet at said corner; having a direction of the planar jets proximate corners where they meet being intermediate between respective directions of the jets along respective main portions of the perimeter; or having a direction of the jets of one of the adjacent edges be horizontal while the other is vertical.

Abstract: Exhaust capture and containment are enhanced by means of automatic or manual side skirts, a sensitive breach detector based on interference effects, a combination of vertical and horizontal edge jets, and/or corner jets that are directed to the center diagonally from corners. Associated control functions are described.

Abstract: Displacement ventilation systems are generally poor performers when it comes to heating. The instant patent application discusses devices and systems for improving heating performance while retaining the benefits of displacement ventilation without wholesale co-location of independent space conditioning systems.

Abstract: Techniques for controlling air conditioning and transfer air in an occupied space are described. The example of a commercial restaurant is provided. Features of model based control and integration of load predictors is also described.

Abstract: A controller automatically determines drive signals by testing an exhaust system, either immediately after installation or at selected times thereafter, to determine the drive signal values that correspond to each of one or more selected flow rates. The drive signals are stored. Thereafter, the controller uses the stored values of drive signals to control the exhaust system. This avoids problems with real time control such as drift or failure of sensors and such which are very common in commercial exhaust installations.

Abstract: An exhaust hood captures and contains a thermal plume with a minimum of exhaust air by defining a short-throw planar jet around a protected perimeter. Corner interference is mitigated by various mechanisms including having at least one of adjacent planar jets run only partly along a respective edge such that said first and second curtain jets do not meet at said corner; having a direction of the planar jets proximate corners where they meet being intermediate between respective directions of the jets along respective main portions of of the perimeter; or having a direction of the jets of one of the adjacent edges be horizontal while the other is vertical.

Abstract: A space conditioning system for a building including production and occupied spaces provides precise control of exhaust and space conditioning equipment by taking into account multiple conditions and by using predictive control. The control method and system are illustrated by a commercial kitchen ventilation application.

Abstract: A grease filter has a filtering portion configured such that fumes enter a major face thereof and flow through a grease extraction filter therewithin in a direction parallel to the major face. A frame that fits into an opening of a hood defines a box structure that is configured to allow flow from the end (or ends) of the filtering portion where flow exits.

Abstract: An exhaust hood captures and contains a thermal plume with a minimum of exhaust air using low velocity exhaust with confinement jets and stabilization jets in various configurations that help to induce fumes into the hood and protect the thermal plug flow from room transients.

Abstract: A space conditioning system for a building including production and occupied spaces provides precise control of exhaust and space conditioning equipment by taking into account multiple conditions and by using predictive control. The control method and system are illustrated by a commercial kitchen ventilation application.

Abstract: An ultraviolet treatment chamber for treating exhaust streams, particularly those containing organic particulates, utilizes ultraviolet light energy very efficiently. This is done by setting up a circulating flow in a treatment plenum so that all of the effluent experiences a substantially uniform residence time without the need for baffles or other flow controllers that would block the ultraviolet light.

Abstract: An interferometric detector detects fluctuations in fluid properties in the vicinity of an exhaust hood to control protective skirts that reduce the exhaust air requirement.

Abstract: Techniques for controlling air conditioning and transfer air in an occupied space are described. The example of a commercial restaurant is provided. Features of model based control and integration of load predictors is also described.

Abstract: Techniques for controlling make-up and transfer air in an occupied space are described. The example of a commercial restaurant is provided. Features of model based control and integration of load predictors is also described.

Abstract: An exhaust hood captures and contains a thermal plume with a minimum of exhaust air by defining a short-throw planar jet around a protected perimeter. Corner interference is mitigated by various mechanisms including having at least one of adjacent planar jets run only partly along a respective edge such that said first and second curtain jets do not meet at said corner; having a direction of the planar jets proximate corners where they meet being intermediate between respective directions of the jets along respective main portions of of the perimeter; or having a direction of the jets of one of the adjacent edges be horizontal while the other is vertical.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling flow in filtering systems and for balancing the flow through fluid systems employs flow control devices that minimize suspended matter precipitation. Several embodiments are included. In a first embodiment, a smooth-walled flow control device (410) with no abrupt transitions is provided in a flow conduit section. In a second embodiment, a filter (305) acts as a flow control device. A variation of the latter locates a flow control device (300) immediately adjacent to the filter (305) and upstream of it. In other embodiments, a control system (950) detects the real time status of the load to provide on the fly critical balancing.

Abstract: An exhaust hood (125, 225, 325, 425) captures and contains a thermal plume (170, 370, 470) with a minimum of exhaust air by defining a short-throw vertical curtain jet (150, 350, 453) around a protected perimeter. The jet augments the formation of a vortex (135, 335) within the hood which extends beyond the hood protected by the curtain jet. The effect is the extension of the buffer volume of the hood recess. This reduces the fluid strain that generates the turbulent eddies that cause breach of containment. Also, the curtain jet augments the vortical flow which is stable and contains less fluid strain than would otherwise occur. The hood recess is shaped to assist in defining the above vortex in terms of both its shape and its size. For example, the recess may be made smooth-walled according to an aspect of the invention.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling flow in filtering systems and for balancing the flow through fluid systems employs flow control devices that minimize suspended matter precipitation. Several embodiments are included. In a first embodiment, a smooth-walled flow control device (410) with no abrupt transitions is provided in a flow conduit section. In a second embodiment, a filter (305) acts as a flow control device. A variation of the latter locates a flow control device (300) immediately adjacent to the filter (305) and upstream of it. In other embodiments, a control system (950) detects the real time status of the load to provide on the fly critical balancing.

Abstract: An exhaust hood (125, 225, 325, 425) captures and contains a thermal plume (170, 370, 470) with a minimum of exhaust air by defining a short-throw vertical curtain jet (150,350,453) around a protected perimeter. The jet augments the formation of a vortex (135, 335) within the hood which extends beyond the hood protected by the curtain jet. The effect is the extension of the buffer volume of the hood recess. This reduces the fluid strain that generates the turbulent eddies that cause breach of containment Also, the curtain jet augments the vortical flow which is stable and contains less fluid strain than would otherwise occur. The hood recess is shaped to assist in defining the above vortex in terms of both its shape and its size. For example, the recess may be made smooth-walled according to an aspect of the invention.