Abstract: An indoor unit for heating, cooling, and dehumidifying air is disclosed. In an embodiment, the indoor unit includes a first coil assembly and a second coil assembly. When operating in a cooling mode or a heating mode, the first coil and second coil are in parallel fluid communication. When in a dehumidifying mode, the first coil and second coil are in serial fluid communication, which enables the first coil to function as a condenser and the second coil to function as an evaporator. The disclosed indoor unit provides negligible or no change in sensible heat while providing dehumidification.

Abstract: An indoor unit for heating, cooling, and dehumidifying air is disclosed. In an embodiment, the indoor unit includes a first coil assembly and a second coil assembly. When operating in a cooling mode or a heating mode, the first coil and second coil are in parallel fluid communication. When in a dehumidifying mode, the first coil and second coil are in serial fluid communication, which enables the first coil to function as a condenser and the second coil to function as an evaporator. The disclosed indoor unit provides negligible or no change in sensible heat while providing dehumidification.

Abstract: A system and related methods for heating, cooling, and dehumidifying air is disclosed. In an embodiment, the system includes an indoor unit having a first coil assembly and a second coil assembly. When the system is operating in a cooling mode or a heating mode, the first coil and second coil are in parallel fluid communication. When the system is in a dehumidifying mode, the first coil and second coil are in serial fluid communication, which enables the first coil to function as a condenser and the second coil to function as an evaporator. In an embodiment, the system includes an outdoor unit, such as a heat pump or an air conditioning condensing unit. The outdoor unit includes a heat exchanger fan responsive to dehumidifying mode by reducing fan speed, or deactivating the fan entirely. The disclosed system provides negligible or no change in sensible heat while providing dehumidification.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to flame shapers for use in gas burners, gas burner systems, and methods for operating gas burner systems. Flame shaper embodiments include an opening having an unobstructed center, and turning vanes that extend from the perimeter of the opening towards its center. The turning vanes are configured to induce swirling in an ignited flame. Burner systems include an ignition source, the flame shaper, and a heat exchanger. In method embodiments, a flame is formed by igniting fuel and air, the flame is directed through the flame shaper, and the flame is then directed into a heat exchanger.

Abstract: A heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) system includes a blower assembly having a blower housing configured to operate with various sized impellers. The blower housing includes a cutoff that is selectively radially adjustable to locate a leading edge of the cutoff in a position relative to one of the various sized impellers to maintain a proper clearance between the leading edge of the cutoff and one of the various sized impellers in order to efficiently separate blower discharge airflow from incoming airflow collected in the blower housing and prevent recirculation of the blower discharge airflow through the blower housing.

Abstract: A heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) system includes a blower assembly having a blower housing, a motor disposed at least partially within the blower housing, and an impeller comprising a plurality of blades disposed about the impeller that is connected to the motor by a shaft. The blower assembly includes a labyrinth seal that provides a tortuous leakage airflow path between the blower housing and the impeller to substantially reduce the amount of air that escapes from the blower housing between the blower housing and the impeller to provide an increased blower efficiency as compared to traditional blower assemblies.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to flame shapers for use in gas burners, gas burner systems, and methods for operating gas burner systems. Flame shaper embodiments include an opening having an unobstructed center, and turning vanes that extend from the perimeter of the opening towards its center. The turning vanes are configured to induce swirling in an ignited flame. Burner systems include an ignition source, the flame shaper, and a heat exchanger. In method embodiments, a flame is formed by igniting fuel and air, the flame is directed through the flame shaper, and the flame is then directed into a heat exchanger.

Abstract: A heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) system is provided. The HVAC system includes at least one heat exchanger, and a drain pan disposed at least partially around a downstream end of the at least one heat exchanger, wherein the drain pan comprises a fluted surface configured to direct condensate flowing from the at least one heat exchanger into a concavity within the drain pan.

Abstract: A heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) system includes a blower assembly having a blower housing, a motor disposed at least partially within the blower housing, and a small diameter impeller having a plurality of blades disposed about the impeller. The small diameter impeller extends radially into an inlet of the blower housing and includes a peripheral flange that forms a momentum based interstitial seal that orients leakage between the blower housing and the impeller against an incoming airflow entering the at least one air inlet and reduces leakage between the blower housing and the impeller by employing a velocity pressure of the incoming airflow to overcome a static pressure within the blower housing that drives leakage.

Abstract: A heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) system includes a blower assembly having a blower housing configured to operate with various sized impellers. The blower housing includes a cutoff that is selectively radially adjustable to locate a leading edge of the cutoff in a position relative to one of the various sized impellers to maintain a proper clearance between the leading edge of the cutoff and one of the various sized impellers in order to efficiently separate blower discharge airflow from incoming airflow collected in the blower housing and prevent recirculation of the blower discharge airflow through the blower housing.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed that may include providing an auxiliary power source in an HVAC system, establishing a stable, uninterrupted power source to at least one system controller, starting a first component of the HVAC system prior to starting a second component of the HVAC system. The total power requirement necessary to simultaneously start the first component and the second component may generally exceed the power output capacity of the auxiliary power source.

Abstract: A phase change compressor cover may include a first layer configured to provide sound attenuation from undesirable noise produced as a result of operating a compressor and/or thermal isolation of the compressor and a second layer comprising a cavity filled with a phase change material that is configured to absorb heat discharged as a result of operating the compressor and subsequently discharge the absorbed heat onto the compressor in response to discontinuing operation of the compressor to keep the compressor warm and prevent refrigerant migration to the compressor. The phase change compressor cover may be used to substantially envelope the compressor in a heat pump heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) system.

Abstract: A heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) system includes a blower assembly having a blower housing, a motor disposed at least partially within the blower housing, and an impeller comprising a plurality of blades disposed about the impeller that is connected to the motor by a shaft. The blower assembly includes a labyrinth seal that provides a tortuous leakage airflow path between the blower housing and the impeller to substantially reduce the amount of air that escapes from the blower housing between the blower housing and the impeller to provide an increased blower efficiency as compared to traditional blower assemblies.

Abstract: A blower assembly of an HVAC system may include an electrically-conductive plating applied to an inner surface of a blower housing, a first electrode attached to the electrically-conductive plating at an inner wall of the blower housing via an electrically-conductive RTV silicone, and a second electrode attached to the electrically-conductive plating at an outer wall of the blower housing via an electrically-conductive RTV silicone. The first electrode may pass a current through the electrically-conductive plating of the blower housing to the second electrode that may act as an ohmic heater and provide a thermal energy discharge which may exchange heat with an airflow flowing through the blower housing as a result of operating the blower assembly.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed that may include recovering heat from a generator to defrost the heat exchanger by passing a heat transfer fluid from the generator through a recovery heat exchanger that is configured to promote heat transfer between the heat transfer fluid and a refrigerant flowing therethrough, reducing a restriction of the refrigerant, reducing an airflow through the heat exchanger, and delivering the heated refrigerant to the heat exchanger. Systems and methods may also include recovering heat from an exhaust of the generator to deter the formation of frozen condensate on the outdoor heat exchanger by diverting at least a portion of a hot exhaust fluid discharged by the generator onto the outdoor heat exchanger.

Abstract: A system and related methods for heating, cooling, and dehumidifying air is disclosed. In an embodiment, the system includes an indoor unit having a first coil assembly and a second coil assembly. When the system is operating in a cooling mode or a heating mode, the first coil and second coil are in parallel fluid communication. When the system is in a dehumidifying mode, the first coil and second coil are in serial fluid communication, which enables the first coil to function as a condenser and the second coil to function as an evaporator. In an embodiment, the system includes an outdoor unit, such as a heat pump or an air conditioning condensing unit. The outdoor unit includes a heat exchanger fan responsive to dehumidifying mode by reducing fan speed, or deactivating the fan entirely. The disclosed system provides negligible or no change in sensible heat while providing dehumidification.

Abstract: A method of operating a heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) system includes operating a device to produce at least one of electricity and rejected heat and at least one of (1) powering a component of the HVAC system using the electricity produced by the electricity generating device and (2) heating the refrigerant of the HVAC system using at least a portion of the rejected heat.

Abstract: An exhaust heat reclaim system may include a diverter valve selectively connected in fluid communication to an exhaust vent tube and an exhaust delivery tube and configured to selectively divert hot exhaust fluid discharged from an exhaust of a power generation device to at least one of the exhaust vent tube and the exhaust delivery tube. The exhaust heat reclaim system may be a component of an HVAC system and be configured to discharge hot exhaust fluid onto a heat exchanger of the HVAC system, where the heat exchanger may be configured to promote heat transfer between the hot exhaust fluid and a refrigerant flowing through the heat exchanger of the HVAC system.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed that include providing a heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) system with a tapered end heat exchanger (TEHE) having a first tapered end disposed at a lower end of the TEHE with respect to an incoming airflow and on the downstream face of the TEHE and having a second tapered end disposed at an upper end of the TEHE with respect to an incoming airflow and on the upstream face of the TEHE. A drain pan having louvers is disposed about the lower end of the TEHE and configured to restrict airflow through narrow portions of the first tapered end of the TEHE. A baffle is disposed about the upper end of the TEHE and configured to restrict airflow through narrow portions of the second tapered end of the TEHE.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed that include providing a refrigerant line muffler in a heating, ventilation, and/or air-conditioning (HVAC) system that reduces noise and/or vibration over a range of frequencies that result from operating a variable speed compressor. The refrigerant line muffler divides the flow of refrigerant from the compressor discharge into a first flowpath and a second flowpath, the second flowpath configured to cause a phase shift of a pressure wave of refrigerant flowing through the second flowpath relative to a pressure wave of refrigerant flowing through the first flowpath and cause destructive interference between a pressure wave of refrigerant flowing through the first flowpath and the pressure wave of refrigerant flowing through the second flowpath when first flowpath and second flowpath rejoin into single flowpath at outlet.