HVAC SYSTEM DAMPER
A damper for determining and regulating amount of airflow admitted into a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) duct of a building from the ambient includes a variable position gate. The gate is configured to generate a continuous access opening into the duct from the ambient. The damper also includes a mechanism configured to select a position for the gate between and inclusive of fully opened and fully closed and a first sensor configured to sense a velocity of the airflow admitted into the duct. The selected position of the gate determines an area of the continuous access opening and regulates the amount of airflow admitted into the duct. Additionally, when the continuous access opening is not fully closed, the airflow admitted into the duct by the gate is substantially uniform. An HVAC system employing the damper and a method for controlling a temperature inside the building are also disclosed.
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This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/449,186 filed on Mar. 4, 2011, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
TECHNICAL FIELDThe disclosure relates to a damper for determining and regulating airflow in heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems.
BACKGROUNDA typical building employs a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system for controlling temperature inside the building structure. Often such HVAC systems employ forced or pressurized air for distributing temperature-controlled air throughout the interior of the subject building structure.
A typical forced air system uses a damper in the form of louvered shutters at the location where the airflow enters the building structure from the ambient. Such a louvered shutter is intended to regulate the amount of airflow that is admitted into the structure and passed through either a heating or an air conditioning unit before being distributed throughout the interior of the building. The heating and air conditioning units are typically fan-assisted, and are thus employed as the mechanism behind the forced distribution of temperature-controlled air inside the building.
A large part of the energy used to cool or heat the building interior is spent for conditioning an airflow that is admitted into the building from the ambient. The amount of energy used to condition the ambient airflow is generally proportional to the amount of such airflow. Accordingly, efficient consumption of energy for controlling temperature inside a building is dependent on an accurate determination of the amount of ambient airflow being admitted into the building.
SUMMARYA damper for determining and regulating amount of airflow admitted into a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system of a building from the ambient includes a variable position gate. The gate is configured to generate a continuous access opening into the HVAC system from the ambient. The damper also includes a mechanism configured to select a position for the gate between and inclusive of fully opened and fully closed. The damper additionally includes a first sensor positioned relative to the continuous access opening and configured to sense a velocity of the airflow admitted into the duct. The selected position of the gate determines an area of the continuous access opening and regulates the amount of airflow admitted into the HVAC system. Additionally, when the continuous access opening is not fully closed, the airflow admitted into the HVAC system by the gate is substantially uniform or laminar.
The damper may also include a second sensor configured to sense a position of the gate and a controller. In such a case, the controller may be configured to regulate the mechanism in response to the sensed velocity of the airflow admitted into the HVAC duct and the sensed position of the gate to control the amount of airflow admitted into the duct.
The gate may be configured as first and second opposing panels, wherein each panel is characterized by a leading edge. Accordingly, the area of the continuous access opening may be adjusted by shifting at least one of the first and second panels via the mechanism between and inclusive of a state where the leading edges are abutted or brought together to select the fully opened position and a state where the leading edges are spread apart for a predetermined maximum distance to select the fully closed position.
The mechanism may include a motor operatively connected to a gear drive and the gear drive may be configured to shift at least one of the first and second panels.
The first panel may be configured to be shifted via the mechanism and guided by a track while the second panel is stationary. Additionally, both first and second panels may be configured to be shifted via the mechanism and guided by a track. Accordingly, the area of the continuous access opening may be adjusted by shifting one or both of the panels via the mechanism.
Each panel may be characterized by a flexible structure. Alternatively, each panel may also be configured from a plurality of segments.
Also disclosed is an HVAC system employing the damper for controlling a temperature inside the building. The HVAC system includes a duct configured to channel the airflow into the building, a heating unit and a cooling unit, each positioned inside the duct and configured to adjust temperature of the airflow channeled into the building. The HVAC system also includes a fan positioned inside the duct downstream of the heating and cooling units and configured to pressurize the airflow. Additionally, the HVAC system includes a controller configured to regulate the heating and cooling units, the fan, and the mechanism to control temperature inside the building.
Additionally disclosed is a method of controlling a temperature inside a building.
The above features and advantages, and other features and advantages of the present disclosure, will be readily apparent from the following detailed description of the embodiment(s) and best mode(s) for carrying out the described invention when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and appended claims.
Referring to the drawings, wherein like reference numbers refer to like components,
As shown in
The HVAC system 16 also includes a damper 32 positioned relative to the duct 18 upstream of the heating and cooling units 26, 28. The damper 32 is configured to regulate an amount of the airflow 20 admitted into the duct 18 (shown in
With continued reference to
Although, as shown in
With continued reference to
As shown in
A traditional louvered shutter (not shown), as commonly used to control airflow in HVAC systems, employs a plurality of louvers that disrupt the airflow. As a result, such a louvered shutter generates a turbulent airflow whose velocity is difficult to measure by conventional velocity sensors or probes. Additionally, a louvered shutter typically generates a disproportionate amount of airflow in relation to the provided effective opening. As described herein, the variable position gate 34 is adapted to generate the continuous access opening 36 that admits a substantially laminar flow of air into the duct 18, as compared with the traditional louvered shutter. Additionally, as compared with the louvered shutter, the amount of the airflow 20 admitted through the gate 34 is directly proportional to the area 38. Accordingly, the gate 34 offers a more predictive means of controlling the amount of the airflow 20.
Referring back to
The HVAC system 16 also includes a controller 58. The controller 58 is configured to regulate the heating and cooling units 26, 28, the fan 30, and the mechanism 40 to determine the amount and control the temperature of the airflow 20 channeled into the building 10 by the duct 18. Accordingly, the controller 58 is configured to select the position of the gate 34 via the mechanism to adjust the area 38 of the continuous access opening 36. An appropriate position of the gate 34 may be selected by the controller 58 according to a programmed algorithm to thereby establish the desired amount of the airflow 20 admitted into the duct 18. After the desired amount of airflow 20 is admitted by the gate 34 into the duct 18, the airflow is passed through the heating and cooling units 26, 28 and then forced through the duct into the interior 14 by the fan 30. The controller 58 may be a separate controller incorporated into the damper 32, or be a central processing unit configured to control the HVAC system 16.
As indicated in
The HVAC system 16 also includes a first sensor 64 positioned relative to the continuous access opening 36 and a second sensor 65. The first sensor 64 is configured to sense a velocity of the airflow 20 and to communicate a signal indicative of the sensed velocity of the airflow to the controller 58. The first sensor 64 may be a single sensor positioned proximately to the center of the continuous access opening 36, or be configured as a sensor array capable of determining a velocity profile of the airflow 20. If the first sensor 64 is a sensor array, malfunction of an individual sensor may be detected using signals from the remaining sensors in the array, and the velocity profile may then be interpolated using the non-malfunctioning sensors.
The second sensor 65 is configured to sense a position of the gate 34 that is determinative of the area 38, and to communicate a signal indicative of the sensed position of the gate to the controller 58. The second sensor 65 may be configured as any appropriate device, such as a potentiometer or a switch, and be incorporated into the mechanism 40. The controller 58 is programmed to continuously determine a mass flow rate of the airflow 20 using the determined area 38 and the sensed velocity of the airflow 20.
As shown in
Following frame 74, the method advances to frame 76 where the method includes sensing the velocity of the airflow 20 admitted into the duct 18 via the first sensor 64. From frame 76, the method proceeds to frame 78, where the method includes sensing the position of the gate 34 via the second sensor 65. After frame 78, the method moves on to frame 80, where the method includes regulating the mechanism 40 using the sensed velocity of the airflow 20 and the sensed position of the gate 34 to adjust the area 38 of a continuous access opening 36. From frame 80, the method advances to frame 82. In frame 82, the method includes adjusting a temperature of the airflow 20 admitted into the duct 18 via the heating and cooling units 26, 28. Following frame 82, the method proceeds to frame 84. In frame 84, the method includes regulating the fan 30 to force the airflow 20 through the duct 18 in order to control the temperature inside the building 10.
The method may include determining the mass flow rate of the airflow 20. As described in detail with respect to
Following frame 86, the method may loop back to frame 74 to perform another adjustment of the gate 34 for regulating the amount of the airflow 20 flowing into the duct 18 in response to the temperature of the interior 14 sensed by the third sensor 66. Accordingly, the method may function continuously according to the preceding description while the temperature inside the building is sought to be controlled.
The detailed description and the drawings or figures are supportive and descriptive of the invention, but the scope of the invention is defined solely by the claims. While some of the best modes and other embodiments for carrying out the claimed invention have been described in detail, various alternative designs and embodiments exist for practicing the invention defined in the appended claims.
Claims
1. A damper for determining and regulating amount of airflow admitted into a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) duct of a building from the ambient, the damper comprising:
- a variable position gate configured to generate a continuous access opening into the duct from the ambient;
- a mechanism configured to select a position for the gate between and inclusive of fully opened and fully closed; and
- a first sensor positioned relative to the continuous access opening and configured to sense a velocity of the airflow admitted into the HVAC duct;
- wherein: the selected position of the gate is indicative of an area of the continuous access opening and determines the amount of airflow admitted into the duct; and when the continuous access opening is not fully closed, the airflow admitted into the duct by the gate is substantially uniform.
2. The damper according to claim 1, further comprising a second sensor configured to sense a position of the gate and a controller configured to regulate the mechanism in response to the sensed velocity of the airflow admitted into the HVAC duct and the sensed position of the gate to control the amount of airflow admitted into the duct.
3. The damper according to claim 1, wherein the gate is configured as first and second opposing panels, wherein each panel is characterized by a leading edge, and wherein the area of the continuous access opening is adjusted by shifting at least one of the first and second panels via the mechanism between and inclusive of a state where the leading edges are abutted to select the fully opened position and a state where the leading edges are spread apart for a predetermined maximum distance to select the fully closed position.
4. The damper according to claim 3, wherein the at least one of the first and second panels is configured from a plurality of segments.
5. The damper according to claim 3, wherein the at least one of the first and second panels is characterized by a flexible structure.
6. The damper according to claim 3, wherein the mechanism includes a motor operatively connected to a gear drive, and wherein the gear drive is configured to shift the at least one of the first and second panels.
7. The damper according to claim 3, wherein the first panel is configured to be shifted via the mechanism and guided by a track, and wherein the second panel is stationary.
8. The damper according to claim 3, wherein each of the first and second panels is configured to be shifted via the mechanism and guided by a track.
9. The damper according to claim 8, wherein the area of the continuous access opening is adjusted by shifting each of the first and second panels via the mechanism.
10. A heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system for controlling a temperature inside a building, the system comprising:
- a duct configured to channel an airflow into the building;
- a heating unit and a cooling unit configured to adjust a temperature of the airflow channeled into the building, each positioned inside the duct;
- a fan positioned inside the duct downstream of the heating and cooling units and configured to force the airflow through the duct;
- a damper positioned relative to the duct upstream of the heating and cooling units and configured to regulate amount of the airflow admitted into the duct from the ambient, the damper comprising: a variable position gate configured to generate a continuous access opening into the duct from the ambient; a mechanism configured to select a position for the gate between and inclusive of fully opened and fully closed; a first sensor positioned relative to the continuous access opening and configured to sense a velocity of the airflow admitted into the duct; and a second sensor configured to sense a position of the gate; and
- a controller configured to regulate the heating unit and the cooling unit, the fan, and the mechanism to control the temperature inside the building in response to the sensed velocity of the airflow admitted into the duct and the sensed position of the gate; wherein: the selected position of the gate is indicative of an area of the continuous access opening and determines the amount of airflow admitted into the duct; and when the continuous access opening is not fully closed, the airflow admitted into the duct by the gate is substantially uniform.
11. The HVAC system according to claim 10, wherein the gate is configured as first and second opposing panels, wherein each panel is characterized by a leading edge, and wherein the area of the continuous access opening is adjusted by shifting at least one of the first and second panels via the mechanism between and inclusive of a state where the leading edges are abutted to select the fully opened position and a state where the leading edges are spread apart for a predetermined maximum distance to select the fully closed position.
12. The HVAC system according to claim 11, wherein the at least one of the first and second panels is configured from a plurality of segments.
13. The HVAC system according to claim 11, wherein the at least one of the first and second panels is characterized by a flexible structure.
14. The HVAC system according to claim 11, wherein the mechanism includes a motor operatively connected to a gear drive, and wherein the gear drive is configured to shift the at least one of the first and second panels.
15. The HVAC system according to claim 11, wherein the first panel is configured to be shifted via the mechanism and guided by a track, and wherein the second panel is stationary.
16. The HVAC system according to claim 11, wherein each of the first and second panels is configured to be shifted via the mechanism and guided by a track.
17. The HVAC system according to claim 16, wherein the area of the continuous access opening is adjusted by shifting each of the first and second panels via the mechanism.
18. The HVAC system according to claim 10, wherein the controller is programmed to determine a mass flow rate of the airflow admitted into the duct using the area of the continuous access opening and the velocity of the airflow to control the temperature inside the building.
19. A method of controlling a temperature inside a building via a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system, the method comprising:
- adjusting an area of a continuous access opening via a damper of the HVAC system to regulate an amount of airflow admitted from the ambient into a duct, wherein the duct is configured to channel the airflow into the building, wherein the damper includes a variable position gate configured to generate the continuous access opening into the duct from the ambient and a mechanism configured to select a position for the gate between and inclusive of fully opened and fully closed, and wherein when the continuous access opening is not fully closed, the amount of airflow regulated by the gate and admitted into the duct by the gate is substantially uniform;
- sensing a velocity of the airflow admitted into the duct via a first sensor positioned relative to the continuous access opening;
- sensing a position of the gate via a second sensor;
- regulating the mechanism using the sensed velocity of the airflow and the sensed position of the gate to adjust the area of a continuous access opening;
- adjusting, via heating and cooling units of the HVAC system, a temperature of the airflow admitted into the duct; and
- regulating a fan of the HVAC system positioned inside the duct downstream of the heating and cooling units to force the airflow through the duct and channel such that the temperature inside the building is controlled.
20. The method according to claim 19, further comprising:
- determining the area of the continuous access opening in response to the sensed velocity of the airflow admitted into the HVAC duct and the sensed position of the gate to control the amount of airflow admitted into the duct;
- determining a mass flow rate of the airflow admitted into the duct using the area of the continuous access opening and the velocity of the airflow for controlling temperature of the airflow; and
- sensing the temperature inside the building by a third sensor and communicating a signal indicative of the sensed temperature to the controller to generate a closed-loop control of temperature inside the building;
- wherein each of said determining and adjusting the area of the continuous access opening via the damper, determining the mass flow rate of the airflow, adjusting temperature via the heating unit and cooling units, and regulating the fan is accomplished via the controller.
Type: Application
Filed: Feb 20, 2012
Publication Date: Sep 6, 2012
Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (Detroit, MI)
Inventors: Jorge F. Arinez (Rochester Hills, MI), James Benjamin D'Arcy (Attica, MI), Anthony D. Arens (Bloomfield Hills, MI), Ram L. Gupta (Troy, MI)
Application Number: 13/400,294
International Classification: F24F 11/053 (20060101); F24F 13/12 (20060101); F24F 11/04 (20060101); F24F 13/10 (20060101);