Chilled beam pump module, system, and method
First Claim
1. A chilled beam air conditioning system for cooling a space the chilled beam air conditioning system comprising:
- a chilled-water distribution system;
at least one chilled beam;
a conduit for passing water wherein;
the conduit comprises;
a supply portion that supplies the water to the at least one chilled beam; and
a return portion that returns the water from the at least one chilled beam;
the return portion is connected to the supply portion and the water recirculates from the return portion to the supply portion to control temperature of the at least one chilled beam;
a chilled-water inlet connecting the chilled-water distribution system to the supply portion of the conduit;
a chilled-water outlet connecting the return portion of the conduit to the chilled-water distribution system;
a chilled water control valve located in the chilled-water inlet or in the chilled-water outlet wherein the chilled water control valve controls flow of the water between the chilled-water distribution system and the conduit;
a pump mounted in the conduit wherein the pump;
circulates the water from the chilled-water distribution system through;
the chilled-water inlet, the supply portion of the conduit, the at least one chilled beam, the return portion of the conduit, and the chilled-water outlet to the chilled-water distribution system to cool the at least one chilled beam; and
recirculates the water from the return portion of the conduit to the supply portion of the conduit to control temperature of the at least one chilled beam;
a water temperature sensor that measures water temperature entering the at least one chilled beam;
a space temperature sensor;
a space humidistat; and
a digital controller specifically configured to control at least the chilled water control valve based upon input from the water temperature sensor and the space humidistat to control temperature of the water delivered to the at least one chilled beam to keep the water temperature entering the at least one chilled beam above a present dew point temperature within the space.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Multiple-zone chilled beam air conditioning systems for cooling multiple-zone spaces, methods of controlling chilled beams in multi-zone air conditioning systems, and chilled-beam pump modules for controlling zones of a chilled-beam heating and air conditioning system. Embodiments include a pump serving each zone that both recirculates water within the module and chilled beam and circulates water in and out of a chilled water distribution system through one or more valves to control the temperature of the water delivered to the chilled beams. Different embodiments adjust the temperature of the beam to avoid condensation, change pump speed to save energy or increase capacity, provide heating as well as cooling, use check valves to reduce the number of control valves required, can be used in two- or four-pipe systems, or a combination thereof.
33 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A chilled beam air conditioning system for cooling a space the chilled beam air conditioning system comprising:
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a chilled-water distribution system; at least one chilled beam; a conduit for passing water wherein; the conduit comprises;
a supply portion that supplies the water to the at least one chilled beam; and
a return portion that returns the water from the at least one chilled beam;the return portion is connected to the supply portion and the water recirculates from the return portion to the supply portion to control temperature of the at least one chilled beam; a chilled-water inlet connecting the chilled-water distribution system to the supply portion of the conduit; a chilled-water outlet connecting the return portion of the conduit to the chilled-water distribution system; a chilled water control valve located in the chilled-water inlet or in the chilled-water outlet wherein the chilled water control valve controls flow of the water between the chilled-water distribution system and the conduit; a pump mounted in the conduit wherein the pump; circulates the water from the chilled-water distribution system through;
the chilled-water inlet, the supply portion of the conduit, the at least one chilled beam, the return portion of the conduit, and the chilled-water outlet to the chilled-water distribution system to cool the at least one chilled beam; andrecirculates the water from the return portion of the conduit to the supply portion of the conduit to control temperature of the at least one chilled beam; a water temperature sensor that measures water temperature entering the at least one chilled beam; a space temperature sensor; a space humidistat; and a digital controller specifically configured to control at least the chilled water control valve based upon input from the water temperature sensor and the space humidistat to control temperature of the water delivered to the at least one chilled beam to keep the water temperature entering the at least one chilled beam above a present dew point temperature within the space. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of controlling at least one chilled beam in a zone of an air conditioning system, wherein the at least one chilled beam is cooled with chilled water, the method comprising at least the acts of:
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operating a zone pump serving the zone that both recirculates water through the at least one chilled beam and circulates chilled water from a chilled-water distribution system into the at least one chilled beam; measuring space temperature within the zone; determining a present dew point temperature within the zone; measuring temperature of water entering the at least one chilled beam; and automatically modulating at least one chilled-water control valve including regulating how much water passing through the zone pump is recirculated through the at least one chilled beam and how much of the water passing through the zone pump is circulated from the chilled-water distribution system, wherein the act of automatically modulating the at least one chilled-water control valve comprises maintaining the temperature of the water entering the at least one chilled beam at least a predetermined temperature differential above the present dew point temperature within the zone.
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12. A controllable chilled-beam pump module for controlling at least one zone of a chilled-beam air conditioning system, the controllable chilled-beam pump module comprising:
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a conduit through which water passes wherein; the conduit comprises a supply portion supplying the water to at least one chilled beam located within the at least one zone of the chilled-beam air conditioning system; the conduit comprises a return portion returning the water from the at least one chilled beam; the return portion is connected to the supply portion; the water recirculates within the conduit from the return portion to the supply portion and through the at least one chilled beam to control a temperature of the water entering the at least one chilled beam; a pump mounted in the conduit that circulates the water through the conduit and through the at least one chilled beam and recirculates the water within the conduit from the return portion to the supply portion to control the temperature of the water entering the at least one chilled beam; a chilled-water control valve that controls exchange of the water between a chilled-water distribution system and the conduit wherein the chilled-water control valve is connected to the supply portion of the conduit or to the return portion of the conduit; a digital controller that; receives measured space temperature from within the at least one zone; receives measured humidity, dew point, or a parameter that can be used to calculate humidity or dew point, from within the at least one zone; receives measured temperature of the water entering the at least one chilled beam; and when the at least one zone is operating in a cooling mode, automatically modulates the chilled-water control valve including regulating how much of the water passing, through the pump is recirculated through the at least one chilled beam and how much of the water passing through the pump is circulated from the chilled-water distribution system, including maintaining the temperature of the water entering the at least one chilled beam at least a predetermined temperature differential above the dew point within the at least one zone. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification