Air handler unit including a smart valve

• US 10,119,711 B2
• Filed: 12/17/2013
• Issued: 11/06/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Optimum Energy LLC
• Original Assignee: Optimum Energy LLC
• Inventors: Dempster, Ian Robert, Erpelding, Benjamin Paul, Hartman, Thomas Bennett, MacNeill, Chelsey Ann
• Primary Examiner(s): Ciric, Ljiljana
• Application Number:
  US14/108,725
• Publication Number:
  US 20150168000A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,785 Days
• Field of Search: 165299, 165300
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/30 for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/56 Remote control
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/58 using Internet communication
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/62 characterised by the type of control or by internal processing, e.g. using fuzzy logic, adaptive control or estimation of values
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/63 Electronic processing
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/83 by controlling the supply of heat-exchange fluids to heat-exchangers
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/84 using valves
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/10 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2140/20 Heat-exchange fluid temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 3/044 Systems in which all treatment is given in the central station, i.e. all-air systems
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 3/08 with separate supply and return lines for hot and cold heat-exchange fluids i.e. so-called "4-conduit" system
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 15/176 Improving or maintaining comfort of users
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 15/208 Temperature of the air after heating
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 15/281 Input from user
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 15/31 of valves having only one inlet port and one outlet port, e.g. flow rate regulating valves
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 15/45 remotely accessible
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 3/08 by tubes
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 9/2064 for air heaters
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 30/70 Efficient control or regulation technologies, e.g. for control of refrigerant flow, motor or heating

Abstract

An air unit includes a coil located in an air stream of the air unit. The air stream has an air flow direction. An air temperature sensor is located in the air stream of the air unit and is further located downstream, relative to the air flow direction, of the coil. A smart valve is in fluid communication with the coil and in electronic communication with the air temperature sensor. The smart valve is operable to control an amount of water flow through the coil. The smart valve receives a temperature setpoint signal, and the smart valve is programmed to modulate a valve position of a smart valve actuator based on the temperature setpoint signal and based on a signal from the air temperature sensor.

Claims

1. An air handler unit comprising:

a coil located in an air stream generated by a fan, the air stream having an air flow direction;

an air temperature sensor located in the air stream and further located downstream, relative to the air flow direction, of the coil; and

a smart valve in fluid communication with the coil and in electronic communication with the air temperature sensor, the smart valve operable to control an amount of water flow through the coil, the smart valve including an actuator and a processor programmed to determine and modulate, independent of an automation system, a desired valve position of the smart valve actuator based on a temperature setpoint signal and a signal from the air temperature sensor.

2. The air handler unit of claim 1, wherein the processor is further programmed to modulate the valve position of the smart valve actuator by maintaining a minimum temperature difference between a supply flow and a return flow of water flow through the coil.

3. The air handler unit of claim 1, wherein the processor receives the temperature setpoint from the automation system.

4. The air handler unit of claim 1, wherein the processor receives the temperature setpoint from a building automation system.

5. The air handler unit of claim 1, wherein the processor receives the temperature setpoint over a network connection.

6. The air handler unit of claim 1, wherein the processor modulates the valve position of the smart valve actuator based on the temperature setpoint signal, the signal from the air temperature sensor, and at least one value from a water temperature sensor in fluid communication with a water flow through the coil.

7. The air handler unit of claim 1, wherein the processor receives temperature values from a water supply line and a water return line of the coil.

8. The air handler unit of claim 1, wherein the coil comprises at least one of a heating coil and a cooling coil.

9. An air handler unit in communication with an automation system, the air handler unit comprising:

a coil located in an air stream generated by a fan, the air stream having an air flow direction;

an air temperature sensor located in the air stream and further located downstream, relative to the air flow direction, of the coil; and

a smart valve in signal communication with the automation system, the smart valve in fluid communication with the coil and in electronic communication with the air temperature sensor, the smart valve operable to control an amount of water flow through the coil, the smart valve including an actuator and a processor programmed to determine and modulate, independent of the automation system, a desired valve position of the smart valve actuator based on a temperature setpoint signal and a signal from the air temperature sensor.

10. The air handler unit of claim 9, wherein the processor is further programmed to modulate the valve position of the smart valve actuator by maintaining a minimum temperature difference between a supply flow and a return flow of water flow through the coil.

11. The air handler unit of claim 10, wherein the automation system is a building automation system.

12. The air handler unit of claim 9, wherein the processor receives the temperature setpoint from the automation system.

13. The air handler unit of claim 9, wherein the smart valve receives the temperature setpoint over a network connection.

14. The air handler unit of claim 9, wherein the processor modulates the valve position of the smart valve actuator based on the temperature setpoint signal, the signal from the air temperature sensor, and at least one value from a water temperature sensor in fluid communication with a water flow through the coil.

15. The air handler unit of claim 9, wherein the processor receives temperature values from a water supply line and a water return line of the coil.

16. The air handler unit of claim 9, wherein the coil comprises at least one of a heating coil and a cooling coil.