Method and apparatus for reheat dehumidification with variable air volume
First Claim
1. A heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system for regulating humidity of an enclosed space, the system comprising:
- a metering device fluidly coupled to an evaporator coil via a distribution line;
at least one controller operatively coupled to a temperature sensor that is thermally exposed to the distribution line and to a variable-speed circulation fan;
wherein the at least one controller is configured to;
determine a latent cooling load based on a relative-humidity setpoint;
determine an optimal distributor line temperature that corresponds to the latent cooling load;
compare a measured distributor line temperature to the optimal distributor line temperature; and
responsive to a determination that the measured distributor line temperature exceeds the optimal distributor line temperature, wirelessly transmit a signal to the variable-speed circulation fan to reduce a speed of the variable-speed circulation fan thereby lowering a surface temperature of the evaporator coil.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
The HVAC system includes an evaporator coil and a metering device fluidly coupled to the evaporator coil via a distribution line. The HVAC system includes a variable-speed circulation fan for circulating air around the evaporator coil. A temperature sensor is thermally exposed to the distribution line. At least one controller is operatively coupled to the temperature sensor and to the variable-speed circulation fan. The at least one controller adjusts a speed of the variable-speed circulation fan to increase latent capacity of the HVAC system responsive to a determination that a temperature of fluid in the distribution line exceeds an optimal distribution line temperature.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system for regulating humidity of an enclosed space, the system comprising:
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a metering device fluidly coupled to an evaporator coil via a distribution line; at least one controller operatively coupled to a temperature sensor that is thermally exposed to the distribution line and to a variable-speed circulation fan; wherein the at least one controller is configured to; determine a latent cooling load based on a relative-humidity setpoint; determine an optimal distributor line temperature that corresponds to the latent cooling load; compare a measured distributor line temperature to the optimal distributor line temperature; and responsive to a determination that the measured distributor line temperature exceeds the optimal distributor line temperature, wirelessly transmit a signal to the variable-speed circulation fan to reduce a speed of the variable-speed circulation fan thereby lowering a surface temperature of the evaporator coil. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of regulating humidity of an enclosed space, the method comprising:
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measuring a distributor-line temperature associated with a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system; determining, via at least one controller, a latent cooling load based at least in part on environmental conditions; calculating, via the at least one controller, an optimal distributor-line temperature corresponding to the latent cooling load; determining if the measured optimal distributor-line temperature exceeds the optimal distributor-line temperature; responsive to a determination that the optimal distributor-line temperature exceeds the optimal distributor-line temperature, modulating, via the at least one controller, a speed of a variable-speed circulation fan to lower an evaporator coil surface temperature; and wherein the optimal distribution line temperature is calculated based on at least one of indoor dry-bulb temperature, relative humidity, and outdoor temperature. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system for regulating humidity of an enclosed space, the system comprising:
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a metering device fluidly coupled to an evaporator coil via a distribution line; at least one controller operatively coupled to a temperature sensor that is thermally exposed to the distribution line and to a variable-speed circulation fan; wherein the at least one controller is configured to; determine a latent cooling load based on a relative-humidity setpoint; determine an optimal distributor line temperature that corresponds to the latent cooling load; compare a measured distributor line temperature to the optimal distributor line temperature; responsive to a determination that the measured distributor line temperature falls below the optimal distributor line temperature, increase the speed of the variable-speed circulation fan; and wherein the temperature sensor is configured to measure a distribution line temperature as a proxy for an evaporator coil surface temperature. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification