Low flow fluid device and pre-piped hydronics

• US 10,655,875 B2
• Filed: 11/21/2018
• Issued: 05/19/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Best Technology Inc
• Original Assignee: Best Technology Inc
• Inventors: Karamanos, John C., Willke, Herbert
• Primary Examiner(s): Bradford, Jonathan
• Application Number:
  US16/197,723
• Publication Number:
  US 20190107303A1
• Time in Patent Office: 545 Days
• 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 11/64 using pre-stored data
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/75 for maintaining constant air flow rate or air velocity
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/79 for controlling the direction of the supplied air
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/30 Velocity
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/40 Pressure, e.g. wind pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2140/40 Damper positions, e.g. open or closed
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 17/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2614 HVAC, heating, ventillation, climate control
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/36249 Generate automatically a balance program for workpiece, dynamic balance
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/40573 Isee integrated sensor, end effector, camera, proximity, gas, temperature, force
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 7/0635 by action on throttling means G05D7/0688, G05D7/0694 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 7/0676 by action on flow sources G05D7/0688, G05D7/0694 take precedence

Abstract

An air distribution apparatus that serves as a single sensing device for both lighting, LiFi, and HVAC functions that are operable on a single platform by building automation systems. The building automation system may be controllable by a single software system or network accessible locally on site or remotely off site. The air distribution apparatus can operate in a single zone or coupled with multiple like apparatuses for multi-zone operation. It is a high turndown, self-balancing system which allows for continuous commissioning with built-in fault diagnostic systems and that may be used as a supply, return, or exhaust system, or a combination thereof. The air distribution apparatus includes multi-stage airflow control systems that operate progressively based on unique actuation mechanisms and/or algorithms that allow for precise flow control and feedback to self-balance and commission the system.

Claims

1. A variable fluid volume device, comprising:

a housing that is determined to have defined housing dimensions; and

a low fluid flow (LFF) device that measures and controls a flow of a fluid through the housing, wherein the LFF device comprises;

a damper device that, when closed, prevents the fluid from flowing through the housing and, when open, provides an aperture through which the fluid in the housing flows, wherein the aperture has configurable aperture dimensions that are configured based on a state of the damper device, and wherein the damper device, in a first state, operates as an orifice plate that facilitates measuring the flow based on a flow profile that is determined as a function of the housing dimensions and the configurable aperture dimensions; and

a controller configured to;

determine the defined housing dimensions;

perform a measuring procedure comprising setting the damper device to the first state and measuring the flow based on a pressure measurement and the flow profile that is determined as the function of the housing dimensions and the configurable aperture dimensions; and

perform a controlling procedure comprising setting the damper device to a second state, different from the first state, that is determined to cause the flow to satisfy a set point.

2. The variable fluid volume device of claim 1, wherein the fluid is a gas and the housing dimensions are configurable to match dimensions of a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) apparatus situated at an installation site.

3. The variable fluid volume device of claim 1, further comprising a thermal transfer device, situated in the housing, configured to modify a temperature of the fluid within the housing, wherein the thermal transfer device comprises a piping structure.

4. The variable fluid volume device of claim 3, further comprising an enclosure that at least partially encloses the piping structure and the thermal transfer device.

5. The variable fluid volume device of claim 4, wherein the enclosure comprises a first hole configured to receive a thermal transfer device supply pipe and a second hole configured to receive a thermal transfer device return pipe.

6. The variable fluid volume device of claim 5, wherein the first hole and the second hole are situated on different sides of the enclosure.

7. The variable fluid volume device of claim 5, wherein the first hole and the second hole are situated on a common side of the enclosure.

8. The variable fluid volume device of claim 3, further comprising a bracket configured to mount the piping structure of the thermal transfer device to the housing.

9. The variable fluid volume device of claim 8, wherein the thermal transfer device is pre-piped, and wherein the bracket is configured to support, and prevent damage to, the piping structure of the thermal transfer device during shipping to an installation site.

10. The variable fluid volume device of claim 3, wherein the thermal transfer device is selected from a group consisting of:

a heating device that increases the temperature of the fluid within the housing, a cooling device that decreases the temperature of the fluid within the housing, and a multi-purpose device that, based on an operational setting, increases the temperature or decreases the temperature or increases a humidity or decreases the humidity.

11. The variable fluid volume device of claim 3, wherein the thermal transfer device is situated at a location within the housing that is selected from a group consisting of:

an upstream portion of the housing that is upstream from the LFF device, and a downstream portion of the housing that is downstream from the LFF device.

12. The variable fluid volume device of claim 11, wherein the flow profile that is determined as the function of the housing dimensions and the configurable aperture dimensions is further determined as a function of the location of the thermal transfer device.

13. The variable fluid volume device of claim 11, wherein the thermal transfer device is a cooling device that decreases the temperature of the fluid within the housing and the location is in the upstream portion of the housing.

14. The variable fluid volume device of claim 3, wherein the thermal transfer device is situated in the housing according to a slanting profile that is determined to increase, within the housing dimensions, a length over which the fluid is exposed to the thermal transfer device.

15. The variable fluid volume device of claim 14, wherein the slanting profile defines a first mounting position where a first end of the thermal transfer device is mounted to one side of the housing and a second mounting position where an opposing end of the thermal transfer device is mounted to an opposing side of the housing, wherein the first end is closer to the LFF device than the second end.

16. The variable fluid volume device of claim 3, wherein the thermal transfer device is a first thermal transfer device and further comprising a second thermal transfer device that is situated in the housing and is configured to modify the temperature of the fluid within the housing.

17. The variable fluid volume device of claim 16, wherein the first thermal transfer device is configured to control a mixture of the fluid.

18. The variable fluid volume device of claim 16, wherein the first thermal transfer device is a cooling device that decreases the temperature of the fluid within the housing and the second thermal transfer device is a heating device that increases the temperature of the fluid within the housing.

19. The variable fluid volume device of claim 17, wherein the first thermal transfer device is mounted in an upstream portion of the housing that is upstream from the LFF device and the second thermal transfer device is mounted in a downstream portion of the housing that is downstream from the LFF device.

20. The variable fluid volume device of claim 3, further comprising a fluid filter that filters the fluid, wherein the fluid filter is situated in the housing upstream, relative to a direction of the flow through the housing, of the thermal transfer device.

21. The variable fluid volume device of claim 3, further comprising a fluid filter that filters the fluid, wherein the fluid filter is situated in the housing downstream, relative to a direction of the flow through the housing, of the thermal transfer device.

22. The variable fluid volume device of claim 3, further comprising an ultraviolet (UV) light device that is determined to reduce undesired elements in the fluid, wherein the UV light device is situated in the housing upstream, relative to a direction of the flow through the housing, of the thermal transfer device.

23. The variable fluid volume device of claim 3, further comprising an ultraviolet (UV) light device that is determined to reduce undesired elements in the fluid, wherein the UV light device is situated in the housing downstream, relative to a direction of the flow through the housing, of the first thermal transfer device.

24. The variable fluid volume device of claim 1, wherein the LFF device is configured to operate at a low fluid flow rate below about 300 cubic feet per minute (CFM).

25. The variable fluid volume device of claim 1, wherein the LFF device is configured to provide a turndown ratio that is greater than about 8:

1, wherein a measured flow velocity over an entirety of the turndown ratio is determined to vary from an actual flow velocity by no more than +/−

20 percent.

26. The variable fluid volume device of claim 1, wherein the LFF device is configured to set, in situ, the damper device to the first state corresponding to a first configurable aperture dimension in advance of performing the measuring procedure.

27. The variable fluid volume device of claim 26, wherein the LFF device, in response to change data, is configured to set, in situ, the damper device to the first state corresponding to a second configurable aperture dimension in advance of performing the measuring procedure, wherein the second configurable aperture dimension differs from the first configurable aperture dimension based on the change data.

28. The variable fluid volume device of claim 1, wherein the damper device has a structural or functional configuration that is selected from a group comprising:

an annulus damper, a disk damper, a single blade damper, a dual blade damper, a multi-blade damper, a butterfly damper, a multiple butterfly damper, an opposed blade damper, a parallel blade damper, a plate damper, and a multiple plate damper.

29. The variable fluid volume device of claim 1, wherein the damper device has a structural shape that is selected from a group comprising:

circular, rectangular, a square, an ellipse, a triangle, a rhombus, a trapezoid, or an oval.

30. The variable fluid volume device of claim 1, further comprising an electrical thermal transfer device, situated in the housing, configured to modify a temperature of the fluid in response to consumption of electricity.

31. The variable fluid volume device of claim 30, wherein the electrical thermal transfer device is a resistive heating device.

32. The variable fluid volume device of claim 1, wherein the LFF device is configured to provide a turndown ratio that is greater than about 8:

1, wherein a measured flow velocity over an entirety of the turndown ratio is determined to vary from an actual flow velocity by no more than +/−

10 percent.

33. The variable fluid volume device of claim 1, wherein the LFF device is configured to provide a turndown ratio that is greater than about 8:

1, wherein a measured flow velocity over an entirety of the turndown ratio is determined to vary from an actual flow velocity by no more than +/−

5 percent.

34. The variable fluid volume device of claim 1, wherein the pressure measurement comprises a first pressure measurement upstream from the LFF device compared to a second pressure measurement downstream from the LFF device.

35. The variable fluid volume device of claim 1, wherein the measuring procedure further comprises determining that the flow through the damper exhibits a vena contracta having a cross-sectional area, A_c, that is less than a cross-sectional area of the aperture, A_o.

36. A variable fluid volume device having an integrated thermal transfer unit, comprising:

a housing that is determined to have defined housing dimensions;

a thermal transfer device, situated in the housing, configured to modify a temperature of a fluid within the housing;

a bracket configured to mount the thermal transfer device and piping elements of the thermal transfer device to the housing; and

a low fluid flow (LFF) device that measures and controls a flow of a fluid through the housing, wherein the LFF device comprises;

a damper device that facilitates measuring and controlling the flow of the fluid through the housing, wherein the damper device, when closed, prevents the fluid from flowing through the housing and, when open, provides an aperture, through which the fluid in the housing flows, having configurable aperture dimensions that are configured in response to modifying a state of the damper device, and wherein the damper device, in a first state, is configured to function as an orifice plate that facilitates measuring the flow based on a flow profile that is determined based on the housing dimensions and the configurable aperture dimensions; and

a controller configured to;

determine the defined housing dimensions;

perform a measuring procedure comprising setting the damper device to the first state and measuring the flow based on a pressure measurement and the flow profile that is determined as the function of the housing dimensions and the configurable aperture dimensions; and

perform a controlling procedure comprising setting the damper device to a second state that differs from the first state, wherein the second state is determined to cause the flow to satisfy a set point.

37. The variable fluid volume device of claim 36, wherein the thermal transfer device is pre-piped, and wherein the bracket is configured to support, and prevent damage to, the thermal transfer device and the piping elements during shipping to an installation site.

38. The variable fluid volume device of claim 36, wherein the thermal transfer device is situated in an upstream portion of the housing that is upstream of the LFF device, and is configured to reduce the temperature.

39. The variable fluid volume device of claim 36, wherein the thermal transfer device is situated in the housing according to a slanting profile that is determined to increase, within the housing dimensions, a length over which the fluid is exposed to the thermal transfer device.

40. The variable fluid volume device of claim 39, wherein the slanting profile describes a first mounting position where a first end of the thermal transfer device is mounted to a first side of the housing and a second mounting position where an opposing end of the thermal transfer device is mounted to a second side of the housing, wherein the first end is closer to the LFF device than the second end.

41. A method of measuring and controlling fluid flow, comprising:

determining, by a device comprising a processor, housing dimensions of a housing comprising a low fluid flow (LFF) device, wherein the housing comprises an upstream portion that is, relative to a flow of a fluid, upstream from the LFF device and a downstream portion that is, relative to the flow of the fluid, downstream from the LFF device;

performing, by the device, a flow measuring procedure comprising;

instructing the LFF device to adjust a damper to a first state that provides an orifice through which the fluid flows between the upstream portion and the downstream portion;

determining a flow value for the flow of the fluid as a function of the housing dimensions and an area of the orifice when the damper is in the first state; and

performing, by the device, a flow controlling procedure comprising;

instructing the LFF device to adjust a damper to a second state that is determined to cause the flow to satisfy a set point.

42. The method of claim 41, further comprising performing, by the device, a second flow measuring procedure comprising:

instructing the LFF device to adjust the damper to a third state that causes the orifice to have a second area that differs from the area of the orifice when the damper is in the first state; and

determining a second flow value for the flow of the fluid as a function of the housing dimensions and the second area.

43. The method of claim 41, wherein the flow value is determined as function of the housing dimensions and the area and further as a function of a pressure measurement of the upstream portion.

44. The method of claim 41, wherein the flow value is determined as a function of the housing dimensions and the area and further as a function of a pressure measurement of the downstream portion.