Low flow fluid device and pre-piped hydronics
First Claim
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.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
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.
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Citations
44 Claims
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1. A variable fluid volume device, comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A variable fluid volume device having an integrated thermal transfer unit, comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40)
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41. A method of measuring and controlling fluid flow, comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44)
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Specification