AIR HANDLER PANELS

• US 20080311840A1
• Filed: 02/09/2008
• Published: 12/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Johnson Controls Tyco IP Holdings LLP (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Original Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: LAWSON, David L., HORD, Christopher A., RAINEY, Melanie H., SHELL, Carl J.
• Granted Patent: US 9,791,166 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 454/251
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 13/24 Means for preventing or suppressing noise
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2221/54 Heating and cooling, simultaneously or alternatively
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 3/0442 with volume control at a constant temperature

Abstract

An air handler that provides for noise reduction without reducing the pressure of air supplied to a space below minimum levels. The air handler includes a plenum, which forms a passageway for air through the air handler; the plenum having a return side and a supply side, a fan positioned in the plenum to move air through the plenum, the fan having a suction side and a pressure side, and a conditioning apparatus in the plenum for conditioning air passing through the plenum. The air handler further includes a sound-attenuating panel, which has a first side and an opposed second side and is positioned in the plenum so that the panel extends at least partially across the plenum. The panel is configured and positioned to interact with the flow of air in the plenum to attenuate sound. The fan provides a pressure boost to air flowing through the plenum to counteract a pressure drop resulting from interaction between the air and the panel in the plenum and the conditioning apparatus.

Claims

1. An air handler comprising:

a plenum, the plenum forming a passageway for air through the air handler;

the plenum having a return side and a supply side;

a fan positioned in the plenum to move air through the plenum, the fan having a suction side and a pressure side;

a conditioning apparatus in the plenum for conditioning air passing through the plenum;

a sound attenuating panel, the panel having a first side and an opposed second side, the panel positioned in the plenum so that the panel extends at least partially across the plenum, the panel configured and positioned to interact with the flow of air in the plenum to attenuate sound; and

wherein the fan provides a pressure boost to air flowing through the plenum to counteract a pressure drop of air resulting from interaction between the air and the panel in the plenum and the conditioning apparatus.

2. The air handler of claim 1 further including a plurality of sound attenuating panels.

3. The air handler of claim 1 wherein the panel extends partially across the plenum and is attached to the plenum to limit vibration of the panel.

4. The air handler of claim 1 wherein the plenum further includes attachments for opposed edges of the panel, and the panel is fixed in position by the attachments.

5. The air handler of claim 2 wherein the plenum further includes opposed walls, each panel includes opposed edges, and a portion of the opposed edges of each panel are affixed to the opposed walls of the plenum.

6. The air handler of claim 2 wherein the plurality of panels are arranged to form a single row across the plenum, the panels being discontinuous from one another so that air in the plenum passes between them.

7. The air handler of claim 2 wherein the plurality of panels are arranged in a plurality of rows, each row including a plurality of discrete panels having a preselected width and separated by a preselected distance, the discrete panels in adjacent rows being staggered with respect to one another so that air flow through the plenum is impeded by the discrete panels as air strikes discrete panels.

8. The air handler of claim 2 wherein the plurality of panels are arranged in a plurality of rows, each row including a single panel having two edges attached to the plenum, the panel including openings of a preselected size for passage of air therethrough.

9. The air handler of claim 8 wherein the plurality of rows are arranged so that the openings in adjacent rows are staggered with respect to one another so that air flow through the plenum is impeded by the panels as the air flows through the openings.

10. The air handler of claim 1 wherein the panel comprises an audible sound-attenuating material.

11. The air handler of claim 10 wherein the audible sound-attenuating material is selected from the group consisting of foam, fiber, multi-density and combinations thereof.

12. The air handler of claim 11 wherein the sound-attenuating material is fiberglass.

13. The air handler of claim 1 wherein the conditioning apparatus in the plenum includes at least one of an air filter, a heat exchanger coil and a humidifier.

14. The air handler of claim 1 wherein the fan is sized to provide sufficient power to the air flow to offset air pressure losses resulting from the interaction of the air with the panel and the conditioning apparatus.

15. The air handler of claim 1 wherein the sound-attenuating panel is positioned within the supply side of the plenum.

16. The air handler of claim 2 wherein the plurality of sound-attenuating panels are positioned on both the supply side and the return side of the air handler.

17. A system to condition air in a building space, comprising:

at least one of a heating source and a cooling source;

an air handler;

an air distribution system in fluid communication with the air handler, the air distribution system including a return duct having a vent in fluid communication with the building space, and a supply duct having an outlet in fluid communication with the building space; and

wherein the air handler further comprises

a plenum, the plenum forming a passageway for the air through the air handler;

the plenum having a return side in fluid communication with the return duct and a supply side in fluid communication with the supply duct;

a fan positioned in the plenum, the fan having a suction side to draw air from the return side and a pressure side to provide pressurized air to the supply side;

a conditioning apparatus disposed in the plenum for conditioning air passing through the plenum, the conditioning apparatus in fluid communication with at least one of the heating source and the cooling source; and

a sound-attenuating panel, the panel, the panel positioned in the plenum so that the panel extends partially across the plenum, the panel configured to interact with the flow of air in the plenum to attenuate sound; and

wherein the fan provides a pressure boost to air flowing through the plenum to counteract a pressure drop of air resulting from interaction with the panel in the plenum passageway and the conditioning apparatus.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein the air handler further includes a plurality of sound-attenuating panels.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein the plurality of sound-attenuating panels are arranged in a plurality of rows, each row including a plurality of discrete panels having a preselected width and separated by a preselected distance, the discrete panels in adjacent rows being staggered with respect to one another so that air flow through the plenum is impeded by the discrete panels as air strikes discrete panels

20. The system of claim 17 wherein the plurality of sound-attenuating panels are arranged in a plurality of rows, each row including a single panel having at least two edges attached to the plenum, the panel including slots of a preselected size for passage of air therethrough.