CONTROL SYSTEM FOR EXHAUST GAS FAN SYSTEM
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods for controlling an exhaust gas fan system. The control system may control one or more components of the exhaust system to optimize system performance and improve energy efficiency. The control system may be designed to maintain a substantially constant pressure in the exhaust header and provide a substantially constant flow through the exhaust fans. The control system may include software and hardware that allow the control system to control one or more of: modulation of one or more by-pass dampers; adjustment of the nozzle outlet area; varying the speed of the fans; the number and staging of fans. By utilizing and controlling one or more of these functions, the amount of energy being used may be minimized/optimized.
93 Citations
26 Claims
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1-10. -10. (canceled)
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11. A control system configured to exhaust gas from a building of the type including ducting, a exhaust gas fan configured to draw gas through the ducting, and a variable speed fan drive that operates the exhaust fan at variable speeds, wherein the control system controlling the fan drive to maintain an actual exhaust gas flow rate through the ducting at a level above a minimum exhaust gas flow rate;
wherein the control system includes a static pressure probe disposed in the ducting to measure a static pressure of the exhaust gas in the ducting, and the control system is operable to increase the actual exhaust gas flow rate when the actual exhaust gas flow rate is less than the minimum exhaust gas flow rate. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A control system configured to exhaust gas from a building of the type including ducting, a plenum in fluid communication with the ducting, an exhaust gas fan configured to draw the exhaust through the ducting, into the plenum, and out the building, the control system comprising:
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a bypass damper coupled to the plenum and configured to move between an open and closed position, whereby the damper allows an increasing amount of ambient air to enter the plenum as the damper opens, and the damper prevents an increasing amount of ambient air from entering the plenum as the damper closes; a sensor that provides an output corresponding to an actual flow rate of the exhaust gas upstream of the fan with respect to gas flow; and a controller that receives the sensor output, compares the actual exhaust gas flow rate to a minimum exhaust gas flow rate, and opens the bypass damper when the actual exhaust gas flow rate is above the minimum exhaust gas flow rate, and closes the bypass damper when the actual exhaust gas flow rate is below the minimum exhaust gas flow rate. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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21. A building exhaust system configured to control exhaust gas flow from a building, the exhaust system comprising:
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ductwork configured to carry the exhaust gas; a plenum configured to receive the exhaust gas from the ductwork; at least one fan coupled to a variable speed fan drive, the at least one fan configured to blow the exhaust gas out the building; and a control system including; a sensor that provides an output corresponding to an actual flow rate of the exhaust gas upstream of the fan with respect to gas flow; and a controller that receives the sensor output, determines whether the actual exhaust gas flow rate is above a minimum exhaust gas flow rate, and drives the fan at a desired speed so as to maintain the actual flow rate is above the minimum exhaust gas flow rate. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
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24. A method of controlling a flow of exhaust gas from a building of the type having ducting, plenum in fluid communication with the ducting, and at least one fan configured to force the exhaust gas through the ducting and the plenum, and out the building, the method comprising the steps of:
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sensing a pressure of the exhaust gas in the building; determining whether the sensed pressure corresponds to an actual exhaust gas flow rate that is above or below a minimum exhaust gas flow rate; controlling the at least one fan to maintain the actual exhaust gas flow rate at or above the minimum exhaust gas flow rate. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26)
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Specification