MODULAR FAN HOUSING WITH MULTIPLE MODULAR UNITS HAVING SOUND ATTENUATION FOR A FAN ARRAY FOR AN AIR-HANDLING SYSTEM

• US 20120275902A1
• Filed: 07/11/2012
• Published: 11/01/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nortek Air Solutions LLC (Melrose Industries Plc)
• Original Assignee: Huntair Incorporated (Melrose Industries Plc)
• Inventors: Hopkins, Lawrence G.
• Granted Patent: US 8,414,251 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 415/119
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 13/06 the pump being electrically driven
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 13/12 Combinations of two or more pumps combinations with priming pumps or booster pumps to counteract vapour-lock F04D9/04
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 15/00 Control, e.g. regulation, of pumps, pumping installations or systems
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 15/0066 by changing the speed, e.g. of the driving engine
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 25/166 using fans
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/664 by means of sound absorbing material
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2250/511 augmenting, i.e. with intercepting fluid flow cross sectional area greater than the rest of the machine behind the inlet
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2260/96 Preventing, counteracting or reducing vibration or noise
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/77 by controlling the speed of ventilators
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 13/24 Means for preventing or suppressing noise
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2013/242 Sound-absorbing material
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 3/044 Systems in which all treatment is given in the central station, i.e. all-air systems
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 7/06 with forced air circulation, e.g. by fan positioning of a ventilator in or against a conduit
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 7/065 fan combined with single duct; mounting arrangements of a fan in a duct
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 30/70 Efficient control or regulation technologies, e.g. for control of refrigerant flow, motor or heating
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49245 Vane type or other rotary, e.g., fan
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

A modular fan housing configured to hold an array of motors and fans is provided. The modular fan housing is configured for use in an air-handling system that delivers air to a ventilation system for at least a portion of a building. The fan housing comprises a plurality of modular units configured to be stacked adjacent to one another in at least one row or column to form an array. The modular units each include an interior surface and have a front end and a back end that define a chamber. The chambers are configured to receive the motors and fans. Sound attenuation layers extend along at least a portion of the interior surface of the corresponding chambers. The sound attenuation layers are positioned between at least some of the adjacent chambers.

Claims

1. A modular fan housing configured to hold an array of motors and fans, the modular fan housing configured for use in an air-handling system that delivers air to a ventilation system for at least a portion of a building, the fan section comprising:

a plurality of modular units configured to be stacked adjacent to one another in at least one row or column to form an array, the modular units each including an interior surface and having a front end and a back end that define a chamber, the chambers being configured to receive the motors and fans; and

sound attenuation layers that extend along at least a portion of the interior surface of the corresponding chambers, the sound attenuation layers being positioned between at least some of the adjacent chambers.

2. The modular fan housing of claim 1, further comprising inlet cones mounted at the front ends of the chambers, the inlet cones located upstream of the fans.

3. The modular fan housing of claim 1, wherein the modular units are structured in a plug and play configuration.

4. The modular fan housing of claim 1, wherein the modular units are joined to one another with interlocking structures on an exterior thereof.

5. The modular fan housing of claim 1, wherein the modular units are joined to one another with separate interlocking structures.

6. The modular fan housing of claim 1, further comprising a grid system into which the modular units are placed.

7. The modular fan housing of claim 1, wherein the modular units have interlocking structures on exteriors of at least one of the top, bottom and sides to facilitate locking the modular units together.

8. The modular fan housing of claim 1, further comprising motors and fans positioned in the chambers of the modular units, the fans being located proximate to the front ends of the corresponding chambers, the fans directing air to discharge from the back ends of the chambers.

9. A method for providing a modular fan housing configured to hold an array of motors and fans, the fan housing configured for use in an air-handling system that delivers air to a ventilation system for at least a portion of a building, the method comprising:

providing a plurality of modular units configured to be stacked adjacent to one another in at least one row or column to form an array, the modular units each including an interior surface and having a front end and a back end that define a chamber, the chambers being configured to receive the motors and fans; and

providing sound attenuation layers that extend along at least a portion of the interior surface of the corresponding chambers, the sound attenuation layers being positioned between at least some of the adjacent chambers.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising mounting inlet cones at the front ends of the chambers, the inlet cones located upstream of the fans.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the modular units are structured in a plug and play configuration.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the modular units are joined to one another with interlocking structures on an exterior thereof.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the modular units are joined to one another with separate interlocking structures.

14. The method of claim 9, further comprising a grid system into which the modular units are placed.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the modular units have interlocking structures on exteriors of at least one of the top, bottom and sides to facilitate locking the modular units together.

16. The method of claim 9, further comprising positioning motors and fans in the chambers of the modular units, the fans being located proximate to the front ends of the corresponding chambers, the fans directing air to discharge from the back ends of the chambers.

17. The fan array of claim 16, further comprising an array controller configured to operate at least one of the motors at a speed that is less than or equal to a first speed to deliver an associated air flow amount from the corresponding one of the fans.

18. The fan array of claim 17, wherein the array controller is configured to take the fan units on and off line when a building control system requires a low volume of air at relatively high pressure.

19. The fan array of claim 17, wherein the array controller is configured to modulate the fan units on and off line to produce a select operating point.

20. The fan array of claim 19, wherein the select operating point represents a stable operating point.

21. The fan array of claim 17, wherein the array controller is configured to modulate the fan units on and off to eliminate surge effects, where the surge effect occurs when a system pressure is too high for the fan speed at a given volume and the fan units have a tendency to go into stall.

22. The fan array of claim 17, wherein the array controller is configured to take off line a number of the fan units and speed up on-line fan units, to avoid a surge effect, where the surge effect occurs when a system pressure is too high for the fan speed at a given volume and the fan units have a tendency to go into stall.

23. The fan array of claim 17, wherein the array controller is configured to modulate the fan units on and off line and control the speed of the fan units that are on line to produce a stable operating point and avoid stall.