Methods and Systems for Managing Air Quality and Energy Use In Air-Conditioning Systems
First Claim
1. A method of operating an HVAC system for an enclosed environment, the HVAC system configured to at least one of heat and cool air and comprising:
- an air circulation system configured to circulate air at least within the enclosed environment, the air within the enclosed environment comprising indoor air;
an outdoor air inlet for introducing at least a portion of outdoor air into the enclosed environment, the outdoor air being from outside the enclosed environment;
a scrubbing system including an adsorbent material to reduce presence of at least one gas contaminate in the indoor air; and
a controller system for controlling at least the operation of the outdoor air inlet and the scrubbing system, the controller system configured to include two or more of at least the following operative modes;
a scrubbing mode to scrub the at least one gas contaminate from the indoor air;
a scrubber regeneration mode to regenerate the adsorbent material;
an economizer mode comprising introducing at least a portion of outdoor air into the enclosed environment via the outdoor inlet;
a scrubbing bypass mode wherein circulated air bypasses the scrubbing system and/or the scrubbing system is turned off; and
a standby mode, wherein neither indoor air nor outdoor air is circulated the method comprising;
determination of at least one of the following parameters;
an occupancy level of the enclosed environment;
a level of the at least one contaminate in the indoor air;
a level of the at least one contaminate in the adsorbent material;
a level of the at least one contaminate in air exiting the adsorbent material;
an indoor air temperature and/or an indoor air humidity level;
an outdoor air temperature and/or an outdoor air humidity level; and
a time and/or date the HVAC system is operating; and
controlling activation of the air circulation system and the scrubbing system according to the operative modes based upon the at least one parameter.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Embodiments of the present disclosure include methods and systems of operating an HVAC system for an enclosed environment. In such embodiments, the HVAC system may be configured to at least one of heat and cool air and include an air circulation system configured to circulate air at least within the enclosed environment. The air within the enclosed environment may comprise at least the indoor air. The system may further include an outdoor air inlet for introducing at least a portion of outdoor air into the enclosed environment, where the outdoor air comprises air from outside the enclosed environment. The system may further include a scrubbing system having an adsorbent material to reduce presence of at least one gas contaminate in the indoor air. A controller system may be included for controlling the operation of at least one of the circulation system and the scrubbing system.
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Citations
40 Claims
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1. A method of operating an HVAC system for an enclosed environment, the HVAC system configured to at least one of heat and cool air and comprising:
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an air circulation system configured to circulate air at least within the enclosed environment, the air within the enclosed environment comprising indoor air; an outdoor air inlet for introducing at least a portion of outdoor air into the enclosed environment, the outdoor air being from outside the enclosed environment; a scrubbing system including an adsorbent material to reduce presence of at least one gas contaminate in the indoor air; and a controller system for controlling at least the operation of the outdoor air inlet and the scrubbing system, the controller system configured to include two or more of at least the following operative modes; a scrubbing mode to scrub the at least one gas contaminate from the indoor air; a scrubber regeneration mode to regenerate the adsorbent material; an economizer mode comprising introducing at least a portion of outdoor air into the enclosed environment via the outdoor inlet; a scrubbing bypass mode wherein circulated air bypasses the scrubbing system and/or the scrubbing system is turned off; and a standby mode, wherein neither indoor air nor outdoor air is circulated the method comprising; determination of at least one of the following parameters; an occupancy level of the enclosed environment; a level of the at least one contaminate in the indoor air; a level of the at least one contaminate in the adsorbent material; a level of the at least one contaminate in air exiting the adsorbent material; an indoor air temperature and/or an indoor air humidity level; an outdoor air temperature and/or an outdoor air humidity level; and a time and/or date the HVAC system is operating; and controlling activation of the air circulation system and the scrubbing system according to the operative modes based upon the at least one parameter. - 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)
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26. A system for operating an HVAC system for an enclosed environment, the HVAC system configured to at least one of heat and cool air, the system comprising:
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an air circulation system configured to circulate air at least within the enclosed environment, the air within the enclosed environment comprising indoor air; an outdoor air inlet for introducing at least a portion of outdoor air into the enclosed environment, the outdoor air being from outside the enclosed environment; a scrubbing system including an adsorbent material to reduce presence of at least one gas contaminate in the indoor air; and a controller system for controlling at least the operation of the outdoor air inlet and the scrubbing system, the controller system configured to include two or more of at least the following operative modes; a scrubbing mode to scrub the at least one gas contaminate from the indoor air; a scrubber regeneration mode to regenerate the adsorbent material; an economizer mode comprising introducing at least a portion of outdoor air into the enclosed environment via the outdoor inlet; a scrubbing bypass mode wherein circulated air bypasses the scrubbing system and/or the scrubbing system is turned off; and a standby mode, wherein neither indoor air nor outdoor air is circulated; and at least one sensor and/or at least one input for receiving information for determining at least one of the following parameters; an occupancy level of the enclosed environment; a level of the at least one contaminate in the indoor air; a level of the at least one contaminate in the adsorbent material; a level of the at least one contaminate in air exiting the adsorbent material; an indoor air temperature and/or an indoor air humidity level; an outdoor air temperature and/or an outdoor air humidity level; and a time and/or date the HVAC system is operating; and wherein the controller system controls activation of the air circulation system and the scrubbing system according the operative modes based upon the at least one parameter determined by the at least one sensor and/or at least one input. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A digital controller system for controlling an HVAC system for an enclosed environment, the HVAC system configured to at least one of heating and cooling of air, the HVAC system comprising:
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an air circulation system configured to circulate air at least within the enclosed environment, the air within the enclosed environment comprising indoor air; and a scrubbing system including an adsorbent material to reduce presence of at least one gas contaminate in the indoor air; the digital controller system being configured to include two or more of at least the following operative modes; a scrubbing mode to scrub the at least one gas contaminate from the indoor air; a scrubber regeneration mode to regenerate the adsorbent material; an economizer mode comprising introducing at least a portion of outdoor air into the enclosed environment, the outdoor air being from outside the enclosed environment; a scrubbing bypass mode wherein circulated air bypasses the scrubbing system and/or the scrubbing system is turned off; and a standby mode, wherein neither indoor air nor outdoor air is circulated. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36)
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37. A system for recording and transmitting data on the operation of an HVAC system for an enclosed environment, the HVAC system configured to at least one of heating and cooling of air, the HVAC system comprising:
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an air circulation system configured to circulate air at least within the enclosed environment, the air within the enclosed environment comprising indoor air; and a scrubbing system including an adsorbent material to reduce presence of at least one gas contaminate in the indoor air; sensors for receiving data from the HVAC system, the enclosed environment or the outdoor environment; actuators or switches for controlling the scrubbing system or the air circulation system; and an electronic data communications system that transmits data pertaining to the sensor readings or actuators to a data storage system. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40)
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Specification