SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR REDUCING NOISE IN AN AIR MOVING SYSTEM

• US 20160084268A1
• Filed: 09/15/2015
• Published: 03/24/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Regal Beloit America, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Regal Beloit America, Inc.
• Inventors: Cocks, Rachele Barbara, Golm, Norman Carl Jr., Chretien, Ludovic Andre, Shelton, Kerry Baker
• Granted Patent: US 10,371,171 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 25/08 the working fluid being air, e.g. for ventilation
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 27/004 by varying driving speed
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/665 by means of resonance chambers or interference
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/667 by influencing the flow pattern, e.g. suppression of turbulence
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 23/00 Arrangements or methods for the control of AC motors characterised by a control method other than vector control
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 30/70 Efficient control or regulation technologies, e.g. for control of refrigerant flow, motor or heating

Abstract

A centrifugal blower system includes a centrifugal blower assembly for generating airflow. The centrifugal blower assembly includes a housing, a motor coupled to the housing, and at least one impeller coupled to the motor. A motor controller is coupled to the motor. The motor controller is configured to receive at least one feedback parameter and to transmit instructions to the motor to control an operation of the motor based on the at least one feedback parameter. The operation of the motor is configured to reduce noise in the centrifugal blower system.

Claims

1. A centrifugal blower system comprising:

a centrifugal blower assembly for generating airflow, said centrifugal blower assembly comprising a housing, a motor coupled to said housing, and at least one impeller coupled to said motor; and

a motor controller coupled to said motor, said motor controller configured to receive at least one feedback parameter and to transmit instructions to said motor to control an operation of said motor based on the at least one feedback parameter, the operation of said motor configured to reduce noise in said centrifugal blower system.

2. The centrifugal blower system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said motor controller is configured to receive the at least one feedback parameter from said motor to determine operational status of said motor.

3. The centrifugal blower system in accordance with claim 1, further comprising at least one sensor, said at least one sensor comprising at least one of a temperature sensor, an accelerometer, a strain gauge, a flow meter, an audio sensor, and a pressure sensor.

4. The centrifugal blower system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the instructions transmitted by said motor controller cause said motor to generate at least one axis of vibration configured to break up fundamental pressure waves and resonant frequencies generated in said centrifugal blower system.

5. The centrifugal blower system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the operation of said motor generates vibrations that are transmitted through surfaces adjacent the motor, the surfaces vibrating at a resonant frequency configured to generate anti-noise.

6. The centrifugal blower system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the operation of said motor is configured to generate pressure waves to improve airflow efficiency in said centrifugal blower system.

7. The centrifugal blower system in accordance with claim 6, further comprising a pressure wave generating device to facilitate the generation of pressure waves during operation of said motor.

8. The centrifugal blower system in accordance with claim 1, further comprising at least one mechanical louver coupled to an electric motor, said electric motor coupled to said motor controller and configured to transmit at least one feedback parameter to said motor controller, and to receive control instructions from said motor controller.

9. The centrifugal blower system in accordance with claim 8, wherein said electric motor transmits the at least one feedback parameter to said motor controller via a wireless connection.

10. The centrifugal blower system in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a blower expansion coupled to said housing and said application ductwork such that the airflow from said centrifugal blower assembly is channeled through said blower expansion to said application ductwork.

11. The centrifugal blower system in accordance with claim 10, wherein said motor controller is configured to receive the at least one feedback parameter from at least one sensor coupled to said application ductwork to determine a physical characteristic of at least one of said application ductwork and the airflow.

12. The centrifugal blower system in accordance with claim 11, wherein the at least one feedback parameter is indicative of unwanted pressure waves, and said motor controller comprises a processor programmed to determine, based on the at least one feedback parameter, instructions that cause said motor to generate pressure waves out of phase with the unwanted pressure waves sensed in said centrifugal blower system.

13. A centrifugal blower system comprising:

a centrifugal blower assembly for generating airflow;

a motor controller configured to receive a first feedback parameter and transmit a first instruction based on the first feedback parameter, the first feedback parameter indicative of a pressure wave moving through the airflow; and

a motor configured to receive the first instruction and generate at least one axis of vibration in response to the first instruction, the at least one axis of vibration configured to cancel the pressure wave.

14. The centrifugal blower system in accordance with claim 13, further comprising at least one sensor configured to sense a pressure wave in the airflow.

15. The centrifugal blower system in accordance with claim 13, further comprising application ductwork for channeling the airflow generated by said centrifugal blower assembly, said application ductwork coupled to said centrifugal blower assembly.

16. The centrifugal blower system in accordance with claim 15, further comprising at least one sensor configured to transmit the first feedback parameter, the at least one sensor coupled to said application ductwork.

17. The centrifugal blower system in accordance with claim 13, wherein said motor is further configured to transmit a second feedback parameter, the second feedback parameter indicative of a back electromotive force (BEMF) harmonics generated by said motor.

18. The centrifugal blower system in accordance with claim 17, wherein the motor controller is further configured to transmit a second instruction to said motor based on the second feedback parameter and said motor is further configured to generate vibrations in response to the second instruction, the vibrations configured to cancel the BEMF harmonics.

19. A method for reducing noise in a centrifugal blower system, the centrifugal blower system includes a motor and a motor controller coupled to the motor, the method comprising:

executing a first characterizing routine using the motor controller, the first characterizing routine configured to determine an initial system characterization of the centrifugal blower system;

executing a second characterizing routine using the motor controller, the second characterizing routine configured to determine a second system characterization of the centrifugal blower system;

transmitting an instruction to the motor; and

moving the centrifugal blower system to one of the first system characterization and the second system characterization in response to the instruction.

20. The method in accordance with claim 19, further comprising transmitting a first feedback parameter to the motor controller, the first feedback parameter indicative of a physical characteristic of at least one of the centrifugal blower system and airflow through the centrifugal blower system.

21. The method in accordance with claim 20, further comprising transmitting a second feedback parameter to the motor controller, the second feedback parameter indicative of a physical characteristic associated with a mechanical louver.

22. The method in accordance with claim 21, wherein executing the first and second characterizing routines comprise instructing the motor to move the mechanical louver from an opened configuration to a closed configuration, sensing instabilities in the airflow using the first feedback parameter and the second feedback parameter, and determining a position of the mechanical louver when the instability in the airflow is at a minimum.

23. The method in accordance with claim 19, further comprising receiving a feedback parameter from at least one of a sensor and the motor, determining whether instabilities in the airflow exceed a predetermined threshold, retrieving the other of the first and second system characterizations if the instabilities in the airflow exceed the predetermined threshold, and moving the centrifugal blower system to the other of the system characterizations in response to the instructions.

24. The method in accordance with claim 23, wherein receiving a feedback parameter from at least one of a sensor and the motor comprises receiving a feedback parameter from at least one sensor coupled to the centrifugal blower system.