Optimum environmental control system for a building
First Claim
1. Apparatus for maintaining a controlled temperature in a building having first and second zones while utilizing a minimum amount of external energy for heat input to said zones, said first zone being located in the interior of the building and requiring a net removal of heat therefrom for the maintenance of said controlled temperature during the colder weather, said second zone being located within the building but more exterior than said first zone, said second zone requiring a net addition of heat thereto for the maintenance of said controlled temperature, said apparatus comprising:
- a. air-handling means;
b. refrigeration means;
c. said air-handling means being adapted to transfer heat from said first zone to said refrigeration means;
d. said refrigeration means being adapted to transfer heat from said air-handling means to said second zone;
e. first control means for controlling the temperature in said first zone, said first control means including first means for controlling the mixing of air from outside the building with air from said first zone within the building;
f. second control means for controlling the temperature in said second zone by controlling said refrigeration means and said air-handling means, thereby to regulate the amount of heat transferred between said first and second zones, said second control means including means for controlling said refrigeration means;
g. said refrigeration means including a first fluid-loop heat-transfer means having therein a first fluid means as a heat transfer medium and a second fluid-loop heat-transfer means having therein a second fluid means as a heat transfer medium;
h. said refrigeration means further including;
h-1. first heat-exchange means for removing heat from said first fluid means in said first fluid-loop heat-transfer means;
h-2. second heat-exchange means for adding heat to said second fluid means in said second fluid-loop heat-transfer means.h-3. thermal connection means for optionally, selectably, thermally connecting said first heat-exchange means thereby optionally, selectably, facilitating the transfer of heat between said first fluid-loop heat-transfer means and said second fluip-loop heat-transfer means;
h-4. first controller means for controlling said thermal connection means, thereby optionally selectably, permitting thermal connection of said first heat-exchange means and said second heat-exchange means in response to a sensed lower temperature of said second fluid-means heat-transfer medium below a first chosen temperature; and
h-5. second controller means for controlling said thermal connection means, thereby permitting thermal connection of said first heat-exchange means and said second heat-exchange means, in response to an increase in the temperature of said first fluid means, which is utilized as a heat transfer medium, above a second chosen temperature.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A control system for the control of temperature within a building is provided to affect both cooling and heating of the building as required during the winter season with a minimum energy input to the building. Heat transfer is provided between the more interior areas of the building and the more exterior areas of the building so that heat generated in the more interior portions of the building is not entirely wasted by being exhausted directly to the cold outdoors. Chilled water refrigeration equipment, standard forced air systems and outdoor air are utilized to affect the desired heating, cooling and heat transfer within the building.
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Citations
8 Claims
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1. Apparatus for maintaining a controlled temperature in a building having first and second zones while utilizing a minimum amount of external energy for heat input to said zones, said first zone being located in the interior of the building and requiring a net removal of heat therefrom for the maintenance of said controlled temperature during the colder weather, said second zone being located within the building but more exterior than said first zone, said second zone requiring a net addition of heat thereto for the maintenance of said controlled temperature, said apparatus comprising:
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a. air-handling means; b. refrigeration means; c. said air-handling means being adapted to transfer heat from said first zone to said refrigeration means; d. said refrigeration means being adapted to transfer heat from said air-handling means to said second zone; e. first control means for controlling the temperature in said first zone, said first control means including first means for controlling the mixing of air from outside the building with air from said first zone within the building; f. second control means for controlling the temperature in said second zone by controlling said refrigeration means and said air-handling means, thereby to regulate the amount of heat transferred between said first and second zones, said second control means including means for controlling said refrigeration means; g. said refrigeration means including a first fluid-loop heat-transfer means having therein a first fluid means as a heat transfer medium and a second fluid-loop heat-transfer means having therein a second fluid means as a heat transfer medium; h. said refrigeration means further including; h-1. first heat-exchange means for removing heat from said first fluid means in said first fluid-loop heat-transfer means; h-2. second heat-exchange means for adding heat to said second fluid means in said second fluid-loop heat-transfer means. h-3. thermal connection means for optionally, selectably, thermally connecting said first heat-exchange means thereby optionally, selectably, facilitating the transfer of heat between said first fluid-loop heat-transfer means and said second fluip-loop heat-transfer means; h-4. first controller means for controlling said thermal connection means, thereby optionally selectably, permitting thermal connection of said first heat-exchange means and said second heat-exchange means in response to a sensed lower temperature of said second fluid-means heat-transfer medium below a first chosen temperature; and h-5. second controller means for controlling said thermal connection means, thereby permitting thermal connection of said first heat-exchange means and said second heat-exchange means, in response to an increase in the temperature of said first fluid means, which is utilized as a heat transfer medium, above a second chosen temperature. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. The apparatus for maintaining a controlled temperature in two zones of a building during the winter season, utilizing a minimum amount of external energy for heat to be input to said two zones, of claim 6, wherein said first fluid loop heat transfer means further comprises:
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a. means for forcing said first fluid means through said first fluid loop heat transfer means; wherein said thermal connection means further comprises; b. compressor means for moving refrigerant initially over said first heat exchange means, elevating temperature of refrigerant by vapor compression, and then moving refrigerant with elevated temperature over said second heat exchange means thereby transferring heat from said first heat transfer means to said second heat transfer means and thus resulting in the transfer of heat from said first fluid means to said second fluid means; and c. optionally selectably controllable vane means for optionally selectably preventing or allowing refrigerant moved by said compressor means to pass over said second heat transfer means thereby optionally, selectably preventing or allowing the transfer of heat from said first fluid means to said second fluid means; and wherein said second fluid loops heat transfer means further comprises; d. means for forcing said second fluid means through said second fluid loop heat transfer means; e. second three-way valve means; f. cooling tower means; g. means for transferring heat from said second fluid means to said second zone within the building; wherein said second three-way valve means is connected to said second fluid transport means in such a way that said valve, when disposed in one position, will permit at least a portion of said second fluid means in said second fluid transport means to pass through said cooling tower means, and, when said valve is in a second position, will cause said second fluid means in said second fluid transport means to bypass said cooling tower means. - View Dependent Claims (7)
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8. Wherein said second controller means is operatively connected to said second temperature sensor means and to said third relay means, said second controller means being suitably disposed for comparing an output signal from said second temperature sensor means to pre-selected temperature so as to determine when a temperature sensed by said second temperature sensor means is above a second pre-selected temperature;
wherein said second controller means is suitably disposed to override said first controller means and to actuate said third relay means, thereby actuating said second relay means and thereby closing said vane means for optionally selectably preventing and allowing refrigerant moved by a compressor means first to be passed over a first heat exchange means for removing heat from a first fluid heat transfer means and then to be passed over a second heat exchange means for adding heat to a second fluid heat transfer means, thereby preventing the transfer of heat from said first fluid heat transfer means to said second fluid heat transfer means.
Specification