Consumption metering system for an air conditioning system

• US 4,578,958 A
• Filed: 07/27/1984
• Issued: 04/01/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/1984
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Maurmann Ingenieuburo GmbH West Germany
• Original Assignee: Maurmann Ingenieurburo GmbH
• Inventors: Reuter, Rolf, Hilscher, Norbert
• Primary Examiner(s): Wayner, William E.
• Application Number:
  US06/635,043
• Time in Patent Office: 613 Days
• Field of Search: 236/49, 236/94, 165/11, 374/29
• US Class Current: 62/126
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/00 Control or safety arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/30 for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/74 for controlling air flow rate or air velocity
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2003/0446 with a single air duct for transporting treated air from the central station to the rooms
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2011/0002 for admittance of outside air
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/10 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/12 of the outside air
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/40 Pressure, e.g. wind pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2140/60 Energy consumption
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2221/54 Heating and cooling, simultaneously or alternatively

Abstract

With an air conditioning system a plurality of building areas, for which individual energy accounts have to be rendered, are supplied by a common fresh air supply and cooling installation. The volume flow rates are controlled by one volume flow rate regulator each, the setpoint of which is adjustable through a servomotor. An output signal representing the setpoint of the volume flow rate regulator is generated and is applied to a meter. This provides with sufficient accuracy the distribution of the volume flow rates between the various building areas as a base for the accounting and billing of energy expenses.

Claims

1. Consumption metering system for an air conditioning system, wherein a plurality of building areas which are to be metered individually are supplied from a common fresh air supply and cooling installation through individual air ducts, comprising

(a) one volume flow rate regulator arranged in each of said individual air ducts for regulating the volume flow rate to the associated building area,

(b) each of said volume flow rate regulators having

adjustable set point determining means and

flow rate control means for controlling the through-flow area through said regulator,

said flow rate control means being responsive to volume flow rate through said air duct and

said flow rate control means being operatively connected with said setpoint determining means to vary said through-flow area when said volume flow rate deviates from a setpoint determined by said setpoint determining means, whereby the volume flow rate through said air duct is maintained substantially at a value equal to said setpoint, and

means for adjusting said setpoint determining means,

characterized by

(c) a signal generator operatively connected to said setpoint adjusting means and formed to be adjusted together with said setpoint determining means, whereby said signal generator provides an output signal indicative of said setpoint, and

(d) meter means to which said setpoint indicative output signal is applied for integrating said setpoint indicative output signal with respect to time and for providing a reading indicative of the volume of air flowing through said air duct.

2. Consumption metering system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said signal generator is a potentiometer.

3. Consumption metering system as claimed in claim 2, wherein said means for adjusting said setpoint determining means comprises a servomotor, said potentiometer being coupled to said servomotor to be adjusted thereby.

4. Consumption metering system as claimed in claim 2, wherein said meter means comprises a counter driven by an integrating motor.

5. Consumption metering system as claimed in claim 1, characterized by

(a) a shut-off flap valve in said air duct and means for moving said shut-off flap valve between an open position and a closed position, and

(b) means operatively connected to said shut-off flap valve for switching-off said meter means when said shut-off flap valve is in its closed position.

6. Consumption metering system as claimed in claim 5, wherein

(a) said moving means comprises a servomotor coupled with said shut-off flap valve, a switch and a relay, said relay being arranged to be energized through said switch and having contact means for controlling said servomotor,

(b) said switching-off means comprises a limit switch on the servomotor, said limit switch opening only when the shut-off flap valve is in its closed position, and

(c) a power supply unit feeding said meter means is connected to the electric mains through said limit switch.

7. Consumption metering system as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that

(a) a heating device (72) is arranged down-stream of each volume flow rate regulator (16) to heat the air supplied, and

(b) means are provided for separately metering the energy consumption of each heating device (72).

8. Consumption metering system for an air conditioning system, wherein a plurality of building areas which are to be metered individually are supplied from a common fresh air supply and cooling installation through individual air ducts, comprising

(a) one volume flow rate regulator arranged in each of said individual air ducts for regulating the volume flow rate to the associated building area,

(b) each of said volume flow rate regulators having

adjustable setpoint determining means and

flow rate control means for controlling the through-flow area through said regulator,

said flow rate control means being responsive to volume flow rate through said air duct

said flow rate control means being operatively connected with said set point determining means to vary said through-flow area when said volume flow rate deviates from a setpoint determined by said setpoint determining means, whereby the volume flow rate through said air duct is maintained substantially at a value equal to said setpoint, and

means for adjusting said setpoint determining means,

characterized in that

(c) said means for adjusting said adjustable setpoint determining means comprises a pneumatic servomotor responsive to a pneumatic input signal to adjust said setpoint determining means to a setpoint proportional to said pneumatic input signal,

(d) a pneumatic-to-electric converter is provided, said pneumatic input signal also being applied to said pneumatic-to-electric converter, whereby said pneumatic-to-electric converter serves as a signal generator for providing an output signal indicative of said setpoint, and

(e) meter means are provided, to which said setpoint indicative output signal is applied, for integrating said setpoint indicative output signal with respect to time and for providing a reading indicative of the volume of air flowing through said air duct.

9. Consumption metering system as claimed in claim 8, wherein said meter means comprises a counter driven by an integrating motor.

10. Consumption metering system for an air conditioning system, wherein a plurality of building areas which are to be metered individually are supplied from a common fresh air supply and cooling installation through individual air ducts, comprising

(a) one volume flow rate regulator arranged in each of said individual air ducts for regulating the volume flow rate to the associated building area,

(b) each of said volume flow rate regulators having

adjustable setpoint determining means and

flow rate control means for controlling the through-flow area through said regulator,

said flow rate control means being responsive to volume flow rate through said air duct and

said flow rate control means being operatively connected with said setpoint determining means to vary said through-flow area when said volume flow rate deviates from a setpoint determined by said setpoint determining means, whereby the volume flow rate through said air duct is maintained substantially at a value equal to said setpoint, and

means for adjusting said setpoint determining means,

characterized by

(c) a signal generator operatively connected to said setpoint adjusting means and formed to be adjusted together with said setpoint determining means, whereby said signal generator provides an output signal indicative of said setpoint,

(d) first and second meter means for integrating a signal applied thereto, with respect to time,

(e) means for applying said setpoint indicative output signal either to said first or said second meter means,

(f) means for changing over said fresh air supply and cooling installation to optionally supply cooled or non-cooled air,

(g) means for changing-over said output signal applying means in synchronism with the changing-over of said cooled air or non-cooled air changing over means, whereby said first meter means is operative when cooled air is supplied and provides a reading indicative of the volume of cooled air flown through said air duct, and said second meter means is operative when non-cooled air is supplied and provides a reading indicative of the volume of non-cooled air flowing through said air duct.