Modular air handling system and method for providing cooling

• US 6,209,330 B1
• Filed: 05/17/1999
• Issued: 04/03/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Cushing, Ralph J., Weyeneth, Bradley A., Timmerman, George H.
• Primary Examiner(s): WAYNER, WILLIAM E
• Assistant Examiner(s): Norman, Marc
• Application Number:
  US09/312,971
• Time in Patent Office: 687 Days
• Field of Search: 62/179, 62/448, 62/237, 62/203, 62/89, 62/229, 62/185, 62/186, 62/449, 62/450
• US Class Current: 62/179
• 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 11/52 Indication arrangements, e.g. displays
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/74 for controlling air flow rate or air velocity
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/84 using valves
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/00 Control inputs relating to air properties
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2221/12 transportable
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 3/044 Systems in which all treatment is given in the central station, i.e. all-air systems

Abstract

A modular air handling supply system and method for producing a supply of cooled air for cooling purposes is disclosed. The modular air handling supply system includes a module container and ducting for transporting the air within said module container and a blower in operational connection with the ducting, wherein the cooled air is propelled to at least one resource or facility, each of which are located external to the module container. The system has the capability of supplying a remote resource or facility with a variable volume and temperature of cooled air.

Claims

1. A modular air handling system for producing a supply of cooled air to facilities located external to the modular air handling system, said system comprising:

a module container;

a blower module located within said module container;

a cooling coil module located within said module container; and

a primary duct work mechanism at least partially housed within said module container and operatively connected between said blower module and said cooling coil module for transporting air within said module container, wherein the supply of cooled air, having variable volume and temperature, is provided to at least one resource located external to said module container.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein said module container includes a floor, a ceiling, and one or more walls.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein said module container is transportable.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein said blower module includes:

at least one motor;

a fan operatively connected to said at least one motor for propelling air through said primary duct work mechanism; and

a housing for supporting said at least one motor and said fan.

5. The system according to claim 4, further comprising a variable volume mechanism disposed within said module container to propel a variable volume of air through said primary duct work mechanism;

wherein said variable volume mechanism is selected from the group consisting of at least one variable frequency drive, a scroll cone volume control, and an air bypass duct.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein said primary duct work mechanism includes an air filtration device.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein said primary duct work mechanism terminates at a perimeter of said module container with a quick-connect mechanism.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein said cooling coil module includes:

at least one chilled fluid coil through which a supply of air is directed by said blower module;

a mixing valve for controlling the temperature of said directed supply of air exiting said at least one chilled fluid coil wherein said mixing valve is operatively connected to said at least one chilled fluid coil; and

a conduit for transporting chilled fluid through said at least one chilled fluid coil and said mixing valve.

9. The system according to claim 8, wherein said at least one chilled fluid coil is located within said primary duct work mechanism.

10. The system according to claim 9, wherein said at least one chilled fluid coil is in heat exchange relationship with a chilled fluid source located external to said module container.

11. The system according to claim 10, wherein said conduit includes at least one fluid flow loop, wherein each said fluid flow loop includes a supply fluid line and a return fluid line.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein at least one of said supply and return fluid lines terminates at a perimeter of the module container with a quick-connect mechanism.

13. The system according to claim 1, further comprising sensing controls that are operatively connected to at least one mechanism selected from the group consisting of said blower module, said cooling coil module, and said primary duct work mechanism.

14. The system according to claim 13, wherein said sensing controls detect a plurality of conditions, wherein said plurality of conditions are selected from the group consisting of blower motor speed, air flow rate, air temperature, smoke detection, fluid temperature, and air pressure.

15. The system according to claim 14, further comprising an alarm mechanism to shut down operation of said blower module.

16. A method for producing a supply of cooled air to facilities located external to a modular air handling system that includes a blower module, a cooling coil module, and a primary duct work mechanism at least partially housed within a module container, said method comprising the steps of:

propelling a supply of air through said primary duct work mechanism within said air module container;

cooling said supply of air; and

propelling said supply of cooled air, having a variable volume and temperature, to at least one resource located external to said module container.

17. The method according to claim 16, further comprising a step of transporting said module container to and from the site where said module container is to provide said supply of cooled air.

18. The method according to claim 16, wherein said step of propelling said supply of cooled air through said primary duct work mechanism includes propelling said supply of cooled air through said primary duct work mechanism with a fan connected to a motor.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein said step of propelling said supply of cooled air through said primary duct work includes a step of propelling a variable volume of air through said primary duct work by utilizing a variable volume mechanism disposed within said module container wherein said variable volume mechanism is selected from the group consisting of at least one variable frequency drive, a scroll cone volume control, and an air bypass duct.

20. The method according to claim 16, including a step of filtering said supply of cooled air.

21. The method according to claim 16, including a step of terminating said primary duct work mechanism at a perimeter of said module container with a quick-connect mechanism.

22. The method according to claim 16, wherein said step of cooling said supply of air further includes the steps of:

passing said supply of air through a chilled fluid coil to produce said supply of cooled air;

modulating the temperature of said supply of cooled air exiting said coil by use of a mixing valve operatively connected to a chilled fluid source located external to said module container; and

transporting said chilled fluid through a conduit wherein said conduit is fluidly connected to said coil and said mixing valve.

23. The method according to claim 22, wherein said step of transporting said chilled fluid through a conduit includes transporting said chilled fluid through at least one fluid flow loop, wherein each said fluid flow loop includes a supply fluid line and a return fluid line.

24. The method according to claim 23, wherein said step of transporting said chilled fluid through at least one fluid flow loop includes utilizing at least one quick-connect mechanism to terminate at least one of a supply or return fluid line at a perimeter of said module container.

25. The method according to claim 22, wherein said step of transporting said chilled fluid through a conduit includes a step of exchanging heat, wherein said heat is acquired by said chilled fluid in said chilled fluid coil, at a location external to said module container.

26. The method according to claim 16, including a step of detecting an alarm condition wherein said alarm condition is selected from the group consisting of blower motor speed, air flow rate, air temperature, smoke detection, fluid temperature, and air pressure.

27. The method according to claim 26, wherein said step of detecting an alarm condition further includes a step of shutting down said blower module'"'"'s operation after detecting an alarm condition.

28. A modular air handling system for producing a supply of cooled air to facilities located external to the modular air handling system, said system comprising:

a module container;

a blower module located within said module container;

a cooling coil module located within said module container;

a primary duct work mechanism at least partially housed within said module container and operatively connected between said blower module and said cooling coil module for transporting air within said module container for providing the supply of cooled air to at least one resource located external to said module container; and

said primary duct work mechanism including a variable volume mechanism disposed within said module container for propelling a variable volume of air through said primary duct work mechanism thus controlling the volume of cooled air.

29. The system according to claim 28, wherein said variable volume mechanism is selected from the group consisting of at least one variable frequency drive, a scroll cone volume control, and an air bypass duct.