Variable air volume system including BTU control function
First Claim
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1. A method of controlling room temperature within a zone of a variable air volume system, said system including a flow control box associated with said zone for regulating flow volume of supply air into said zone, said supply air having a temperature T, comprising the steps of:
- calculating a thermal transfer rate for said zone based upon said supply air temperature and said flow volume into said zone;
calculating an adjusted air flow volume for said zone in response to a change in said supply air temperature while maintaining said thermal transfer rate at a substantially constant value; and
setting said flow control box to said adjusted air flow volume whereby said thermal transfer rate with respect to said zone remains at said substantially constant value notwithstanding the change in temperature of said supply air thus substantially maintaining said room temperature within a predefined temperature range.
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Abstract
A method, as well as a controller, for controlling room temperature with a variable air volume system having a plurality of zones wherein the thermal transfer rate with respect to each of such zones is maintained at a substantially constant value notwithstanding changes in the temperature of the supply air thereby providing improved efficiency and environmental comfort.
148 Citations
30 Claims
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1. A method of controlling room temperature within a zone of a variable air volume system, said system including a flow control box associated with said zone for regulating flow volume of supply air into said zone, said supply air having a temperature T, comprising the steps of:
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calculating a thermal transfer rate for said zone based upon said supply air temperature and said flow volume into said zone;
calculating an adjusted air flow volume for said zone in response to a change in said supply air temperature while maintaining said thermal transfer rate at a substantially constant value; and
setting said flow control box to said adjusted air flow volume whereby said thermal transfer rate with respect to said zone remains at said substantially constant value notwithstanding the change in temperature of said supply air thus substantially maintaining said room temperature within a predefined temperature range. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A controller for controlling room temperature within at least one zone of a variable air volume system, said system including a flow control box associated with said zone for regulating flow volume of supply air into said zone, said supply air having a temperature T, comprising:
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at least one processor circuit for calculating a thermal transfer rate for said zone based upon said supply air temperature and said flow volume into said zone and for calculating an adjusted flow volume for said zone in response to a change in said supply air temperature while maintaining said thermal transfer rate at a substantially constant value; and
an electrical output device for communicating said adjusted flow volume to said flow control box whereby said thermal transfer rate with respect to said zone remains at said substantially constant value notwithstanding the change in temperature of said supply air thus substantially maintaining said room temperature within a predefined temperature range. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A variable air volume system for environmental control of a plurality of zones within a building, comprising:
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at least one air handling unit for providing supply air at a preselected temperature;
a supply duct for transporting said supply air from said air handling unit to said individual zones;
a flow control box associated with each of said zones for regulating flow volume of supply air into said associated zone; and
at least one controller for controlling room temperature within each of said zones, said controller comprising;
at least one processor circuit for calculating a thermal transfer rate for said zone based upon said supply air temperature and said flow volume into said zone and for calculating an adjusted flow volume for said zone in response to a change in said supply air temperature while maintaining said thermal transfer rate at a substantially constant value; and
an electrical output device for communicating said adjusted flow volume to said flow control box whereby said thermal transfer rate with respect to said zone remains at said substantially constant value notwithstanding the change in temperature of said supply air thus substantially maintaining said room temperature within a predefined temperature range; and
wherein said processor circuit utilizes the formula;
Thermal Transfer Rate (BTU/hour)=Flow Volume (cubic feet per minute)×
1.08×
(Room Temperature−
Supply Air Temperature). - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification