Apparatus and a system for controlling temperature in a plurality of zones in a building

• US 9,163,844 B2
• Filed: 07/16/2009
• Issued: 10/20/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: James Gerard Tangney
• Original Assignee: James Gerard Tangney
• Inventors: Tangney, James Gerard
• Primary Examiner(s): Norman, Marc
• Assistant Examiner(s): RUSSELL, DEVON L
• Application Number:
  US13/054,035
• Publication Number:
  US 20110174475A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,287 Days
• Field of Search: 165/205, 165/208, 165/212
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 3/044 Systems in which all treatment is given in the central station, i.e. all-air systems
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1934 each space being provided with one sensor acting on one or more control means
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 80/10 Efficient use of energy, e.g. using compressed air or pressurized fluid as energy carrier

Abstract

A system (1) for controlling the temperature of two zones or rooms (2) of a building comprises apparatus (5) which comprises a housing (9) within which an impeller (12) draws return air from the two rooms (2) through respective small bore return ducts (8) and inlet ports (14) into a common inlet chamber (22). A two zone heat exchanger (20) located in the 43 housing (10) downstream of the impeller (12) defines two mutually isolated flow air heat exchange paths (26) between the impeller (12) and respective outlet ports (15) through which flow air is delivered to the respective rooms (2) through small bore flow ducts (7). Two mutually isolated flow air bypass paths (28) corresponding to the flow air heat exchange paths (26) also communicate the impeller (12) with the respective outlet ports (15). Two corresponding primary air flaps (29) are selectively operable in first and second states for directing flow air from the impeller (12) through one of the corresponding flow air heat exchange and bypass paths (26) and (28), respectively, of the corresponding outlet ports (15). A microcontroller (50) is provided for selectively operating the primary air flaps (29) between the first and second states in response to temperature read from temperature sensors (37) located in the inlet ports (14) for detecting the temperature of the return air. A boiler (40a) is provided for providing heated heat exchange water to the heat exchanger (20).

Claims

1. Apparatus for controlling temperature in a plurality of zones in a building, the apparatus comprising:

a housing defining a hollow interior region and comprising;

a plurality of inlet ports located in the housing and communicating with the hollow interior region of the housing, the inlet ports being adapted for connecting to respective return ducts communicating with the respective zones, and for receiving return air therethrough returned through the respective return ducts from the respective zones and for accommodating the return air to the hollow interior region,

a plurality of outlet ports located in the housing and communicating with the hollow interior region of the housing, the outlet ports being adapted for connecting to respective flow ducts communicating with the respective zones, and for accommodating flow air therethrough from the hollow interior region for delivery through the flow ducts to the respective zones,

an air circulating means located in the hollow interior region of the housing for circulating air through the hollow interior region from the inlet ports to the outlet ports,

a heat exchange means located in the hollow interior region of the housing,

a plurality of mutually isolated heat exchange paths formed in the hollow interior region of the housing extending through the heat exchange means and terminating in the respective outlet ports of the housing for accommodating the flow air therethrough from the air circulating means to the outlet ports,

a plurality of mutually isolated bypass paths corresponding to the respective heat exchange paths and terminating in the respective outlet ports for accommodating the flow air from the air circulating means to the corresponding respective outlet ports with the flow air bypassing the corresponding ones of the heat exchange paths,

a plurality of return air temperature sensing means located in the housing adjacent the respective inlet ports for sensing the temperature of the return air from the respective zones, and

a plurality of primary valve means corresponding to the respective heat exchange paths, each primary valve means having only a single primary air flap located between the air circulating means and the heat exchange means adjacent the corresponding one of the heat exchange paths and the corresponding one of the bypass paths and being selectively operable in either one of a first state and a second state for selectively directing the flow air from the air circulating means to the corresponding one of the outlet ports through either the corresponding one of the heat exchange paths or the corresponding one of the bypass paths in response to the temperature of the return air from the corresponding one of the respective zones sensed by the corresponding return air temperature sensing means.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the heat exchange means is located between the air circulating means and the outlet ports.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the air circulating means is adapted for circulating the air through the apparatus so that the flow air passing through the outlet ports is suitable for delivery through respective small bore ducts of transverse cross-sectional diameter in the range of 50 mm to 100 mm.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the air circulating means is adapted for circulating the air through the apparatus so that the flow air exiting the respective outlet ports exits at a rate in the range of 0.7M³ per minute to 1.0M³ per minute.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which a fresh air inlet port is provided for accommodating fresh air into the apparatus for mixing with the return air, the fresh air inlet port being located upstream of the circulating means, and a fresh air control valve means is provided for selectively controlling the supply of fresh air through the fresh air inlet port in response to the temperature sensing means.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which a plurality of secondary valve means is provided corresponding to the respective inlet ports, each secondary valve means being selectively operable in one of a communicating state for communicating the air circulating means with the corresponding inlet port and an isolating state for isolating the air circulating means from the corresponding inlet port.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the heat exchange means is adapted for coupling to an energy source provided by one of heat source and a cooling source.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 in which the heat exchange means is adapted for receiving energy from the energy source via a heat exchange medium.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which a control means is provided for controlling the operation of the primary air flaps in response to the temperature of the return air from the respective zones.

10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 9 in which an input means is provided to the control means for facilitating inputting of respective temperature set point values indicative of the temperatures at which the air in the respective zones is to be maintained, and the control means is responsive to the temperature of the return air from each zone differing by a first predefined amount greater than the temperature set point value of the corresponding zone and by a predefined second amount less than the temperature set point value of the corresponding zone for operating the primary air flap corresponding to the zone for directing the flow air through an appropriate one of the heat exchange path and the bypass path corresponding to the zone.

11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the the hollow interior region of the housing forms an impeller chamber for housing the air circulating means, a common inlet chamber communicating with the impeller chamber and the inlet ports and within which return air from the respective zones is mixed, and a heat exchange chamber for accommodating the heat exchange means downstream of the impeller chamber and communicating therewith, the heat exchange chamber communicating with the outlet ports.

12. A system for controlling temperature in a plurality of respective zones in a building, the system comprising:

apparatus for controlling the temperature in the zones, the apparatus comprising;

a housing defining a hollow interior region and comprising;

a plurality of inlet ports located in the housing and communicating with the hollow interior region for receiving return air therethrough returned from the respective zones and for accommodating the return air to the hollow interior region,

a plurality of outlet ports located in the housing and communicating with the hollow interior region of the housing for accommodating flow air therethrough from the hollow interior region for delivery to the respective zones,

an air circulating means located in the hollow interior region of the housing for circulating air through the hollow interior region from the inlet ports to the outlet ports,

a heat exchange means located in the hollow interior region of the housing,

a plurality of mutually isolated heat exchange paths formed in the hollow interior region of the housing extending through the heat exchange means and terminating in the respective outlet ports of the housing for accommodating the flow air therethrough from the circulating means to the outlet ports,

a plurality of mutually isolated bypass paths corresponding to the respective heat exchange paths and terminating in the respective outlet ports for accommodating the flow air from the air circulating means to the corresponding respective outlet ports with the flow air bypassing the corresponding ones of the heat exchange paths,

a plurality of return air temperature sensing means located in the housing adjacent the respective inlet ports for sensing the temperature of the return air from the respective zones, and

a plurality of primary valve means corresponding to the respective heat exchange paths, each primary valve means having only a single primary air flap located between the air circulating means and the heat exchange means adjacent the corresponding one of the heat exchange paths and the corresponding one of the bypass paths and being selectively operable in either one of a first state and a second state for selectively directing the flow air from the air circulating means to the corresponding one of the outlet ports through either the corresponding one of the heat exchange paths or the corresponding one of the bypass paths in response to the temperature of the return air from the corresponding one of the respective zones sensed by the corresponding return air temperature sensing means;

the system further comprising;

a plurality of flow ducts communicating the outlet ports with the respective zones, and

a plurality of return ducts communicating the inlet ports with the respective zones.

13. A system as claimed in claim 12 in which each flow duct terminates at its downstream end in a venturi nozzle, each venturi nozzle defining an outlet orifice for accommodating the flow air therethrough, the transverse cross-sectional area of the orifice being at least 1900 mm².

14. A system as claimed in claim 13 in which each venturi nozzle is adapted for locating in a ceiling of the corresponding zone spaced apart from an adjacent wall of the zone a distance in the range of 100 mm to 250 mm for directing the flow air downwardly into the zone.

15. A system as claimed in claim 12 in which each return duct comprises an inlet adapted for receiving return air at a level in the zone lower than the level at which the flow air is delivered into the zone.

16. A system as claimed in claim 12 in which each flow duct is of diameter in the range of 50 mm to 100 mm, and each return duct is of diameter in the range of 50 mm to 100 mm.

17. A system as claimed in claim 12 in which the air circulating means is adapted for circulating the flow air through the respective flow ducts at a velocity in the range of 5M per second to 10M per second.

18. A system as claimed in claim 12 in which an energy source is provided, the energy source being coupled to the heat exchange means for providing one of heating and cooling to the heat exchange means.

19. A system as claimed in claim 18 in which the heat exchange means is adapted for receiving heating or cooling energy from the energy source via a heat exchange medium.

20. A method for controlling the temperature in a plurality of respective zones in a building, the method comprising:

providing apparatus for controlling the temperature in the respective zones,

providing the apparatus with a housing defining a hollow interior region and comprising;

a plurality of inlet ports located in the housing and communicating with the hollow interior region for receiving return air therethrough returned from the respective zones and for accommodating the return air to the hollow interior region,

a plurality of outlet ports located in the housing and communicating with the hollow interior region of the housing for accommodating flow air therethrough from the hollow interior region for delivery to the respective zones,

locating an air circulating means in the hollow interior region of the housing for circulating air through the hollow interior region from the inlet ports to the outlet ports,

locating a heat exchange means in the hollow interior region of the housing,

providing a plurality of mutually isolated heat exchange paths formed in the hollow interior region of the housing extending through the heat exchange means and terminating in the respective outlet ports of the housing for accommodating the flow air therethrough from the circulating means to the outlet ports,

providing a plurality of mutually isolated bypass paths corresponding to the respective heat exchange paths terminating in the respective outlet ports for accommodating the flow air from the circulating means to the corresponding respective outlet ports with the flow air bypassing the corresponding ones of the heat exchange paths,

locating a plurality of return air temperature sensing means in the housing adjacent the respective inlet ports for sensing the temperature of the return air from the respective zones,

providing a plurality of primary valve means corresponding to the respective heat exchange paths, each primary valve means having only a single primary air flap located between the air circulating means and the heat exchange means adjacent the corresponding one of the heat exchange paths and the corresponding one of the bypass paths and being selectively operable in either one of a first state and a second state for selectively directing the flow air from the air circulating means to the corresponding one of the outlet ports through either the corresponding one of the heat exchange paths or the corresponding one of the bypass paths in response to the temperature of the return air from the corresponding one of the respective zones sensed by the corresponding return air temperature sensing means,

providing a plurality of flow ducts extending between the respective outlet ports and the respective corresponding zones, and

providing a plurality of return ducts extending between the respective inlet ports and the respective corresponding zones;

the method further comprising;

operating the air circulating means to circulate air through the apparatus to and from the respective zones, and

operating each of the primary air flaps in response to the temperature of the return air from the corresponding zone to direct the flow air through either the heat exchange path or the bypass path corresponding to the zone for maintaining the temperature in the corresponding zone at the desired temperature.