Patent Application
20220252298
This section is intended to introduce the reader to various aspects of art that may be related to various aspects of the present disclosure and are described below. This discussion is believed to be helpful in providing the reader with background information to facilitate a better understanding of the various aspects of the present disclosure. Accordingly, it should be noted that these statements are to be read in this light, and not as admissions of prior art.
Heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) systems are utilized in residential, commercial, and industrial environments to control environmental properties, such as temperature and humidity, for occupants of the respective environments. An HVAC system may control the environmental properties through control of a supply air flow delivered to the environment. For example, the HVAC system may place the supply air flow in a heat exchange relationship with a refrigerant of a vapor compression circuit to condition the supply air flow. The HVAC system may include ductwork through which air is directed, such as to and/or from a space serviced by the HVAC system. In some embodiments, a damper may be positioned within the ductwork to enable or block air flow through a portion of the ductwork. Unfortunately, existing geometries and/or configurations of dampers may affect the flow of air through the damper, such as by increasing a pressure drop of the air through the ductwork and reducing efficiency of the HVAC system.
A summary of certain embodiments disclosed herein is set forth below. It should be noted that these aspects are presented merely to provide the reader with a brief summary of these certain embodiments and that these aspects are not intended to limit the scope of this disclosure. Indeed, this disclosure may encompass a variety of aspects that may not be set forth below.
In one embodiment, a damper for a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system includes a damper blade, a frame coupled to the damper blade and defining a perimeter of an air flow path through the damper, and a frame member of the frame. The frame member defines a portion of the perimeter of the air flow path and includes a base portion, an upstream end portion, and a downstream end portion. Each of the upstream end portion and the downstream end portion extends obliquely from the base portion.
In one embodiment, a damper frame of a damper for a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system includes a frame member defining a portion of a perimeter of an air flow path through the damper. The frame member includes a base portion, an upstream end portion extending obliquely from the base portion, and a downstream end portion extending obliquely from the base portion.
In one embodiment, a damper for a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system includes a frame defining a perimeter of an air flow path through damper. The frame has a first frame member defining a portion of the perimeter of the air flow path and comprising a first base portion, a first upstream end portion, and a first downstream end portion, in which the first upstream end portion, the first downstream end portion, or both, extend obliquely from the first base portion. The frame also has a second frame member coupled to the first frame member and defining an additional portion of the perimeter of the air flow path, in which the second frame member comprises a second base portion, a second upstream end portion, and a second downstream end portion, and each of the second upstream end portion and the second downstream end portion extends from the second base portion.
Various aspects of this disclosure may be better understood upon reading the following detailed description and upon reference to the drawings in which:
One or more specific embodiments will be described below. In an effort to provide a concise description of these embodiments, not all features of an actual implementation are described in the specification. It should be noted that in the development of any such actual implementation, as in any engineering or design project, numerous implementation-specific decisions must be made to achieve the developers' specific goals, such as compliance with system-related and business-related constraints, which may vary from one implementation to another. Moreover, it should be noted that such a development effort might be complex and time consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking of design, fabrication, and manufacture for those of ordinary skill having the benefit of this disclosure.
When introducing elements of various embodiments of the present disclosure, the articles “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. The terms “comprising,” “including,” and “having” are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements. Additionally, it should be noted that references to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” of the present disclosure are not intended to be interpreted as excluding the existence of additional embodiments that also incorporate the recited features.
The present disclosure is directed to a damper or damper assembly of a heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) system. The damper may be positioned within ductwork of the HVAC system to control air flowing through a portion of the ductwork. For example, the damper may be configured to control a flow of air from a space into the HVAC system to enable conditioning of the air via the HVAC system. Additionally or alternatively, the damper may be configured to control flow of the air (e.g., conditioned air) out of the HVAC system, such as toward or into the space to condition the space. The damper may include a damper frame defining a perimeter of an air flow path through the HVAC system (e.g., through the ductwork). For example, the damper frame may include an opening through which air is directed, and the damper may include one or more damper blades coupled to the damper frame and extending across the opening. In some embodiments, the damper blades may be configured to transition between an open position and a closed position. In the open position, the damper blades may expose the opening, thereby enabling the damper frame to direct air therethrough. In the closed position, the damper blades may cover the opening, thereby blocking air from being directed through the damper frame.
Unfortunately, geometries or features of existing damper frames may affect a flow of air through the damper. By way of example, the damper frame may have a geometry that affects the flow of air by inducing a flow discontinuity or otherwise interrupting the air flow. For instance, it may be desirable to enable laminar flow of the air through the damper, but the damper frame may induce turbulent flow of the air. The turbulent flow of air may increase a pressure drop and/or a velocity drop of the air directed through the damper. As a result, the damper frame may reduce an efficiency associated with operation of the damper and/or operation of an HVAC system having the damper. For example, an air mover, such as a fan or blower, may operate at a higher power level in order to direct the air through the damper at a target flow rate or speed. As such, there may be an increased cost associated with operation of the HVAC system.
Thus, it is presently recognized that reducing the pressure drop and/or the velocity drop of air directed through the damper may enable more efficient flow of the air through the damper and may therefore reduce costs associated with operation of the HVAC system. Accordingly, embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a damper frame having a geometry that limits an impact of the damper frame on air flow directed through the damper. For example, the damper frame may have multiple frame members that are arranged to define an opening through which the air may flow through the damper. Each of the frame members may include a base portion, as well as an upstream end portion and a downstream end portion extending (e.g., obliquely) from the base portion. In some embodiments, an end portion may extend linearly from the base portion. In additional or alternative embodiments, an end portion may have an arcuate segment that extends from the base portion. In any case, the orientation of one or both of the end portions relative to the base portion may reduce generation of flow discontinuities in the air or otherwise may reduce an impact of the damper frame on the air flowing through the damper. For example, one or more of the frame members may have a geometry configured to more efficiently guide the air through the opening of the damper frame. Although the present disclosure primarily discusses embodiments of the damper as positioned within ductwork of the HVAC system, additional or alternative embodiments of the damper may be positioned at any other suitable location of the HVAC system, such as part of a housing or an enclosure of the HVAC system (e.g., a rooftop unit, an air handler, etc.).
Turning now to the drawings,
In the illustrated embodiment, a building 10 is air conditioned by a system that includes an HVAC unit 12. The building 10 may be a commercial structure or a residential structure. As shown, the HVAC unit 12 is disposed on the roof of the building 10; however, the HVAC unit 12 may be located in other equipment rooms or areas adjacent the building 10. The HVAC unit 12 may be a single package unit containing other equipment, such as a blower, integrated air handler, and/or auxiliary heating unit. In other embodiments, the HVAC unit 12 may be part of a split HVAC system, which includes an outdoor HVAC unit and an indoor HVAC unit.
The HVAC unit 12 in the illustrated embodiment is an air cooled device that implements a refrigeration or vapor compression cycle to provide conditioned air to the building 10. Specifically, the HVAC unit 12 may include one or more heat exchangers across which an air flow is passed to condition the air flow before the air flow is supplied to the building 10. In the illustrated embodiment, the HVAC unit 12 is a rooftop unit (RTU) that conditions a supply air stream, such as environmental air and/or a return air flow from the building 10. After the HVAC unit 12 conditions the air, the air is supplied to the building 10 via ductwork 14 extending throughout the building 10 from the HVAC unit 12. For example, the ductwork 14 may extend to various individual floors or other sections of the building 10. In certain embodiments, the HVAC unit 12 may be a heat pump that provides both heating and cooling to the building 10 with one refrigeration circuit configured to operate in different modes. In other embodiments, the HVAC unit 12 may include one or more refrigeration circuits for cooling an air stream and a furnace for heating the air stream.
A control device 16, one type of which may be a thermostat, may be used to designate the temperature of the conditioned air. The control device 16 also may be used to control the flow of air through the ductwork 14. For example, the control device 16 may be used to regulate operation of one or more components of the HVAC unit 12 or other components, such as dampers and fans, within the building 10 that may control flow of air through and/or from the ductwork 14. In some embodiments, other devices may be included in the system, such as pressure and/or temperature transducers or switches that sense the temperatures and pressures of the supply air, return air, and so forth. Moreover, the control device 16 may include computer systems that are integrated with or separate from other building control or monitoring systems, and even systems that are remote from the building 10.
As mentioned above, the present disclosure is directed to a frame of a damper. The frame (e.g., a damper frame) has one or more geometries configured to limit an impact on a flow of air through the damper. For example, the frame may have multiple frame members, each frame member having an upstream end portion and a downstream end portion extending obliquely from a base portion of the frame member. In certain embodiments, an end portion may extend linearly from the base portion. In additional or alternative embodiments, an end portion may include an arcuate segment that extends from the base portion. In any case, the relative orientations of the end portion and the base portion may more efficiently guide the air through the damper, as compared to existing damper designs. For instance, the orientation of the upstream end portion may guide the flow of air into the damper, and the orientation of the downstream end portion may guide the flow of air out of the damper. As a result, the frame may reduce flow discontinuities generated in the air, formation of turbulent air flow, and/or other impact on the flow of the air to enable a reduction in the pressure drop and/or velocity drop of the air flowing through the damper. In this manner, the frame may increase an efficiency associated with operation of the damper and/or an HVAC system incorporating the damper.
With this in mind,
In some embodiments, each of the frame members 104, 106, 108 may be manufactured from a metallic material. By way of example, each of the frame members 104, 106, 108 may be manufactured via an extrusion process, a metal bending process, and/or any other suitable metal forming process. Additionally or alternatively, the frame members 104, 106, 108 may be manufactured from any other suitable material, such as a polymer, a composite, and the like. Indeed, a material selected for manufacturing the frame 102 may be based on an application of the damper 100, such as based on an expected parameter or characteristic of air flowing through the damper 100 and/or based on an environment in which the damper 100 is installed.
The damper 100 may also include damper blades 112 that are coupled to the frame 102, such as to the side frame members 104. That is, each of the damper blades 112 may span across the opening 110 to couple to the side frame members 104. Although the illustrated damper 100 includes four damper blades 112, the damper 100 may alternatively include any suitable number of damper blades 112, such as one damper blade 112, two damper blades 112, three damper blades 112, or more than four damper blades 112. Further, in additional or alternative embodiments, the damper blades 112 may be coupled to any suitable combination of the frame members 104, 106, 108, such as the top frame member 106 and the base frame member 108, to one of the side frame members 104 and one of the top frame members 106 and the base frame member 108, to three of the frame members 104, 106, 108, and so forth.
In certain embodiments, the damper blades 112 may be configured to transition between an open configuration and a closed configuration. By way of example, each damper blade 112 may be rotatably coupled to the side frame members 104 to enable the damper blade 112 to rotate relative to the frame 102 and transition between the open configuration and the closed configuration. In additional or alternative embodiments, the damper blades 112 may transition between the open configuration and the closed configuration in any manner, such as by linearly translating relative to the frame 102. In the open configuration, the damper blades 112 may expose the opening 110, thereby enabling flow of air through the damper 100 via the opening 110. In the closed configuration, the damper blades 112 may cover the opening 110. For example, the damper blades 112 may overlap with (e.g., abut) one another to block air flow between the damper blades 112 and through the opening 110. In some embodiments, one or more seals 114 may be coupled to one of the frame members 104, 106, 108 to block air flow between the damper blades 112 and the frame members 104, 106, 108. For instance, in the illustrated embodiment, the seal 114 is coupled to the base frame member 108. In the closed position, the damper blade 112 most adjacent to the base frame member 108 may abut against the seal 114 to block air flow between the seal 114 and the damper blade 112. In any case, in the closed configuration, the damper blades 112 may cover the opening 110, thereby blocking air flow through the damper 100 via the opening 110.
In some embodiments, a user (e.g., an operator, a technician, an occupant of the building 10, etc.) may manually transition the damper blades 112 between the open configuration and the closed configuration. By way of example, the frame 102 may include a linkage system 116, which may be coupled to one of the frame members 104, 106, 108 (e.g., one of the side frame members 104), and the user may actuate the linkage system 116 to rotate the damper blades 112. In additional or alternative embodiments, a control system 118 (e.g., an electronic controller) may be configured to transition the damper blades 112 between the open configuration and the closed configuration. The control system 118 may include a memory 120 and processing circuitry 122. The memory 120 may include a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by the processing circuitry 122, may cause the processing circuitry 122 to move the damper blades 112. To this end, the processing circuitry 122 may be any suitable type of computer processor or microprocessor capable of executing computer-executable code, including but not limited to one or more field programmable gate arrays (FPGA), application-specific integrated circuits (ASIC), programmable logic devices (PLD), programmable logic arrays (PLA), and the like.
The control system 118 may be communicatively coupled to an actuator 124, and the control system 118 may transmit a signal to the actuator 124 to cause the actuator 124 to actuate the linkage system 116, thereby moving the damper blades 112. Indeed, the control system 118 may be communicatively coupled to a sensor 126 configured to determine an operating parameter, such as a temperature of an air flow, a humidity of an air flow, a temperature of a space serviced by the HVAC system, a humidity of the space, and so forth, and the control system 118 may communicate with the actuator 124 to adjust the damper blades 112 based on sensor data received from the sensor 126 that is indicative of the operating parameter. As an example, the control system 118 may compare a value of the operating parameter with a threshold value to determine whether the damper blades 112 are to be transitioned between the open configuration and the closed configuration or any damper blade 112 position therebetween. As another example, the control system 118 may receive a signal (e.g., indicative of a user input), and the control system 118 may transition the damper blades 112 based on the signal. In any case, the control system 118 may adjust the damper 100 to enable or to block air flow through the damper 100.
The illustrated arrangement of the base portion 152, the upstream end portion 158, and the downstream end portion 160 may facilitate and improve air flow through the damper 100. For instance, in the installed configuration of the damper 100, an air flow may be directed in a first direction 162 along the air flow path defined by the frame 102, such as the opening 110. That is, air may flow from the upstream end portion 158 and across the first interior surface 154 of the base portion 152 toward the downstream end portion 160. The oblique angle between the upstream end portion 158 and the base portion 152 may enable a second interior surface 164 (e.g., an exposed surface) of the upstream end portion 158 to guide the air flow toward the opening 110 and to enable a smooth transition of the air flow into the damper 100. In this manner, the upstream end portion 158 may reduce disturbance of the air flow. Similarly, the oblique angle between the downstream end portion 158 and the base portion 152 may enable a third interior surface 166 (e.g., an exposed surface) of the downstream end portion 160 to guide the air flow out of the opening 110 and reduce disturbance of the air flow to enable a smooth transition of the air flow out of the damper 100. As a result, the second interior surface 164 and the third interior surface 166 may mitigate certain air flow characteristics, such as flow vortices, flow separation, or other flow discontinuities, that may cause turbulent flow of air and/or increase the pressure drop (e.g., increase a reduction in velocity) of the air flow directed through the damper 100. In this manner, the orientation of the upstream end portion 158 and the downstream end portion 160 relative to the base portion 152 enables improved air flow through the damper 100 by maintaining a velocity of the air directed through the opening 110. In this way, the damper 100 may improve efficient air flow through the damper 100.
In the installed configuration of the damper 100, a lateral surface 168 (e.g., a surface extending perpendicularly between the first interior surface 154 and the exterior surface 156) of the frame member 150, may be configured to abut a surface (e.g., a corresponding interior or exposed surface) of another frame member. For example, the lateral surface 168 may abut a surface of an adjacent frame member of the frame 102 to form a substantially perpendicular angle (e.g., within 5 degrees) between the first interior surface 154 of the frame member 150 and an interior surface of the other, adjacent frame member (e.g., one of the side frame members 104). The abutment between the lateral surface 168 and the first interior surface 154 may form a portion of the perimeter of the opening 110. In the illustrated embodiment, the frame member 150 includes receptacles 170 formed in or through the lateral surface 168 and extending along the exterior surface 156 of the base portion 152 (e.g., along a length of the frame member 150). In the installed configuration, the receptacles 170 may align with corresponding openings or apertures of another frame member, and each receptacle 170 may receive a fastener (e.g., the fastener 103) extending through the opening and the receptacle 170 along the length of the frame member 150 to couple the frame member 150 with the other frame member. As such, the frame member 150 may be removably coupled to adjacent frame members by inserting and removing the fasteners 103. In this manner, assembly, installation, and/or modification of the frame 102 and the damper 100 is facilitated.
In some embodiments, each of the upstream end portion 158 and the downstream end portion 160 may also include a flange or lip 172 extending from a respective distal end of the upstream end portion 158 or the downstream end portion 160 and away from the base portion 152 (e.g., against or with the first direction 162 of the air flow). The flanges 172 may further facilitate coupling between the frame member 150 and another frame member of the frame 102. For example, each flange 172 may include a protrusion 174 that extends laterally or away from the lateral surface 168 (e.g., transverse to the first direction 162). The protrusion 174 may be configured to engage opposing features of an adjacent frame member of the frame 102. Indeed, such engagement between the protrusion 174 and the opposing features may further restrict movement of the frame member 150 relative to the adjacent frame member, thereby securing the position of the frame member 150 as a component of the frame 102.
In certain embodiments, the base portion 152 may include a notch 176 (e.g., a recess or a cavity) formed into and along the first interior surface 154 and extending along a length of the frame member 150. The notch 176 may receive and support a seal (e.g., the seal 114) in the installed configuration of the damper 100. For instance, the notch 176 may utilize a mechanical interference fit (e.g., a press fit, a slip fit) to secure the seal within the notch 176. As such, the notch 176 may facilitate blockage of air through the frame 102 in the closed configuration of the damper 100.
The base portion 152 of the frame member 150 has a first dimension 212 (e.g., a width), each of the linear segments 207 has second dimension 214, and each of the flanges 172 has a third dimension 216 (e.g. width). In the illustrated embodiment, the first dimension 212 is greater than the second dimension 214, and the second dimension 214 is greater than the third dimension 216. For example, the first dimension 212 may be between approximately 5 centimeters (2 inches) and 10 centimeters (4 inches), the second dimension 214 may be between approximately 2 centimeters (0.8 inches) and 5 centimeters (2 inches), and the third dimension 216 may be between approximately 1 centimeter (0.4 inches) and 1.8 centimeters (0.7 inches). In additional or alternative embodiments, the first dimension 212, the second dimension 214, and the third dimension 216 may have any suitable magnitude relative to one another.
The base portion 232 of the frame member 230 has a first dimension 274 (e.g., a width), each of the linear segments 272 has a second dimension 276 (e.g., a width), and each of the flanges 242 has a third dimension 278 (e.g., a width). In the illustrated embodiment, the first dimension 274 is greater than the second dimension 276, and the second dimension 276 is greater than the third dimension 278. For instance, the first dimension 274 may be between approximately 7.5 centimeters (3 inches) and 12.5 centimeters (5 inches), the second dimension 276 may be between approximately 1.3 centimeters (0.5 inches) and 4 centimeters (1.6 inches), and the third dimension 278 may be between approximately 0.5 centimeters (0.2 inches) and 2 centimeters (0.8 inches). In additional or alternative embodiments, the first dimension 274, the second dimension 276, and the third dimension 278 may have any suitable magnitudes relative to one another (e.g., the third dimension 278 may be greater than the second dimension 276).
Each of the upstream end portion 378 and the downstream end portion 380 may further include a flange 382 that extends from the arcuate segment 381, such as along the lateral axis 210 in the installed configuration of the damper 100. In the illustrated embodiment, each flange 382 forms a corner relative to the respective arcuate segment 381 of the upstream end portion 378 or the downstream end portion 380. In additional or alternative embodiments, edge fillets (e.g., the edge fillets 320 illustrated in
In additional or alternative embodiments, the frame member 560 may have asymmetrical end portions oriented in manners that are different than illustrated herein. In an example, the first end portion 562 may have an arcuate segment extending obliquely from the base portion 564, and the second end portion 568 may extend obliquely and linearly from the base portion 564. In another example, one of the first end portion 562 or the second end portion 568 may have a flange, and the other of the first end portion 562 or the second end portion 568 may not have a flange. In a further example, one of the first end portion 562 or the second end portion 568 may have edge fillets, and the other of the first end portion 562 or the second end portion 568 may not have edge fillets. Indeed, the first end portion 562 and/or the second end portion 568 may be specifically manufactured to accommodate the air flowing through the damper 100 in a particular location and/or in a particular manner.
The present disclosure may provide one or more technical effects useful in the operation of an HVAC system. For example, the HVAC system may direct air through ductwork, and a damper may be positioned within the ductwork to enable or block air flow through a portion of the ductwork. The ductwork may include a frame, which may define an opening through which air may flow. The frame may have a geometry that enables air to be directed more efficiently through the opening. For instance, the frame may have frame members that each include a base portion and end portions extending obliquely from the base portion. In some embodiments, an end portion may extend linearly from the base portion, such as at an obtuse angle. In additional or alternative embodiments, an end portion may have an arcuate segment extending from the base portion. In any case, the orientation between the end portion and the base portion may guide the air to flow through the opening more effectively or efficiency by mitigating generation of flow discontinuities or other undesirable flow characteristics, thereby maintaining a desirable air flow through the damper. As such, the damper may limit a pressure drop and/or a velocity drop of the air flow. As a result, the HVAC system may operate more efficiently to direct air through the damper. By way of example, a blower or fan may operate at a lower power level and direct the air flow through the ductwork at a desirable flow rate or speed. The technical effects and technical problems in the specification are examples and are not limiting. It should be noted that the embodiments described in the specification may have other technical effects and can solve other technical problems.
While only certain features and embodiments of the disclosure have been illustrated and described, many modifications and changes may occur to those skilled in the art, such as variations in sizes, dimensions, structures, shapes and proportions of the various elements, values of parameters, including temperatures and pressures, mounting arrangements, use of materials, colors, orientations, and so forth without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the subject matter recited in the claims. The order or sequence of any process or method steps may be varied or re-sequenced according to alternative embodiments. It is, therefore, to be understood that the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit of the disclosure. Furthermore, in an effort to provide a concise description of the exemplary embodiments, all features of an actual implementation may not have been described, such as those unrelated to the presently contemplated best mode of carrying out the disclosure, or those unrelated to enabling the claimed disclosure. It should be noted that in the development of any such actual implementation, as in any engineering or design project, numerous implementation specific decisions may be made. Such a development effort might be complex and time consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking of design, fabrication, and manufacture for those of ordinary skill having the benefit of this disclosure, without undue experimentation.
