Patent Application
20210341156
Modern heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) systems may include both an indoor heat exchanger and a furnace. The indoor heat exchanger and the furnace are often configured in a stacked manner. Meaning that airflow through the system may be passed in series, vertically through both the indoor heat exchanger and the furnace.
The indoor heat exchanger may be configured to couple with an outdoor HVAC unit (e.g., a condenser or heat pump circulating refrigerant between the indoor heat exchanger and the outdoor HVAC unit) to provide cooling for the home in warmer months. The furnace may be configured to utilize an energy source (e.g., burning a combustible gas, such as, natural gas or propane, or generating a resistance with electricity) to provide heating for the home in colder months. To direct air through the HVAC system, the HVAC system may include a fan, which may be configured either between or below the indoor heat exchanger and/or the furnace.
Conventionally, these HVAC systems include one or more fixed baffles in the furnace to direct the airflow through the furnace. When the furnace is operating (e.g., when the HVAC system is in a heating mode), the baffles may help reduce hotspots in the furnace and increase the efficiency of the heating (e.g., by restricting the flow of the air through the furnace). However, when the furnace is not operating (e.g., when the HVAC system is in a cooling mode), the baffles may unnecessarily restrict the flow of the air (e.g. resulting in a pressure drop), which may decrease the efficiency of the fan, and therefore the HVAC system. With ever-increasing standards regarding energy efficiency for HVAC systems, it is vitally important that any inefficiencies are mitigated and/or prevented in order to meet such standards.
Accordingly, there remains a need for a heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) system that is capable of adjusting when the HVAC system is operating in a cooling mode.
According to one embodiment, a heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) system including an indoor heat exchanger and a furnace in airflow communication with the indoor heat exchanger is provided. The furnace includes a control board, a furnace heat exchanger, at least one adjustable baffle assembly operably coupled to the control board and disposed adjacent to the furnace heat exchanger, and a fan in airflow communication with the furnace heat exchanger and the indoor heat exchanger.
In accordance with additional or alternative embodiments, the control board is configured to place the at least one adjustable baffle assembly in at least one of a cooling position and a heating position.
In accordance with additional or alternative embodiments, the control board is configured to place the at least one adjustable baffle assembly in the heating position when operating the system in a heating mode.
In accordance with additional or alternative embodiments, the control board is configured to place the at least one adjustable baffle assembly in the cooling position when operating the system in a cooling mode.
In accordance with additional or alternative embodiments, the furnace further includes a fan shelf disposed between the fan and furnace heat exchanger, wherein the at least one adjustable baffle assembly is disposed substantially perpendicular to the fan shelf when in the heating position and disposed at an angle relative to the fan shelf when in the cooling position.
In accordance with additional or alternative embodiments, the angle is less than 90°.
In accordance with additional or alternative embodiments, the at least one adjustable baffle assembly includes a baffle operably coupled to an actuating device.
In accordance with additional or alternative embodiments, the actuating device includes at least one of a solenoid, a motor, a shape memory member, and a bi-metallic strip.
According to another aspect of the disclosure, a furnace including a control board, a furnace heat exchanger, at least one adjustable baffle assembly operably coupled to the control board and disposed adjacent to the furnace heat exchanger, and a fan in airflow communication with the furnace heat exchanger and the indoor heat exchanger is provided.
In accordance with additional or alternative embodiments, the control board is configured to place the at least one adjustable baffle assembly in at least one of a cooling position and a heating position.
In accordance with additional or alternative embodiments, the furnace further includes a fan shelf disposed between the fan and furnace heat exchanger, wherein the at least one adjustable baffle assembly is disposed substantially perpendicular to the fan shelf when in the heating position and disposed at an angle relative to the fan shelf when in the cooling position.
In accordance with additional or alternative embodiments, the angle is less than 90°.
In accordance with additional or alternative embodiments, the at least one adjustable baffle assembly includes a baffle operably coupled to an actuating device.
In accordance with additional or alternative embodiments, the actuating device includes at least one of a solenoid, a motor, a shape memory member, and a bi-metallic strip.
According to another aspect of the disclosure, a method for operating a heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) system including an indoor heat exchanger and a furnace is provided. The furnace includes a furnace heat exchanger and at least one adjustable baffle assembly. The method provides for the operating the HVAC system in a heating mode, the heating mode being defined by the operation of the furnace, the at least one adjustable baffle assembly being placed in a first position when the HVAC system is in the heating mode. The method further provides for the operating the HVAC system in a cooling mode, the cooling mode being defined by the discontinued operation of the furnace, the at least one adjustable baffle assembly being placed in a second position when the HVAC system is in the cooling mode.
In accordance with additional or alternative embodiments, the furnace further includes a control board, the control board configured to place the at least adjustable baffle assembly in at least one of the first position and the second position.
In accordance with additional or alternative embodiments, the furnace further includes a fan shelf disposed between a fan and the furnace heat exchanger, wherein the at least one adjustable baffle assembly is disposed substantially perpendicular to the fan shelf when in the first position and disposed at an angle relative to the fan shelf when in the second position.
In accordance with additional or alternative embodiments, the angle is less than 90°.
In accordance with additional or alternative embodiments, the at least one adjustable baffle assembly includes a baffle operably coupled to an actuating device.
In accordance with additional or alternative embodiments, the actuating device includes at least one of a solenoid, a motor, a shape memory member, and a bi-metallic strip.
The subject matter, which is regarded as the disclosure, is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the claims at the conclusion of the specification. The following descriptions of the drawings should not be considered limiting in any way. With reference to the accompanying drawings, like elements are numbered alike:
A heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) system including an indoor heat exchanger, a furnace with an adjustable baffle, and a fan, and a method of operating the HVAC system are provided. The HVAC system, through use of one or more adjustable baffle(s), may be able to reduce the amount of unnecessary restriction on the airflow through the furnace (e.g., when the HVAC system is operating in a cooling mode), which may increase the efficiency of the HVAC system. It is envisioned that each adjustable baffle within the HVAC system may be capable of actuating between a cooling position and a heating position. Although the adjustable baffle(s) may be used within any configuration of an HVAC system, for purposes of clarity and brevity, the adjustable baffles have only been depicted in terms of an HVAC system with a furnace and indoor heat exchanger in a stacked configuration.
With reference now to the Figures, an exemplary heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) system 100 is shown in
The HVAC system 100 may be configured so that substantially all of the airflow 150 is directed through at least a portion of the furnace heat exchanger 111 and through at least a portion of the indoor heat exchanger 120, regardless of the position of the adjustable baffle(s) 112. When the HVAC system 100 incorporates the indoor heat exchanger 120 downstream of the furnace 110, as shown in
Substantially all of the airflow 150 being directed through a heat exchanger (e.g., either through the furnace heat exchanger 111 and/or through the indoor heat exchanger 120) may be interpreted to mean that the entire volume of airflow 150 that enters the HVAC system 100 passes through and/or between the particular heat exchanger 111, 120. For example, the HVAC system 100 may not utilize an alternate flow path (e.g., a bypass duct) around the furnace heat exchanger 111 and/or indoor heat exchanger 120. Instead of allowing the airflow 150 to bypass the furnace heat exchanger 111 and/or the indoor heat exchanger 120, the HVAC system 100 may actuate the adjustable baffle(s) 112 to alter the geometry (e.g., available cross-sectional area) around the furnace heat exchanger 111.
The HVAC system 100 may allow the top of the adjustable baffle(s) 112 to move away from the furnace heat exchanger 111, while the bottom of the adjustable baffle(s) 112 remain fixed near the furnace heat exchanger 111. This may provide an increased cross-sectional area for the airflow 150 to pass while going through the furnace heat exchanger 111. Altering the geometry around the furnace heat exchanger 111 in this manner may be possible due to the adjustable baffle(s) 112 being disposed adjacent to the furnace heat exchanger 111. Being disposed adjacent to the furnace heat exchanger 111 may mean that the adjustable baffle(s) 112 are disposed vertically along the length of the exterior surface of at least a portion of the furnace heat exchanger 111 (e.g., acting as a housing for at least a portion of the furnace heat exchanger 111). Although described herein that the adjustable baffle(s) 112 may be capable of rotating (e.g., with the top moving outward and the bottom remaining fixed), it should be appreciated that the adjustable baffle(s) 112 may be capable of sliding to provide an increased cross-sectional area for the airflow 150 to pass while going through the furnace heat exchanger 111. For example, the adjustable baffle(s) 112 slide in a shearing manner with the furnace heat exchanger 111 to provide an increased cross-sectional area for the airflow 150.
The adjustable baffle(s) 112 may enable the HVAC system 100 to increase the available cross-sectional area for the airflow 150 to pass through the furnace 110 based on the operation of the HVAC system 100. For example, it may be beneficial to have a reduced cross-sectional area for the airflow 150 to pass through the furnace 110 when operating in a heating mode, and have an increased cross-sectional area for the airflow 150 to pass through the furnace 110 when operating in a cooling mode. This may mean that each respective adjustable baffle(s) 112 may have a cooling position and a heating position. A perspective view of a furnace 110, with two adjustable baffles 112 in heating positions, is shown in
As shown in
As shown in
To physically actuate the adjustable baffle(s) 112 between the cooling position and the heating position, the control board 140 may be configured to be in connection (e.g., through one or more wired and/or wireless connection) with one or more actuating device 160. In certain instances, the actuating device 160 includes at least one of a solenoid, a motor, a shape memory member, and a bi-metallic strip. In certain instances, each adjustable baffle 112 is actuated using a combination of different actuating devices 160. In certain instances, multiple adjustable baffles 112 are actuated using only one actuating device 160 (e.g., a single solenoid/motor may be connected to two adjustable baffles 112). Additionally, depending on the actuating device 160 utilized, the adjustable baffle(s) 112 may be capable of actuating between the cooling position and the heating position without requiring a connection with the control board 140.
A perspective view of a first embodiment of an actuating device 160 for adjusting the adjustable baffle(s) 112 of a furnace 110 is shown in
The shape memory member may define an extended position and a retracted position. The change between a retracted position and an extended position may be described as a mechanical deformation of the shape memory member. In certain instances, the shape memory member is in a retracted position when the HVAC system 100 is in a cooling mode, and is in an extended position when the HVAC system 100 is in a heating mode. For the shape memory member to go from a retracted position to an extended position, in certain instances, the shape memory member must absorb heat (e.g., from the furnace heat exchanger 111). When in a retracted position the shape memory member may cause the adjustable baffle 112 to be in a cooling position. When in an extended position the shape memory member may cause the adjustable baffle 112 to be in a heating position. By utilizing a shape memory member as the actuating device 160, the adjustable baffle(s) 112 may be actuated without being connected to the control board 140, and without use of additional energy (e.g., without requiring an additional motor or solenoid that consumes energy).
In certain instances, the shape memory member is made of a shape memory alloy (SMA), for example, Nitinol. A shape memory alloy is an alloy that can be deformed due to a change in temperature. For example, the SMA may be in one shape when heated, but return to its pre-deformed (“remembered”) shape when cooled. A SMA may, in certain instances, be described as any material capable of thermoelastic martensitic reversion, also called reversible shape memory. In certain instances, the shape memory alloy is copper-aluminum-nickel or nickel-titanium (NiTi, also known as “Nitinol”). In certain instances, the SMA is iron-based or copper-based, such as Fe—Mn—Si, Cu—Zn—Al, or Cu—Al—Ni. However, in certain instances, the SMA may be Ag—Cd, Au—Cd, Co—Ni—Al, Co—Ni—Ga, Cu—Al—Be—X, Cu—Al—Ni, Cu—Al—Ni—Hf, Cu—Sn, Fe—Pt, Mn—Cu, Ni—Fe—Ga, Ni—Ti—Hf, Ni—Ti—Pd, Ni—Mn—Ga, or Ti—Nb. Each of the different potential SMAs may have different temperatures at which they either retract or extend. As such, in certain instances, the SMA is selected based upon the way in which the shape memory member is attached to the adjustable baffle 112, and/or the temperature of which the shape memory member will be exposed when the HVAC system 100 is in cooling mode and/or heating mode.
A perspective view of a second embodiment of an actuating device 160 for adjusting the adjustable baffle(s) 112 of a furnace 110 is shown in
A perspective view of a third embodiment of an actuating device 160 for adjusting the adjustable baffle(s) 112 of a furnace 110 is shown in
A perspective view of a fourth embodiment of an actuating device 160 for adjusting the adjustable baffle(s) 112 of a furnace 110 is shown in
Regardless of how the one or more adjustable baffle(s) 112 are actuated, the design and configuration of the HVAC system 100 may allow for increased control of the HVAC system 100 so that unnecessary restriction on the flow of air can be reduced, which may increase the efficiency of the HVAC system 100.
The method for operating a heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) system is shown in
While the present disclosure has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment or embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the present disclosure without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the present disclosure not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this present disclosure, but that the present disclosure will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the claims.
The application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/704,306 filed May 4, 2020, the contents of which are hereby incorporated in their entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62704306 | May 2020 | US |
