Patent Application
20050133196
The present invention relates to an air handling system (i.e. for pressure equilization, attenuation, redistribution or the like) which has a forced air treatment unit or component and, for example, a forced air ventilator unit or component. These air handling units are coupled to a common duct system. These air handling units may take any (known) form. These air handling units are associated with air blower means which are commonly provided with electric motors which may be selectively or independently activated by (known types of) control mechanisms for controlling the various motors for the various operation modes of the air handling system. In the following, particular attention will be given, by way of example, to systems with air ventilators.
Buildings such as houses, apartment buildings, etc., are quite often constructed or renovated so as to be air tight in addition to being insulated so as to facilitate heating, humidifying and/or cooling of the indoor environment provided therein. While such air tight insulation construction provides heating/cooling cost benefits, such construction can also unfortunately prevent or inhibit fresh air from entering a building. The lack of fresh air may lead to the accumulation of unwanted elements in the indoor air, such as particles of dust, cooking vapours and odours as well as other types of indoor air pollutants.
As a result, buildings are either being renovated or initially constructed so as to be outfitted with one or more air ventilator units which can introduce outside fresh air into the indoor space(s) of buildings, provide purification of the air, exhaust indoor air to the outside environment or a combination thereof, etc. Examples of known types of ventilation devices are illustrated in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,193,630, 5,771,707, 6,209,622, 6,257,317, 6,289,974 as well as in U.S. patent application No. 158492 published under no. 20030013407; the entire contents of each of these patent documents is incorporated herein by reference.
An air duct system of an existing building may already be connected to an air treatment unit which either heats, humidifies and/or cools air for delivery to the indoor space(s) of the building; examples of such air treatment units include forced air furnaces, air conditioners (i.e. coolers), humidifiers, etc. Air treatment may thus comprise an air heating stage, an air cooling stage, etc. For an existing building, indoor air may be delivered to the air treatment unit by the air supply or input portion of the air duct system and the heated or cooled air may then be circulated throughout the building through the return or output portion of the air duct system. Thus, in the case of an existing building, a relatively efficient way to integrate an air ventilator unit with the building is to exploit the existing air duct system (i.e. exploit existing building air duct(s)) so as to form an integrated air handling system. A building may of course be initially constructed with an air ventilator unit being connected to such a common duct work system.
An integrated air handling system may be configured so as to have a ventilation mode (i.e. ventilation only), an air treatment mode (e.g. heating only) and a combination mode (e.g. simultaneous heating and ventilation). During ventilation mode operation only, the ventilator blower means may be activated (e.g. an electric motor thereof is electrically energized); during air treatment mode only, the air treatment air blower means may be activated (e.g. an electric motor of a furnace air blower means is electrically energized); and during combination mode both the ventilator blower means and the air treatment air blower means may be simultaneously activated (e.g. an electric motor thereof is electrically energized). An electric motor may be electrically energized by being electrically connected to a source of electrical power or energy via appropriate electrical wiring and electric switching assembly (i.e. in any known manner).
There are, however, some problems which may arise from hooking up an air ventilator unit to an air duct system connected to an air treatment unit such as a furnace unit. For example, it has been proposed to couple the stale air inlet and fresh air outlet of the air ventilator unit on the same (e.g. upstream) side of the duct system feeding air to the air treatment unit. However, if the stale air inlet and fresh air outlet of the air ventilator unit, are coupled to the air duct system too closely together, then during ventilation mode operation when the air treatment unit is off (e.g. the furnace blower mean is not energized), a short circuiting of the air flows entering and exiting the air ventilator unit may occur. This is not desirable because it leads to a portion of the air being treated over and over again by the air ventilator unit.
The simplest proposed solution to this problem is to provide a blocking system between the air inlet and the outlet of the air ventilator unit. In this way the short circuiting is prevented. This solution can, however, cause additional problems related to impaired flow of air to the air treatment unit. The reason for this is that air treatment units (e.g. forced air furnace units) usually drive air through the air circulation system at much higher volumes than that which pass through an air ventilator unit. If the passage to the air treatment unit were to be blocked between the air inlet and outlet of the air ventilator unit, then, when running both the air treatment unit and the air ventilator unit simultaneously, all the air would have to pass through the air ventilator unit and the air treatment unit might then be unable to operate at its full capacity and lead to equipment break down; a reduced air flow through an air treatment unit such as a furnace for example may not only lead to equipment breakdown but may also result in overheating of the furnace which at worst, may cause fire ignition.
In order to inhibit such short circuiting it is possible to place the air ventilator unit in parallel with an air treatment unit such as a furnace unit, namely to couple the stale air inlet and fresh air outlet of the air ventilator unit to the air duct system respectively upstream of the furnace and downstream of the furnace, e.g on opposite sides of the furnace unit. This coupling system may however, also lead to a reduced air flow problem, when both the furnace unit and air ventilator unit are operating at the same time. In this configuration the air ventilator unit will siphon off some of the air normally destined to pass through the furnace unit; this reduced air flow through the furnace may also result in overheating of the furnace with the attendant fire danger.
As can be seen from the above, there is an ongoing need for a system for delivering fresh air to an indoor environment.
It would be advantageous to have an air handling system having an air treatment unit or component as well as an air ventilator unit or component which are connected or coupled to a common duct system so as to inhibit short circuiting of air flow through the air ventilator unit during a ventilation mode operation thereof.
It would also be advantageous to have an air handling system having an air treatment unit or component as well as an air ventilator unit or component which are connected or coupled to a common duct system so as to be able to attenuate or modulate reduced air flow to the air treatment unit during combination mode operation of such an integrated air handling system.
It would be advantageous to have an air handling system able to adjust air flow in reaction to the air pressure in the secondary duct system associated with a second air handling unit or component so as to be able to equilibrate the resulting airflow entering the air treatment component and inhibit or avoid excessive choking off of the original equipment in place.
It in particular would be advantageous to have an air handling system able to adjust air flow in reaction to the air pressure in the secondary duct system associated with the ventilation unit or component so as to be able to equilibrate the resulting airflow entering the air treatment component so as to inhibit or avoid excessive choking of the air treatment component, i.e. choking off of the original equipment (e.g. furnace) in place.
The present invention in one aspect provides an air handling system for an indoor space comprising
The first forced indoor air treatment component may, for example, be a furnace, an air conditioner (i.e. cooler means) or the like. The second forced air treatment component may, for example, be a humidifier, an air exchanger, optional filters or other similar device; the secondary air treatment component may in particular be a forced fresh air ventilator component.
The present invention thus provides, in particular, an air handling system for an indoor space comprising
In accordance with another aspect the present invention provides an air manifold element, for an air handling system for an indoor space said air handling system comprising
It is to be understood herein that a reference to a forced air treatment component (e.g. a forced air furnace component) or a forced fresh air ventilator component is a reference to a component through which air is to be forced or induced to pass under the influence of appropriate (i.e. known) air blower means, i.e. in order to heat, humidify, cool and/or freshen air destined to pass on to an indoor space(s). Thus it is to be understood herein that an air blower means may be incorporated directly in the forced air treatment component (e.g. a forced air furnace component) and/or the fresh air ventilator component (i.e. in any known manner). Alternatively, it is to be understood that an air blower means may comprise one or more stand alone blowers which are suitably (i.e. in any known fashion) incorporated into the duct system, per se, (i.e. in any known manner) for influencing air to pass through a forced air treatment component (e.g. a forced air furnace component) or a forced fresh air ventilator component.
In accordance with the present invention the secondary air path means may comprise a reflux air duct element (i.e. air path element) coupled to the return air duct element and to the input indoor air duct element.
In accordance with the present invention the air handling system may comprise any type of (known) air flow control means for inhibiting air flow through the secondary air path means. For example, the reflux air duct element may be configured to have a cross section transverse to the flow of air there through which is sized in relation to the cross section of the other duct elements whereby a desired or suitable air flow through the reflux duct element may be obtained relative to or in relation to air flow through other of the duct elements.
Advantageously however the air handling system may comprise any type of (known) air flow control means which exploits damper type element(s) for air flow control. Damper elements may be associated for example with the ventilator component itself. Alternatively damper elements may be associated with the reflux air duct element and/or the return air duct element. As an additional alternative damper elements may be associated with the ventilator component, the reflux air duct element and/or the return air duct element. An air flow control means of the present invention may take any form whatsoever keeping in mind the purpose thereof, i.e. to inhibit backflow of air during a ventilation cycle and/or attenuate air flow restriction to an air treatment unit such as for example to a furnace. Thus for example a damper element may be air pressure displaceable from a blocking to a non-blocking configuration by exploiting appropriately configured biasing mechanisms such as springs, gravity counterweights, etc.; the exact nature of the biasing mechanism may of course be determined empirically for any given air handling system (i.e. keeping in mind the comments herein). Alternatively, a damper element may be displaceable by means of an electric motor suitably connected to the damper and to a source of electrical power, i.e. via appropriate electrical wiring and electric switching assembly (i.e. in any known or desired manner). A motor actuated system would of course be configured to provide an air flow pattern the same as provided by the air pressure activated system. An air handling system may of course exploit both types of damper displacement as desired or necessary.
Thus an air handling system in accordance with the present invention may comprise
a first air flow control means comprising a first damper element associated with said return air duct, said first damper element being displaceable between a blocking configuration (i.e. a closed configuration) and a non-blocking configuration (i.e. a open configuration),
a second air flow control means comprising a second damper element associated with said reflux air duct, said second damper element being displaceable between a blocking configuration (i.e. an closed configuration) and a non-blocking configuration (i.e. an open configuration), and
wherein in said respective blocking configuration, said first and second damper elements are respectively disposed to close off said return air duct and said reflux air duct to air flow, and in said respective non-blocking configuration, said first and second damper elements are respectively disposed such that air is able to circulate through said return air duct and said reflux air duct.
In accordance with the present invention, for combination mode operation, the second air flow control means may configured such that, when a furnace air blower means associated with said forced air treatment component (e.g. forced air furnace component) and a ventilation air blower means associated with said forced fresh air ventilator component are both activated (e.g. an electric motor thereof is electrically energized), said second damper element is in said non-blocking configuration.
In accordance with the present invention, for ventilation mode operation, the first and said second air flow control means may each be configured such that, when only the ventilation air blower means is activated (e.g. an electric motor thereof is electrically energized), said first damper element is in said non-blocking configuration and said second damper element is in said blocking configuration.
In the following, for purposes of illustration, reference will, unless the contrary is indicated, be to an air handling system comprising an air treatment component which is a forced air furnace component and wherein the output treated air duct element is an output heated air duct element.
In accordance with the present invention, the first and the second air flow control means may each be configured such that, when only the furnace air blower means is activated (e.g. an electric motor thereof is electrically energized), the first damper element and the second damper element are each in said blocking configuration.
In accordance with the present invention, the first and the second air flow control means may each be configured such that, when a furnace air blower means associated with said forced air furnace component and a ventilation air blower means associated with said forced fresh air ventilator component are both activated (e.g. an electric motor thereof is electrically energized), the first damper element and the second damper element are each in said non-blocking configuration.
In accordance with the present invention, the first and the second air flow control means may each be configured such that, when only the ventilation air blower means is activated (e.g. an electric motor thereof is electrically energized), the first damper element is in said non-blocking configuration and the second damper element is in said blocking configuration.
In accordance with the present invention, the first and the second air flow control means may each be configured such that, when both the furnace air blower means and the ventilation air blower means are unactivated (e.g. an electric motor thereof is electrically unenergized), the first damper element and the second damper element are each in said blocking configuration.
In accordance with the present invention, the stale air duct element may be coupled to the input indoor air duct element at a first position upstream of said furnace and said reflux air duct may be coupled to said the input indoor air duct element at a second position downstream of said first position and upstream of said furnace.
In accordance with the present invention the first air flow control means may comprise a first biasing element biasing said first damper element in said blocking configuration and wherein the second air flow control means may comprise a second biasing element biasing said second damper element in said blocking configuration.
In accordance with the present invention, the return air duct may comprise a manifold element. The manifold (or enclosure) element may comprise an air inlet, a first air outlet and a second air outlet. The air inlet may be coupled to the return air output means. The first air outlet may be coupled to the heated air duct element so as to define an upstream connection between the manifold element and the heated air duct. The reflux air duct may be coupled to the second air outlet. The first damper element may be associated with the upstream connection. More particularly, the first damper element may be associated with the first outlet. Similarly the second damper may be associated with the second outlet.
In accordance with the present invention, the forced fresh air ventilator component may comprise a heat recovery means for exchanging heat between the discharged air and the make-up air; see the above mentioned patents.
A system in accordance with the present invention, may comprise (known) control means electrically coupled to the furnace blower means and the ventilation air blower means for independently electrically actuating same. An electric motor of a blower means may be electrically energized by being electrically connected to a source of electrical power or energy via appropriate electrical wiring and electric switching assembly (i.e. in any known manner).
In accordance with the present invention, the first air flow control means and the second air flow control means may each be configured such that said first damper element and said second damper element are each respectively air pressure displaceable from said blocking configuration to said non-blocking configuration.
In drawings which illustrate example embodiment(s) of the present invention:
a-d is a schematic top view from above of alternative damper forms for the first and second damper elements;
a is a schematic side view cross section of a damper element biased by a leaf spring in a blocking configuration in the first outlet opening;
The air handling system as shown in
It is to be understood that the input and output portions 3 and 5 may as desired or needed comprise a plurality of duct members or elements which run to and from one or more indoor spaces. In the case of a plurality of indoor spaces, for example, a plurality of sub-duct members may on the one hand be each separately coupled to a respective indoor air space and on the other be coupled to or terminate in a respective single duct leading to or from an air treatment component as the case may be. Furthermore, the air duct system may interconnect or couple one or more indoor spaces with one or more air treatment components and one or more air ventilator components; at least one, but preferably all, of the air ventilator components present, being interconnected with the input and output duct work of the air duct system in a fashion reflecting the discussion which follows, i.e. reflecting a reflux air path and associated air dampers.
Thus for illustration purposes only, the air supply or input portion 3 and the air return or output portion 5 are each shown in
The air handling system shown in
The air supply or input portion 3 of the air duct system as illustrated includes an input indoor air duct, generally designated by the reference numeral 3a, (i.e. air path element) which is coupled at one end to the furnace component 9 (i.e. coupled to the furnace air inlet). On the upstream side of the furnace component the air return or output portion 5 of the air duct system has an output heated air duct, generally designated by the reference numeral 5a, (i.e. air path element) which is also coupled at one end thereof to the furnace component 9 (i.e. coupled to the furnace air outlet). The other respective ends of the input indoor air duct 3a and the heated air output duct 5a are respectively connected or coupled to the indoor air space 1 (as shown).
As shown in
As shown in
It is of course to be understood that any blower members associated with the forced fresh air ventilator component 7 and/or the forced air furnace component 9 could if so desired be coupled to the duct system externally of the ventilator and/or furnace components. The furnace and ventilator air blower members may each take any desired (i.e. known) form keeping in mind their purpose, namely to urge air through the respective air path means, in response to a (known) control means.
The illustrated furnace component in
Turning back to
Turning again to
Referring to
Still referring to
As may be appreciated the stale blower member 15 is coupled to the heat exchange core element 37 such that the when the ventilator component is in an active ventilation mode, the stale air blower member 15 will induce or force a flow of return indoor air from the stale air duct 33 through the ventilator stale air inlet into the heat exchange core element, through the heat exchange core element and stale air blower member 15 and finally out exhaust air duct element 29 to the outside environment. On the other hand, the fresh air blower member 17 is coupled to the heat exchange core element 37 such that the when the ventilator component is in an active ventilation mode, the fresh air blower member 17 will induce or force a flow of fresh outdoor air from the outside environment through the fresh air duct element 31 into the heat exchange core element 37, through the heat exchange core element and fresh air blower member 17 and finally out the ventilator fresh air outlet into the return air duct 35.
Turning back to
The purpose of the reflux air duct element 41 is to provide an air path for the return of fresh air to the input indoor air duct element 3a which feeds air to the furnace component. Thus the reflux air duct element 41, in any (known) manner, is coupled to the return air duct 35 and to the input indoor air duct element 3a.
Referring to FIGS. 4 to 7 the same reference numerals will be used to designated common elements. The first air flow control means, inter alia, comprises a first damper element 50 and the second air flow control means, inter alia, comprises a second damper element 52. Each of the damper elements 50 and 52 has a respective broad side face 54 and 55 against which air flow through respective ductwork may impinge, i.e. the damper elements 50 and 52 have a projected area exposed to airflow for air flow blocking purposes. A damper element may also (as discussed below) be associated with a damper bias member. A damper bias member may take on any desired or necessary form including but not limited to springs, weights, etc. as well as combinations thereof; the biasing force exerted by a bias member is of course to be calibrated keeping in mind the purpose of the damper element with which it is associated.
As may be seen from
Referring to FIGS. 4 to 7, as mentioned above the first and second damper elements 50 and 52 are independently displaceable between respective blocking and non-blocking configurations.
The first damper element is displaceable independently of the second damper element between a blocking configuration and a non-blocking configuration. When in the blocking configuration, the first damper element is disposed to close or choke off the return air duct element to air flow (i.e. there through). When in the non-blocking configuration, the first damper element is disposed such that air is able to circulate through the return air duct element.
The second damper element is also displaceable independently of the first damper element between a blocking configuration and a non-blocking configuration. When in the blocking configuration, the second damper element is disposed to close off the reflux air duct element to air flow. When in the non-blocking configuration, the second damper element is disposed such that air is able to circulate through the reflux air duct element.
As may be seen from FIGS. 4 to 7 the return air duct element 35 has an (outlet) opening which communicates with the interior of the output heated air duct element 5a. Similarly the reflux air duct element has an (inlet) opening 41 which communicates with the interior of the return air duct element 35.
The
Any damper elements or members are of course so sized and shaped that the broad side face 54 or 54a and 55 or 55a of the damper elements can block off an air duct so that air flow is inhibited from flowing through a duct. Thus, for example, in
In the case of damper elements shown in
As mentioned, a broad side face 54, 54a, 55 and 55a of a respective damper member may be biased so as to be disposed in the blocking configuration transverse to air flow through the associated ductwork. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention a damper element 50 (or 50a) and/or 52 (or 52a) may be displaced between the blocking configuration and the non-blocking configuration by means of internal air pressure brought to bear against the damper elements (e.g. against a broad side face of the damper element), the air pressure acting against the biasing action of the respective damper bias members. The necessary air pressure is induced by the ventilation air blower means when the ventilator component is activated or by the combined air pressure effect of the ventilation air blower means and the furnace blower means when the system is operating in combination mode. Thus the biasing members of the first and second damper elements are each respectively calibrated such that during ventilation mode (only) the first damper element 50 (or 50a) is in open position and the second damper element 52 (or 52a) remains in closed position whereas during combination mode operation the first and second damper elements are both in open position; in the latter case the first damper element is set to be in a somewhat more closed position relative to its open position with respect to its ventilation only open state, i.e. this is to account for air flowing past the second damper element back to the front end of the furnace duct work. Thus for example, in ventilation only mode, the pressure generated by the ventilation blower means is sufficient to overcome the bias force of the first biasing member associated with the first damper element but is insufficient to overcome the bias force of the second biasing member associated with the second damper element since this second biasing member is calibrated to keep the second damper element closed at the ventilation (only) air pressure.
In accordance with an alternate embodiment of the present invention a first and/or second damper element may be displaced between the blocking configuration and the non-blocking configuration by means of a motor element connected to the damper element in any suitable (known) manner. The motor element may be used without a damper bias member, however, if desired or necessary a damper bias member may also exploited, i.e. in the latter case, while the spring member biases the damper element in a blocking configuration, the motor may be used to displace the damper element to the non-blocking configuration.
The motor may for example be connected to the damper element or member in a manner analogous to the connection system as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,193,610 such that electrical activation and deactivation of the motor will thus cause the damper element or member to be displaced between the blocking and non-blocking configurations. Any suitable motor (such as for example a synchronous motor as made by Hansen Manufacturing Company, Inc.) may for example be used for this purpose.
Any other suitable damper mechanism may of course be used, keeping in mind that the purpose of the first and second damper elements is to block off or leave unobstructed the appropriate secondary air path for the ventilation cycle, the heating cycle or the combination cycle, while leaving the main air paths unobstructed.
Referring to
Referring to
The duct member 80a is coupled to the air inlet 92 of the manifold element 90 as well as to the return air output of the ventilator component 72. The reflux air duct 78 at one end is coupled to the second air outlet 96; the reflux air duct 78 is coupled at its other end to the input air duct 74 at a position between the furnace and the point of connection of the stale air duct element 78, i.e. the reflux duct element 82 is connected at a point downstream of the connection point for the stale air duct 78 but upstream of the furnace component 70.
The air handling system of
a-d illustrate alternative damper forms for the first and second damper elements as described herein; the damper form used will of course be a function of the shape of the first outlet of the manifold element as well as the interior cross section of the manifold element; thus dampers can be of any shape (round, rectangular or other) and can hinge at different locations (by their extremities, by their centers or by any intermediate configuration). The damper elements of
The dampers may be maintained in a blocking (or even if so desired in a non-blocking) configuration by use of suitable biasing members which may act directly or indirectly on the dampers.
a illustrates a first damper element 50b biased by a leaf spring 120 in a blocking configuration in the first outlet opening; again a predetermined air pressure air in the direction of the arrow 112a will urge the damper element 50a into a non-blocking configuration for the duration of the air pressure. A damper bias member may take other spring like forms such as for example a tension or compression spring. The biasing action of such spring bias members may be adjusted by moving the point of engagement or attachment to the damper element in relation to the pivot axis.
A damper element may be of a rigid material. Alternatively a damper element 125 as shown in
The first and second damper elements 50b and 52b may as mentioned above and shown for example in enlarged
Alternatively the damper elements 50b and 52b may as shown in
In any event the exact characteristics any of the biasing techniques mentioned herein may be determined empirically (i.e. by trial and error), keeping in mind the comments herein.
The air flow for the system shown in
Turning to
Turning to
Turning to
As illustrated in
In addition to or as an alternative to biasing and air pressure activation, different types of actuator mechanisms can be used with respect to the first and second damper elements. Even if the previously described air pressure activated system is pressure actuated for opening and spring loaded for closure & failsafe mode, actuation of dampers can be achieved by other kind of actuators mechanisms. Electrical motors, solenoids or other type of valves can be employed.
The air handling system may as mentioned above, if desired, includes appropriate temperature sensor(s), electric wiring, control mechanisms for controlling the various motors for the ventilation and defrost cycles, etc. (none of which is shown in the figures but which can be provided in any suitable or desired conventional manner). These mechanism may example include programmable computer type controls. A heating cycle for example may be triggered by a thermistor or thermostat connected to a timer; a ventilation cycle for example may be triggered by a timer.
Turning to
The results of the tests for the system configuration shown in
Referring to
For table 2 and
The results of the tests for the system configuration shown in
As may be seen from Tables 1 and 2 the an advantage of an air handling system of the present invention is to be able to minimize pressure (increase) at the furnace when a device (e.g. humidifier, air exchanger, optional filters or similar devices) is connected to an existing ducting network.
Referring to
Referring to
It is to be understood that the apparatus of the present invention may take many other forms without departing from the spirit and scope thereof as described in the present specification; the specific embodiment illustrated above being provided by way of illustrative example only.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2,454,056 | Dec 2003 | CA | national |
