Patent Grant
11988398
This application generally relates to controlling environment in the enclosed area, and more particularly, to a universal Variable Multi Flow (VMF) system.
Maintaining a correct level of humidity, temperatures and ventilation inside homes or offices is very important for comfort and health of occupants. Providing correct environment in medical facilities, labs, inside the computer rooms or data centers is even more critical.
Conventional so called Classic Air-handling Units (AHUs) have employed for years using large variety and different configurations, depending on project requirements. The main goal of AHUs is to treat Fresh Air only (up to 100%) for users' needs in closed conditioned rooms. Typically, the heating/cooling sources for the AHU coils are External for the unit, such as: chillers (water), VRF condensing unit (refrigerant), boiler (gas, wood, etc.), central heating/cooling, etc. The AHU's are controlled by autonomous automation systems that are separate/different from their heat/cool sources.
The AHUs with two stage heat recovery or Hybrid AHUs have been employed in for over a decade. These AHUs are improved versions of the classic AHUs, where the heat/cool source is not external, but built-in to the unit. The built-in heat/cool source (i.e., a reversible heat pump) works with air recovered from the room (i.e., extract air). It is controlled by a common automation system. The built-in heat/cool source (i.e., the reversible heat pump) is often not sufficient at ambient temperatures ≤−10° C. or ≥35° C. An additional/external source needs to be added for covering the peak temperatures. Regardless of the improvements, in comparison to the classic AHU, the Hybrid AHU are also designed mainly for Fresh Air treatment only (up to 100%), and the Cooling Loads/Heating Losses need to be covered by other heat/cool sources.
So called Rooftops are a combination of Classic and Hybrid AHUs with the following differences. The built-in heat/cool source (i.e., reversible heat pump) works with ambient air mainly, which determines the outside position of the unit. It is controlled by a common automation system. The main limitation of the Rooftops is that they treat mainly recirculation air and can cover entirely the Cooling Loads/Heating Losses, but cannot treat up to 100% of the fresh air needed for ventilation at the same time. The Rooftops normally treat up to 30-50% fresh air, and due to this fact do not have Energy-Recovery (e.g., a plate or rotary heat exchanger). Besides that, at ambient temperatures ≤−10° C. or ≥35° C., the Rooftop source is not sufficient, and additional/external source needs to be added for covering the peak temperatures.
Yet other conventional alternatives are VRVs/VRFs. These are Direct Expansion (DX) systems with Variable Refrigerant Volume (Flow). They are split type systems with a few external and many internal units, depending on the size of the project. The external unit serves for a thermal treatment of the refrigerant (cooling/heating) and via pipe system (2, 3 or 4 pipes) it transports it to the internal units that cool/heat the air in the room (work with recirculation air only).
The external unit works with ambient air only, which determines the position of the unit—outside. The variety of the internal units is large, depending on the design and needs of the rooms. It is controlled by a common automation system. At ambient temperatures ≤−20° C., the capacity of the external unit is often not sufficient and expansion of the external unit to 20-30% of additional capacity is necessary. Another main disadvantage is the long distance between the external and internal units, which leads to limitations of the distance (in both length and height) and to substantial hydraulic/pressure losses and respectively losses of useful Heat/Cool capacity. This in turn may leads to expansion of the external unit with 20-30% of capacity to cover these losses. This is a waste of useful heat/cool capacity and energy.
As a modification and improvement of the above described VRVs/VRFs are so called Heat Recovery VRFs. They have the same characteristics as the above described VRFs, plus additional added functionality—Domestic Hot Water (DHW). These systems have limitations in terms of the useful heating/cooling capacity (up to 15-16 kW) and are mainly used for houses and residential buildings. Another limitation is that the system works on OR principle, which means that either heat DHW OR Cool/Heat operates, but both functions cannot be performed simultaneously. As a result each function and its set point are lagging behind and the system needs to catch up constantly.
Maintaining microclimate (temperature and relative humidity) in closed rooms presents the following main problems:
There is no single common (unified) system or concept or solution, that can provide all functionalities needed for people in closed rooms—i.e., Heating, Cooling, Ventilation and Sanitary Hot Water (DHW)) simultaneously. There are products which combined together the elements that can cover the main functionalities, but it is done in a very inefficient and costly way. What the HVAC means is often misunderstood. The end users think that Heating and Air-Conditioning systems also provide Ventilation, and vice versa. There are large areas around the world where, Ventilation system is completely missing (only AC or Heating is available).
The above described main problems lead to the following sub problems:
Heating/Air-Conditioning Systems provide the necessary quantity of heat and/or cool and respectively they cover the Cooling Loads/Heating Losses into the rooms. They work completely with recirculation air (i.e., re-circulate and heat/cool the same air from the room) or partially can treat some quantity of fresh air (up to 30%, but never 100%) for the people. These systems work based on the split system principle, where there is an external unit (source of heat/cool) and internal units that treat the air from the room. Examples of such split systems are: Boiler radiators, heat pump/chiller-fan coils, VRV/VRF-cassettes, etc.
Ventilation systems provide the necessary quantity of fresh air (up to 100%) for the people in closed rooms, and most often are designed based of the maximum amount of people (for comfort ventilation) or other sanitary norms. Those systems also work based on the split system principle, where Ventilation unit is located in one place (outside or inside), and the source needed for cooling/heating of the fresh air is located somewhere else and the connection between them is made through pipes and pumps. The transfer of the fresh air from ventilation unit to the closed room is made through air ducts and grilles.
Domestic Hot Water (DHW) system—in most cases is completely different from the main Heating/Cooling systems. In the hot and sunny areas of the world, sun panels are most widely used. However, in the northern parts of the world people rely on traditional sources for heating the water such as gas, firewood, central heating and even coal. In the mild-climate areas, even more complicated systems are used, such as a combination of sun panels and traditional, which are complicated and expensive.
At very low ambient temperatures (Tamb≤−15° C.), very often the source of heat is more than a single source, and the second source is used only at critical temperature values. In most cases, both sources are different and, for example, if the first one uses the energy of the ambient air, the second one could use back-up Electric, gas, central heating or others. Very often the end users do not make a distinction between the two systems and do not realize the need for both. That is why very often one of the systems (most often the Ventilation) is completely missing, which is improper. The presence of both systems (Heating/Cooling and Ventilation) leads to the necessity of a superior upper level of automation system. Each of the systems has its own automation system (i.e., a controller) and very often the communication between them is inefficient or there is no proper communication protocol that leads to the need for a higher-level of automation system to synchronize and control the units. These are so called BMS (Building Management Systems), which are very complicated and expensive to implement.
One of the functionalities of the BMS is to track/follow the presence of people in the rooms, and based on that (respectively with a lack of people) to either minimize or completely switch off the Ventilation system. The effect in this case is that the end user pays high initial investment costs for two systems, plus BMS, but practically one of the systems, together with its duct system (which is expensive and occupies the useful space of the building) is used very rarely and is inefficient.
As described above, both systems are based on the split system principle, where the source of heat/cool works with different fluids such as water, refrigerant, gas, steam, etc. That complicates the process and makes the entire system expensive, where the systems work with different fluids. That leads to different pipe connections, presence of pumps, fittings, etc.
The presence of separate systems for Heating, Cooling, Ventilation and Domestic Hot Water (DHW) requires significantly larger footprint for installation, which makes it expensive and takes away from useful spaces. Usually such spaces are required on the roofs, machinery rooms, basements, garages, etc. Another limitation is the fact that these systems use ambient air as a source of heat/cool, and they need to be installed outside. For many buildings that might be a serious problem. In most cases these different systems are delivered by different manufacturers or suppliers/dealers. When any sort of a problem occurs within the common system, a responsibility “transfers” from company to company and the one who suffers is the end user. The above described problem leads to complicated and expensive service and maintenance contracts and to using different service companies at the same time.
Installed Electric Power input means a presence of 2 or 3 separate systems, where one of them very often does not work due to savings of electric energy. This leads to significant over sizing of the required electric power input capacities, which leads to more expensive initial investments and to the exploitation costs.
Geographical separation and limitations are cause by many different climate zones with specific climate conditions. This requires the Heating, Air-Conditioning, Ventilation and DHW systems to be designed based on the specific needs of each region. Many of the existing systems have ambient temperature limitations (for example dawn to −15° C. or up to +35° C.). This requires customization for each system that is intended for specific climate zone and is therefore more expensive.
Accordingly, what is needed is an efficient universal Variable Multi Flow (VMF) system that overcomes the shortcomings and limitations of the existing systems.
An example embodiment provides a universal VMF system that includes a hosing comprising a frame and a plurality of insulated panels; a fresh air inlet damper configured to regulate an air flow; a return air inlet damper; a fresh air inlet filter coupled to the fresh air inlet damper; a return air inlet filter coupled to the return air inlet damper; a counter flow plate heat exchanger with a bypass damper (or rotary type heat exchanger) configured to extract cool/heat/humidity from the room air; at least one supply and at least one return air fan configured to support circulation of the air through the VMF; a supply coil configured to re-cool or re-heat the air in separate enclosed areas; an extract coil configured to additionally recover the heat from the room, at least one condenser/evaporator coil configured to extract heat of the ambient air, at least one brushless DC (BLDC) scroll compressor configured to produce warm or cold refrigerant; at least one variable frequency drive configured to control capacity of the at least one BLDC scroll compressor; and an Intelligent Control Box-Master Controller configured to control operations of the VMF system.
It will be readily understood that the instant components, as generally described and illustrated in the figures herein, may be arranged and designed in a wide variety of different configurations. Thus, the following detailed description of the embodiments of at least one of a method, apparatus, non-transitory computer readable medium and system, as represented in the attached figures, is not intended to limit the scope of the application as claimed but is merely representative of selected embodiments.
The instant features, structures, or characteristics as described throughout this specification may be combined or removed in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. For example, the usage of the phrases “example embodiments”, “some embodiments”, or other similar language, throughout this specification refers to the fact that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment may be included in at least one embodiment. Thus, appearances of the phrases “example embodiments”, “in some embodiments”, “in other embodiments”, or other similar language, throughout this specification do not necessarily all refer to the same group of embodiments, and the described features, structures, or characteristics may be combined or removed in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. Further, in the diagrams, any connection between elements can permit one-way and/or two-way communication even if the depicted connection is a one-way or two-way arrow. Also, any device depicted in the drawings can be a different device. For example, if a mobile device is shown sending information, a wired device could also be used to send the information.
In addition, while the term “message” may have been used in the description of embodiments, the application may be applied to many types of networks and data. Furthermore, while certain types of connections, messages, and signaling may be depicted in exemplary embodiments, the application is not limited to a certain type of connection, message, and signaling.
Example embodiments provide system and components, which provide for implementation of a universal VMF.
The ventilation requirements may be based on ventilation per person or per square foot while keeping the ventilation to a minimum. The exemplary embodiments work with maximum amount of fresh air per person without following CO2 levels. The exemplary VMF system maximizes fresh air and can work in a wide temperature range of −30° C.<T<50° C. Thus, the VMF system is designed for most locations such as offices, hotels, hospitals, or any other multi-zone environments with multiple rooms.
According to the exemplary embodiments, the system can heat one room and cool another at the same time. In one embodiment, balanced ventilation may supply and extract air. The following components and numbering are used in the description that follows.
Note that units 8 and 9 are alternatives to each other and only one of them may be used as a heat recovery device.
According to the exemplary embodiments, in Heating mode—refrigerant goes directly to THU 23 (see
The cool-heat mode uses water for cooling and ambient air for heating (majority of rooms need to be cooled).
The heat-cool mode uses water for heating and ambient air for cooling (majority of rooms need to be heated).
Supply air regulating valve with actuator 50 (
According to the exemplary embodiments, heating/cooling may be implemented along with sanitary hot water. Heating+hot water—i.e., through three-way mixing valve with actuator 34 and two-way regulating valve 35, the water is regulated within the necessary proportions and distributed into the room for heating. Cooling+hot water—hot refrigerant goes to unit 23 (
In one embodiment, refrigerant goes to unit 12 (
General (Variable Multi Fluid) is implemented as follows.
1. 1 pcs. VMF (Variable Multi Fluid total HVAC) system 1 (
In one embodiment, Workings/Operation Mode—Variant 1 (Heating+Cooling+Ventilation) is implemented.
The users are in different conditioned rooms 41 in
At start up: In
In
When the momentary value of room temperature, measured by Room Thermostat/Room Temperature sensor 53 approaches closest to the Set Point, then the fresh air is supplied into the conditioned room. IU Controller-slave 43 sends info/request to the ICB (Intelligent Control Box—Master Controller 21, after which fresh air is introduced into 1 via Fresh Air intake rain hood 3 (see
Then, the fresh air goes via Supply coil for additional fresh air treatment 12 shown in
Further in
Workings/Operation Modes—Variant 2 (Heating+Cooling+Ventilation+DHW) is implemented as follows.
When Sanitary Hot Water (DHW) is presented/active together with the other functionalities, the desired hot water temperature for DHW is set by the Operator through EMS (Energy Management System)/Central Operator Station 57 (
In one embodiment, simultaneous DHW+Heating+Ventilation are provided.
The desired DHW set point becomes priority for VMF 1 over Temperature set for Hot water for heating. The VMF 1 continues to operate the same way described above in Variant 1, with the following differences: after the heat of condensation of the refrigerant is transformed into hot water in Refrigerant/Water plate heat exchanger 24, the water is regulated within the necessary proportions through 3 way mixing valve with actuator 34 and 2 way regulating valve 35 and then distributed to system 1. The water goes through Hot water tank 36 via DHW supply pipe 37 and to 2. Then the water goes through Distribution water collector 30, where through Floor circulation pump(s) 28 the water is transported to Internal Units 42 (see
In one embodiment, simultaneous DHW+Cooling+Ventilation may be implemented. The desired hot water temperature for DHW is set by the Operator through Energy Management System (EMS)/Central Operator Station 57 (
The Fresh air is sucked by Supply air fan 10 and consecutively goes through Fresh Air intake rain hood 3, fine filtration in Fresh air inlet filter 6, and then is pre-cooled and dehumidified in Counter flow plate heat exchanger with bypass damper 8 or Rotary wheel with variable frequency drive (VFD) 9. It is then re-cooled and additionally dehumidified in Supply coil for additional fresh air treatment 12 and via Supply Air main ducts 54 and transported to the Conditioned rooms 41. The air reaches Supply air regulating valve with actuator 50, where its quantity is regulated and then supplied to Mixing Box 46. In the Mixing Box 46, a mixing of recirculation air from the room and cooled and dried fresh air occurs. The air mixture goes to the Internal Unit 42, where through the built-in fan it is transported via Supply air distribution ducts 49 and Supply air grilles 48 to the conditioned rooms 41.
The system, according to the exemplary embodiments, advantageously, creates one universal concept, which provides simultaneously Heating, Cooling (covering cooling loads and heating losses), Ventilation (Fresh Air treatment up to 100%) of the premises, and Domestic Hot Water (DHW) in temperature range of the ambient air −30° C. to +50° C. with only 1 external unit (VMF). The system provides multiple advantages over any known systems or combination of the known systems, and addresses their disadvantages at the same time.
In particular, the exemplary system is:
Example implementation is depicted in the
In
Fresh air is introduced through Fresh Air intake rain hood 3, which is mounted on the Body (Aluminum frame and insulated panels) 2 of the VMF External unit 1. Then the air passes through Fresh air inlet filter 6, positioned right after 3 and enters Counter flow plate heat exchanger with bypass damper 8 or Rotary wheel with variable frequency drive (VFD) 9. After the fresh air recovers part of the heat/cool/humidity of the extract air, the air passes through Supply coil for additional fresh air treatment 12, which is connected to Internal Copper pipes connecting refrigerant circuit components within VMF unit 18. Supply air fan 10 is located before 12, which transports fresh air consecutively via Supply Air main ducts 54, Supply air regulating valve with actuator 50 to Internal Unit 42, and then through Supply air distribution ducts 49 and Supply air grilles 48 to the Conditioned Room 41.
The extract air from the room enters VMF consecutively, through Extract air grille(s) 52, Return air regulating valve with actuator 51 and through Return Air main ducts 551, via Return air inlet damper 5, which opens, closes and controls its quantity. Then the air goes into Return air inlet filter 7 for fine filtration and, then, into Counter flow plate heat exchanger with bypass damper 8 or Rotary wheel with variable frequency drive (VFD) 9, where the air rejects part of its cool/heat/humidity. After that the air is sucked from Return air fan 11, which transports the return air from the conditioned room 41. Then the air goes through Extract coil for additional heat recovery 13 and is extracted into the atmosphere or sucked for additional heat/cool rejection in Evaporator/Condenser Coil (1 or 2 pcs.) 14 from Axial fan(s) for refrigerant circuit 15 and then finally is extracted into the atmosphere. The Return air inlet filter 7 are located inside BLDC scroll compressor(s) section 16, which together with Variable frequency drive(s) for BLDC scroll compressor(s) 17 provide and control the entire heating/cooling capacity of the system. The BLDC scroll compressor(s) 17 are located near 16 and through Electric and Communication (ModBus) lines 56 are connected to Intelligent Control Box (ICB)—Master Controller 21, which simultaneously controls VMF External Unit (1), all Internal Unit(s) 42 and THU 23. The treated refrigerant is transported to THU 23 via Refrigerant inlet/outlet valves 19 and External Refrigerant copper pipes, connecting VMF unit and THU 22.
Power supply electric box 380V 20, which provides electric power supply for VMF External 1 is mounted after Extract coil for additional heat recovery 13. Evaporator/Condenser Coil (1 or 2 pcs.) 14, where processes of condensation or evaporation occur, is coupled to axial fan(s) for refrigerant circuit 15 configured to extract the mixture of fresh and air from the room to the atmosphere are located after Power supply electric box 380V 20 in the back of the Body (Aluminum frame and insulated panels) 2 housing Evaporator/Condenser Coil (1 or 2 pcs.) 14, where processes of condensation or evaporation occur and after that the axial fan(s) for refrigerant circuit 15 extract the mixture of fresh and air from the room to the atmosphere.
In
In
It will be readily understood that the components of the application, as generally described and illustrated in the figures herein, may be arranged and designed in a wide variety of different configurations. Thus, the detailed description of the embodiments is not intended to limit the scope of the application as claimed but is merely representative of selected embodiments of the application.
One having ordinary skill in the art will readily understand that the above may be practiced with steps in a different order, and/or with hardware elements in configurations that are different than those which are disclosed. Therefore, although the application has been described based upon these preferred embodiments, it would be apparent to those of skill in the art that certain modifications, variations, and alternative constructions would be apparent.
While preferred embodiments of the present application have been described, it is to be understood that the embodiments described are illustrative only and the scope of the application is to be defined solely by the appended claims when considered with a full range of equivalents and modifications thereto.
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6328095 | Felber | Dec 2001 | B1 |
| 9907214 | Dagley | Feb 2018 | B2 |
| 10584884 | Coutu | Mar 2020 | B2 |
| 20200116372 | Fischer | Apr 2020 | A1 |
