JP2020526733A - Air treatment system - Google Patents

Abstract

A support structure and at least one air handling chamber arranged on the support structure, said or each air handling chamber including an inlet subchamber and an outlet subchamber, and arranged on the support structure, said. The coil assembly arranged between the inlet subchamber and the outlet subchamber and the inlet subchamber so that air passing from the inlet subchamber to the outlet subchamber passes through the coil assembly. An air handling assembly comprising an air supply port for fluid communication with the air supply port and an exhaust port for fluid communication with the outlet subchamber is provided.

Description

Detailed description of the invention

[Field]
This specification describes various embodiments of air treatment systems and air handling assemblies.

[Abstract]
The international patent application PCT / AU2015 / 050799, published June 23, 2016, is incorporated herein by reference.

In one aspect, an air handling assembly is provided and the air handling assembly is
Support structure and
At least one air handling chamber disposed on the support structure, including an inlet subchamber and an outlet subchamber, the inlet subchamber is fluid communicating with the outlet subchamber, said or each air handling. With the chamber
It is arranged on the support structure and is arranged between the inlet subchamber and the outlet subchamber so that air passing from the inlet subchamber to the outlet subchamber passes through the coil assembly. With the coil assembly
An air supply port that communicates with the inlet subchamber and
An exhaust port for fluid communication with the outlet subchamber is provided.

The coil assembly may be an evaporator coil assembly.

The air handling assembly may include an air treatment device located within the above or each outlet subchamber.

The air treatment device may include an air heating device.

The air treatment apparatus may include an infrared emitter that directs infrared light onto the evaporator coil assembly to heat the coil assembly so that the air passing through the coil assembly is heated. it can.

The air treatment device can include a disinfection device for disinfecting the air in the outlet subchamber.

The air treatment device may include a UV emitter arranged to direct UV rays onto the evaporator coil assembly in order to disinfect the air passing through the coil assembly.

The air handling assembly is arranged in an outlet subchamber, draws air into the inlet subchamber through the air supply port, draws air into the outlet subchamber, and draws air processed from the outlet subchamber. It can include a ventilator that can operate to expel and expel the processed air from the exhaust port.

The support structure can include a floor, a roof, and four side walls.

The air handling assembly may include an intermediate cross wall interposed between the floor and the roof and at least one bulkhead extending from the cross wall to the roof, resulting in the intermediate cross wall and the roof. The roof, the plurality of sidewalls, and the at least one bulkhead define at least two air handling chambers.

At least one compressor may be placed on the support structure and operably connected to the or each evaporator coil assembly.

In another aspect, an air treatment system is provided and the air treatment system is
Support structure and
At least one air handling chamber disposed on the support structure, including an inlet subchamber and an outlet subchamber, the inlet subchamber is fluid communicating with the outlet subchamber, said or each air handling. With the chamber
It is arranged on the support structure and is arranged between the inlet subchamber and the outlet subchamber so that air passing from the inlet subchamber to the outlet subchamber passes through the coil assembly. Evaporator coil assembly and
An air supply port that communicates with the inlet subchamber and
An air handling assembly comprising said outlet subchamber and an exhaust port for fluid communication.
An air supply duct connected to the exhaust port to supply air to the area where the air is regulated and / or processed.
An air return duct connected to the air supply port to return air from the area to the air handling assembly,
A condenser having a housing having at least one inlet and at least one outlet, a fan for guiding air from the inlet or each inlet through the outlet or each outlet, and the inlet arranged in the housing. A condenser coil assembly disposed between the and the outlet and operably connected to the coil assembly.

The air conditioning system can include a compressor and expansion valve assembly operably connected to the evaporator coil assembly and the condenser coil assembly to define a refrigerant circuit.

The air conditioning system may include a system controller operably connected to the expansion valve assembly to control the operation of the expansion valve assembly.

The air heating device can be arranged in the outlet subchamber and can be operably connected to the system controller so that the system controller can control the temperature of the air discharged from the exhaust port. it can.

The air disinfection device can be placed in the outlet subchamber and operates on the system controller so that the system controller can control the disinfection process performed on the air in the outlet subchamber. Can be connected as possible.

The ventilator can be placed in the outlet subchamber, drawing air into the inlet subchamber through the air supply port, drawing air into the outlet subchamber, adjusting and adjusting from within the outlet subchamber. / Or it may be operable to expel the treated air and expel the air out of the vent, the ventilator being the volume of air expelled by the system controller from the outlet subchamber. It can be operably connected to the system controller so that the flow rate can be controlled.

In another aspect, an air conditioning method is provided, said air conditioning method.
The evaporator coil assembly is arranged between the inlet subchamber and the outlet subchamber so that air enters the outlet subchamber from the inlet subchamber through the evaporator coil assembly. A step of transferring the air into the inlet subchamber of an air handling chamber having an inlet subchamber and the outlet subchamber.
It comprises processing the air in the outlet subchamber before the air is discharged from the outlet subchamber.

[Simple description of drawings]
FIG. 1 shows a three-dimensional view of an air handling assembly for an air treatment system.

FIG. 2 shows an air handling assembly with the panel removed to show the components of the assembly.

FIG. 3A shows an enlarged view of a part of the air handling assembly.

FIG. 3B shows an internal view of the inlet subchamber of the air handling assembly.

FIG. 4 shows a schematic diagram of an air conditioning circuit including an air handling assembly.

FIG. 5 shows a three-dimensional view of a condenser assembly for an air conditioning system.

FIG. 6 shows a side sectional view of the condenser assembly of FIG.

FIG. 7 shows an air treatment system that includes the two air handling assemblies of FIG.

FIG. 8 shows a house incorporating the four air handling assemblies of FIG.

FIG. 9 shows a schematic view of a house including four air handling assemblies.

FIG. 10 shows a three-dimensional exploded view of the duct assembly for the air conditioning system.

FIG. 11 shows a three-dimensional view of the duct assembly of FIG.

FIG. 12 shows a cross-sectional view of a duct portion of the duct assembly of FIG.

FIG. 13 shows an electronic management system for an air conditioning system.

FIG. 14 shows an air treatment assembly.

FIG. 15 shows the physical architecture of the air handling assembly of FIG.

FIG. 16 shows the logical architecture of the air handling assembly of FIG.

[Detailed explanation]
1 and 2 show an air handling assembly 10 for two air treatment systems 13 suitable for treating and regulating the air supplied to each of the two areas.

The air handling assembly 10 includes a support structure 12. The two air treatment systems 13 are arranged on the support structure 12. Each air treatment system 13 includes an air handling chamber 29 having an inlet subchamber 14 and an outlet subchamber 16. The present inventor assumes that three or more air handling chambers 29 can be arranged on the support structure 12 depending on the number of areas to which air is supplied from the air handling assembly 10.

The inlet subchamber 14 is in fluid communication with the outlet subchamber 16. The evaporator coil assembly 18 is arranged on the support structure 12, and the inlet subchamber 14 and the outlet subchamber 14 and the outlet sub are arranged so that the air passing from the inlet subchamber 14 to the outlet subchamber 16 passes through the evaporator coil assembly 18. It is arranged between the chamber 16 and the chamber 16.

It is assumed that the evaporator coil assembly 18 can also be used to convey a cooling liquid such as water used for cooling. In that case, the coil assembly 18 can be connected to a cooling plant or the like that supplies cooling water through the coil assembly 18.

The air supply port 20 is in fluid communication with the inlet subchamber 14 so that the air to be processed can be supplied to the inlet subchamber 14. The exhaust port 21 is in fluid communication with the outlet subchamber 16 so that the treated air can be discharged from the outlet subchamber 16.

The support structure 12 includes an enclosure 19 having a floor 24, a roof 26, and four side walls 28, which define a volume 27 in which the components of the air handling assembly 10 are located. The enclosure 19 includes a support frame 30 to which a panel 32 defining a floor 24, a roof 26 and a plurality of side walls 28 is attached.

Each air supply port 20 is provided by an inlet vent 22 attached to the roof 26. Similarly, each exhaust port 21 is provided by an outlet vent 23 mounted on the roof 26. Each of the vents has an oval cross-sectional contour that fits the oval duct of the duct assembly described herein.

Enclosure 19 includes an intermediate side wall 34 interposed between the floor 24 and the roof 26. The partition wall 36 extends from the side wall 34 to the roof 26, so that the intermediate side wall 34, the roof 26, the plurality of side walls 28, the partition wall 36 and the coil assembly 18 define the inlet subchamber 14 and the outlet subchamber 16. To do. In this embodiment, the air handling assembly 10 includes two outlet subchambers 16 and two inlet subchambers 14 suitable for two air conditioning or air treatment systems 13, one on each side of the bulkhead 36. It is envisioned that different numbers of outlet and inlet subchambers can be provided, suitable for different numbers of air treatment systems.

The ventilator 38 is arranged in the outlet subchamber 16, and the operation of the ventilator 38 is from the inlet vent 22, through the inlet subchamber 14, the evaporator coil assembly 18, the outlet subchamber 16, and through the outlet vent 23. It is configured to create a flow of air out. The extractor 38 can include an extractor fan that can operate to extract air from the outlet subchamber 16. Therefore, the extractor fan acts as an evaporator fan. The presence of the outlet subchamber 16 allows the fan to be located away from the evaporator coil assembly 18, unlike conventional air conditioners.

The enclosure 19 includes a support tray 40 located below the side wall 34. Two refrigerant compressors 42 are attached to the support tray 40 and one is connected to each evaporator coil assembly 18 in a conventional manner.

A control box 33 containing a plurality of control devices for the assembly 10 is also included under the side wall 34.

The enclosure 19 is acoustically attenuated so that any disturbances caused by the operation of the compressor 42 and the various components within the enclosure 19 are minimized.

Therefore, it will be appreciated that an air treatment or air conditioning system that includes an air handling assembly 10 has an evaporator coil assembly 18 and a compressor 42 in a single physical location. This is different from conventional air conditioning systems where the compressor is usually located outside the house or building, away from the evaporator coil assembly 18.

This configuration is schematically shown in FIG. 4, showing a refrigerant circuit in which a dotted line defines a condenser unit or assembly 58 including an air handling assembly 10 and a condenser coil 44 and a condenser fan 46. .. As seen in FIG. 4, the configuration of FIG. 4 also shows an expansion valve 48 and an optional dryer 50. These may be in the enclosure 19 or form part of the air handling assembly 10.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the air handling assembly 10 is elongated. It is also configured to be placed vertically. In various embodiments, the air handling assembly 10 has a cross-sectional area and height suitable for placement in a closet, cupboard, or similar structure or dwelling or enclosure within a building. The inventor assumes that the air handling assembly 10 can have other shapes depending on where it is needed. As an embodiment, the enclosure 19 can be arranged horizontally such that the wall 34 is arranged vertically and acts as a bulkhead between the subchambers 14 and 16 and the compressor 42. Therefore, the air conditioning configuration of two or more air conditioning systems to supply treated and / or regulated air to each area incorporates differently shaped air handling assemblies depending on where they are needed. Can be done.

Note that most of the air can enter the outlet subchamber 16 via the evaporator coil assembly 18 and most can exit the outlet subchamber 16 via the outlet 21 during the operation of the assembly 10. I want to be. Therefore, it will be appreciated that the outlet subchamber 16 is capable of processing air and provides an area or volume physically separated from the surrounding air. This physical separation is different from other air conditioning systems.

When the operation of the assembly 10 is stopped, any backflow of air into the inlet subchamber 14 is restricted to the air already processed in the outlet subchamber 16. This air is held in the inlet subchamber 14 relatively undisturbed. Therefore, the environment within the inlet subchamber 14 can be optimally maintained to suppress mold buildup and humidity fluctuations while the assembly is not in operation. Further, at start-up, the initial volume of air is pretreated to some extent before being discharged into the outlet subchamber 16.

The enclosure 19 is configured such that the outlet subchamber 16 and the inlet subchamber 14 are substantially sealed from the inlet 20 and the outlet 21. Therefore, the outlet subchamber 16 is substantially sealed, especially between the air flows through the subchambers 14, 16. Therefore, the outlet subchamber 16 forms a convenient area or volume for processing air.

The contact time between the air and the coil of the evaporator coil assembly 18 is as perforated or perforated plate 11 shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, which is interposed between the inlet subchamber 14 and the evaporator coil assembly 18. It can be optimized by a flexible air flow divider or diffuser. The plate 11 can block the laminar flow of air through the evaporator coil assembly 18 by creating turbulence in the air flowing through the coil assembly 18. This can increase the residence time of the air in the assembly 18 and facilitate the maximum exposure of the air to the coil. The perforated plate 11 can also function to suppress or limit the drift of air from the outlet subchamber 16 to the inlet subchamber 14 when the evaporator fan is not operating. Other forms of air flow dividers or diffusers can be used in place of the plate 11. As an embodiment, the plate 11 can be replaced with a series of spaced thin plates, or any other configuration that can disturb the air before colliding with the coil.

FIG. 3B more clearly shows the perforated plate 11 viewed from the rear surface of two adjacent inlet subchambers 14 separated by a partition 15 that can be defined by a partition wall 36. In this display, the coil assembly 18 is not visible because the coil assembly 18 is located behind or downstream of the perforated plate 11. Each perforated plate 11 substantially overlaps the coil assembly 18 so that air flows through the plate 11 before colliding with the coil assembly 18.

The treatment of air can take many forms. The air handling assembly 10 may include an air treatment device 25 that is operably located inside or with respect to the outlet subchamber 16. The device 25 includes a disinfection device for disinfecting the air in the outlet subchamber 16. The disinfection device is a UV emitter 52 attached to the outlet subchamber 16 to disinfect the air and evaporator coil assembly 18.

The evaporator coil assembly 18 extends from the condensate tray 54. The condensate tray 54 collects the condensate in the form of water from the evaporator coil assembly 18. The condensate tray 54 is also exposed to the UV emitter 52 so that the water in the tray 54 can be disinfected. The disinfected water can be supplied via a condensate conduit 17 to a storage structure such as a water tank for use in a dwelling or other structure where the air handling assembly is located.

The air can also be heated by an air heater in the form of a radiant heater. As an embodiment, the radiant heater is an infrared emitter (radiator) 56 attached to the outlet subchamber 16. The infrared emitter 56 is configured to radiate infrared radiation that is applied to the evaporator coil assembly 18, thus heating the coil and thus the air passing through the coil.

Additional equipment can be installed within the outlet subchamber 16 to process the air in the outlet subchamber 16. These can include a humidifying device for adjusting the humidity level in the air released from the outlet vent 23. They can also include a humidity sensor or hygrometer for measuring the humidity in the air released from the outlet vent 23. A sensor for a hygrometer may be attached to the inlet subchamber 14 to measure the humidity in the air supplied to the inlet subchamber 14. As a result, the measurements generated by the hygrometer can be used to control the operation of the air handling assembly and control the humidity of the air in the outlet subchamber 16.

Various sensors can also be mounted within the outlet subchamber 16 to provide information about the environment within the outlet subchamber 16. The role of the sensor is described below with reference to the electronic management system.

5 and 6 show a condenser assembly or unit 58 for an air conditioning or air treatment system incorporating the air handling assembly 10.

The condenser assembly 58 includes a housing 60. The housing 60 has a mounting bracket 61 so that the condenser assembly 58 can be mounted in a desired position. The housing 60 defines an inlet 62 and two opposing exhaust ports 64. The housing 60 can define two or more inlets 62 as needed. The condenser fan 66 is installed in the housing 60 in order to draw air into the housing 60 through the inlet 20 and discharge the air from the discharge port 64. The condenser fan 66 can be the condenser fan 46 described in FIG. The condenser coil assembly 68 is disposed within the housing 60 so that air can pass through the condenser coil assembly 68 and through the exhaust port 64. The condenser coil assembly 68 may include a condenser coil 44. The condenser coil assembly 68 is connected to the evaporator coil assembly 18 and the compressor 42 via a suitable refrigerant conduit 70. This can be done according to the configuration shown in FIG. The condenser coil assembly 18 can incorporate a coil 44 configured to form part of a microchannel heat exchanger. This facilitates the low profile of the condenser assembly 58.

As can be seen from the drawings, the condenser assembly 58 has a relatively low outer shape. The condenser assembly 58 can also be acoustically dampened.

FIG. 7 shows two air treatment assemblies 80.1, 80.2 for use in a home. The air treatment assembly 80 can be used to regulate the temperature of the two respective zones 82.1, 82.2, respectively. Each air treatment assembly 80 has a supply air vent 84 and a return air vent 86. The supply air vent 84 is connected to the outlet vent 23 of the air handling assembly 10 having the outlet duct 88. The return air vent 86 is connected to an inlet vent 22 having an inlet duct 90. The supply air vent 84, the return air vent 86, and the condenser unit 58 are all mounted in the ceiling space 92.

In this case, the condenser unit 58 is configured to receive the refrigerant from both the evaporator coil assembly 18 and the compressor 42 via the refrigerant conduit 94. Alternatively, two condenser units 58 may be provided within the condenser assembly 96, and each condenser unit 58 may be associated with the respective air handling assembly 10.

By operating the condenser fan 66, air is drawn into the condenser housing 60 from the ceiling space 92 through the inlet 62. The exhaust port 64 of the condenser unit 58 is connected to each exhaust manifold 98. The manifold 98 then extends through the roof of a house or building (not shown) and is connected to each exhaust conduit 100 capable of releasing exhaust into the atmosphere.

The temperature sensor 104 is located on the condenser unit 58 to monitor and provide information about the temperature of the air in the ceiling space 92.

Hereinafter, the role of the temperature sensor 104 and the advantages of arranging the condenser unit 58 in the ceiling space 92 will be described.

FIG. 8 shows four air treatment assemblies 110 for use in the house 112. The air treatment assembly 110 can be used to regulate the temperature of each of the four zones 114 and to regulate the quality of the air within the zones 114. In this figure, the ceiling 116 is shown and the location of each component within the ceiling space 92 is referenced. In addition, each area 114 is a room.

FIG. 9 shows an air treatment system for controlling the temperature and air quality in the four areas 118. In this case, there are two condenser units 58 connected to each air handling assembly 10.

As far as the air treatment process is concerned, the condenser unit 58 is located in a dedicated area, such as a patio or balcony 120, physically separated from the area 118. The condenser unit 58 may be in a region specially configured for the location of the condenser unit 58. As an embodiment, in a building containing many residential or office spaces, it may be more convenient to have a single area containing a condenser unit that can be connected to various air handling assemblies throughout the building. ..

Refrigerant management can be a serious problem in small, closed indoor areas such as hotel rooms. The assembly of the present invention can accommodate a plurality of relatively small areas. Each area is associated with a separate air treatment system 13 having a refrigerant circuit. The refrigerant circuit includes a small inverter compressor which is a compressor 42, an evaporator including an evaporator coil assembly 18, and a condenser assembly 58, and the average volumetric refrigerant charge is less than 1 kg. Compared to conventional air conditioning systems, which typically hold up to 40-60 kg of refrigerant and can pose a risk of suffocation to the population, the condenser coil 44 described herein has a refrigerant requirement of 30- Use microchannel heat exchanger technology with a 40% reduction.

10 and 11 show an air duct assembly 122 suitable for use with an air treatment assembly. The air duct assembly 122 includes a linear conduit component 124 and a curved conduit component 126. The air duct assembly also comprises a collar 128 configured to allow linear and curved conduit components 126 to be connected to each other in a substantially hermetically sealed condition.

Each of the conduit parts 124, 126 and the associated collar 128 has an oval cross section. This allows them to have a reduced shape to facilitate placement in areas where space is valuable, such as ceiling and wall spaces.

The conduit parts 124 and 126 are made of a material having high heat insulating properties. As an example, as seen in FIG. 12, conduit parts 124, 126 can have outer liners 130 and inner liners 132 of relatively rigid material. The insulating material 134 can be interposed between the outer liner 130 and the inner liner 132. The outer and inner liners 130, 132 can be made of PVC. The insulating substance 134 can be urethane. The inventor assumes that any number of other substances can be used. The inventor has found that this arrangement provides near zero heat loss.

As can be seen from FIG. 12, a part of the liners 130 and 132 is removed from the ends of the parts 124 and 126. At this time, the collar 128 can also define the opposing annular recess 136, whereby the adjacent ends 138 of the continuous parts 124, 126 can be received in the recess 136 to connect the parts 124, 126. it can. Thus, duct components 124, 126 may be readily connected and configured with each other to fit the area or area in which the duct assembly 122 is mounted or located. Instead of being connected to each other, the duct parts can also be glued together or fixed together in any other suitable way.

When the duct components 124, 126 are connected, the holes resulting from the duct are configured to be substantially smooth and continuous.

The air treatment system includes an electronic control management system 140 schematically shown in FIG.

The control system 140 includes a system controller 142. The system controller 142 can be a PLC (programmable logic controller) or a DDC (direct digital controller) capable of controlling various components of the air processing system.

The system controller 142 can be connected to the modem 144. The air processing system can include a server 146 capable of wirelessly communicating with the system controller 142 via the modem 144. Therefore, the server 146 can be used to program the system controller 142 to automatically monitor and control various operating characteristics of the air treatment system via appropriate feedback control. As an embodiment, server 146 can be used to set up a controllable dehumidification / temperature program.

The server 146 can take various forms. As an embodiment, the server 146 may be a single data processing device. In another embodiment, the server 146 may be a large number of data processing devices connected together. The server 146 may be a virtual server or may be composed of a large number of networked mobile devices.

The system controller 142 includes a UV controller 148 for the UV emitter 52, an infrared controller 150 for the infrared emitter 56, an evaporator controller 152 for the ventilator 38, a condenser controller 154 for the condenser fan 66, and compression for the compressor 42. It can be operably connected to the machine controller 156 and the valve controller 158 for the expansion valve 48.

In various embodiments, the expansion valve 48 can be an electronic expansion valve. In this case, the valve controller 158 is a suitable expansion valve driver that can be controlled by the system controller 142. It will be appreciated that by using the electronic expansion valve 48 and associated drivers, the system controller 142 can respond to feedback signals regarding the refrigerant cycle of the processing system received from various sensors. As an embodiment, the electronic expansion valve 48 can be activated to adjust the temperature of the area according to the temperature measurements received by the system controller 142. The inventor envisions that control systems can be used in a wide variety of ways.

As an embodiment, the system controller 142 can be configured to control the operation of the UV emitter 52, either periodically or upon receipt of measurements, via the UV controller 148. For periodic operation, the UV emitter 52 can be operated on a predetermined cycle to keep the contents of the evaporator coil assembly 18 and the condensate tray 54 in a disinfected state. In addition, the system controller 142 may be configured to control the operation of the UV emitter 52 for a predetermined period of time in order to disinfect the air supplied to a particular area, eg, an area within a medical facility. In such cases, the system controller 142 can be configured to operate only the UV emitter 52 and the extractor 38 solely for the purpose of disinfecting the air. As a step up from the above configuration, the system controller 142 can be configured to operate either the infrared emitter 56 or the compressor 42 (s) to heat or cool the air, respectively.

So that the system controller 142 can operate to switch off the compressor 42 via the compressor controller 156 and activate the infrared emitter 56 via the infrared controller 150 when the area requires heating. The system controller 142 can be configured. Optionally, the UV emitter 52 can also be actuated via the UV controller 148.

Signals are transmitted to the server so that the air treatment system can be remotely monitored, controlled, informed and calibrated by using the server via the system controller 142.

As described above, the temperature sensor 104 of the condenser unit 58 is used to monitor the temperature in the ceiling space 92. The ceiling space can be extremely warm relative to the living area below the ceiling 116. It will be understood that the collision of warm air with the condenser coil is undesirable as it delays the condensation process required within the coil. The ceiling temperature sensor 104 provides the system controller 142 with a measurement of the temperature inside the ceiling 116. The system controller 142 is configured to operate the condenser fan 66 to maintain the temperature in the ceiling space 92 at a predetermined level suitable for proper operation of the air treatment system. Therefore, the system controller 142 operates the condenser fan 66 without operating the compressor 42 (s) so that the air colliding with the condenser coil at an appropriate temperature when air conditioning is required. , The ceiling space 92 is configured to be maintained at a predetermined temperature. This is achieved due to the operation of the condenser fan 66, which serves to draw air into the ceiling space 92 and out through the condenser coil assembly 18 and through the exhaust conduit 100.

Therefore, a condenser fan 66, a condenser controller 156, and a system controller 142 may be used to maintain the ceiling space 92 at the desired temperature and enhance cooling of the area (s).

It is known that it is necessary to maintain the flow of air in the ceiling space 92 in order to suppress the accumulation of heat in the living area. Attempts have been made to address this issue by placing vent assemblies on the roof of the building and communicating with the ceiling space. Such a vent assembly can include a fan that rotates so that air passes through the vent assembly. The accumulation of momentum in the fan is even more helpful in expelling air from the ceiling space. The effectiveness of such vent assemblies is limited because the air in the ceiling space is not actively directed out of the ceiling space. In this embodiment, since the condenser fan 66 performs this function, such a vent assembly is provided for the purpose of maintaining the flow of air in the ceiling space 92 and lowering the temperature of the air in the ceiling space 92. Improve.

The air treatment system includes one or more area temperature sensors 160 connected to the system controller 142, so that various components of the air treatment system are operated to maintain the desired temperature within the area. Can be done.

As can be seen from the drawings, each area has its own inlet duct 90 and outlet duct 88, the properties of which are described above. Therefore, the air in each area is restricted to a closed loop. This is different from traditional duct systems where air is distributed from the center point of the entire building to supply air to some areas. Conventional duct systems may require ducts of extended length that are prone to mold and deposit buildup. This can be unhealthy, especially for people who are prone to allergies. Other unwanted health hazards can also be posed by such molds and deposits.

As mentioned above, the duct and outlet subchamber are sealed. As a result, such accumulation of mold and deposits can be avoided. The use of UV emitters and any other air purifier in the outlet subchamber 16 can reduce the accumulation of mold and deposits. While this is beneficial in traditional dwellings, it will be easily understood that it is particularly beneficial in healthcare environments where air quality within the area is paramount. The perforated plate 11 also serves to reduce mold buildup by increasing the residence time of the treated air in the evaporator coil assembly 18.

The smoothness and continuity of the holes in the duct assembly 122 also serves to reduce the accumulation of such mold and deposits.

A problem with traditional ducts is air leaks that result in energy loss. It is not uncommon for conventional ducts to result in energy loss of up to 40%. On the other hand, the air duct assembly 122 of the air treatment system has a relatively short distance as compared with the conventional duct. Also, the construction and construction of conduit components 124, 126 provides a high level of insulation, resulting in minimal energy loss.

Each outlet vent 23 may include a filtration device or filtration device 25 for filtering the air exiting the outlet subchamber 16. The filtration device can take different forms. As an embodiment, the filtration device may be an activated carbon air purification device. The filtration device can be placed elsewhere in the duct assembly 122, depending on requirements such as space of use or convenient access for cleaning and replacement.

It will be appreciated that the quality and temperature of the air in each area is related to the single outlet subchamber 16 and the evaporator coil assembly 18. Therefore, each area can be controlled independently of a single building or other area within a dwelling. In addition, each area can be customized to suit the residents of that area. Such control is not possible with duct systems that supply conditioned air from the central point to many different areas.

A conventional air conditioning system can include an external unit that includes a compressor, a condenser coil, and a condenser fan. Such external units can be unsightly. For example, an external unit on a balcony or patio can be unsightly and noisy. It can also occupy valuable real estate. For example, in high-rise buildings, it is often necessary to place the condenser unit on the upper floor of the building. Such floors can have great real estate value, especially when providing views. In contrast, by placing the air handling assembly 10 incorporating the compressor 42 within each area, it is possible to place the associated condenser unit 58 in areas where conventional condenser units would not normally fit. Is.

Due to the relatively low outer shape of the condenser unit 58, the condenser unit 58 can be placed in a wide variety of positions. In addition, the low profile allows the condenser unit 58 to be architecturally concealed or camouflaged. As an embodiment, in certain homes, the condenser unit must be attached to the bulkhead. As a result, the ceiling height in the house can be significantly reduced. The low profile of the condenser unit 58 allows it to be placed in similar locations without sacrificing ceiling height.

The external condenser unit is vulnerable to weather or by organisms such as insects, lizards, and geckos, which can enter the condenser unit and damage internal components. The condenser unit 58 of the air handling assembly described herein can be placed indoors or in a ceiling space, where it can be protected from the above elements or from invasion by insects, lizards, and geckos. ..

In various embodiments, the condenser unit 58 can be used to heat the ceiling space 92 or sub-roof and / or wall cavity.

The UV emitter 52 provides UV germicidal irradiation capable of destroying biofilms in the form of mold, bacteria, and viruses that may be growing within the evaporator coil assembly 18. This not only improves the health and comfort of the occupants, but also saves the labor of coil maintenance and the cost of coil cleaning materials. In addition, it can extend the life of the filtration device or air purification device. As an embodiment, it can extend the life of a HEPA air filter that can be placed within the outlet vent 23 or duct assembly 122.

Traditionally, air conditioning systems have used the reverse cycle to heat the area. However, the problem with such reverse cycle systems is that the heated air is moldy and unclean. One reason for this is that the reverse cycle system does not generate enough heat to sterilize. By using the infrared emitter 56, the air treatment system can produce clean and relatively dry heated air. In some cases, the infrared emitter 56 can be configured to generate enough heat to sterilize. However, sterilization can be further enhanced by simultaneously using the UV emitter 52 to disinfect the heated air.

A further problem with reversed cycle systems is that they can have problems when operating in cold ambient conditions. It will be understood that these problems do not occur with the use of infrared emitters.

It is envisioned that any form of radiant heater can be used instead of the infrared emitter. The required function is achieved provided that the evaporator coil assembly 18 is substantially exposed to radiant heat or infrared rays.

The assembly of the present invention can address conventional thermal comfort issues by monitoring and controlling the temperature and humidity of the air exiting the assembly. As an example, in FIG. 7, the temperature within area 82.1 is sensed via a thermocouple in the return air vent 86. The assembly 10 can include carbon dioxide, volatile organic compounds, and relative humidity sensors operably arranged for inlet and outlet subchambers 14, 16. As a result, these characteristics can be controlled by the server 146 via the controller 142 and the modem 144. The supply air vent 84 can include two thermocouples to measure the actual temperature of the coil and the air-off temperature.

The assemblies of the present invention can also address draft issues where air cooling can cause discomfort in air-conditioned spaces. The assembly of the present invention operates at the temperature of the evaporator coil assembly, which is about 10 ° C lower than conventional air conditioners, and circulates conditioned air at a lower CFM (cubic foot / minute). A comfortable air-conditioned space can be maintained. As described below, this is achieved using specific evaporators that have specific characteristics such that the evaporator coil assembly 18 has about 14 fins per inch. Such an evaporator coil assembly 18 is made available by the humidification control described herein and the low heat loss achieved by the air duct assembly 122.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that during the operation of the evaporator coil assembly 18, the relative humidity (RH) of the air in the outlet subchamber 16 can be relatively low. This is a known result of cooling the air to its dew point as it passes through the coil assembly 18. The relatively dry, cold air creates an environment that inhibits mold growth. However, conventional air conditioning systems are configured to switch off the compressor when a certain temperature is reached. As soon as this happens, the relative humidity can rise, even if the air conditioning area is still at the required temperature. When the compressor is switched on again, it may take some time for the relative humidity to reach the desired level.

In various embodiments described herein, the infrared emitter can be used to expose the evaporator coil assembly 18 while the compressor is still in operation. The resulting heat prevents the compressor from shutting down and keeps the temperature at the desired level. Therefore, the operation of the infrared emitter 56 can be controlled to keep the relative humidity of the air in the outlet subchamber 16 within a certain range that inhibits mold growth.

Therefore, a hygrometer sensor or a humidity sensor 182 can be attached to the outlet subchamber 16 to measure the humidity of the air in the outlet subchamber 16. It is envisioned that the sensor 182 can be mounted anywhere else in the system where it is appropriate to measure relative humidity. However, for purposes such as sustainability and convenience, it is more appropriate to mount the sensor 182 within the outlet subchamber 16.

The sensor 182 can be connected to the controller 142. Controller 142 can be programmed to control the operation of the infrared emitter to achieve a desired relative humidity measurement within the outlet subchamber 16. As an example, the controller can be programmed to achieve a relative humidity measurement between about 40% and 60%, which has been found to be most advantageous in inhibiting mold growth. There is.

Relative humidity can also be effectively controlled by the particular configuration of the evaporator coil assembly 18. The coil temperature, the direction of the airflow over the coil, and the airflow velocity all contribute to the amount of moisture extracted from the air. The evaporator coil assembly 18 can be a dual circuit evaporator with about 14 fins per inch. This allows the evaporator coil assembly 18 to operate efficiently at lower temperatures, resulting in a greater temperature difference across the evaporator coil assembly 18, and thus the evaporator coil assembly 18. The amount of water extracted from the air passing through the air increases.

Dehumidification can also be maximized by the vertical configuration of the assembly 10. Evaporator arrangement of coil assembly 18 (preferably a height of about 800 mm) and in the vertical direction, the configuration of the configured extractor 38 as at least 2, the evaporator coil assembly by an angle of about 60 ^o Air passes over 18. As a result, the contact time between the air and the evaporator coil assembly 18 is optimized, and the dehumidification is increased accordingly. This contact time in the assembly of the present invention can be on the order of about 20 times longer than in conventional systems.

Also, in the assembly of the present invention, humidity control can be achieved when the infrared emitter 56 is used to heat the coil assembly 18 and thereby heat the air passing through the coil. Pulsation of the infrared emitter 56, which can be controlled by a PID (proportional, differential, integral) loop, makes it possible to increase dehumidification.

In addition, humidity control can be further influenced by precise control by the system of the invention with respect to the amount of refrigerant supplied to the system for optimal stable evaporator and temperature control. The system of the present invention can also control the saturated suction temperature and the compressor speed with an accuracy of 1 Hz, which can contribute to humidity control.

Of particular note is the provision of the outlet subchamber 16. The outlet subchamber 16 allows the treated air to be supplied to the area in many ways, as described above. Air can also be monitored in the outlet subchamber 16 to assess variables such as humidity, CO ₂ content, temperature and the like.

FIG. 15 shows an embodiment of the physical architecture of an air handling assembly 10 with two air treatment systems 13. With reference to the drawings above, similar reference numbers refer to similar members unless otherwise specified.

The assembly 10 includes a radio module 202 used by both air treatment systems 13. Both air treatment systems 13 are powered by a single power source 204.

Each air treatment system 13 includes a sensor module 206 connected to the wireless module 202 by a suitable interface, such as the RS485 interface. The sensor module 206 is connected to various sensors described herein, for example the hygrometer sensor 182 and thermistor 210. The sensor module 206 communicates the signals generated by these sensors with the wireless module 202 and transmits them to the remote control server 146.

Each air treatment system 13 includes an interface module 212 connected to the wireless module 202 with a suitable interface, such as the RS485 interface. Each interface module 212 is connected to a controller 214 for controlling the operation of the compressor 42, an evaporator fan 218 of the extractor 38, and a condenser fan 66. The connection between the interface module 212 and the controller 214 can be made via an appropriate communication protocol such as the MODBUS protocol.

The controller 214 can be an appropriate air conditioning controller such as a Frecon controller. The controller 214 may be the controller 142.

FIG. 16 shows an example of the logical architecture of the air handling assembly 10 for one air treatment system 13. With reference to the drawings above, similar reference numbers refer to similar members unless otherwise specified.

A carbon dioxide sensor 222 operably arranged with respect to the air supply port 224 is shown. The temperature / humidity sensor 226 is also operably arranged with respect to the air supply port 224. Both the carbon dioxide sensor 222 and the temperature / humidity sensor 226 are connected to the sensor module 206. Therefore, the data regarding the temperature and humidity at the air supply port 224 can be communicated to the server 146 or some other remote control device via the wireless module 202.

As can be seen from the figure, the thermistor 210 and the fan 66 of the condenser 44 are connected to the controller 214. The thermistor 228, evaporator fan 218 and compressor 216 in the outlet subchamber 16 are also connected to the controller 214. Next, the controller 214 is connected to the interface module 212, and the interface module 212 is connected to the wireless module 202.

Therefore, using appropriate programming in the server 146 and / or controller 214, or other appropriate configuration, the air treatment system (s) 13 are automatically controlled to have the desired temperature, hygiene and humidity characteristics. Can provide air.

Note that the term "air treatment" is used instead of "air conditioning". This is because, as is clear from the specification, the system described herein can perform significantly more than just heating or cooling air. It should be understood that the term "treatment" includes, but is not limited to, heating and cooling.

In various embodiments, an air treatment assembly 170 (FIG. 14) that can be mounted in line with the air duct assembly 122 described above is provided.

The air treatment assembly 170 includes a housing 172 that defines the air treatment chamber 174. The housing defines an inlet 178 and an outlet 180. The inlet conduit 176 of the duct assembly 122 is connected to the housing 172 at the inlet 178 to supply the air to be treated to the air treatment chamber 174. The outlet conduit 175 is connected to the outlet 180.

The air treatment chamber 174 can be fitted with various devices for treating air and measuring the quality of the air. As an embodiment, the UV emitter 52 can be placed in the chamber 174 to sterilize the air as it passes through the chamber 174. A hygrometer sensor 182 can be placed in the chamber 174 to measure the relative humidity of the air as it passes through the chamber 174. Other properties of air can be measured by arranging various other sensors, commonly shown in 184 of FIG. 14, within the chamber 174. Various components within the air treatment chamber 174 are operably connected to the controller 142 so that the quality of air passing through the chamber 174 can be measured and adjusted.

The air treatment assembly can include a filtration device for filtering the air passing through the air treatment chamber. Such a filtration device could be the formation of a HEPA air filter located at inlet 178 or outlet 180 of the air treatment assembly. The filtration device can be placed elsewhere in the duct assembly 122, depending on convenience and accessibility.

It will be appreciated that the air treatment assembly and associated ducts can be used with existing air conditioning systems.

For example, many existing air conditioning systems do not have the equipment to introduce fresh air into the area or area to be regulated. The reason may simply be a matter of system selection. However, in the other case, the reason may be related to the need to maintain a sterile environment. In both cases, the air treatment assembly 170 can be used in parallel with the existing air conditioning assembly to introduce fresh air into the air conditioning environment while maintaining the quality of the air introduced into the air conditioning environment. it can.

In another embodiment, the air treatment assembly 170 can be provided as a closed system for treating the air in the air-conditioned area.

It will be appreciated that the air processing assembly may be in the form of an air handling assembly 10 that does not have an evaporator coil assembly 18. In practice, the outlet subchamber 16 of the air handling assembly 10 is equivalent to the air treatment chamber of the air treatment assembly. Thus, the components or members of the air treatment assembly 170 can be found in the outlet subchamber 16 of the air handling assembly 10.

In the case of multiple areas such as large dwellings or buildings with many separate dwellings or offices, it will be easily understood that various air conditioning systems provide modularity not available in fluid duct systems. .. For example, in such an environment, a single air handling assembly can be removed for replacement or maintenance without interfering with the remaining air handling assembly.

In addition, such modularity allows configurations involving multiple air conditioning systems to be installed in a "turnkey" fashion with air conditioning systems adapted to fit the respective areas associated with the air conditioning system. To do.

In buildings containing multiple areas, it may be necessary to use a cooling plant to cool the condenser coils. Such cooling plants are expensive, occupy a considerable amount of space and can harbor bacteria and viruses. By using the air conditioning system of the present invention in such a building, the need for a cooling plant can be eliminated and the shortcomings of the cooling plant can be addressed.

In houses such as mansions, a high wall split system is commonly used. Such a high wall split system does not incorporate an outlet subchamber 16. Therefore, such a high wall split system cannot carry out the various air treatment processes described herein.

In the drawings, the air handling assembly 10 is shown to incorporate two evaporator coil assemblies and associated compressors for use with two air conditioning systems. It will be readily appreciated that the air handling assembly 10 can incorporate any number of evaporator coil assemblies and associated compressors, depending on the configuration of the area.

The assemblies and systems of the present invention can include full remote diagnostic control, whereby any failure can be electronically transmitted to the service support team. The internal IP address can make it possible to diagnose the failure at the remote query stage and evaluate its use for maintenance purposes.

For repair and / or maintenance purposes, the assembly configurations of the present invention allow easy access to the components. For example, if the assembly contains UV germicidal radiation due to the UV emitter 52, the evaporator coil assembly 18 does not require cleaning during the operating life of the assembly. The evaporator fan is configured to slide in and out of the assembly for easy replacement in case of failure or maintenance.

The use of common reference numbers in the above description is intended to refer to similar or similar members for ease of description. The use of such common reference numbers is not intended to indicate that the members are identical. The members described in the various embodiments are interchangeable if practical.

The appended claims are believed to be incorporated into the above description.

Throughout the specification, including the claims, the word "comprising" and its variants, such as "comprise" or "comprises," are not necessarily any other, where the context allows. It should be construed as including one or more of the described perfects without excluding the perfects.

It should be understood that the terminology used above is for illustration purposes only and should not be considered limiting. The embodiments described are intended to be exemplary without limitation of their scope. The present invention can be implemented with various modifications and additions, as will be readily recalled to those skilled in the art.

A three-dimensional diagram of an air handling assembly for an air treatment system is shown. An air handling assembly with the panel removed is shown to show the components of the assembly. An enlarged view of a part of the air handling assembly is shown. An internal view of the inlet subchamber of the air handling assembly is shown. A schematic diagram of an air conditioning circuit including an air handling assembly is shown. A three-dimensional diagram of a condenser assembly for an air conditioning system is shown. A side sectional view of the condenser assembly of FIG. 5 is shown. An air treatment system including the two air handling assemblies of FIG. 1 is shown. A house incorporating the four air handling assemblies of FIG. 1 is shown. A schematic diagram of a house including four air handling assemblies is shown. A three-dimensional exploded view of a duct assembly for an air conditioning system is shown. A three-dimensional view of the duct assembly of FIG. 10 is shown. The cross-sectional view of the duct part of the duct assembly of FIG. 10 is shown. An electronic management system for an air conditioning system is shown. The air treatment assembly is shown. The physical architecture of the air handling assembly of FIG. 1 is shown. The logical architecture of the air handling assembly of FIG. 1 is shown.

Claims (18)

Support structure and
At least one air handling chamber disposed on the support structure, including an inlet subchamber and an outlet subchamber, the inlet subchamber is fluid communicating with the outlet subchamber, said or each air handling. With the chamber
It is arranged on the support structure and is arranged between the inlet subchamber and the outlet subchamber so that air passing from the inlet subchamber to the outlet subchamber passes through the coil assembly. With the coil assembly
An air supply port that communicates with the inlet subchamber and
An air handling assembly comprising the outlet subchamber and an exhaust port for fluid communication. The air handling assembly according to claim 1, wherein the coil assembly is an evaporator coil assembly. The air handling assembly according to claim 1, further comprising an air treatment device arranged in the above or each outlet subchamber. The air handling assembly according to claim 3, wherein the air treatment device includes an air heating device. The air treatment device comprises an infrared emitter arranged on the evaporator coil assembly to direct infrared light so as to heat the coil assembly so that the air passing through the coil assembly is heated. Item 3. The air handling assembly according to item 3. The air handling assembly according to claim 3, wherein the air treatment device includes a disinfection device for disinfecting the air in the outlet subchamber. The air handling according to claim 6, wherein the air treatment apparatus includes a UV emitter arranged so as to direct UV rays onto the evaporator coil assembly in order to disinfect the air passing through the coil assembly. Assembly. Air is drawn into the inlet subchamber through the air supply port, air is drawn into the outlet subchamber through the coil assembly, and air is processed from the outlet subchamber 16 through the exhaust port. The air handling assembly according to claim 1, comprising a ventilator that can operate to exhaust the air. The air handling assembly according to claim 1, wherein the support structure includes a floor, a roof, and four side walls. An intermediate side wall interposed between the floor and the roof and at least one partition wall extending from the side wall to the roof are included, resulting in the intermediate side wall, the roof, and the plurality of side walls. The air handling assembly according to claim 9, wherein the at least one bulkhead defines at least two air handling chambers. The air handling assembly according to claim 2, wherein at least one compressor is arranged on the support structure and operably connected to the or each evaporator coil assembly. Support structure and
At least one air handling chamber disposed on the support structure, including an inlet subchamber and an outlet subchamber, the inlet subchamber is fluid communicating with the outlet subchamber, said or each air handling. With the chamber
It is arranged on the support structure and is arranged between the inlet subchamber and the outlet subchamber so that air passing from the inlet subchamber to the outlet subchamber passes through the coil assembly. Evaporator coil assembly and
An air supply port that communicates with the inlet subchamber and
An air handling assembly comprising said outlet subchamber and an exhaust port for fluid communication.
An air supply duct connected to the exhaust port to supply air to the area where the air is regulated and / or processed.
An air return duct connected to the air supply port to return air from the area to the air handling assembly,
A condenser having a housing having at least one inlet and at least one outlet, a fan for guiding air from the inlet or each inlet through the outlet or each outlet, and the inlet arranged in the housing. An air treatment system comprising a condenser coil assembly disposed between and operably connected to the coil assembly. The air conditioning system according to claim 12, further comprising a compressor and expansion valve assembly operably connected to the evaporator coil assembly and the condenser coil assembly. 13. The air conditioning system of claim 13, comprising a system controller operably connected to the expansion valve assembly to control the operation of the expansion valve assembly. The air heating device is located in the outlet subchamber and is operably connected to the system controller so that the system controller can control the temperature of the air discharged from the exhaust port. 14. The air conditioning system according to 14. The air disinfectant is located in the outlet subchamber and operably connected to the system controller so that the system controller can control the disinfection process performed on the air in the outlet subchamber. The air conditioning system according to claim 14. Air is drawn into the inlet subchamber through the air supply port, air is drawn into the outlet subchamber through the evaporator coil assembly, and adjusted and / or adjusted from the outlet subchamber through the exhaust port. Alternatively, the system includes a ventilator that can operate to expel the treated air, the system so that the system controller can control the volumetric flow rate of air expelled from the outlet subchamber. The air conditioning system according to claim 14, which is operably connected to a controller. The inlet subchamber is located between the inlet subchamber and the outlet subchamber so that air enters the outlet subchamber through the evaporator coil assembly from the inlet subchamber. A step of transferring the air into the inlet subchamber of an air handling chamber having a chamber and the outlet subchamber.
An air conditioning method comprising treating the air in the outlet subchamber before the air is discharged from the outlet subchamber.

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