Energy efficient HVAC system

摘要

An energy efficient HVAC system. The system provides a bypass air supply duct, an air handler having a bypass air supply circuit, and an air supply unit that utilize return air as a source of heat that would otherwise need to be provided by a heating coil if the air, cooled sufficiently to service interior zones of a building, is too cold for servicing perimeter zones of the building, as is typically the case when the outside air temperature is low.

主权项

1. An air handler for ventilating and cooling a building having a return air duct for returning air from the building to the air handler, the air handler comprising a cold air circuit including at least one cold air supply fan and one or more dampers for drawing first return air from the return air duct and first outside air in a first, adjustable proportion to produce a first outside/return air mixture, and for propelling the first outside/return air mixture past a cooling coil adapted to provide for cooling or not cooling the first outside/return air mixture as needed or desired to provide a cold air supply of cold air at a cold air temperature T1 to the building, and a bypass air circuit including a bypass air supply fan and one or more dampers for drawing second return air from the return air duct and second outside air in a second proportion to produce a second outside/return air mixture, resulting in bypass air at a bypass air temperature T2, and for propelling the bypass air to the building as a bypass air supply in parallel with and separated from the cold air supply, wherein, at the air handler during normal operation thereof, the cold air temperature T1 is at least 5 degrees Fahrenheit lower than the bypass air temperature T2, and wherein the air handler is configured to provide for selecting said second proportion as needed or desired for use in the bypass air supply; at least one remotely located air supply unit, the air handler and air supply unit being in fluid communication through at least two additional ducts in the building, namely, a cold air supply duct and a bypass air supply duct, the air handler adapted to that the cold air supply fan propels the outside/return air mixture to the cold air supply duct and the bypass air supply fan propels the second return air to the bypass air supply duct; wherein the at least one air supply unit includes one or more dampers adapted to provide for at least one of two modes of operation of the at least one air supply unit, namely, either (A) selecting an un-mixed air supply from the bypass air supply duct, or (B) mixing air from the bypass air supply duct with air from the cold air supply duct in an adiustable proportion as needed or desired to meet a heating or cooling requirement in the building; the at least one air supply unit in fluid communication with at least one additional duct in the building, namely, a hot air supply duct, the air handler adapted so that the bypass air supply fan draws third return air from the return air duct and propels the third return air past a heater and thence to the at least one air supply unit through the hot air supply duct as a hot air supply at a hot air temperature T3, wherein, at the air handler during normal operation thereof, the hot air temperature T3 is at least 5 degrees Fahrenheit higher than the bypass air temperature T2.