Patent · US Expired

Controlling energy in an air-conditioning system

US4506514A · kind A · utility

21Cited by
2References
17Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateApr 30, 1984
Grant dateMar 26, 1985
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 30, 2004

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02B30/54
  • WIPO fieldThermal processes and apparatus
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A system for minimizing the energy consumption in a central air conditioning unit incorporating a refrigeration unit which is normally in operation to supplement or substitute for the cooling effect of outside air. The system employs sensor to sense the enthalpy of the return air entering the unit from the work space, the outside air entering the unit from the outside, and the washer air discharged into the work space from the unit, and controls the operation of the unit in accordance with the relative levels of enthalpy at these points. The energy content of the discharged washer air may be modified by modulating dampers controlling the proportion of outside and recirculated air, and also by modulating the washer which provides evaporative cooling and, in addition, cooling by refrigeration. The controls keep the outdoor air dampers normally closed when the enthalpy of the outdoor air is higher than the enthalpy of the return air and keep the outdoor air dampers normally opened when the enthalpy of the outside air is less than the enthalpy of the return air. Regulating means provide auxiliary signals to modulate the dampers to avoid adversely affecting the conditioning effect of th…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.