Airflow economizer and method for operating the same

Abstract

An economizer, and a method for operating the same, is provided having a housing with external airflow section and an internal airflow section. The external airflow section includes one or more external flow blades mounted in an external airflow path. The external flow blades are selectively rotatable between an open position and a substantially closed position. The internal airflow section includes one or more internal flow blades mounted in an internal airflow path. The internal flow blades are selectively rotatable between an open position and a substantially closed position. Each internal flow blade includes a leading portion. The leading portion of each internal flow blade is substantially parallel to the internal airflow path when the internal flow blades are disposed in the open position. The external flow blades and the internal flow blades are linked together such that when the internal flow blades are in the open position, the external flow blades are in the substantially closed position, and when the internal flow blades are in the substantially closed position, the external flow blades are in the open position.

1 . An economizer, comprising:
 a housing having an external airflow section that includes one or more external flow blades mounted in an external airflow path, which external flow blades are selectively rotatable between an open position and a substantially closed position, and an internal airflow section that includes one or more internal flow blades mounted in an internal airflow path, which internal flow blades are selectively rotatable between an open position and a substantially closed position, wherein each internal flow blade includes a leading portion;   wherein the leading portion of each internal flow blade is substantially parallel to the internal airflow path when the internal flow blades are disposed in the open position; and   wherein the external flow blades and the internal flow blades are linked together such that when the internal flow blades are in the open position, the external flow blades are in the substantially closed position, and when the internal flow blades are in the substantially closed position, the external flow blades are in the open position.   
     
     
         2 . The economizer of  claim 1 , further comprising a linkage assembly proportionally linking the external flow blades to the internal flow blades such that the external flow blades each rotate two degrees for every one degree the internal flow blades rotate. 
     
     
         3 . The economizer of  claim 2 , where the external flow blades are rotatable approximately ninety degrees between the open position and the substantially closed position, and the internal flow blades are rotatable approximately forty five degrees between the open position and substantially closed position. 
     
     
         4 . The economizer of  claim 2 , where the linkage assembly comprises at least one linkage gear, at least one external flow blade gear and at least one internal flow blade gear, wherein each the external flow blade gear is attached to one of the external flow blades, each internal flow blade gear is attached to one of the internal flow blades, and the linkage gear is in mesh with the external flow blade gear and internal flow blade gear. 
     
     
         5 . The economizer of  claim 4 , where the external airflow section has a plurality of external flow blades each attached to an external flow blade gear, and where the internal airflow section has a plurality of internal flow blades each attached to an internal flow blade gear. 
     
     
         6 . The economizer of  claim 5 , where the linkage assembly further comprises at least one idler gear linking the internal flow blade gears. 
     
     
         7 . The economizer of  claim 6 , where the external airflow path extends between a first airflow inlet and a first airflow outlet, and where the internal airflow path extends between a second airflow inlet and a second airflow outlet. 
     
     
         8 . The economizer of  claim 7 , where the internal flow blades are substantially perpendicular to the second airflow inlet when the internal flow blades are in the open position. 
     
     
         9 . The economizer of  claim 2 , where the linkage assembly comprises a plurality of actuators in communication with a processor, where each actuator is coupled to one of the external flow blades or one of the internal flow blades and operational to rotate the blade between the open and the closed positions. 
     
     
         10 . The economizer of  claim 2 , where the internal airflow section further comprises at least one exhaust damper pivotally mounted in an airflow exhaust path, which damper is operable to open or close the airflow exhaust path. 
     
     
         11 . The economizer of  claim 10 , where the airflow exhaust path extends from the second airflow inlet to an airflow exhaust. 
     
     
         12 . The economizer of  claim 2 , wherein the external airflow section is configured to regulate an outdoor airflow, and wherein the internal airflow section is configured to regulate an indoor airflow. 
     
     
         13 . A method for operating an economizer, comprising the steps of:
 providing a housing having an external airflow section with one or more external flow blades rotatably mounted in an external airflow path, which external flow blades are operable to be positioned in an open position where the external airflow path is open and a substantially closed position where the external airflow path is substantially closed, and an internal airflow section with one or more internal flow blades rotatably mounted in an internal airflow path, which internal flow blades are operable to be positioned in an open position where the internal airflow path is open and a substantially closed position where the internal airflow path is substantially closed, wherein each internal flow blade includes a leading portion, and in the internal flow blade open position the leading portion of each internal flow blade is substantially parallel to the internal airflow path;   rotating one or more external flow blade gears between an open position and a substantially closed position to vary a quantity of an outdoor airflow traveling through the external airflow path; and   rotating one or more interior flow blade gears proportionally to the external flow blade gears, and thereby rotating the interior flow blade gears between a substantially closed position and an open position to vary a quantity of an indoor airflow traveling through the internal airflow path;   wherein the quantity of the outdoor airflow is inversely related to the quantity of indoor airflow.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising the step of providing a linkage assembly linking the external flow blades to the internal flow blades. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , where the external flow blades are rotated two degrees for every one degree the internal flow blades are rotated. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , where the internal airflow section further includes at least one damper pivotally mounted in an airflow exhaust path, which damper is operable to open or close the airflow exhaust path.