Variable air volume multi-zone system and method thereof

Abstract

This disclosure relates to a heating, ventilating, and/or air-conditioning (HVAC) system. More particularly, this disclosure describes a variable air volume (VAV) multi-zone system that removes cooperating mixing dampers on a typical multi-zone unit with two separate and independent hot and cold deck dampers for each zone. In an illustrative embodiment, the VAV multi-zone system may partition a hot deck and cool deck with damper section zones. Each damper section zone may correspond to a zone within a plurality of zones. A controller within the VAV system may modulate a hot and cold deck damper associated with each damper section zone based on a temperature set point of each zone. The temperature set point may be established through a thermostat located in each zone. A pressure may be maintained by adjusting airflow based on the modulated hot and cold deck dampers for the damper section zones.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for controlling a heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) system for a plurality of zones, the apparatus comprising:
 an airflow source providing variable airflow;   a hot deck partitioned by a plurality of hot deck dampers, each hot deck damper corresponding to a zone within the plurality of zones;   a cool deck partitioned by a plurality of cold deck dampers, each cold deck damper corresponding to a zone within the plurality of zones;   a plurality of thermostat devices measuring a temperatures within the plurality of zones;   a controller in communication with the airflow source, plurality of hot deck dampers and cold deck dampers, and the plurality of thermostat devices, wherein the controller:
 opens the hot deck damper and closes the cold deck damper of a zone within the plurality of zones when a temperature of the zone is below a predetermined value of a temperature set point for the zone; 
 closes the hot deck damper and opens the cold deck damper of a zone within the plurality of zones when a temperature of the zone is above a predetermined value of a temperature set point for the zone; and 
 maintaining a pressure by adjusting the variable airflow of the airflow source. 
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , comprising a pressure sensor to maintain the pressure within the HVAC system. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , comprising a heating coil for the hot deck and a cooling coil for the cold deck. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , comprising a hot water element for the hot deck and a cold water element for the cold deck. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of hot and cold deck dampers are independent of one another. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein maintaining the pressure by adjusting the variable airflow comprises setting a fan speed of the airflow source to meet an expelled air flow rate for each zone of the plurality of zones. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the expelled air flow rate is adjusted based on the opening and closing of the plurality of hot and cold deck dampers. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of thermostat devices within the plurality of zones are adjustable to establish the temperature set point. 
     
     
         9 . A method of controlling the temperature for a plurality of zones with airflow, the method comprising:
 partitioning a hot deck and cool deck with damper section zones with each damper section zone corresponding to a zone within the plurality of zones;   modulating a hot and cold deck damper associated with each damper section zone based on a temperature set point of each zone; and   maintaining a pressure by adjusting the airflow based on the modulated hot and cold deck dampers for each damper section zone.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein modulating the hot and cold deck damper associated with each damper section zone comprises:
 opening the hot deck damper and closing the cold deck damper of the zone when a temperature of the zone is below a predetermined value of a temperature set point of the zone; and   closing the hot deck damper and opening the cold deck damper of the when a temperature of the zone is above a predetermined value of a temperature set point of the zone.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , comprising setting the temperature set point of the zone through a thermostat device within the zone. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein maintaining the pressure set point by adjusting the airflow comprises setting a fan speed of the airflow source to meet the expelled air flow rate on each zone of the plurality of zones. 
     
     
         13 . A temperature control system for a plurality of zones comprising:
 an airflow source providing airflow to the plurality of zones;   an airflow measurement device measuring the airflow to the plurality of zones;   a plurality of thermostat devices measuring a temperature within each zone of the plurality of zones;   a heating device heating the airflow and a cooling device cooling the airflow, wherein the heating and cooling device are partitioned by damper section zones with each damper section zone corresponding to a zone within the plurality of zones and having a hot and cold deck damper; and   a controller in communication with the airflow measurement device and the plurality of thermostats to adjust the airflow and the temperature within each zone through the airflow source, and hot and cold deck dampers for each damper section zone.   
     
     
         14 . The temperature control system of  claim 13 , wherein the airflow source is a plenum fan having variable fan speeds. 
     
     
         15 . The temperature control system of  claim 13 , wherein the airflow measurement device is an adjustable pressure transducer. 
     
     
         16 . The temperature control system of  claim 13 , wherein adjusting the temperature comprises modulating the hot and cold deck dampers associated with each damper section zone based on a heating or cooling temperature set point provided to a thermostat of each zone. 
     
     
         17 . The temperature control system of  claim 16 , wherein the controller adjusts the airflow to the zone by at least partially opening the hot deck damper and at least partially closing the cold deck damper when the temperature of the zone is below the heating temperature set point and the airflow is below a predetermined value. 
     
     
         18 . The temperature control system of  claim 16 , wherein the controller adjusts the airflow to the zone by at least partially closing the hot deck damper and at least partially opening the cold deck damper when the temperature of the zone is above the cooling temperature set point and the airflow is below a predetermined value. 
     
     
         19 . The temperature control system of  claim 13 , wherein the hot deck damper and the cold deck damper are separated by a channel. 
     
     
         20 . The temperature control system of  claim 13 , wherein the heating device is a hot water element and the cooling device is a cold water element.