Devices, systems and methods relating to hvac systems that provide an implicit partition between at least two abutting environments in a defined large open space

Abstract

Systems, devices and methods, etc., comprising at least two separate and distinct environmental climate control devices that both serve the mixed use open space, and which environmental climate control devices are centrally controlled to provide at least two different HVAC-controlled zones, for example to differentiate between the zones according to at least one of temperature, humidity, pressure or contaminant level.

1 . A heating ventilation cooling (HVAC) system comprising:
 at least two separate and distinct environmental climate control devices, the at least two separate and distinct environmental climate control devices both serving a single mixed use open space consisting essentially of a large open space having at least a first selected temperature zone abutting a second selected temperature zone;   a central uniform control unit operably connected to the at least two separate and distinct environmental climate control devices to control combined operation of the separate and distinct distinct environmental climate control devices, the central uniform control unit also operably connected to at least a first temperature sensor located in the first selected temperature zone and to a second temperature sensor located in the second selected temperature zone; wherein,   the central uniform control unit is further configured such that, based on a first selected temperature set point for the first selected temperature zone, a second selected temperature set point for the second selected temperature zone, wherein the second selected temperature set point is different from the first selected temperature set point, and on information from the first and second temperature sensors, the central uniform control unit controls combined operation of the at least two separate and distinct environmental climate control devices to establish substantially different temperatures between the first and second selected temperature zones.   
     
     
         2 . The heating ventilation cooling (HVAC) system of  claim 1  wherein the at least two separate and distinct environmental climate control devices comprise at least one radiant heater and at least one direct fired heater. 
     
     
         3 . The heating ventilation cooling (HVAC) system of  claim 2  wherein the central uniform control unit controls equipment staging for the direct fired heater based on information from a pressure sensor centrally located in the mixed use open space and operably connected to the central uniform control unit. 
     
     
         4 . The heating ventilation cooling (HVAC) system of  claim 1  wherein the at least two separate and distinct environmental climate control devices comprise at least one climate control heating device and at least one climate control cooling device.  5 . (Currently Amended) The heating ventilation cooling (HVAC) system of  claim 1  wherein the at least two separate and distinct environmental climate control devices comprise at least two climate control heating devices and at least one climate control cooling device. 
     
     
         6 . The heating ventilation cooling (HVAC) system of  claim 1  wherein the at least two separate and distinct environmental climate control devices further comprise at least one ventilation device, and the central uniform control unit controls, via the ventilation device, ventilation in the mixed use open space to support the substantially different temperatures between the first and second selected temperature zones. 
     
     
         7 . The heating ventilation cooling (HVAC) system of  claim 1  wherein the system further comprises at least one pressure sensor operably connected to the central uniform control unit such that the central uniform control unit selectively controls air pressure in the mixed use open space to support the substantially different temperatures between the first and second selected temperature zones. 
     
     
         8 . The heating ventilation cooling (HVAC) system of  claim 1  wherein the system further comprises at least one contaminant sensor operably connected to the central uniform control unit such that the central uniform control unit selectively controls HVAC in the mixed use open space based on information provided by the contaminant sensor. 
     
     
         9 . The heating ventilation cooling (HVAC) system of  claim 8  wherein the contaminant comprises at least one of carbon monoxide (CO) or nitrous oxide (NOX). 
     
     
         10 . The heating ventilation cooling (HVAC) system of  claim 1  wherein the first selected temperature zone having the first temperature is configured to be occupied by people and the selected temperature zone having the second, substantially different temperature is configured to not be occupied by people. 
     
     
         11 . The heating ventilation cooling (HVAC) system of  claim 10  wherein the system further comprises at least one occupancy sensor operably connected to the central uniform control unit. 
     
     
         12 . The heating ventilation cooling (HVAC) system of  claim 11  wherein the central uniform control unit is configured to adjust the temperature in the first selected temperature zone when the occupancy sensor senses people in the first selected temperature zone. 
     
     
         13 . The heating ventilation cooling (HVAC) system of  claim 1  wherein the large open space is at least one of a factory, a warehouse, or a distribution center 
     
     
         14 . The heating ventilation cooling (HVAC) system of  claim 1  wherein each separate and distinct environmental climate control device of the HVAC equipment operates in stand-alone mode according to its stand-alone sequence of operations in the absence of instructions from the central uniform control unit. 
     
     
         15 . The heating ventilation cooling (HVAC) system of  claim 1  wherein the central uniform control unit controls the separate and distinct environmental climate control devices to provide outside air in quantities greater than needed solely for heating of the first and second selected temperature zones. 
     
     
         16 . The heating ventilation cooling (HVAC) system of  claim 1  wherein the central uniform control unit controls equipment staging for the direct fired heaters based on a centralized pressure control. 
     
     
         17 - 37 . (canceled) 
     
     
         38 . A method comprising manufacturing a heating ventilation cooling (HVAC) system, the method comprising:
 in a single mixed use open space consisting essentially of a large open space, providing at least two separate and distinct environmental climate control devices, the two separate and distinct environmental climate control devices configured to serve the single mixed use open space to create within the large open space of the single mixed use open space at least a first selected temperature zone abutting a second selected temperature zone;   operably connecting a central uniform control unit to control the at least two environmental climate control devices, the central uniform control unit configured to control combined operation of the separate and distinct environmental climate control devices, the central uniform control unit also operably connected to at least a first temperature sensor located in the first selected temperature zone and to a second temperature sensor located in a second selected temperature zone; wherein,   configuring the central uniform control unit such that, based on a first selected temperature set point for the first selected temperature zone, a second selected temperature set point for the second selected temperature zone, which second selected temperature set point is different from the first selected temperature set point, and on information from the first and second temperature sensors, the central uniform control unit controls combined operation of the at least two separate and distinct environmental climate control devices to establish substantially different temperatures between the first and second selected temperature zones.   
     
     
         39 . A method comprising establishing substantially different temperatures between the first and second selected temperature zones in the single mixed use open space consisting essentially of a large open space according to  claim 1  using the at least two separate and distinct environmental climate control devices according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         40 . (canceled) 
     
     
         41 . A building comprising the heating ventilation cooling (HVAC) system of  claim 1 .