Systems and methods to moderate airflow

Abstract

A system and method to moderate an airflow in a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) unit, including an evaporator portion disposed in a housing, the evaporator portion including at least one blower disposed within a plenum in airflow communication with a first heat exchanger, the plenum including at least one plenum wall, a vortex control device operably coupled to the at least one plenum wall.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) unit, comprising:
 an evaporator portion disposed in a housing, the evaporator portion comprising: a first heat exchanger;   at least one blower disposed within a plenum in airflow communication with the first heat exchanger, the plenum comprising at least one plenum wall; and   a vortex control device operably coupled to the at least one plenum wall.   
     
     
         2 . The HVAC unit of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one blower comprises a fan disposed within a fan shroud and rotatable around a fan hub. 
     
     
         3 . The HVAC unit of  claim 2 , wherein the vortex control device comprises a thickness dimension that is equal to or greater than 0.01 inches and equal to or less than 2.0 inches. 
     
     
         4 . The HVAC unit of  claim 3 , wherein the vortex control device comprises a length dimension that is equal to or greater than 0.25 times and equal to or less than 1.5 times, the height of the at least one plenum wall. 
     
     
         5 . The HVAC unit of  claim 4 , wherein the vortex control device comprises a width dimension that is equal to or greater than 0.5 times the diameter of the fan hub and equal to or less than 3.0 times the diameter of the fan shroud. 
     
     
         6 . The HVAC unit of  claim 5 , wherein the vortex control device comprises a flat plate having a perforated surface. 
     
     
         7 . The HVAC unit of  claim 6 , wherein the vortex control device extends outwardly from the at least one plenum wall by a straight angle equal to or greater than 5 degrees and less than or equal to 75 degrees. 
     
     
         8 . The HVAC unit of  claim 5 , wherein the vortex control device comprises a plate having an arcuate shape and a perforated surface. 
     
     
         9 . The HVAC unit of  claim 8 , wherein the vortex control device extends outwardly from the at least one plenum wall, at an arc angle equal to or greater than 5 degrees and equal to or less than 75 degrees. 
     
     
         10 . A method for controlling an airflow in a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) unit comprising at least one blower disposed within a plenum in airflow communication with a first heat exchanger, wherein the at least one blower is disposed in a fan shroud and rotatable around a fan hub, the method comprising:
 attaching a vortex control device to at least one plenum wall; and   operating the blower to direct an airflow into the housing.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one blower comprises a fan. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising, configuring the vortex control device to have a thickness dimension that is equal to or greater than 0.01 inches and equal to or less than 2.0 inches. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising, configuring the vortex control device to have a length dimension that is equal to or greater than 0.25 times and equal to or less than 1.5 times, the height of the at least one plenum wall. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising, configuring the vortex control device to have a width dimension that is equal to or greater than 0.5 times the diameter of the fan hub and equal to or less than 2.0 times the diameter of the fan shroud. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising, configuring the vortex control device as a flat plate having a perforated surface. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising, configuring the vortex control device to extend outwardly from the at least one plenum wall by a straight angle equal to or greater than 5 degrees and less than or equal to 75 degrees. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising, configuring the vortex control device as a plate having an arcuate shape and a perforated surface. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  further comprising, configuring the vortex control device to extend outwardly from the at least one plenum wall, at an arc angle equal to or greater than 5 degrees and equal to or less than 75 degrees.