PTAC Unit with Dynamic Intelligent Air Management System and Method of Use

Abstract

A refrigerated air conditioning unit partitioned into an inside plenum and an outside plenum and having a single refrigeration loop, a single evaporator, and a recirculated air stream, the unit also having a dynamic intelligent air management system (DIAMS) internal to the unit that is cooperatively configured and operable to continuously introduce preconditioned fresh air directly into the recirculated air stream whenever the unit is operating and to exercise control over a mixed air flow discharged from the unit into an identified space to achieve a desired air temperature and humidity within the identified space.

1 - 25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . A refrigerated air conditioning unit partitioned into an inside plenum and an outside plenum and having a single refrigeration loop, a single evaporator, and a recirculated air blower operable to produce a recirculated air stream into an identified space whenever the unit is operating, the unit further comprising:
 a fresh air duct, a fresh air blower, and a dynamic intelligent air management system (DIAMS) internal to the unit that are cooperatively configured and operable to continuously introduce a preconditioned fresh air stream directly into the recirculated air stream whenever the unit is operating and to exercise control over a mixed air flow discharged from the unit into the identified space to achieve a desired temperature and humidity within the identified space;   wherein the fresh air duct comprises an inlet section, a damper section and a fresh air blower section into which a stream of fresh air is drawn from outdoors by the fresh air blower and is preconditioned and then discharged from the fresh air blower into a preconditioned fresh air redirection and distribution guide to be redirected, distributed and discharged across the inside plenum to intermix the preconditioned fresh air stream with the recirculated air stream;   wherein the damper section of the fresh air duct comprises a damper that is opened fully by a damper motor controlled by a digital controller of the DIAMS and remains open whenever the recirculated air blower is operating but is closed by the damper motor whenever the fresh air blower is not operating to prevent noise, dust and other airborne debris from entering the identified space; and   wherein the fresh air duct further comprises at least one fresh air filtering apparatus that is located between the damper and the fresh air blower and is accessible from inside the identified space.   
     
     
         27 . The refrigerated air conditioning unit of  claim 26  wherein the damper motor is controlled by the digital controller of the DIAMS to keep the damper open when the fresh air blower is operating but the single refrigeration loop is not operating. 
     
     
         28 . The refrigerated air conditioning unit of  claim 26  wherein the damper motor is configured and controlled by the digital controller of the DIAMS to open the damper when the unit is operating and to close the damper when the unit is not operating. 
     
     
         29 . The refrigerated air conditioning unit of  claim 26  further comprising at least one air purification apparatus. 
     
     
         30 . The refrigerated air conditioning unit of  claim 29  wherein the fresh air duct comprises at least one air purification apparatus. 
     
     
         31 . The refrigerated air conditioning unit of  claim 30  wherein the at least one air purification apparatus is located between the fresh air inlet and the damper. 
     
     
         32 . The refrigerated air conditioning unit of  claim 26  wherein the at least one fresh air filtering apparatus is selected from the group consisting of: filter screens;
 activated carbon, fiberglass or cotton filters; and ultrafiltration apparatus. 
 
     
     
         33 . The refrigerated air conditioning unit of  claim 30  wherein the at least one air purification apparatus are selected from the group consisting of electrostatic precipitators and ultraviolet sterilization apparatus. 
     
     
         34 . The refrigerated air conditioning unit of  claim 26  wherein the fresh air duct further comprises at least one preheater. 
     
     
         35 . The refrigerated air conditioning unit of  claim 34  wherein the at least one preheater is configured to preheat the fresh air stream using at least one electrical resistance heating element. 
     
     
         36 . The refrigerated air conditioning unit of  claim 26  wherein the fresh air blower is configured to discharge preconditioned fresh air into a preconditioned fresh air discharge section further comprising a preconditioned fresh air redirection guide, a preconditioned fresh air distribution guide, a plurality of laterally spaced-apart air distribution baffles, and a laterally extending deflector. 
     
     
         37 . The refrigerated air conditioning unit of  claim 36  wherein the fresh air duct sequentially redirects the preconditioned fresh air stream through at least two substantially perpendicular bends prior to intermixing the preconditioned fresh air stream with the recirculated air stream. 
     
     
         38 . The refrigerated air conditioning unit of  claim 26  wherein the DIAMS comprises a digital controller that is communicatively linked to a damper motor, a fresh air blower, a first temperature and humidity sensor positioned to sense the temperature and humidity of the fresh air stream, a second temperature and humidity sensor positioned to sense the temperature and humidity of the recirculated air stream, and a control panel with a display screen. 
     
     
         39 . The refrigerated air conditioning unit of  claim 26  wherein the digital controller is configured to communicate with the damper motor to selectively open and close a damper located in the fresh air stream to thereby allow or block air flow past the damper. 
     
     
         40 . The refrigerated air conditioning unit of  claim 26  wherein the digital controller is configured to communicate with the fresh air blower to control the speed of the fresh air blower. 
     
     
         41 . The refrigerated air conditioning unit of  claim 26  further comprising a first temperature and humidity sensor located in the fresh air stream and upstream of the fresh air blower. 
     
     
         42 . The refrigerated air conditioning unit of  claim 41  further comprising a second temperature and humidity sensor positioned to sense the temperature and humidity of the recirculated air stream. 
     
     
         43 . The refrigerated air conditioning unit of  claim 26  wherein the refrigerated air conditioning unit is selected from the group consisting of PTAC, VTAC, split and unitary air conditioners. 
     
     
         44 . The refrigerated air conditioning unit of  claim 26  when operated in an operational mode selected from the group consisting of:
 fresh air control in heat, cool or fan mode; 
 humidity control in dry mode; and 
 heat recovery venting. 
 
     
     
         45 . The refrigerated air conditioning unit of  claim 26  having a rated volumetric throughput, wherein the preconditioned fresh air stream is introduced into the recirculated air stream at a second volumetric throughput that ranges from about four percent (4%) to about fourteen percent (14%) of the rated volumetric throughput. 
     
     
         46 . A refrigerated air conditioning unit having a single refrigeration loop and a single evaporator to selectively control air temperature and humidity within an identified space, the subject unit comprising:
 a fresh air duct further comprising a normally open internal damper;   a variable speed fresh air blower positioned to draw a stream of fresh outside air through the fresh air duct;   an apparatus useful for preconditioning the stream of fresh outside air passing through the fresh air duct; and   a preconditioned fresh air redirection and distribution guide configured to receive and intermixing the stream of preconditioned fresh outside air with a stream of recirculated air drawn from within the identified space.   
     
     
         47 . The refrigerated air conditioning unit of  claim 46  wherein the preconditioned fresh air redirection and distribution guide further comprises an air redirection guide, a lateral air guide, a lateral air deflector and an air limiter that cooperate to subject the stream of preconditioned fresh outside air to at least two substantially perpendicular changes in flow direction following discharge from the variable-speed fresh air blower. 
     
     
         48 . The refrigerated air conditioning unit of  claim 46  wherein the lateral air guide further comprises a plurality of laterally spaced, angularly disposed baffles. 
     
     
         49 . A method of operating a refrigerated air conditioning unit having a single refrigeration loop and a single evaporator to selectively control air temperature and humidity within an identified space, the method including:
 providing within the subject unit a fresh air duct comprising a normally open internal damper;   providing a variable speed fresh air blower positioned to draw a stream of fresh outside air through the fresh air duct;   preconditioning the stream of fresh outside air drawn through the fresh air duct before the fresh air stream reaches the fresh air blower; and thereafter   discharging the preconditioned stream of fresh air from the fresh air blower; and   distributing the preconditioned stream of fresh air to be intermixed inside the subject unit with a stream of recirculated air drawn from within the identified space.   
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 49  wherein the stream of fresh air is preconditioned by filtration or ultrafiltration. 
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 50  wherein the stream of fresh air is preconditioned by filtration or ultrafiltration through filters comprising activated carbon, fiberglass or cotton. 
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 50  wherein the stream of fresh air is preconditioned by filtration or ultrafiltration a first time before reaching the damper and a second time between the damper and the fresh air blower. 
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 50  wherein the stream of fresh air is preconditioned by ultra-filtration. 
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 49  wherein the stream of fresh air is preconditioned by purification. 
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 49  wherein the stream of fresh air is preconditioned by filtration and purification. 
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 54  wherein the stream of fresh air is purified by electrostatic precipitation. 
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 54  wherein the stream of fresh air is purified by ultraviolet sterilization. 
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 49  wherein the stream of fresh air is preconditioned by preheating. 
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 58  wherein the stream of fresh air is preheated using a heat source having electrical resistance heating elements. 
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 49  comprising sensing the humidity of the stream of fresh air, sensing the humidity within the identified space, and, where the humidity of the fresh air stream is lower than the humidity within the identified space and the humidity within the identified space is higher than a desired setpoint, using a dynamic intelligent air management system (DIAMS) internal to the refrigerated air conditioning unit to increase the speed of the variable speed fresh air blower to lower the humidity within the identified space. 
     
     
         61 . The method of  claim 49  comprising sensing the humidity of the stream of fresh air, sensing the humidity within the identified space, and, where the humidity of the fresh air stream is higher than the humidity within the identified space and the humidity within the identified space is lower than a desired setpoint, using a dynamic intelligent air management system (DIAMS) internal to the refrigerated air conditioning unit to increase the speed of the variable speed fresh air blower to increase the humidity in the identified space. 
     
     
         62 . The method of  claim 49  comprising sensing the humidity of the stream of fresh air, sensing the humidity within the identified space, and, where both the humidity of the fresh air stream and the humidity within the identified space are higher than a desired setpoint, using a dynamic intelligent air management system (DIAMS) internal to the refrigerated air conditioning unit to maintain the damper in its normally open position and using the single refrigeration loop to lower the humidity within the identified space. 
     
     
         63 . The method of  claim 49  wherein the stream of fresh air is preconditioned by fragrance injection. 
     
     
         64 . The method of  claim 49  wherein the stream of fresh air is preconditioned to control odors present within the identified space. 
     
     
         65 . The method of  claim 49  wherein the fresh air stream has a volumetric throughput that is controlled primarily by the variable speed fresh air blower when the normally open internal damper is open.