Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system with flexible arrangements

Abstract

A Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system. The HVAC system includes a plurality of intake vent assemblies configured for a first zone of a plurality of zones; a plurality of exhaust vent assemblies configured for the first zone of the plurality of zones; and a control module, the control module configured to control a heating mode, a ventilation mode, a dehumidification mode, and a cooling mode. For each of the heating, ventilation, dehumidification, and cooling modes, air is pulled from at least one of the plurality of zones into the HVAC system through at least one of the plurality of intake vent assemblies and conditioned by the HVAC system, and the air is supplied to the first zone through at least one of the plurality of exhaust vent assembly.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system, the HVAC system comprising:
 a plurality of intake vent assemblies configured for a first zone of a plurality of zones;   a plurality of exhaust vent assemblies configured for the first zone of the plurality of zones; and   a control module, the control module configured to control a heating mode, a ventilation mode, a dehumidification mode, and a cooling mode;   wherein for each of the heating, ventilation, dehumidification, and cooling modes, air is pulled from at least one of the plurality of zones into the HVAC system through at least one of the plurality of intake vent assemblies and conditioned by the HVAC system, and the air is supplied to the first zone through at least one of the plurality of exhaust vent assemblies.   
     
     
         2 . The HVAC system of  claim 1 , further comprising a sensing module connected to the control module and configured to detect at least one of an environment temperature value, an environment vapor pressure deficiency (VPD) value, and an environment relative humidity value of the first zone. 
     
     
         3 . The HVAC system of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of intake vent assemblies includes a first intake vent and a second intake vent connected to a heating chamber and a cooling chamber of the HVAC system, respectively, and the plurality of exhaust vent assemblies includes a first exhaust vent and a second exhaust vent connected to the heating chamber and the cooling chamber, respectively. 
     
     
         4 . The HVAC system of  claim 3 , wherein the control module includes an I/O interface configured to receive an input including at least one of a predetermined temperature value, a predetermined VPD value, and a predetermined relative humidity value. 
     
     
         5 . The HVAC system of  claim 4 , wherein when the HVAC system is in the heating mode, and the control module determines that the environment temperature value is less than the predetermined temperature value and/or the environment VPD value is less than the predetermined VPD value, the air conditioned by the HVAC system is supplied to the first zone through the first exhaust vent. 
     
     
         6 . The HVAC system of  claim 4 , wherein when the HVAC system is in the cooling mode, and the control module determines that the environment temperature value is greater than the predetermined temperature value and/or the environment VPD value is greater than the predetermined VPD value, the air conditioned by the HVAC system is supplied to the first zone through the second exhaust vent. 
     
     
         7 . The HVAC system of  claim 4 , wherein when the HVAC system is in the dehumidification mode, and the control module determines that the environment relative humidity value is greater than the predetermined relative humidity value and/or the environment VPD value is less than the predetermined VPD value, the air conditioned by the HVAC system is supplied to the first zone through the first and second exhaust vents, and at least one of the first and second intake vents is connected to the first zone. 
     
     
         8 . A portable Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system, the portable HVAC system comprising:
 a temperature-humidity sensor configured to detect environmental information of a first zone;   a housing accommodating internal components of the portable HVAC system, with a replaceable heat exhaust duct adapter and a replaceable cool exhaust duct adapter, the internal components within the housing including:
 a power unit for connecting to electric power; 
 an I/O interface configured for receiving control input information and outputting status output information; 
 an air conditioning unit including an evaporator and a condenser, the evaporator connected to the evaporator duct adapter and the condenser connected to the condenser duct adapter; 
 a fan configured to circulate air conditioned by the portable HVAC system to the first zone in response to a fan control signal; and 
 a controller connected to the temperature-humidity sensor, the power unit, the I/O interface, the air conditioning unit, and the fan, the controller is configured to generate the fan control signal based on the control input information and the environmental information and to provide the status output information for outputting by the I/O interface, 
 wherein the portable HVAC system is transportable when operating in at least one of a heating mode, a ventilation mode, a dehumidification mode, and a cooling mode. 
   
     
     
         9 . The portable HVAC system for of  claim 8 , wherein the portable HVAC system is located outside of the first zone, wherein when the control input information indicates a negative pressure setting for the first zone and the cooling mode of the portable HVAC system:
 air in the first zone is exhausted through a first detachable ducting coupled to the evaporator duct adapter and a second detachable ducting coupled to the condenser duct adapter, and the air conditioned by the portable HVAC system is supplied to the first zone through a third detachable ducting coupled to the cool exhaust duct adapter.   
     
     
         10 . The portable HVAC system for of  claim 8 , wherein the portable HVAC system is located outside of the first zone, wherein when the control input information indicates a negative pressure setting for the first zone and the heating mode of the portable HVAC system:
 air in the first zone is exhausted through a first detachable ducting to the evaporator duct adapter and a second detachable ducting coupled to the condenser duct adapter, and the air conditioned by the portable HVAC system is supplied to the first zone through a fourth detachable ducting coupled to the heat exhaust duct adapter.   
     
     
         11 . The portable HVAC system for of  claim 8 , wherein the portable HVAC system is located outside of the first zone, wherein when the control input information indicates a positive pressure setting for the first zone and the cooling mode of the portable HVAC system:
 air conditioned by the portable HVAC system is supplied to the first zone through a third detachable ducting coupled to the cool exhaust duct adapter, and air outside of the first zone enters the portable HVAC system through an upper vent on which the evaporator duct adapter is mounted and a bottom vent on which the condenser duct adapter is mounted.   
     
     
         12 . The portable HVAC system for of  claim 8 , wherein the portable HVAC system is located outside of the first zone, wherein the control input information indicates a positive pressure setting for the first zone and the heating mode of the portable HVAC system:
 air conditioned by the portable HVAC system is supplied to the first zone through a fourth detachable ducting coupled to the heat exhaust duct adapter, and air outside of the first zone enters the portable HVAC system through an upper vent on which the evaporator duct adapter is mounted and a bottom vent on which the condenser duct adapter is mounted.   
     
     
         13 . The portable HVAC system for of  claim 8 , wherein the portable HVAC system is located outside of the first zone, wherein the control input information indicates a neutral pressure setting for the first zone and the cooling mode of the portable HVAC system:
 air in the first zone is exhausted through a first detachable ducting coupled to the evaporator duct adapter, and the air conditioned by the portable HVAC system is supplied to the first zone through a third detachable ducting coupled to the cool exhaust duct adapter, and air outside of the first zone enters the portable HVAC system through a bottom vent on which the condenser duct adapter is mounted.   
     
     
         14 . The portable HVAC system for of  claim 8 , wherein the portable HVAC system is located outside of the first zone, wherein the control input information indicates a neutral pressure setting for the first zone and the heating mode of the portable HVAC system:
 air in the first zone is exhausted through a second detachable ducting coupled to the condenser duct adapter, and the air conditioned by the portable HVAC system is supplied to the first zone through a fourth detachable ducting coupled to the heat exhaust duct adapter, and air outside of the first zone enters the portable HVAC system through an upper vent on which the evaporator duct adapter is mounted.   
     
     
         15 . The portable HVAC system for of  claim 8 , wherein the control input information includes a Min level and a Max level for a specified mode among the at least heating, ventilation, dehumidification, and cooling modes, and
 in response to a determination that the environmental information differs from the control input information for the specified mode by a first amount or quantity, the fan control signal is configured to cause the fan to gradually ramp up to the Max level; and/or   in response to a determination that the environmental information differs from the control input information for the specified mode by a second amount or quantity, the fan control signal is configured to cause the fan to gradually slow down to the Min level.   
     
     
         16 . The portable HVAC system for of  claim 8 , wherein the control input information is input by an external controller which is configured to manage several HVAC systems, each associated with a respective target environment, including the portable HVAC system. 
     
     
         17 . A portable Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system, the portable HVAC system comprising:
 a top cover, a chassis, and enclosure walls on front, rear, left, and right sides of the portable HVAC system, with openings provided on the enclosure walls to allow for air entry into and exit from the portable HVAC system;   an air conditioning unit including an evaporator and a condenser,   a control panel with a display screen on the top cover for displaying real-time status information of a zone of interest where air-conditioning is needed;   a control module connected to the control panel with a user interface for receiving input of desired settings;   a fan module including at least one fan for circulating air conditioned by the portable HVAC system to the zone of interest; and   a sensing module including a temperature-humidity sensor for sensing an environmental temperature value T ENV  and an environmental relative humidity value RH ENV  in the zone of interest, wherein vapor pressure deficiency (VPD) value of objects located in the zone of interest is calculated based thereon;   wherein the control module generates and transmits a control signal to the fan module based at least in part on the VPD value of the indoor plants and the input of desired settings, and wherein each of the openings is compatible with both a shutter coupler and a duct adapter to facilitate co-location and separation of the portable HVAC system and the zone of interest.   
     
     
         18 . The portable HVAC system of  claim 17 , further comprising a UIS port for docking with one of a Molex connector, an extension cable, and an extension splitter to support UIS compatibility. 
     
     
         19 . The portable HVAC system of  claim 18 , wherein when the portable HVAC system is connected to a UIS controller via the UIS port, the input of desired settings is overridden, and the control panel is disabled. 
     
     
         20 . The portable HVAC system of  claim 17 , further comprising at least one of a drainage hole for connecting with a drain pipe and a window duct kit for drawing in fresh air or expelling stale air.