Heat transfer system and environmental control system with heat transfer system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12339028-B2
Application number	US-202318310350-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 1, 2023
Priority date	Aug 1, 2018
Publication date	Jun 24, 2025
Grant date	Jun 24, 2025

Abstract

An environmental control system comprises a fluid flow path which has a pump and circulates liquid to a first heat exchanger in a first room and to a second heat exchanger in a second room. The fluid flow path comprises a pump. A user inputs a target temperature for the first room via a first user interface that is located in the first room, which is communicated to the control unit and a sensor located in the room communicates the temperature in the first room to the control unit. A user inputs a target temperature for the second room via a second user interface that is located in the second room, which is communicated to the control unit and a sensor located in the room communicates the temperature in the second room to the control unit. The control is physically isolated from the user interfaces and temperatures sensors.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An environmental control system for a unit in a structure, the unit comprising a first room and a second room, the environmental control system comprising: (a) a primary distribution system comprising a primary thermal transfer conduit system, the primary thermal transfer conduit system comprises a supply end in thermal communication with a source of at least one of heating or cooling and a first primary distribution end in the first room in the structure wherein, in operation, the primary distribution system provides the heating or cooling to the first room; and, (b) an ambient energy distribution system extending between the first room and the second room and comprising a fluid flow path which circulates a fluid for the heating or cooling from a first end in the first room and a second end in the second room wherein, in operation, the fluid flow path transfers heat between the first and second rooms whereby, in operation, the heat provided to the first room by the primary distribution system is transferred to the second room by the ambient energy distribution system, wherein the ambient energy distribution system is fluidically separate from the primary distribution system and, wherein the fluid flow path comprises a first heat exchanger positioned in the first room, a second heat exchanger positioned in the second room and a fluid flow member which circulates the fluid for the heating or cooling to the first heat exchanger and to the second heat exchanger and the fluid flow path and, wherein the fluid in the fluid flow path is circulated by the fluid flow member to the first heat exchanger positioned in the first room and the second heat exchanger in the second room whereby the heat is transferred between the first and second rooms.

2. The environmental control system of claim 1 further comprising a system monitor which adapts operation of the environmental control system of the unit based on current or expected weather, current or expected electrical power availability or cost.

3. The environmental control system of claim 1 wherein the fluid comprises a liquid and the fluid flow member comprises a pump.

4. An environmental control system for a structure, the environmental control system comprising: (a) a primary distribution system comprising a primary thermal transfer conduit system, the primary thermal transfer conduit system comprises a supply end in thermal communication with a source of at least one of heating or cooling and a first primary distribution end in a first room in the structure wherein, in operation, the primary distribution system provides the heating or cooling to the first room; (b) an ambient energy distribution system extending between the first room and a second location in the structure and comprising an ambient energy distribution conduit system, the ambient energy distribution conduit system extends between a first end in thermal communication with a first location in the first room and a second end in thermal communication with the second location in the structure, wherein, in operation, the ambient energy distribution conduit system transfers heat between the first and second locations whereby, in operation, the heat provided to the first room by the primary distribution system is transferred to the second location by the ambient energy distribution system, wherein the ambient energy distribution system is fluidically separate from the primary distribution system, wherein the ambient energy distribution system comprises a fluid flow path which circulates a fluid for the heating or cooling, a first heat exchanger positioned in the first location and a second heat exchanger positioned in the second location, and wherein the fluid in the fluid flow path is circulated between the first heat exchanger positioned in the first room and the second heat exchanger in the second location whereby the heat is transferred between the first room and the second location.

5. The environmental control system of claim 4 wherein the ambient energy distribution conduit system comprises an air flow duct and the ambient energy distribution system includes a controllable damper, wherein the controllable damper is coupled to a control unit and is adjusted by a signal issued by the control unit to regulate transfer of heat between the first and second locations.

6. The environmental control system of claim 4 wherein the ambient energy distribution system includes a controllable fluid moving member, wherein the controllable fluid moving member is coupled to a control unit and is adjusted by a signal issued by the control unit to regulate transfer of heat between the first and second locations.

7. The environmental control system of claim 4 further comprising:
(a) a first temperature sensor that is provided at the first location and a first interface for the first location whereby an inputted first target ambient temperature for the first location, which is provided by the first interface, is communicated to a control unit, which is operably connected to the ambient energy distribution system, and a first temperature in the first room is communicated to the control unit; and,
(b) a second temperature sensor that is provided at the second location and a second interface for the second location whereby an inputted second target ambient temperature for the second room, which is provided by the second interface, is communicated to the control unit and a second temperature in the second room is communicated to the control unit.

8. The environmental control system of claim 7 wherein the control unit is physically isolated from the interfaces and the temperatures sensors.

Assignees

• Omachron Intellectual Property Inc

Inventors

• Ernest Wayne Conrad

Classifications

• G05B15/02

  electric · CPC title

• F24F3/044 Primary

  Systems in which all treatment is given in the central station, i.e. all-air systems · CPC title

• F24F11/46 Primary

  Improving electric energy efficiency or saving · CPC title

• F24F2110/10

  Temperature · CPC title

• F24F2003/0446

  with a single air duct for transporting treated air from the central station to the rooms · CPC title