Limited loss laminar flow dampers for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (hvac) systems

Abstract

HVAC devices, systems, and methods include dampers for controlling the flow of air or other gasses through an HVAC duct, often while inhibiting turbulence within the duct or pressure loss within the duct. Embodiments of such dampers may employ a two-part damper arrangement. In many embodiments, flow will travel through the middle of the damper uniformly and with a laminar flow. One or more small, relatively unobtrusive sensor (optionally being wireless) can be included for controlling operation of the damper, the sensor(s) optionally measuring the distance between damper elements, sound, air flow, or the like, with such sensor(s)/damper combination inhibiting inadvertent pressure drop and turbulence in flows through the damper. The damper elements may optionally comprise airfoil cross-sections, with alternative dampers having a resilient helical configuration that can choke down flow by inducing a vortex in the flow, allowing static pressure regain to occur within the duct system.

1 . A damper assembly for use in a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system, the assembly comprising: 
 a casing having an inlet and an outflow with a flow direction extending therebetween;    a first damper member movably disposed within the casing; and    a second damper member movably disposed within the casing;    the damper members having cross-sections and movable between an open flow configuration and a restricted flow configuration such that laminar flow is maintained as the flow is restricted.    
   
   
       2 . The assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a damper assembly controller coupled to the damper members.  
   
   
       3 . The assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a flow sensor coupled to the damper members, wherein the flow sensor measures pressure at less than 5 locations across the dampers.  
   
   
       4 . The assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a first sensor coupled with the first damper member, wherein the first sensor detects an orientation of the first damper member relative to the casing.  
   
   
       5 . The assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the first sensor is disposed near a trailing end of the first damper member.  
   
   
       6 . The assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a first sensor coupled with the first damper member, wherein the first sensor detects an orientation of the first damper member relative to the second damper member.  
   
   
       7 . The assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising an air stop.  
   
   
       8 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first damper member comprises a trailing end and the second damper member comprises a trailing end, and the first damper member trailing end and the second damper member trailing end are configured to be moved toward each other when the assembly is moved toward the restricted flow configuration.  
   
   
       9 . A damper assembly for use in a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system, the assembly comprising: 
 a casing having an inlet and an outflow with a flow direction extending therebetween; and    a damper member disposed within the casing, the damper member comprising a helical body deformable between an open flow configuration and a restricted flow configuration.    
   
   
       10 . The assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the damper in at least one configuration has a shape suitable for inducing a vortex in a flow within the casing.  
   
   
       11 . A method of controlling a fluid flow in a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system, comprising: 
 flowing a fluid through a casing inlet toward a casing outlet;    flowing the fluid across a plurality of damper members disposed within the casing;    restricting an amount of the fluid passing through the casing by actuating a first damper member; and    maintaining a laminar flow within the fluid during the actuation of the first damper member.    
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising sensing an orientation of the first damper member.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising sensing a pressure within the casing.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein restricting the amount of fluid passing through the casing comprises actuating a second damper member.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising maintaining the laminar flow during actuation of the second damper member.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising sensing an orientation of the second damper member.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising sensing an orientation of the second damper member relative to the first damper member.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising sensing an orientation of the second damper member relative to the casing.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein a cross section of the first damper member comprises an aerodynamic profile and a cross section of the second damper member comprises an aerodynamic profile.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising sensing a distance between the first damper member and the second damper member.