Steam-based hvac system

Abstract

Various methods and devices are provided for heating, cooling, and humidifying a space using a steam-based HVAC system having a steam source, at least one radiator located in a space to be heated or humidified, and a steam and condensate transfer apparatus extending between the steam source and the radiator. The steam and condensate transfer apparatus can have an inner tube configured for transferring steam disposed within an outer tube configured for transferring condensate and the inner tube can be centered within the outer tube such that the outer tube forms an annulus around the inner tube. The tube-in-tube conduit system or double-tube conduit system can take the form of Lego®-like components that can be fitted together to form the structure needed to deliver steam to light-weight flat-panel radiators located within all areas to be heated and/or humidified. The HVAC system can further include a cold air source for delivering cold air into the tube-in-tube conduit system to provide cold air to registers within spaces to be cooled. In one embodiment, the steam and condensate transfer apparatus can be formed from a thermoplastic, for example, polysulfone.

1 . An HVAC system, comprising a steam-based heating system, the steam-based heating system comprising:
 a steam source;   at least one radiator located in a space to be heated; and   a steam and condensate transfer apparatus extending between the steam source and the at least one radiator and having an inner tube configured for transferring steam disposed within an outer tube configured for transferring condensate.   
   
   
       2 . The HVAC system of  claim 1 , wherein the inner tube is centered within the outer tube such that the outer tube forms an annulus around the inner tube. 
   
   
       3 . The HVAC system of  claim 1 , wherein the steam and condensate transfer apparatus comprises a system of inner and outer tubes comprising tube-in-tube nipples, elbows, tees, adapters, and clamps extending between the steam source and the at least one radiator. 
   
   
       4 . The HVAC system of  claim 1 , further comprising a vent controller apparatus positioned in proximity to a vent valve of the at least one radiator and in communication therewith. 
   
   
       5 . The HVAC system of  claim 4 , wherein the steam source is configured for frequent routine stops to allow the vent controller apparatus to redistribute steam flows. 
   
   
       6 . The HVAC system of  claim 4 , wherein the vent controller comprises a check-valve configured to regulate air into the at least one radiator and a shut-off valve configured to regulate air out of the at least one radiator and a temperature monitoring device configured to monitor a temperature of ambient air within the space to be heated and to control the shut-off valve. 
   
   
       7 . The HVAC system of  claim 6 , wherein the steam source further comprises a steam source controller and the temperature monitoring device is configured to communicate information to the steam source controller as to heating requirements based on the temperature of ambient air within the space to be heated. 
   
   
       8 . The HVAC system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one radiator comprises a light-weight flat panel radiator. 
   
   
       9 . The HVAC system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one radiator is divided into two or more sections, each section having its own vent valve and vent controller independently controllable by the temperature monitoring device. 
   
   
       10 . The HVAC system of  claim 1 , wherein the steam source comprises a boiler. 
   
   
       11 . The HVAC system of  claim 1 , wherein the steam and condensate transfer apparatus is formed from a thermoplastic. 
   
   
       12 . The HVAC system of  claim 1 , wherein the steam and condensate transfer apparatus is formed from polysulfone. 
   
   
       13 . The HVAC system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one component of the steam and condensate transfer apparatus is formed from a solid element using an extrusion process. 
   
   
       14 . The HVAC system of  claim 1 , further comprising a humidifier apparatus configured for increasing the humidity of the space to be heated, wherein the humidifier apparatus comprises a water reservoir and a paper screen in communication with the water reservoir, the paper screen being configured to receive and hold water from the water reservoir, the paper screen being further configured to contact hot air from the at least one radiator to cause evaporation of the water held in the paper screen to increase humidity in the space to be heated. 
   
   
       15 . The HVAC system of  claim 14 , wherein the water reservoir is in communication with the at least one radiator via condensate tubing and is configured to receive condensate through the condensate tubing from the at least one radiator, the condensate tubing having first and second check valves disposed therein between the at least one radiator and the water reservoir, the first and second check valves being configured to control a flow of condensate into and out of the water reservoir. 
   
   
       16 . The HVAC system of  claim 1 , further comprising a cold air source, wherein the cold air source is connected to the steam and condensate apparatus of the steam-based heating system, and wherein the steam and condensate apparatus is further connected to at least one air register in a space for cooling said space. 
   
   
       17 . The HVAC system of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one air register includes a control valve and a temperature monitoring device configured to monitor a temperature of ambient air within the space to be cooled and further configured to control a shut-off valve. 
   
   
       18 . The HVAC system of  claim 16 , wherein the cold air source comprises an absorption heat pump, the absorption heat pump being configured to receive energy from the steam source. 
   
   
       19 . The HVAC system of  claim 18 , further comprising an air blower configured to transfer air into a mixing apparatus to mix with throttled chilled water produced by the absorption heat pump, the mixing apparatus being configured to cool the air, remove dust, and remove excess moisture. 
   
   
       20 . The HVAC system of  claim 19 , wherein the mixing apparatus is further configured to direct the cooled air into a separator configured to remove liquid water, the separator being further configured to direct the cooled air into the steam and condensate transfer apparatus for delivery to the at least one register, wherein the liquid water is configured to be filtered and returned to the absorption heat pump. 
   
   
       21 . A steam and condensate transfer apparatus, comprising:
 a plurality of conduit sections fitted together to extend between a steam source and a radiator and configured to transfer steam from the steam source to the radiator and to transfer condensate from the radiator to the steam source, wherein each section in the plurality of conduit sections is formed from an outer tube disposed around an inner tube.   
   
   
       22 . The steam and condensate transfer apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the outer tube is configured to transfer condensate from the radiator to the steam source and the inner tube is configured to transfer steam from the steam source to the radiator. 
   
   
       23 . The steam and condensate transfer apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the plurality of conduit sections are formed from a thermoplastic material. 
   
   
       24 . A method for controlling a temperature of a space, comprising: heating a space by heating water into steam;
 introducing the steam into a tube-in-tube conduit system formed from a thermoplastic material; and   delivering steam to a radiator within a first tube of the tube-in-tube conduit system and returning condensate from the radiator within a second tube of the tube-in-tube conduit system, wherein the first tube is disposed inside the second tube.   
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising monitoring a temperature of air in a space to be heated. 
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein delivery of the steam to the radiator is controlled through a radiator vent controller based on the temperature of the air in the space to be heated. 
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein delivery of the steam to the tube-in-tube conduit system during heating cycles is controlled based on a pressure in the system. 
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising humidifying air in a space to be heated using condensate from the steam delivered to the radiator. 
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising cooling a space by transferring cold air into the tube-in-tube conduit system to be delivered to one or more cold air registers, the one or more cold air registers delivering the cold air to the space to be cooled. 
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 29 , further comprising directing the steam to provide energy to a cold air source.