Methods and equipment for heating and cooling building zones

Abstract

As discussed herein, a first aspect of the present invention provides a device for enabling an HVAC component to be easily connected to, and disconnected from, an HVAC system. The device can include a modular distribution box, hot and cold HVAC fluid inlet pipes, HVAC component supply and HVAC component return pipes, and hot and cold HVAC fluid outlet pipes, each of which can be coupled to the modular distribution box, and each of which can have a connector. The hot HVAC fluid inlet pipe's connector can be configured to connect to a hot HVAC pipe, and the cold HVAC fluid inlet pipe's connector can be configured to connect to a cold HVAC pipe. The HVAC component supply pipe's connector can be configured to connect to an inlet pipe of the HVAC component, and the HVAC component return pipe's connector can be configured to connect to an outlet pipe of the HVAC component. The hot HVAC fluid outlet pipe's connector can be configured to connect to the hot HVAC pipe, and the cold HVAC fluid outlet pipe's connector can be configured to connect to the cold HVAC pipe. The hot and cold HVAC fluid inlet pipes, the HVAC component supply and HVAC component return pipes, and the hot and cold HVAC fluid outlet pipes, permit the entire modular distribution box to be connected to and disconnected from the HVAC component and the HVAC system as a whole unit.

1 . A device for enabling an HVAC component to be easily connected to, and disconnected from, an HVAC system, the device comprising:
 (a) a modular distribution box;   (b) hot and cold HVAC fluid inlet pipes, each coupled to the modular distribution box and each having a connector, the hot HVAC fluid inlet pipe's connector being configured to connect to a hot HVAC pipe, and the cold HVAC fluid inlet pipe's connector being configured to connect to a cold HVAC pipe;   (c) HVAC component supply and HVAC component return pipes, each coupled to the modular distribution box and each having a connector, the HVAC component supply pipe's connector being configured to connect to an inlet pipe of the HVAC component, and the HVAC component return pipe's connector being configured to connect to an outlet pipe of the HVAC component;   (d) hot and cold HVAC fluid outlet pipes, each coupled to the modular distribution box and each having a connector, the hot HVAC fluid outlet pipe's connector being configured to connect to the hot HVAC pipe, and the cold HVAC fluid outlet pipe's connector being configured to connect to the cold HVAC pipe;   (e) a supply path valve housed by the modular distribution box, the supply path valve being in fluid communication with the hot and cold HVAC fluid inlet pipes and the HVAC component supply pipe, the supply path valve being configured to selectively provide HVAC fluid from either the hot HVAC fluid inlet pipe or the cold HVAC fluid inlet pipe to the HVAC component supply pipe;   (f) a return path valve housed by the modular distribution box, the return path valve being in fluid communication with the HVAC component return pipe and the hot and cold HVAC fluid outlet pipes, the return path valve being configured to selectively provide HVAC fluid from the HVAC component return pipe to either the hot HVAC fluid outlet pipe or the cold HVAC fluid outlet pipe; and   (g) a controller housed by the modular distribution box, the controller being configured to control the supply path valve and the return path valve,   wherein the hot and cold HVAC fluid inlet pipes, the HVAC component supply and HVAC component return pipes, and the hot and cold HVAC fluid outlet pipes, permit the entire modular distribution box to be connected to and disconnected from the HVAC component and the HVAC system as a whole unit.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a pump housed by the modular distribution box, the pump being in fluid communication with the HVAC component supply pipe, wherein the controller is further configured to control the flow rate of the pump. 
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is connected via a network to one or more components of the HVAC system. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the hot and cold HVAC fluid inlet pipes, the HVAC component supply and HVAC component return pipes, the hot and cold HVAC fluid outlet pipes, the supply path valve, and the return path valve are each constructed out of materials that do not erode in such a way as to contaminate potable water HVAC fluid. 
     
     
         6 . A method of enabling an HVAC component to be easily connected to, and disconnected from, an HVAC system, the method comprising:
 (a) providing a first modular distribution box that includes:
 (i) hot and cold HVAC fluid inlet pipes, 
 (ii) HVAC component supply and HVAC component return pipes, 
 (iii) hot and cold HVAC fluid outlet pipes, 
 (iv) a supply path valve in fluid communication with the hot and cold HVAC fluid inlet pipes and the HVAC component supply pipe, 
 (v) a return path valve in fluid communication with the HVAC component return pipe and the hot and cold HVAC fluid outlet pipes, and 
 (vi) a controller configured to control the supply path valve and the return path valve; and 
   (b) connecting the entire first modular distribution box, as a unit, to both the HVAC component and the HVAC system by:
 (i) connecting the first modular distribution box's hot HVAC fluid inlet pipe to a hot HVAC pipe, and connecting the first modular distribution box's cold HVAC fluid inlet pipe to a cold HVAC pipe, 
 (ii) connecting the first modular distribution box's HVAC component supply pipe to an inlet pipe of the HVAC component, and connecting the first modular distribution box's HVAC component return pipe to an outlet pipe of the HVAC component, and 
 (iii) connecting the first modular distribution box's hot HVAC fluid outlet pipe to the hot HVAC pipe, and connecting the first modular distribution box's cold HVAC fluid outlet pipe to the cold HVAC pipe. 
   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising (c) disconnecting an entire second modular distribution box, as a unit, from both the HVAC component and the HVAC system before connecting the first modular distribution box to both the HVAC component and the HVAC system,
 wherein the second modular distribution box includes:
 (i) hot and cold HVAC fluid inlet pipes, 
 (ii) HVAC component supply and HVAC component return pipes, 
 (iii) hot and cold HVAC fluid outlet pipes, 
 (iv) a supply path valve in fluid communication with the hot and cold HVAC fluid inlet pipes and the HVAC component supply pipe, 
 (v) a return path valve in fluid communication with the HVAC component return pipe and the hot and cold HVAC fluid outlet pipes, and 
 (vi) a controller configured to control the supply path valve and the return path valve, and 
   wherein disconnecting the second modular distribution box from both the HVAC component and the HVAC system includes:
 (i) disconnecting the second modular distribution box's hot HVAC fluid inlet pipe from the hot HVAC pipe, and disconnecting the second modular distribution box's cold HVAC fluid inlet pipe from the cold HVAC pipe, 
 (ii) disconnecting the second modular distribution box's HVAC component supply pipe from the inlet pipe of the HVAC component, and disconnecting the second modular distribution box's HVAC component return pipe from the outlet pipe of the HVAC component, and 
 (iii) disconnecting the second modular distribution box's hot HVAC fluid outlet pipe from the hot HVAC pipe, and disconnecting the second modular distribution box's cold HVAC fluid outlet pipe from the cold HVAC pipe. 
   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising (d) identifying a deficiency in the second modular distribution box before disconnecting the second modular distribution box from both the HVAC component and the HVAC system. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising (e) transporting the second modular distribution box to a separate maintenance location remote from the HVAC component and the HVAC system after disconnecting the second modular distribution box from both the HVAC component and the HVAC system. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the HVAC component is a single fan coil that is uniquely associated with a single building zone and the building zone is isolated from the HVAC system only for as long as it takes to disconnect the second modular distribution box and connect the first modular distribution box. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising (c) constructing the first modular distribution box at a construction location remote to the HVAC component and the HVAC system and (d) transporting the first modular distribution box to an HVAC location where the HVAC component and the HVAC system are located. 
     
     
         12 . A method of distributing temperature-controlled HVAC fluid to a component of an HVAC system, the method comprising:
 (a) providing a modular distribution box that includes:
 (i) hot and cold HVAC fluid inlet pipes, 
 (ii) HVAC component supply and HVAC component return pipes, 
 (iii) hot and cold HVAC fluid outlet pipes, 
 (iv) a supply path valve in fluid communication with the hot and cold HVAC fluid inlet pipes and the HVAC component supply pipe, 
 (v) a return path valve in fluid communication with the HVAC component return pipe and the hot and cold HVAC fluid outlet pipes, and 
 (vi) a controller configured to control the supply path valve and the return path valve; 
   (b) connecting the entire modular distribution box, as a unit, to both the HVAC component and HVAC pipes by:
 (i) connecting the modular distribution box's hot HVAC fluid inlet pipe to a hot HVAC pipe, and connecting the modular distribution box's cold HVAC fluid inlet pipe to a cold HVAC pipe, 
 (ii) connecting the modular distribution box's HVAC component supply pipe to an inlet pipe of the HVAC component, and connecting the modular distribution box's HVAC component return pipe to an outlet pipe of the HVAC component, and 
 (iii) connecting the modular distribution box's hot HVAC fluid outlet pipe to the hot HVAC pipe, and connecting the modular distribution box's cold HVAC fluid outlet pipe to the cold HVAC pipe; and 
   (c) controlling the supply path valve and the return path valve via the modular distribution box's controller to channel HVAC fluid from the HVAC pipes through the HVAC component by way of the modular distribution box.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein controlling the supply path valve and the return path valve includes causing the supply path valve to selectively provide HVAC fluid from either the hot HVAC fluid inlet pipe or the cold HVAC fluid inlet pipe to the HVAC component supply pipe and causing the return path valve to selectively provide HVAC fluid from the HVAC component return pipe to either the hot HVAC fluid outlet pipe or the cold HVAC fluid outlet pipe. 
     
     
         14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein controlling the supply path valve and the return path valve includes communicating with the modular distribution box's controller from a remote location via a network. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the HVAC component is a single fan coil that is uniquely associated with a single building zone and the method further comprises (d) heating and/or cooling the building zone via the single fan coil. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein controlling the supply path valve and the return path valve includes the modular distribution box's controller receiving input from a thermostat positioned in the building zone. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the fan coil includes only one coil through which HVAC fluid passes. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the fan coil includes only one fan. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the HVAC fluid is potable water. 
     
     
         21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising (e) regularly circulating the potable water to prevent stagnation. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising (e) controlling the single fan coil by way of the modular distribution box so as to regulate air flow. 
     
     
         24 - 27 . (canceled)