Modular building utilities systems and methods

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for modular building utilities systems and assemblies for a building are provided. A modular system may include a first assembly having a duct, inlet piping, and outlet piping coupled via a bracket in a first positional relationship, where the inlet piping and outlet piping are disposed exterior to the duct. The modular system may also include a second assembly that may also have a duct, inlet piping, and outlet piping coupled via a bracket in a second positional relationship, where the inlet piping and outlet piping are also disposed exterior to the duct. The first positional relationship of the first assembly and the second positional relationship of the second assembly may provide alignment between the respective ducts, inlet piping, and outlet piping to facilitate coupling of the first and second assemblies.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A modular building utilities system for installation in a building, the modular building utilities system comprising:
 a first assembly having a first duct for transporting air, a first bracket coupled with the first duct, a first inlet piping coupled with first bracket and disposed exterior to the first duct, a first outlet piping coupled with the first bracket and disposed exterior to the first duct, and a first adjustable fastening mechanism coupled with the first bracket for adjustably coupling the first bracket with the building;   a second assembly having a second duct for transporting air, a second bracket coupled with the second duct, a second inlet piping coupled with second bracket and disposed exterior to the second duct, a second outlet piping coupled with the second bracket and disposed exterior to the second duct, and a second adjustable fastening mechanism coupled with the second bracket for adjustably coupling the second bracket with the building;   wherein the first bracket maintains the first inlet piping, the first outlet piping, and the first duct in a first positional relationship, and the second bracket maintains the second inlet piping, the second outlet piping, and the second duct in a second positional relationship, and   wherein the first and second positional relationships provide alignment between the first and second ducts, the first and second inlet pipings, and the first and second outlet pipings, respectively, so as to facilitate coupling of the first and second ducts, the first and second inlet pipings, and the first and second outlet pipings, respectively.   
     
     
         2 . The modular building utilities system of  claim 1 , further comprising a zone control unit (ZCU) configured to provide HVAC to one or more zones of the building, wherein the first duct comprises a discharge port configured to supply a portion of the air to the ZCU; and wherein the first inlet piping and first outlet piping are coupled with a coil of the ZCU to provide fluid communication between the coil and the first inlet piping and first outlet piping. 
     
     
         3 . The modular building utilities system of  claim 1 , wherein the modular building utilities system is electrically coupled with a computing system to control one or more components of the modular building utilities system selected from the group consisting of: a zone control unit (ZCU), the duct, the inlet piping, the outlet piping, lighting cables, data cables, security systems, plumbing system, electrical cables, and networking equipment. 
     
     
         4 . The modular building utilities system of  claim 3 , wherein the computing system comprises one or more systems selected from the group consisting of: a main frame computing system, a data center, and cloud computing system. 
     
     
         5 . The modular building utilities system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first bracket or the second bracket is coupled with one or more components selected from the group consisting of: fire sprinklers, data cables, electrical conduit, controls, plumbing piping, process gas piping, telecommunication cables, low voltage cables, and line voltage cables. 
     
     
         6 . The modular building utilities system of  claim 5 , wherein the electrical cables provide at least one of dc current or AC current to one or mores zones of the building. 
     
     
         7 . The modular building utilities system of  claim 1 , wherein the modular building utilities system provides one or more utilities to a building selected from the group consisting of: HVAC, electrical power, plumbing, building automation system (BAS) controls, process gas, telecommunications, and security systems. 
     
     
         8 . The modular building utilities system of  claim 1 , wherein the first bracket further comprises a cable tray configured to support one or more electrical wires. 
     
     
         9 . The modular building utilities system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first assembly and the second assembly comprises an enclosure disposed around the at least one of the first assembly and the second assembly to protect the assembly. 
     
     
         10 . The modular building utilities system of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one of a wireless transmitter or a wireless repeater coupled with at least one of the first bracket or second brackets. 
     
     
         11 . The modular building utilities system of  claim 1 , further comprising a first drain pan coupled with and extending along the length of the first bracket and a second drain pain coupled with and extending along the length of the second bracket, wherein the first drain pan and the second drain pan are configured to collect condensate of the modular system. 
     
     
         12 . The modular building utilities system of  claim 11 , wherein the first and second brackets provide alignment between the first and second drain pans, respectively, to facilitate coupling of the first and second drain pans so that the condensate may be transported at least partially along the length of the first and second assemblies to a condensate reclamation system. 
     
     
         13 . A method of assembling a modular assembly at an assembly site for transportation to an installation site, the modular assembly being configured for installation in a heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) system of a building, the method comprising:
 obtaining a first duct having a first end and a second end, the first duct configured to transport air between the first end and the second end;   obtaining a first inlet piping having a first end and a second end, the first inlet piping configured to transport a fluid between the first end and the second end;   obtaining a first outlet piping having a first end and a second end, the first outlet piping configured to transport a fluid between the first end and the second end;   obtaining a first bracket having a plurality of mounting features and a first adjustable fastening mechanism for adjustably coupling the first bracket with the building;   obtaining a second bracket having a plurality of mounting features and a second adjustable fastening mechanism for adjustably coupling the second bracket with the building;   coupling via one or more of the plurality of mounting features, the first bracket with the first end of the first duct, the first inlet piping, and the first outlet piping, wherein the first inlet piping and the first outlet piping are disposed exterior to the first duct, and wherein the first bracket maintains the first end of the first duct, the first inlet piping, and the first outlet piping in a first positional relationship; and   coupling via one or more of the plurality of mounting features, the second bracket with the second end of the first duct, the first inlet piping, and the first outlet piping, wherein the second bracket maintains the second end of the first duct, the first inlet piping, and the first outlet piping in the first positional relationship.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 sealing the first and second ends of at least one of the first duct, the first inlet piping, and the first outlet piping;   pressurizing the at least one of the first duct, the first inlet piping, and the first outlet piping to a predetermined pressure; and   measuring the pressure in the at least one of the first duct, the first inlet piping, and the first outlet piping after an amount of time to determine whether the at least one of the first duct, the first inlet piping, and the first outlet piping is holding pressure.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 coupling one or more electrical cables with the first and second brackets; and   testing the electrical cables for conductivity.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising transporting the modular assembly from the assembly site to the installation site, wherein pressurizing is performed at the assembly site, and wherein measuring the pressure is performed at the installation site. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 obtaining a cable tray having a first end and a second end, the cable tray configured to support one or more electrical cables;   coupling the first bracket with the first end of the cable tray via a mounting feature of the plurality of mounting features; and   coupling the second bracket with the second end of the cable tray via a mounting feature of the plurality of mounting features.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein coupling the first and second brackets with the first and second ends of the cable tray, respectively, is performed at the installation site. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein coupling the first and second brackets with the first and second ends of the cable tray, respectively, is performed at the assembly site. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 coupling the first duct with a zone control unit (ZCU) configured to provide HVAC to one or more zones of the building, wherein the first duct provides fluid communication between the ZCU and the air; and   coupling a coil of the ZCU with the first inlet piping and first outlet piping, wherein the first inlet piping supplies a hot or cold fluid to the coil to heat or cool a volume of air, and wherein the first outlet piping receives a hot or cold fluid from the coil after the volume of air is heated or cooled.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising coupling a drain pan with the first and second brackets, wherein the drain pan extends along the length of the modular assembly, and wherein the drain pan is configured to collect condensate and transport the condensate along the length of the modular assembly. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein each bracket includes a handle configured to maneuver the bracket, wherein the bracket is configured to maintain support for the pipe assembly while the bracket is maneuvered by the handle. 
     
     
         23 . A method of installing a modular system in a building comprising:
 obtaining a first modular assembly having a first duct for transporting air, a first bracket coupled with the first duct, a first inlet piping coupled with the first bracket and disposed exterior to the first duct, a first outlet piping coupled with the first bracket and disposed exterior to the first duct, and a first adjustable fastening mechanism coupled with the first bracket for adjustably coupling the first bracket with the building;   securing the first modular assembly to the building via the first adjustable fastening mechanism;   leveling the first modular assembly so that opposing ends of the first modular assembly are substantially level;   obtaining a second modular assembly having a second duct for transporting air, a second bracket coupled with the second duct, a second inlet piping coupled with the second bracket and disposed exterior to the second duct, a second outlet piping coupled with the second bracket and disposed exterior to the second duct, and a second adjustable fastening mechanism coupled with the second bracket for adjustably coupling the second bracket with the building;   securing the second modular assembly to the building via the second adjustable fastening mechanism;   leveling the second modular assembly so that opposing ends of the second modular assembly are substantially level;   coupling the first modular assembly with the second modular assembly in a fluid tight relationship to provide air transportation along the combined length of the coupled first and second ducts and to provide fluid transportation along the combined length of the first and second inlet piping and first and second outlet piping.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising:
 obtaining a cable tray a cable tray configured to support one or more electrical cables; and   coupling the cable tray with at least one of the first bracket or the second bracket so that the cable tray extends along the length of at least one of the first modular assembly or second modular assembly.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising positioning electrical cables in the cable tray to provide electrical communication to one or more zones of the building. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising:
 obtaining a third modular assembly having a third duct for transporting air, a third bracket coupled with the third duct, a third inlet piping coupled with the third bracket and disposed exterior to the third duct, a third outlet piping coupled with the third bracket and disposed exterior to the third duct, and a third adjustable fastening mechanism coupled with the third bracket for adjustably coupling the third bracket with the building;   securing the third modular assembly to the building so that the third modular assembly comprises a substantially perpendicular orientation with respect to the first modular assembly; and   coupling the third modular assembly with the first modular assembly to provide fluid communication between the first and third ducts, first and third inlet piping, and first and third outlet piping.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the first modular assembly and the second modular assembly each comprise a drain pan that extends along the length of the respective modular assembly, and wherein the method further comprises:
 coupling the drain pan of the first modular assembly with the drain pan of the second modular assembly to form a substantially continuous drain pan extending along the length of the coupled assemblies, wherein the drain pans are configured to collect condensate from at least one of the first or second assemblies and transport the condensate to a condensate reclamation system.   
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising:
 obtaining a fourth piping;   obtaining a fifth piping;   after securing the first modular assembly to the building, coupling the fourth piping with the first modular assembly;   after securing the second modular assembly to the building, coupling the fifth piping with the second modular assembly; and   coupling the fourth piping with the fifth piping to provide fluid transportation along the combined length of the fourth and fifth piping.   
     
     
         29 . A method of installing a modular building utilities system in a building, the method comprising:
 assembling a first modular assembly at an assembly site, the first modular assembly having a first duct for transporting air, a first bracket coupled with the first duct, a first inlet piping coupled with the first bracket and disposed exterior to the first duct, a first outlet piping coupled with the first bracket and disposed exterior to the first duct, and a first adjustable fastening mechanism coupled with the first bracket for adjustably coupling the first bracket with the building;   assembling a second modular assembly at an assembly site, the second modular assembly having a second duct for transporting air, a second bracket coupled with the second duct, a second inlet piping coupled with the second bracket and disposed exterior to the second duct, a second outlet piping coupled with the second bracket and disposed exterior to the second duct, and a second adjustable fastening mechanism coupled with the second bracket for adjustably coupling the second bracket with the building;   transporting the first modular assembly and the second modular assembly to an installation site;   installing the first modular assembly in the building;   installing the second modular assembly in the building; and   coupling the first and second ducts, the first and second inlet piping, and the first and second outlet piping so as to provide fluid communication between the first and second ducts, the first and second inlet piping, and the first and second outlet piping.