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 prefabricated distribution assembly configured for use in a heating, ventilation, air-conditioning (HVAC) system providing HVAC to zones of a building, the HVAC system having a plurality of distributed zone control units (ZCUs), each of the ZCUs locally providing HVAC to a respective subset of the zones, the prefabricated distribution assembly comprising:
 a discharge port coupled to a duct to discharge a portion of supply airflow to one of the distributed ZCUs;   a plurality of brackets coupled along a length of the duct, the brackets comprising mounting features; and   a supply line to supply a fluid to a heat exchanging coil of one or more of the distributed ZCUs; and   a return line to return the fluid from the heat exchanging coil of one or more of the distributed ZCUs;   wherein the supply and return lines are supported by at least one of the mounting features, wherein corresponding components of a plurality of the prefabricated distribution assemblies can be coupled to provide for transport of flow of the supply air along a combined length of the coupled prefabricated distribution assemblies and for transport of the supply and return of the fluid along the combined length, and wherein the prefabricated distribution assembly comprises mounting surfaces to mount the prefabricated distribution assembly to the building.   
     
     
         2 . The assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one electrical conduit supported by at least one of the mounting features. 
     
     
         3 . The assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one cable tray supported by at least one of the mounting features. 
     
     
         4 . The assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one of a wireless transmitter or a wireless repeater coupled with at least one of the brackets. 
     
     
         5 . The assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising control wires connectable to the distributed ZCUs to transmit at least one of control signals or data at least to or from the distributed ZCUs. 
     
     
         6 . A plurality of prefabricated distribution assemblies configured for use in a Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (“HVAC”) system providing HVAC to zones of a building, the HVAC system having a plurality of distributed Zone Control Units (“ZCUs”), each of the ZCUs locally providing HVAC to a respective subset of the zones, each prefabricated distribution assembly having a length and the plurality of prefabricated distribution assemblies comprising:
 a first discrete prefabricated distribution assembly and a second discrete prefabricated distribution assembly; 
 wherein the first and second discrete prefabricated distribution assemblies each comprise: 
 a duct configured to transport a flow of supply air from the first end to the second end; 
 a plurality of brackets coupled with the duct, the brackets comprising mounting features; and 
 a supply line to supply a fluid to a heat exchanging coil of one or more of the distributed ZCUs; and 
 a return line to return the fluid from the heat exchanging coil of one or more of the distributed ZCUs; 
 wherein the supply and return lines supported by at least one of the mounting features, wherein a first end of the duct of the first discrete prefabricated distribution assembly is configured to couple with a second end of the duct of the second discrete prefabricated distribution assembly to provide for the transport of the flow of supply air along a combined length of the first discrete prefabricated distribution assembly and the second discrete prefabricated distribution assembly; and; 
 
       wherein a first open end of the supply line of the first discrete prefabricated distribution assembly is configured to couple with a second open end of the supply line of the second discrete prefabricated distribution assembly for the transport of the supply fluid along the combined length of the first discrete prefabricated distribution assembly and the second discrete prefabricated distribution assembly; and
 wherein a first open end of the return line of the first discrete prefabricated distribution assembly is configured to couple with a second open end of the supply line of the second discrete prefabricated distribution assembly for the return of the fluid along the combined length of the first discrete prefabricated distribution assembly and the second discrete prefabricated distribution assembly, and 
 wherein the prefabricated distribution assemblies comprise mounting surfaces to mount the prefabricated distribution assemblies to the building. 
 
     
     
         7 . The prefabricated distribution assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the fluid is water. 
     
     
         8 . The plurality of prefabricated distribution assemblies of  claim 6 , wherein the fluid is water. 
     
     
         9 . The prefabricated distribution assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the first open end and the second open end of the supply line are sealed and wherein the first open end and the second open end of the return line are sealed. 
     
     
         10 . The prefabricated distribution assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the supply line and return line are separately pressurized. 
     
     
         11 . The prefabricated distribution assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a third pipe line with a first and second end, a fourth pipe line with a first and second end, and a fifth pipe line with a first and second end, the third, fourth, and fifth pipe line being supported by at least one of the mounting features, and wherein the supply line and return line are configured to supply and return hot water, wherein the third pipe line and the forth pipe line are configured to supply and return chilled water, and wherein the fifth pipe line is a drain pipe. 
     
     
         12 . An HVAC system comprising the prefabricated distribution assembly of  claim 1 , the HVAC system further comprising a ZCU coupled with the discharge port of the prefabricated distribution assembly. 
     
     
         13 . The HVAC system of  claim 12 , wherein the ZCU includes a heating coil. 
     
     
         14 . The HVAC system of  claim 12 , wherein the ZCU includes a cooling coil. 
     
     
         15 . The plurality of prefabricated distribution assemblies of  claim 6 , wherein the first and second prefabricated distribution assemblies have the same configuration. 
     
     
         16 . The plurality of prefabricated distribution assemblies of  claim 6  wherein at least the first or second prefabricated distribution assemblies comprise a discharge port coupled with the duct to discharge a portion of the supply airflow to an associated one of the distributed ZCUs. 
     
     
         17 . An HVAC system comprising the plurality of prefabricated distribution assemblies of  claim 16 , the HVAC system further comprising a ZCU coupled with the discharge port. 
     
     
         18 . The HVAC system of  claim 17 , wherein the ZCU includes a heating coil. 
     
     
         19 . The HVAC system of  claim 17 , wherein the ZCU includes a cooling coil. 
     
     
         20 . A prefabricated distribution assembly configured to be joined end-to-end with similarly configured prefabricated distribution assemblies to form a combined distribution assembly, the combined distribution assembly for use in a heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) system providing HVAC to zones of a building, the prefabricated distribution assembly comprising:
 a duct configured to transport flow of supply air, a first end of the duct configured to couple to a second end of a duct of a second prefabricated distribution assembly and a second end of the duct configured to couple a first end of a duct of a third prefabricated distribution assembly to form a combined length of duct;   a plurality of brackets coupled with the duct, the brackets comprising mounting features; and   a supply line to supply a fluid to a heat exchanging coil, a first end of the supply line configured to couple to a second end of a supply line of the second prefabricated distribution assembly and a second end of the supply line configured to couple to a first end of a supply line of the third prefabricated distribution assembly to form a combined length of supply line; and   a return line to return the fluid from the heat exchanging coil, a first end of the return line configured to couple to a second end of a return line of the second prefabricated distribution assembly and a second end of the return line configured to couple to a first end of a return line of the third prefabricated distribution assembly to form a combined length of return line;   the supply and return lines supported by at least one of the mounting features; and   mounting surfaces to mount the prefabricated distribution assembly to the building.   
     
     
         21 . The prefabricated distribution assembly of  claim 20 , wherein the first end and the second end of the supply line are sealed and wherein the first end and the second end of the return line are sealed.