Efficient baffle design for hybrid heating and cooling system

Abstract

A furnace with at least one adjustable baffle assembly, a heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) system incorporating the same, and a method of operating the HVAC system are provided. The at least one adjustable baffle assembly is disposed adjacent to the furnace heat exchanger in the furnace. The at least one adjustable baffle assembly is configured to actuate, between a cooling position and a heating position. The at least one adjustable baffle assembly may be in a heating position when the HVAC system is in a heating mode. The at least one adjustable baffle assembly may be in a cooling position when the HVAC system is in a cooling mode. The actuation of the adjustable baffle assembly may increase the efficiency of the furnace and/or HVAC system.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) system comprising:
 an indoor heat exchanger;   a furnace in airflow communication with the indoor heat exchanger, the furnace comprising:
 a control board; 
 a furnace heat exchanger; 
 at least one adjustable baffle assembly operably coupled to the control board and disposed adjacent to the furnace heat exchanger; and 
 a fan in airflow communication with the furnace heat exchanger and the indoor heat exchanger. 
   
     
     
         2 . The HVAC system of  claim 1 , wherein the control board is configured to place the at least one adjustable baffle assembly in at least one of a cooling position and a heating position. 
     
     
         3 . The HVAC system of  claim 2 , wherein the control board is configured to place the at least one adjustable baffle assembly in the heating position when operating the system in a heating mode. 
     
     
         4 . The HVAC system of  claim 2 , wherein the control board is configured to place the at least one adjustable baffle assembly in the cooling position when operating the system in a cooling mode. 
     
     
         5 . The HVAC system of  claim 2 , wherein the furnace further comprises a fan shelf disposed between the fan and furnace heat exchanger, wherein the at least one adjustable baffle assembly is disposed substantially perpendicular to the fan shelf when in the heating position and disposed at an angle relative to the fan shelf when in the cooling position. 
     
     
         6 . The HVAC system of  claim 5 , wherein the angle is less than 90°. 
     
     
         7 . The HVAC system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one adjustable baffle assembly comprises a baffle operably coupled to an actuating device. 
     
     
         8 . The HVAC system of  claim 7 , wherein the actuating device comprises at least one of: a solenoid, a motor, a shape memory member, and a bi-metallic strip. 
     
     
         9 . A furnace comprising:
 a control board;   a furnace heat exchanger;   at least one adjustable baffle assembly operably coupled to the control board and disposed adjacent to the furnace heat exchanger; and   a fan in airflow communication with the furnace heat exchanger and the indoor heat exchanger.   
     
     
         10 . The furnace of  claim 9 , wherein the control board is configured to place the at least one adjustable baffle assembly in at least one of a cooling position and a heating position. 
     
     
         11 . The furnace of  claim 10 , wherein the furnace further comprises a fan shelf disposed between the fan and furnace heat exchanger, wherein the at least one adjustable baffle assembly is disposed substantially perpendicular to the fan shelf when in the heating position and disposed at an angle relative to the fan shelf when in the cooling position. 
     
     
         12 . The furnace of  claim 11 , wherein the angle is less than 90. 
     
     
         13 . The furnace of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one adjustable baffle assembly comprises a baffle operably coupled to an actuating device. 
     
     
         14 . The furnace of  claim 13 , wherein the actuating device comprises at least one of: a solenoid, a motor, a shape memory member, and a bi-metallic strip. 
     
     
         15 . A method for operating a heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) system comprising an indoor heat exchanger and a furnace, the furnace comprising a furnace heat exchanger and at least one adjustable baffle assembly, the method comprising:
 operating the HVAC system in a heating mode, the heating mode being defined by the operation of the furnace, the at least one adjustable baffle assembly being placed in a first position when the HVAC system is in the heating mode; and   operating the HVAC system in a cooling mode, the cooling mode being defined by the discontinued operation of the furnace, the at least one adjustable baffle assembly being placed in a second position when the HVAC system is in the cooling mode.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the furnace further comprises a control board, the control board configured to place the at least adjustable baffle assembly in at least one of the first position and the second position. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the furnace further comprises a fan shelf disposed between a fan and the furnace heat exchanger, wherein the at least one adjustable baffle assembly is disposed substantially perpendicular to the fan shelf when in the first position and disposed at an angle relative to the fan shelf when in the second position. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the angle is less than 90°. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one adjustable baffle assembly comprises a baffle operably coupled to an actuating device. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the actuating device comprises at least one of: a solenoid, a motor, a shape memory member, and a bi-metallic strip.