Air handling unit and installation method therefor

Abstract

Air handling unit ( 1 ), AHU, comprises a plurality of modules ( 100 ), each of which includes a sensor ( 101 ), configured to detect values of a physical property and generate a control signal ( 101 ′), an actuator ( 102 ), configured to perform air handling operations and a peripheral controller ( 103 ), connected to the sensor ( 101 ), to receive the control signal ( 101 ′), and to the actuator ( 102 ), to control it through a command signal ( 102 ′). The modules ( 100 ) of the plurality of modules are operatively interconnected according to a predetermined layout. The air handling unit ( 1 ), AHU includes a central control unit ( 200 ), connected to each peripheral controller ( 103 ), to exchange signals with each peripheral controller ( 103 ). Each peripheral controller ( 103 ) of the modules ( 100 ) of the plurality of modules is programmable, with the possibility of varying a control logic, in response to a location of the respective module ( 100 ) within the predetermined layout and/or depending on the sensor and the actuator connected to the correspondent peripheral controller.

1 .- 19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . Air handling unit, AHU, comprising:
 a plurality of modules, each of which includes:
 a sensor, configured to detect values of a physical property and generate a control signal, and/or 
 an actuator, configured to perform air handling operations; 
 a peripheral controller, connected to the sensor, to receive the control signal, and to the actuator, to control it through a command signal, 
   
       the modules of the plurality of modules are operatively interconnected according to a predetermined layout; and
 a central control unit, in communication with each peripheral controller, to exchange signals with each peripheral controller, 
 wherein each peripheral controller of the modules of the plurality of modules is programmable, with the possibility of varying a control logic, in response to the sensor and/or the actuator which is connected to the corresponding peripheral controller, according to the predetermined layout. 
 
     
     
         21 . The air handling unit, AHU, according to  claim 20 , wherein each module of the plurality of modules includes a proximity receiver, configured to receive control data representative of the control logic, to program the peripheral controller by means of a near-field communication, NFC, technology. 
     
     
         22 . The air handling unit, AHU, according to  claim 20 , wherein each module of said plurality comprises a control container, including an external casing, delimiting an internal volume, and wherein each peripheral controller is housed in the internal volume. 
     
     
         23 . The air handling unit, AHU, according to  claim 22 , wherein each control container comprises a respective cover, configured to divide the internal volume into a first volume and a second volume, and a respective plurality of connectors, for connecting the peripheral controller to the respective sensor and/or the respective actuator, and wherein the first volume houses the peripheral controller and the second volume houses the plurality of connectors. 
     
     
         24 . The air handling unit, AHU, according to  claim 22 , wherein each peripheral controller comprises an indicator light, representative of an operating status of the corresponding module, and wherein the indicator light of the respective peripheral controller is visible from the outside. 
     
     
         25 . The air handling unit, AHU, according to  claim 22 , wherein each peripheral controller comprises a proximity receiver, configured to receive data by means of a near-field communication, NFC, technology, and wherein the proximity receiver is arranged on an external surface of the respective control container. 
     
     
         26 . The air handling unit, AHU, according to  claim 22 , wherein the control container includes an inspection opening, the inspection opening being open to the internal volume of the control container. 
     
     
         27 . The air handling unit, AHU, according to  claim 20 , wherein the central control unit is connected to at least one peripheral controller by means of a power cable, to electrically feed the corresponding module, and through a signal cable, the signal cable defining a ModBus connection. 
     
     
         28 . The air handling unit, AHU, according to  claim 20 , wherein the physical property detected by the sensor comprises one or more of the following physical parameters:
 temperature;   pressure;   degree of humidity,   
       and wherein the actuator of the modules of said plurality of modules is configured to perform one or more of the following operations:
 forced air circulation from the outside to the inside of the operating space; 
 forced air circulation from inside and expelled outside the operating space; 
 heat exchange for cooling or heating air. 
 
     
     
         29 . The air handling unit, AHU, according to  claim 20 , wherein the control signals are, at least in part, digital signals and/or analogic signals. 
     
     
         30 . The air handling unit, AHU, according to  claim 20 , wherein each peripheral controller is configured so that it can be placed in any position of the predetermined layout and is configured to be programmed depending on the predetermined layout position in which it is installed. 
     
     
         31 . The air handling unit, AHU, according to  claim 20 , wherein all the peripheral controllers include the same number of connections. 
     
     
         32 . The air handling unit, AHU, according to  claim 20 , wherein the peripheral controller controls the respective sensors and actuators according to the control logic, the control logic being installed in the peripherical controller and being updateable based on the sensor and/or on the actuator which are connected to the correspondent peripheral controller, responsive to a location of the respective module within the predetermined layout. 
     
     
         33 . A method for installing an air handling unit, AHU, in an operating space, comprising the following steps:
 providing a plurality of modules, each including a sensor, an actuator and a peripheral controller, to control the sensor and the actuator;   providing a central control unit;   positioning each module in a corresponding operating zone of the operating space;   connecting of the central control unit to each peripheral controller of said modules of the plurality of modules, to exchange signals with the respective peripheral controller of each module,   wherein it comprises a step of programming, in which each peripheral controller of said modules of the plurality of modules is programmed by installing a corresponding control logic, based on the sensor and/or the actuator of the correspondent module.   
     
     
         34 . The method according to  claim 33 , wherein the programming step is performed through a proximity data transmission step, bringing a programming device near to a proximity receiver of each peripheral controller of said modules of the plurality of modules, to allow a transmission of data by a near-field communication technology. 
     
     
         35 . The method according to  claim 33 , comprising a wiring phase, in which the sensor and the actuator are connected to the peripheral controller via a plurality of connectors, spaced apart from the respective peripheral controller. 
     
     
         36 . The method according to  claim 33 , wherein, in the programming step, the central control unit receive a corresponding control logic, representative of the sensor and of the actuator that each module is provided with. 
     
     
         37 . A method for programming control logics on a plurality of modules of an air handling unit, AHU, through a programming device including a processor, the method including the following steps, performed by the processor:
 receiving layout data, representative of a predetermined layout, according to which the modules of the plurality of modules are operationally interconnected;   receiving control data, representative of a plurality of control logics, each of which is associated with a corresponding module of said plurality of modules, based on an arrangement of the module in the predetermined layout;   receiving an identification input, representative of a selection of a module to be programmed by an operator; and   transferring of selected control data, representative of a control logic associated with the selected module to be programmed, from the programming device to a corresponding peripheral controller of the module to be programmed.   
     
     
         38 . The method according to  claim 37 , wherein, in the transferring step, the programming device transfers the selected control data transferred to the peripheral controllers to a central control unit of the AHU, which controls each peripheral controller. 
     
     
         39 . The method according to  claim 37 , wherein the step of transferring the selected control data is carried out by means of a near-field communication, NFC, technology.