Duct system for hvac system of air-sealed building and method for conditioning internal air thereof

Abstract

A duct system for an HVAC system of an air-sealed building and a method for conditioning the internal air of the air-sealed building are disclosed. The method comprises the steps of fluidically connecting an inlet duct comprising an inlet damper, between the central duct and an ambient, fluidically connecting an outlet duct comprising an outlet damper, between the central duct and the ambient, and configuring a baffle at a predefined location within one or more of the central duct, the inlet duct, and/or the outlet duct, moving the baffle to a first position, and the inlet damper and the outlet damper to an opened position to enable outflow of internal air from the one or more zones and/or the central duct into the ambient via the outlet duct, and further enable inflow of ambient air into the central duct and/or the one or more zones via the inlet duct.

1 . A duct system for an HVAC system of an air-sealed building, the duct system comprising:
 a central duct extending between and fluidically connected to one or more zones associated with the building, the central duct configured to facilitate circulation of air therethrough and/or between the one or more zones and the central duct, wherein the one or more zones and the central duct are air-sealed;   an inlet duct comprising an inlet damper, fluidically connected between the central duct and an ambient;   an outlet duct comprising an outlet damper, fluidically connected between the central duct and the ambient;   a variable speed fan associated with the HVAC system, wherein the fan is configured to circulate and control flow of the air through the duct system; and   a baffle configured at a predefined location within one or more of the central duct, the inlet duct, and/or the outlet duct, wherein the baffle is configured to move between one or more positions,   wherein at a first position among the one or more positions,
 the baffle and the outlet damper enable outflow of internal air from the one or more zones and/or the central duct into the ambient via the outlet duct, and 
 the baffle and the inlet damper enable inflow of ambient air into the central duct and/or the one or more zones via the inlet duct. 
   
     
     
         2 . The duct system of  claim 1 , wherein at a second position among the one or more positions,
 the baffle and the outlet damper restrict the outflow of the internal air from the one or more zones and/or the central duct into the ambient,   the baffle and the inlet damper restrict the inflow of the ambient air into the central duct and/or the one or more zones, and   the baffle further enables circulation of the internal air within the central duct and/or between the central duct and the one or more zones.   
     
     
         3 . The duct system of  claim 1 , wherein at a third position among the one or more positions,
 the baffle and the outlet damper enable outflow of the internal air from the one or more zones and/or the central duct into the ambient via the outlet duct, and   the inlet damper restricts the inflow of the ambient air into central duct and/or the one or more zones via the inlet duct.   
     
     
         4 . The duct system of  claim 1 , wherein at a fourth position among the one or more positions,
 the baffle and the inlet damper enable inflow of the ambient air into the central duct and/or the one or more zones via the inlet duct, and   the outlet damper restricts the outflow of the internal air from the central duct and/or the one or more zones via the outlet duct.   
     
     
         5 . The duct system of  claim 1 , wherein the baffle is configured at a connecting region between the central duct, the inlet duct, and/or the outlet duct. 
     
     
         6 . The duct system of  claim 1 , wherein the duct system comprises an actuator operatively coupled to the baffle and configured to enable the movement of the baffle between the one or more positions. 
     
     
         7 . The duct system of  claim 1 , wherein the duct system comprises:
 a cooling unit positioned within the central duct and configured to cool one or more of the internal air, and/or the received ambient air while circulating through the central duct; and   a heating unit positioned within the central duct and configured to heat one or more of the internal air, and/or the received ambient air while circulating through the central duct.   
     
     
         8 . The duct system of  claim 1 , wherein the duct system comprises one or more inlet registers, and one or more outlet registers configured between the one or more zones and the central duct such that one of the inlet registers and one of the outlet registers are provided between each of the zones and the central duct, wherein the inlet registers and the outlet registers facilitate the flow of air between the one or more zones and the central duct. 
     
     
         9 . The duct system of  claim 1 , wherein the duct system comprises one or more zone dampers and one or more booster fans configured with each of the inlet registers and each of the outlet registers, wherein the one or more zone dampers and the one or more booster fans control and/or block the flow of the air between the one or more zones and the central duct. 
     
     
         10 . The duct system of  claim 1 , wherein the air-sealed building comprises:
 a thermostat positioned in the one or more zones;   a controller operatively coupled to the thermostat, the actuator, the inlet damper, the outlet damper, the one or more zone dampers, wherein the controller is configured to:
 receive, from the thermostat, data pertaining to predefined indoor air quality (IAQ) parameters to be maintained at the one or more zones; 
 receive, from the thermostat, real-time IAQ values at the one or more zones; and 
 actuate one or more of the actuators, the inlet damper, the outlet damper, the one or more zone dampers, the cooling unit, and the heating unit to facilitate maintaining the predefined IAQ parameters within the one or more zones. 
   
     
     
         11 . The duct system of  claim 1 , wherein the duct system comprises at least one air filter configured in one or more of the inlet duct, and the central duct, wherein the at least one air filter is configured to clean the ambient air received within the central duct via the inlet duct and/or clean the internal air circulating through the central duct. 
     
     
         12 . The duct system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one air filter comprises one or more of a HEPA filter, a UV air filter, an electrostatic filter, an activated carbon filter, a pleated filter, and a fiberglass filter. 
     
     
         13 . The duct system of  claim 1 , wherein the duct system comprises an energy recovery system or a heat recovery system configured between the inlet duct and the outlet duct. 
     
     
         14 . The duct system of  claim 1 , wherein the baffle is fixed at a closed position and an inlet damper end of the inlet duct and an outlet damper end of the outlet duct are fluidically connected via a spring-actuated baffle,
 wherein the spring-actuated baffle is adapted to:
 remain closed when the inlet damper and the outlet damper are open, and 
 remain open when the inlet damper and the outlet damper are closed to allow flow of the air from the inlet duct to the outlet duct to circulate the air through the duct system. 
   
     
     
         15 . A method for conditioning internal air of an air-sealed building comprising a central duct extending between and fluidically connected to one or more zones associated with the building to facilitate circulation of air therethrough and/or between the one or more zones and the central duct, the method comprising the steps of:
 fluidically connecting an inlet duct comprising an inlet damper, between the central duct and an ambient;   fluidically connecting an outlet duct comprising an outlet damper, between the central duct and the ambient;   configuring a baffle at a predefined location within one or more of the central ducts, the inlet duct, and/or the outlet duct; and   moving the baffle to a first position, and the inlet damper and the outlet damper to an opened position to enable outflow of internal air from the one or more zones and/or the central duct into the ambient via the outlet duct, and further enable inflow of ambient air into the central duct and/or the one or more zones via the inlet duct.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the method comprises the steps of moving the baffle to a second position, and the inlet damper and the outlet damper to a closed position to:
 restrict the outflow of the internal air from the one or more zones and/or the central duct into the ambient;   restrict the inflow of the ambient air into the central duct and/or the one or more zones; and   enable circulation of the internal air within the central duct and/or between the central duct and the one or more zones.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the method comprises the steps of moving the baffle to a third position, the inlet damper to a closed position, and the outlet damper to the opened position to:
 enable outflow of the internal air from the one or more zones and/or the central duct into the ambient via the outlet duct; and   restrict the inflow of the ambient air into central duct and/or the one or more zones via the inlet duct.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the method comprises the steps of moving the baffle to a fourth position, the inlet damper to the opened position, and the outlet damper to the closed position to:
 enable inflow of the ambient air into the central duct and/or the one or more zones via the inlet duct; and   restrict the outflow of the internal air from the central duct and/or the one or more zones via the outlet duct.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the method comprises the steps of:
 actuating a cooling unit that is positioned within the central duct to cool one or more of the internal air, and/or the received ambient air while circulating through the central duct; and/or   actuating a heating unit that is positioned within the central duct to heat one or more of the internal air, and/or the received ambient air while circulating through the central duct.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the method comprises the steps of providing at least one air filter in one or more of the inlet duct and the central duct to clean the ambient air received within the central duct via the inlet duct and/or clean the internal air circulating through the central duct.