US 11,747,030 B2
Multi-zone chilled beam system and method with pump module
John C. Fischer, Marietta, GA (US); Aaron S. Bentley, Fayette, MO (US); and David C. Reed, Columbia, MO (US)
Assigned to SEMCO LLC, Columbia, MO (US)
Filed by SEMCO LLC, Columbia, MO (US)
Filed on Mar. 9, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/690,805.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/160,629, filed on Mar. 12, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0290879 A1, Sep. 15, 2022
Int. Cl. F24F 5/00 (2006.01); F24F 11/84 (2018.01); F24F 11/85 (2018.01); F24F 11/32 (2018.01); F24F 110/10 (2018.01); F24F 110/20 (2018.01); F24F 140/20 (2018.01)
CPC F24F 5/0089 (2013.01) [F24F 11/32 (2018.01); F24F 11/84 (2018.01); F24F 11/85 (2018.01); F24F 2110/10 (2018.01); F24F 2110/20 (2018.01); F24F 2140/20 (2018.01); F24F 2221/34 (2013.01)] 25 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A multiple-zone air conditioning system for cooling a multiple-zone space, the multiple-zone air conditioning system comprising:
multiple zones, each zone of the multiple zones comprising:
at least one chilled beam;
a zone control valve that controls whether chilled water is circulated through the at least one chilled beam within the zone of the multiple zones;
a zone thermostat measuring temperature within the zone of the multiple zones; and
a zone humidistat measuring within the zone of the multiple zones: humidity, dew point, or a parameter that can be used to calculate humidity or dew point;
multiple pump modules wherein: each pump module of the multiple pump modules comprises:
a module pump that delivers the chilled water to the at least one chilled beam in a plurality of the multiple zones;
a water temperature sensor that measures temperature of the chilled water delivered by the module pump to the at least one chilled beam in the plurality of the multiple zones served by the pump module of the multiple pump modules;
a modulating valve that controls temperature of the chilled water delivered from the pump module of the multiple pump modules; and
a digital controller that:
receives input from the zone thermostat in each of the plurality of the multiple zones that receive the chilled water from the pump module of the multiple pump modules, wherein the input from the zone thermostat includes: the temperature within the zone of the multiple zones; and whether the zone thermostat calls for cooling;
receives input from the zone humidistat in each of the plurality of the multiple zones that receive the chilled water from the pump module of the multiple pump modules; and controls the modulating valve to control the temperature of the chilled water delivered from the pump module of the multiple pump modules to the plurality of the multiple zones; including maintaining the temperature of the chilled water at least a predetermined temperature differential above a maximum dewpoint within the plurality of the multiple zones that receive the chilled water from the pump module of the multiple pump modules; and
a chilled-water distribution system comprising:
at least one chilled-water distribution pump;
at least one chiller; and
a chilled-water distribution loop;
wherein:
the at least one chiller cools the chilled water;
the at least one chilled-water distribution pump circulates the chilled water through the chilled-water distribution loop to each pump module of the multiple pump modules to be delivered by the module pump of each pump module of the multiple pump modules to the at least one chilled beam of each zone of the multiple zones; and
for each pump module of the multiple pump modules, when some zones of the plurality of zones that are served by the pump module of the multiple pump modules call for heat, and other zones of the plurality of zones that are served by the pump module of the multiple pump modules call for cooling: the pump module of the multiple pump modules alternates between delivering hot water and delivering chilled water; and the pump module of the multiple pump modules determines whether the hot water or the chilled water is delivered by the pump module of the multiple pump modules.