Abstract:
A hybrid air system is provided for conditioning the air in a building and includes first and second independent air conditioning systems, one system having a larger capacity than the other and an independent dehumidifier each work independently and together to control the air on the inside of the building. The hybrid system improves air comfort while increasing efficiency and reducing operating costs and use of energy.

Description:
[0001]    This patent application is a continuation of my pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/929,295, filed Jan. 12, 2011 for a Hybrid Air Conditioning System which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/336,090, filed Jan. 19, 2010. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to the treatment of air for the inside of a building and especially to a hybrid air conditioning system for the regulation of the air temperature and humidity utilizing independently operative air conditioning units of differing capacity and an independently operative dehumidifier to control indoor air quality. 
         [0003]    The present invention is in the technical fields of equipment and controls for performing inside air comfort and air quality treatments of inside air. The conventional “central air conditioning system”, is generally a single unit of a fixed or restricted capacity, sized as the largest machine required to cool down a buildings interior air on the hottest of days with the highest of heat loads, within a relatively short time period. This high level of capacity and power use is typically only needed for approximately one-third of the year, meaning that the equipment is over-sized and using more energy than needed to condition interior air for the remaining two-thirds of the year, resulting in problems such as wasting energy by over cooling and “reheats” to control humidity within a building structure. Inside air treatment needs to shift during the “off-season” two-thirds period, from the priority function of high heat control by the central air conditioner, to that of a need for smaller cooling capacities or for alternate air treatment needs such as control of humidity levels. In these situations, smaller cooling capacity equipment (such as a window unit) or a unit dedicated to a specific function such as humidity control provides superior inside air treatment at significantly lower energy use and costs to the consumer. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The present invention is a new “hybrid” central air conditioning system that incorporates multiple air treatment devices operated by a process controller reacting to sensors, that matches specific air treatment machines to varying air treatment needs—such as humidity control—to maximize air conditioning performance while minimizing energy use. 
         [0005]    A hybrid system is provided for conditioning the air in a building and includes first and second independent air conditioning systems, one system having an equal or larger capacity than the other and an independent dehumidifier, each working independently or together to control the air on the inside of a building. 
         [0006]    The larger capacity air conditioner has a intake or return air duct and an outlet or supply air duct for drawing air from the inside of a building, through the air conditioner and back into the building. The smaller capacity air conditioner has an intake or return air duct leading from the larger capacity air conditioner intake duct to the smaller capacity air conditioner and back into the larger capacity air conditioner&#39;s out let air duct. The dehumidifier has an intake air duct leading from the larger capacity air conditioner intake duct to the dehumidifier and back into the larger capacity air conditioner&#39;s outlet air duct. The larger capacity air conditioner and the smaller capacity air conditioner and the dehumidifier each have a gate or valve located in their respective ducts which are opened only when the specific unit operational and closed when the unit is not operational. A building sensor senses the temperature and humidity within a building and is connected to a controller which controls the operation of the larger capacity air conditioner, smaller capacity air conditioner and dehumidifier to control the air temperature and humidity in the building. Each unit operates independently and can run singly or in combination with each other to control the comfort of the air in a building with increased efficiency over a single larger capacity, dedicated air conditioner which is directed to air cooling rather than moisture removal as with a dedicated dehumidifier. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a hybrid air conditioning system in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is a usage and energy table of a standard 3 ton air conditioning system; and 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is a usage and energy table using the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0010]    Referring now to the invention in more detail, in  FIG. 1 , a schematic view of the present hybrid air conditioning system, having a first or principal central air conditioner unit,  10 , which includes a typical air conditioner or heat pump heat exchanger coil and air handler unit having a fan therein contained within said unit. The air conditioner  10  is connected to a building intake air duct  13  for drawing a building&#39;s inside air thereinto and having an outlet air duct  14  for delivering the conditioned output air therefrom. The duct  14  delivers conditioned air back into the interior space of a building. The use of air conditioner herein includes the use of a reverse cycle air conditioner or heat pump. The first conventional central air conditioner unit  10 , has an operative open and close valve  19  (shown open) in the outlet air duct  14 . 
         [0011]    A self-contained second or auxiliary air conditioner or heat pump unit  11 , has smaller capacity that the principal air conditioner unit  10 , and has an auxiliary intake air supply or return air duct  17  connecting to the air conditioner  10  intake air supply duct  13 . The auxiliary duct  17  has an open and close gate or valve  20  (shown closed), and also has an auxiliary outlet or supply air duct  18  connecting to the air conditioner outlet air duct for supply auxiliary conditioned air thereinto. The auxiliary air conditioner or heat pump unit  11  with valve  20  in an open position can be operated to draw building interior supply air from the air conditioner duct  13 , condition the air if needed, and supply the conditioned air to the interior of a building through the air conditioner outlet air duct  14 , either singularly or in combination with the air flow from air conditioner  10 . 
         [0012]    The hybrid system of the present invention has a self-contained and independently operated dehumidifier unit  12 , which dehumidifier has an auxiliary intake or return air duct  16  connecting to the air conditioner unit return duct  13 , with the intake or supply air duct  13 . An open and close valve  21  (shown closed) is mounted therein. An auxiliary supply air outlet duct  15  is connected from the dehumidifier  12  to the air conditioner supply air outlet duct  14 . The dehumidifier unit  12  and valve  21 , are operated to draw building interior supply air from the air conditioner duct  13 , condition it in air conditioner  12  and supply the conditioned dehumidifier air to the interior of a building through the air conditioner outlet supply air duct  14 . The added dehumidifier unit  12 , can be selectively operated as a stand alone unit to supply dehumidified air to a building, or in combination with the first air conditioner unit  10 , or the second unit  11 , or with both. 
         [0013]    In operation the principal air conditioner unit  10  along with the open or close duct valve  19  is operated to open or close the flow of air through the air conditioner  10  while the auxiliary or second air conditioner unit  11  along with the open and close valve  20  is operated to open or close the flow of air through the auxiliary air conditioner  11 . The dehumidifier  12  along with the open and close valve  21  is operated to open or close the flow of air to the dehumidifier  12 . A process controller or CPU  22  receives inside air condition from sensors  23 , which includes sensors for temperature and humidity, to compare with the temperature and humidity comfort levels desired and set by building owner, operators, or occupants, in order to selectively activate any of the air conditioner units  10  and  11  and the dehumidifier  12  and their respective duct valves  19 ,  20 , and  21 , to operate any of the unit separately or in any combination of units as directed by the controller depending upon the sensed temperature and humidity in order to provide optimal comfort conditions inside the building with the lowest energy input and costs plus enhanced comfort and health benefits by matching the specific comfort conditioning air treatment needed or desired by the selecting equipment with the lowest power load. 
         [0014]    A conventional central air conditioning system installation is generally the largest machine needed to cool down a buildings interior air, on the hottest of days with the highest of heat loads, within the relatively short time period necessary to achieve acceptable comfort. This high level of air conditioning power use, however, is typically only needed for about one-third of the year, meaning that the equipment is over-sized and uses more energy than needed to obtain comfort conditioned interior air for the remaining two-thirds of the year. In addition, the air comfort and air quality treatment needs shift from the primary function of heat control by the central air conditioner in summer months, to that of controlling other factors such as humidity when air temperatures are moderate or mild during fall and spring periods but humidity levels can build up because the cooling function of the air conditioner is not being activated for direct cooling (salient heat removal) of the interior air so as to also indirectly remove water vapor by condensation (latent heat removal) to lower the humidity. The invention herein described detects the increase in humidity level, and activates the dedicated dehumidifier unit  12 , to dehumidify the air without running the central air conditioner, which would also lower the air temperature, often to a level where a “reheat” function is needed to raise the air temperature back up to the set comfort level, wasting energy. 
         [0015]      FIGS. 2 and 3  are tabular illustrations of a use of the invention to achieve energy savings. The table in  FIG. 2  shows a typical central air conditioning system, which is generally of a maximum cooling capacity size for a building and in either in “on” or “off” state for all inside air comfort conditioning demands  FIG. 3  shows how the present hybrid air conditioning system with an integrated equipment package and process control thereof, selectively matches the inside air comfort needs to an optimum energy-saving combination of dedicated equipment capacities and treatment choice options needed to more efficiently achieve the desired results. In  FIG. 2  a building installation uses 100% of 4000 watt power for “on” conditioning use demands year around while in  FIG. 3  the power is reduced by approximately 80% down to 20% (data cell lower right) by limiting use of the equipment  10  to just the highest demand periods for which it was selected and installed, and to instead use the invention to process-operate equipment  12 , which is now selectively available to use less energy. The self-contained first air conditioner unit  10 , and the second self contained air conditioner unit  11 , and the self contained dehumidifier unit  12 , can connect and combine together for greater efficiency. Units  10 ,  11 , and  12  have certain elements and common functions of the individual units, such as electrical hookups and water condensate drain outlets which elements can be combined in the hybrid air conditioning system of the present invention using shared connections. Additionally, the air conditioning units  10  and  11  and the dehumidifier  12  do not have to be combined together into one modular unit, but can be located separately as long as the air flow ducts as shown are connected. The invention system and process controller can also be expanded and programmed for other air conditioning needs such as humidification in heating climates, or air cleaning devices, or for ventilation. The processing control can also control other energy consuming devices such as for timing a water heater cycle, if desired. The process control, sensors, and equipment can be wired or wireless and can incorporate the standard thermostat control into one user interface, and the process controller can be accessed, programmed, and controlled remotely via internet, phone line, power lines, or wireless connections, without limitation. 
         [0016]    The present invention saves air conditioning operational energy and costs and delivers increased comfort and air quality, by the selective matching of the specific air conditioning treatments needed or desired, to the expanded range of invention equipment now available and offers varying power requirements and air treatment capabilities, that are now automatically available as alternatives to the sole use of a conventional size air conditioning unit. 
         [0017]    The present invention also provides utility power suppliers with an interface to reduce air conditioning energy consumption during peak periods and offers customers reduced rates for off-peak use. It also provides users with air conditioning backup in case of a failure of a single unit, such as failure of air conditioners  10  or  11 , and provides longer life with fewer repairs on equipment by spreading the operational uses to the best alternative equipment choices at the time. 
         [0018]    In the broad embodiment, the present invention is a new type of air conditioning system for automatically achieving higher efficiency and comfort, using the new process control for selective use of the dedicated air conditioning equipment of varying size and treatment capabilities, based on sensor derived air conditions compared to specified user comfort setting needs that can save energy and costs by selectively specifying the optimum mix of equipment needed to meet a specific building and user with the least use of energy. 
         [0019]    While the foregoing written description of the invention enables one of ordinary skill to make and use what is considered presently to be the best mode thereof, those of ordinary skill will understand and appreciate the existence of variations, combinations, and equivalents of the specific embodiment, method, and examples herein. The invention should therefore not be limited by the above described embodiment, method, and examples which are to be considered illustrative rather restrictive.