Until the recent emergence of new heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) demands for green buildings, the HVAC industry historically developed systems and supporting ductwork designed for overcapacity. However, maximizing HVAC efficiency to reduce energy consumption for today's green buildings has become the overriding goal. This results in the need to more precisely match HVAC system capacity to a building's specifications and more tightly control HVAC performance through integrated, automated building technologies.
One of the ways to accomplish this is to manage and optimize airflow within HVAC ducts through intelligent valves, dampers, and automated control systems. This article will examine how the use of linear actuators driven by lead screws is helping HVAC professionals meet the unique requirements of this type of application.
Consider the example of a six-foot-by-six-foot duct valve located 30 feet above a manufacturing process facility floor. The baffle within the duct needs to be adjusted periodically to maintain proper airflow throughout the building. To configure the most suitable lead screw linear actuator to open and close the duct valve, you need to know the loads, duty cycle, and other operational details—such as the presence or absence of accumulating dust or particulates. Other application specifications might look something like this: With linear actuators using lead screws, HVAC systems can automatically, dynamically, and efficiently control duct valves and dampers through programmable thermostats, maximizing HVAC efficiency in the process.
With this type of information in hand, you can configure the most suitable lead screw linear actuator to make adjustments to the duct valve with a high degree of precision and reliability. In this application, the lead screw is connected to the damper blade inside the HVAC duct valve and pivots on the nut to open or close. This can be achieved either through the use of an adjustable, manual weight, which will open or close the valve in response to the pressure within the duct, or as part of an automated, computer-controlled system.
Intelligently controlled lead screw linear actuators can also be used to replace or retrofit existing duct valves. Lead screw-driven actuators are typically available with either analog or digital controls for this purpose, enabling easy connection and integration with existing HVAC systems. Motion control options include:
Linear actuators driven by precision lead screws can help improve the efficiency and performance of HVAC systems. Lead screws provide the smooth performance and quiet operation required to control ductwork dampers and valves, enabling you to optimize HVAC performance and reduce energy usage in today's new generation of energy-efficient buildings.