Systems and apparatuses for portable air distribution
Systems and apparatuses are described for portable air distribution. A portable air unit may be used operate and/or assist operation of components/systems and provide critical instrument air supply in a wide variety of emergency industrial and commercial environments. The portable air unit may provide, via one or more solenoids, air from a battery powered integrated air compressor, as well as critical control power, to one or more air operated valves (AOVs) or Instrument Air Control Systems. The portable air unit may be configured, via an inverter and/or battery, to provide Alternating Current (AC) and/or a Direct Current (DC) electricity, power, and/or the like that may be used for diagnostic testing and/or any other critical power needs.
1 . A portable apparatus, comprising:
an enclosure, including:
one or more batteries;
a plurality of electrical outlets, each outlet of the plurality of electrical outlets configured to (i) couple to a respective external device and (ii) output, from the portable apparatus to the respective external device, an output voltage selected from a plurality of voltages;
an air compressor;
an inverter configured to be electrically coupled to the air compressor and electrically coupled to the one or more batteries, the inverter configured to:
receive a first DC power from the one or more batteries;
invert the first DC power to a first AC power; and
provide the first AC power via a respective outlet of the plurality of electrical outlets;
the air compressor electrically coupled to the one or more batteries and the inverter, and configured to generate pressurized air;
an air tank, configured to:
receive the pressurized air from the air compressor; and
output the pressurized air via one or more air outlet ports of the portable apparatus;
an air pressure regulator coupled to the air tank and configured to control a release of the pressurized air from the air tank via a first regulated air outlet port of the portable apparatus;
a processor; and
memory coupled to the processor, the memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the portable apparatus to, during operation of the portable apparatus:
provide power to a solenoid of an air operated valve (AOV) of an external system that has lost power, wherein the external system is configured to be coupled to a first electrical outlet, of the plurality of electrical outlets, of the portable apparatus; and
supply air at a first air pressure to the AOV via the first regulated air outlet port of the portable apparatus, thereby causing the AOV to open, close, and/or reposition.
2 . The portable apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the inverter is further configured to:
receive a second AC power from an external generator that is electrically coupled to the inverter;
convert the second AC power to a second DC power; and
output the second DC power via a second electrical outlet of the plurality of electrical outlets.
3 . The portable apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least one battery of the one or more batteries comprises an auxiliary port to provide external DC power or to receive external DC power.
4 . The portable apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least one battery of the one or more batteries is configured to receive DC power from a battery charger.
5 . The portable apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the inverter is further configured to output DC power, the DC power ranging from 0 W to 500 W.
6 . The portable apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the one or more outlets comprise 120 VAC outlets.
7 . The portable apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the air tank comprises a capacity of 1.5 gallons.
8 . The portable apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the one or more air outlet ports comprise one or more quick connect (QC) outlet ports.
9 . The portable apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising one or more light emitting diodes (LED) configured to indicate a respective status of the inverter.
10 . The portable apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the enclosure comprises a wheeled container configured to the one or more batteries, the inverter, the air tank, and the air pressure regulator.
11 . The portable apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the enclosure is further configured to mount a lighting apparatus, wherein the lighting apparatus is configured to provide ambient lighting.
12 . The portable apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of voltages comprises voltage values ranging from 110 VAC to 480 VAC.
13 . The portable apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of voltages comprises voltage values ranging from 12 VDC to 400 VDC.
14 . The portable apparatus of claim 1 , wherein during operation of the portable apparatus:
a second electrical outlet, of the plurality of electrical outlets, is configured to be electrically coupled to a diagnostic system and provide an AC power output for the diagnostic system.
15 . An apparatus, comprising:
one or more batteries;
an air compressor coupled to the one or more batteries, wherein the air compressor is configured to generate pressurized air;
an air control unit configured to:
receive the pressurized air from the air compressor, and
output, via one or more attachment elements, the pressurized air based on one or more control parameters;
an inverter configured to be electrically coupled to the one or more batteries and to the air control unit, wherein the inverter is configured to:
receive DC power from the one or more batteries and invert the DC power to a first AC power,
receive a second AC power from an external power source, and
provide the first AC power and/or the second AC power to one or more loads,
a distribution hub configured to:
receive first AC power from the inverter and/or receive the second AC power from the external power source, and
output power via one or more outputs of the distribution hub;
a processor; and
memory coupled to the processor, the memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to, during operation of the apparatus:
provide power to a solenoid of an air operated valve (AOV) of an external system that has lost power, wherein the external system is configured to be electrically coupled to the one or more outputs of the distribution hub; and
supply air at a first air pressure to the AOV via the one or more attachment elements of the air control unit, thereby causing the AOV to open, close, and/or reposition.
16 . The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the one or more attachment elements are configured to attach to the solenoid of the AOV.
17 . The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the distribution hub further comprises a voltage and ampere indicator configured to display an AC input voltage and display a total current through the distribution hub.
18 . The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the external power source comprises an AC power generator.
19 . The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the AC power generator is configured to be powered by at least one of gasoline, liquid propane gas, natural gas, or diesel fuel.
20 . The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the AC power generator is configured to switch manually between gasoline and liquid propane gas.