Air control module

1. A mechanically-modulated ventilation unit apparatus comprising:

a high-velocity blower having an intake, an exhaust, an impeller disposed to ventilate air from the intake to the exhaust, and an electric motor operatively connected to drive the impeller;

an air control module having a casing enclosing a flow passage that defines a flow axis extending from an inlet flange of the casing to an outlet flange of the casing, a blade pivotally mounted within the casing and movable between a plurality of positions each obstructing a different portion of the flow passage, and an actuator operatively connecting the blade to the casing for moving the blade to one of the plurality of positions in response to a command signal received at the actuator;

said air control module and said blower being arranged such that said blower ventilates the flow passage of said air control module;

wherein electric power consumption by the electric motor of said high-velocity blower is modulated solely by movement of the blade within said air control module;

wherein the broadest surface of the blade of said air control module has a generally rectangular shape with rounded corners and has a height and width that substantially corresponds to a height and width of the flow passage; and

wherein the blade obstructs about 84% of the flow passage when the blade is positioned perpendicular to the flow passage of the casing, the rounded corners of the blade permitting the flow passage to remain about 16% unobstructed when the blade is positioned perpendicular to the flow passage of the casing.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the pivot axis of the blade of said air control module is disposed at a flow distance D from the impeller of said blower, the flow distance D being determined as a function of the cross-sectional flow area of the flow passage and of the full-current rated volumetric airflow of said blower.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the blade of said air control module is pivoted in bearings housed in opposed walls of the casing of said air control module.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the blade of said air control module is generally elliptic in shape, having flattened ends and sides conforming to the casing of said air control module.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a refrigeration system including a compressor, an evaporator, an expansion valve, and a condenser,

wherein said blower is disposed to ventilate at least one of the evaporator and the condenser of said refrigeration system.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising: a processor in communication with the actuator of said air control module, said processor configured to receive sensor data and further configured to generate and send to the actuator a command signal based on parameters including at least the received sensor data and at least one control signal related to the received sensor data, wherein the command signal represents a modulated flow position of the blade of said air control module, selected from a range of positions between a maximum-flow position and a minimum-flow position.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the parameters for generating the command signal further include at least a full-current rated flow of a blower connected to direct air through the passage and a distance from said blower to said damper blade.