Systems and methods for hvac filter replacement type recommendation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021041124-A1
Application number	US-202017080297-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 26, 2020
Priority date	Apr 14, 2017
Publication date	Feb 11, 2021
Grant date	—

Abstract

An HVAC system within a building including an HVAC device having an air filter, a number of sensors, and a control device. The control device has a processor that is configured to determine a current air quality metric based on air quality measurements received by the sensor. The control device is further configured to calculate an average air quality metric based on the current air quality metric and a set of previous air quality metrics. The control device is further configured to store the average air quality metric. The control device is further configured to generate an air filter type recommendation based on the average air quality metric.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An HVAC system within a building comprising:
an HVAC device comprising an air filter; one or more sensors configured to measure air quality within the building; and a control device comprising a processor and a memory, the processor configured to:
determine a current air quality metric, wherein the current air quality metric is determined based on measurements received by the one or more sensors;
calculate an average air quality metric based on the current air quality metric and a set of previous air quality metrics;
store the average air quality metric in the memory; and
generate an air filter type recommendation based on the average air quality metric.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the control device is a thermostat.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more sensors include at least one of a volatile organic compound (VOC) sensor, a carbon dioxide sensor, and a pollen sensor.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the generate an air filter type recommendation based on the average air quality metric comprises:
compare the average air quality metric to a low threshold value; and when the average air quality metric is less than the low threshold value, generate an air filter type recommendation corresponding to a less restrictive filter.

5 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the less restrictive filter is configured to reduce energy consumption of the HVAC system.

6 . The system of claim 5 , wherein the less restrictive filter is one of a fiberglass filter or a similar pleated filter.

7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the generate an air filter type recommendation based on the average air quality metric comprises:
compare the average air quality metric to a high threshold value; and when the average air quality metric is greater than the high threshold value, generate an air filter type recommendation corresponding to a more restrictive filter.

8 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the more restrictive filter is configured to improve air quality in the building.

9 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the more restrictive filter is one of a HEPA filter, a carbon filter, or another similar filter.

10 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the generate an air filter type recommendation based on the average air quality metric comprises:
compare the average air quality metric to a low threshold value and a high threshold value; and when the average air quality metric is between the low threshold value and the high threshold value, generate an air filter type recommendation corresponding to a similar type of air filter as is currently installed in the HVAC device.

11 . A method for recommending filter types to be used in an HVAC system of a building comprising:
obtaining, by one or more sensors, a measurement of air quality within the building; calculating, by a control device, a current air quality metric based on the measurement; calculating, by the control device, an average air quality metric based on the current air quality metric and a set of previous air quality metrics; and generating, by the control device, an air filter type recommendation based on the average air quality metric.

12 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising comparing, by the control device, the average air quality metric to a low threshold value.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the air filter type recommendation is for a less restrictive filter configured to reduce energy consumption of the HVAC system if the average air quality metric is less than the low threshold value.

14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the less restrictive filter is one of a fiberglass filter or a similar pleated filter.

15 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising comparing, by the control device, the average air quality metric to a high threshold value.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the air filter type recommendation is for a more restrictive filter configured to improve air quality within the building if the average air quality metric is greater than the high threshold value.

17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the more restrictive filter is one of a HEPA filter, a carbon filter, or another similar filter.

18 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the air filter type recommendation is for a similar type of filter as is currently installed if the average air quality metric is less than the high threshold value and greater than the low threshold value.

19 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the control device is a thermostat.

20 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the one or more sensors include at least one of a volatile organic compound (VOC) sensor, a carbon dioxide sensor, and a pollen sensor.

Assignees

• Johnson Controls Tech Co

Inventors

• Ajax Michael J
• Ribbich Joseph R

Classifications

• Y02B30/70

  Efficient control or regulation technologies, e.g. for control of refrigerant flow, motor or heating · CPC title

• F24F8/10

  by separation, e.g. by filtering · CPC title

• F24F8/96

  for removing pollen · CPC title

• F24F8/108

  using dry filter elements · CPC title

• F24F2110/66

  Volatile organic compounds [VOC] · CPC title