Systems and methods for balancing an HVAC system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9874370-B2
Application number	US-201414169637-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 31, 2014
Priority date	Jan 31, 2014
Publication date	Jan 23, 2018
Grant date	Jan 23, 2018

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed that involve balancing conditioned air delivered to a plurality of zones based on temperature-time profiles for each of the plurality of zones. Wireless temperature sensors may be used to send temperature data to a processing unit to develop the plurality of temperature-time profiles. The temperature-time profiles are analyzed to identify any outliers requiring adjustment of conditioned air to a zone. Adjustments to balance the conditioned air may be made manually or automatically. Other systems and methods are disclosed.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A method of balancing a volume of conditioned air delivered to a plurality of zones having at least three zones, the method comprising:
deploying a plurality of temperature sensors in the plurality of zones in at least a one to one fashion;
introducing conditioned air to each of the plurality of zones;
recording temperature measures for each of the plurality of zones over a first time period using the plurality of temperature sensors to develop a temperature-time profile for each zone;
identifying temperature-time profiles varying from other temperature-time profiles by more than a preselected amount;
tuning air flow to one or more of the zones in response to any identified temperature-time profiles varying from other temperature-time profiles by more than the preselected amount;
recording temperature measures for each of the plurality of zones over a plurality of time periods to develop a plurality of temperature-time profiles for each zone;
developing an average temperature profile for each zone from the plurality of temperature-time profiles;
identifying average temperature-time profiles varying from other average temperature-time profiles by more than a designated margin; and
tuning air flow to one or more of the zones in response to any identified temperature-time profiles varying from other temperature-time profiles by more than a designated margin.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of tuning air flow comprises adjusting one or more dampers to bring the temperature-time profile of any temperature-time profiles varying from other temperature-time profiles closer to conformity with the temperature-time profiles of other zones of the plurality of zones.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of tuning air flow comprises adjusting one or more dampers to bring the temperature-time profile of any temperature-time profiles varying from other temperature-time profiles closer to conformity with the temperature-time profiles of other zones of the plurality of zones; and wherein the step of adjusting one or more dampers comprises providing a control signal to one or more actuators associated with one or more dampers.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of identifying temperature-time profiles varying from other temperature-time profiles comprises comparing average slope of a temperature-time curve for each zone developed through regression analysis against a slope of each temperature-time curve for each zone.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of temperature sensors comprise wireless temperature sensors.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of temperature sensors comprise temporary wired temperature sensors.

7. A heating, ventilating, and air conditioning system for providing conditioned air to a plurality of zones in a structure, the system comprising:
a main conditioning unit having a compressor, condenser, expander, and evaporator for producing the conditioned air;
one or more ducts for delivering the conditioned air to the plurality of zones;
one or more dampers associated with the one or more ducts for controlling airflow through the one or more ducts;
a plurality of temperature sensors disposed within the plurality of zones;
a processing unit comprising at least one processor and at least one memory, the processing unit communicatively coupled to the plurality of temperature sensors for receiving data therefrom; and
wherein the processing unit is configured to perform operations comprising:
storing temperature measurements during a first time interval of operation of the main conditioning unit to develop a temperature-time profile for each zone of the plurality of zones to produce a plurality of temperature-time profiles,
analyzing the plurality of temperature-time profiles to identify one or more outlier temperature-time profiles, and
developing tuning instructions in response to any outlier temperature-time profiles.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the one or more dampers comprise a plurality of actuators communicatively coupled to the processing unit, and wherein the processing unit is further configured to perform operations comprising: using the tuning instructions to develop a control signal sent to one or more of the plurality of actuators to adjust the one or more of the dampers to adjust a volume of conditioned air delivered to one or more zones of the plurality of zones.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the processing unit is communicatively coupled to the plurality of actuators by conducting wires.

10. The system of claim 8 , wherein the processing unit is communicatively coupled to the plurality of actuators by wireless signals.

11. The system of claim 7 , wherein the plurality of temperature sensors comprises wireless temperature sensors and the processing unit is communicatively coupled to the plurality of temperature sensors by wireless signals.

12. The system of claim 7 , wherein the plurality of temperature sensors comprises wired temperature sensors and the processing unit is communicatively coupled to the plurality of temperature sensors by a plurality of conducting wires.

13. The system of claim 7 , wherein the step of analyzing the temperature-time profiles to identify one or more outlier temperature-time profiles comprises performing regression analysis on each temperature-time profile to produce a representative curve and comparing representative curves for each of the plurality of temperature-time profiles.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the regression analysis comprises least-squares analysis.

15. A method of commissioning a heating, ventilating, and air conditioning system, the method comprising:
supplying conditioned air to a plurality of zones;
recording temperatures over time in each of the plurality of zones to develop a plurality of temperature-time profiles;
comparing the plurality of temperature-time profiles to identify any outlier temperature-time profiles;
adjusting the supply of conditioned air to one or more of the plurality of zones in response to the step of comparing the plurality of temperature-time profiles to identify any outlier temperature-time profiles;
wherein the step of supplying conditioned air to a plurality of zones comprises developing conditioned air in a main conditioning unit and using a plurality of ducts to deliver the conditioned air through a plurality of registers to the plurality of zones; and
wherein the step of recording temperatures over time in each of the plurality of zones to develop a plurality of temperature-time profiles comprises deploying wireless temperature sensors in each of the plurality of zones, causing the wireless temperature sensors to send data signals to a processing unit that records signals over time.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the step of adjusting the supply of conditioned air comprises sending a control signal to one or more dampers.

Assignees

• Lennox Ind Inc
• Lennox Ind Inc

Inventors

• Uselton Robert B

Classifications

• F24F13/10 Primary

  movable, e.g. dampers · CPC title

• F24F11/0001

  for ventilation (F24F11/30 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F24F11/76

  by means responsive to temperature, e.g. bimetal springs · CPC title

• F24F11/053

  Mechanical Engineering · mapped topic