Methods and systems for monitoring an air filter of an HVAC system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of monitoring a status of an air filter of an HVAC system, wherein the HVAC system has a number of controllable HVAC components, the method comprising:
- placing the controllable HVAC components into a predetermined filter check state;
while the controllable HVAC components are in the predetermined filter check state;
measuring a first differential pressure value across the air filter at a first time;
determining a status of the air filter based at least in part on the measured first differential pressure value;
placing at least one of the controllable HVAC components into a different state other than the predetermined filter check state including activating one or more HVAC components that were not previously activated in the predetermined filter check state, and operating the HVAC system while the at least one of the controllable HVAC components is in the different state;
after the HVAC system is operated with the at least one of the controllable HVAC components in the different state, placing each of the controllable HVAC components back into the predetermined filter check state; and
while the controllable HVAC components are in their predetermined filter check state;
measuring a second differential pressure value across the air filter at a second time; and
determining the status of the air filter based at least in part on the measured second differential pressure value.
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Abstract
Methods and systems for monitoring an air filter installed in an HVAC system may include operating the HVAC system in an air filter monitoring mode such as, for example, a fan only mode, and measuring, for example, a differential pressure across the air filter when the HVAC system is operating in the air filter monitoring mode. The method may include evaluating a status of the air filter using, for example, the measured differential pressure value, and in some cases, display the status on a display of an HVAC controller.
45 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of monitoring a status of an air filter of an HVAC system, wherein the HVAC system has a number of controllable HVAC components, the method comprising:
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placing the controllable HVAC components into a predetermined filter check state; while the controllable HVAC components are in the predetermined filter check state; measuring a first differential pressure value across the air filter at a first time; determining a status of the air filter based at least in part on the measured first differential pressure value; placing at least one of the controllable HVAC components into a different state other than the predetermined filter check state including activating one or more HVAC components that were not previously activated in the predetermined filter check state, and operating the HVAC system while the at least one of the controllable HVAC components is in the different state; after the HVAC system is operated with the at least one of the controllable HVAC components in the different state, placing each of the controllable HVAC components back into the predetermined filter check state; and while the controllable HVAC components are in their predetermined filter check state; measuring a second differential pressure value across the air filter at a second time; and determining the status of the air filter based at least in part on the measured second differential pressure value. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An HVAC controller for controlling an HVAC system having a number of controllable HVAC components and an air filter, the HVAC controller comprising:
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a controller; a memory coupled to the controller; a display coupled to the controller; wherein the controller is configured to place each of the controllable HVAC components into a predetermined filter check state at a first time, and while the controllable HVAC components are in the predetermined filter check state, receive a measure related to an amount of flow restriction presented by the air filter of the HVAC system, and then determine a status of the air filter based at least in part on the received measure related to an amount of flow restriction presented by the air filter, and then placing at least one of the controllable HVAC components into a different state other than the predetermined filter check state, wherein one or more components of the HVAC system are activated that were not previously activated while in the predetermined filter check state, and operating the HVAC system while the at least one of the controllable HVAC components is in the different state, the controller further configured to return the HVAC components to the predetermined filter check state at a second time; and the controller configured to display the status of the air filter on the display. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of monitoring a status of an air filter of an HVAC system of a building, wherein the HVAC system includes a number of controllable HVAC components, the method comprising:
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operating the HVAC system in a normal operating mode to control a temperature in the building; occasionally entering an air filter monitoring mode, wherein the air filter monitoring mode corresponds to a fan only mode of the HVAC system; while in the air filter monitoring mode, receiving a measure related to an amount of flow restriction presented by the air filter, and determining a status of the air filter based at least in part on the received measure related to the amount of flow restriction presented by the air filter; and displaying the status of the air filter on a display.
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Specification