Time-constrained control of an HVAC system

• US 10,203,127 B2
• Filed: 04/27/2017
• Issued: 02/12/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Trane International Inc. (Trane Technologies plc)
• Original Assignee: Trane International Inc. (Trane Technologies plc)
• Inventors: LeRoy, Jason Thomas, Bicknell, Kirby N., Smith, Christopher Blake, Hughes, John, Brown, Gregory S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Duke, Emmanuel
• Application Number:
  US15/499,833
• Publication Number:
  US 20170314799A1
• Time in Patent Office: 656 Days
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/30 for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/52 Indication arrangements, e.g. displays
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/58 using Internet communication
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/61 using timers
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/62 characterised by the type of control or by internal processing, e.g. using fuzzy logic, adaptive control or estimation of values
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/65 for selecting an operating mode
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/77 by controlling the speed of ventilators
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/83 by controlling the supply of heat-exchange fluids to heat-exchangers
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/85 using variable-flow pumps
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/86 by controlling compressors within refrigeration or heat pump circuits
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 13/24 Means for preventing or suppressing noise
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/10 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 30/70 Efficient control or regulation technologies, e.g. for control of refrigerant flow, motor or heating

Abstract

An HVAC system includes an indoor unit, an outdoor unit, a thermostat, and a remote control device. The indoor unit comprises a first variable speed drive (VSD) to control a speed of HVAC rotary components within the indoor unit, and the outdoor unit comprises a second VSD to control a speed of HVAC rotary components within the outdoor unit. The thermostat in communication with the indoor unit and the outdoor unit comprises a communication interface, and a system controller in communication with the communication interface. The remote control device transmits a signal to the system controller to alter the speed of the HVAC rotary components, where the HVAC rotary components operate at a high speed mode which is above the preset speed limit of the respective HVAC rotary component to achieve an enhanced cooling mode.

Claims

1. A heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system configured to control speed of the HVAC rotary components, the HVAC system comprising:

an indoor unit comprising a first variable speed drive to control a speed of an indoor unit rotary component, the first variable speed drive including a speed limit that is below a maximum speed of the indoor unit rotary component;

an outdoor unit comprising a second variable speed drive to control a speed of an outdoor unit rotary component, the second variable speed drive including a speed limit that is below a maximum speed of the outdoor unit rotary component;

a thermostat in communication with the indoor unit and the outdoor unit, the thermostat configured to transmit a first control signal to the first variable speed drive and the second variable speed drive;

wherein upon receiving the first control signal, the first variable speed drive and the second variable speed drive are configured to operate in a high speed mode which is above the speed limit of the respective rotary component thereof.

2. The HVAC system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the thermostat is further configured to transmit a second control signal to the first variable speed drive and the second variable speed drive, wherein upon receiving the second control signal, the first variable speed drive and the second variable speed drive are configured to operate in a low speed mode.

3. The HVAC system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the indoor unit rotary component comprises an indoor blower motor.

4. The HVAC system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the outdoor unit rotary component is selected from the group consisting of an outdoor fan motor and a compressor motor.

5. The HVAC system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the high speed mode is enabled for a predetermined time duration to effectuate an enhanced cooling mode after which the HVAC system reverts to a normal speed mode.

6. The HVAC system in accordance with claim 5, wherein when the predefined time duration for enhanced cooling mode in the room is completed, a subsequent enhanced cooling mode is restricted from restarting until the expiration of a pre-set delay time.

7. The HVAC system in accordance with claim 5, wherein the enhanced cooling mode is canceled and/or disabled in response to a demand curtailment request received from a utility.

8. The HVAC system in accordance with claim 5, further comprising providing a predefined daily time budget for the enhanced cooling mode.

9. The HVAC system in accordance with claim 8, wherein an unused portion of the daily time budget is carried forward over to the following day.

10. The HVAC system in accordance with claim 8, wherein during the low speed mode, the HVAC system is configured to run at a lower speed than that which is required to maintain a minimum set point temperature.

11. The HVAC system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the thermostat further comprises:

a system controller; and

a user interface configured for a user to communicate with the indoor unit and the outdoor unit via the system controller, wherein the user can initiate the high speed mode and/or the low speed mode of the HVAC components.

12. The HVAC system in accordance with claim 11, wherein the user interface is configured to facilitate entry of a maximum allowable deviation from a set point temperature.

13. The HVAC system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the outdoor unit further comprises a low speed mode user interface to enable a user to access the low speed mode at the outdoor unit.

14. The HVAC system in accordance with claim 13, wherein the low speed mode user interface is configured to restrict access to the low speed mode to an authorized user.

15. A method to control speed of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) rotary components, comprising;

providing a HVAC system comprising;

an indoor unit comprising a first variable speed drive to control a speed on an indoor unit rotary component, the first variable speed drive including a speed limit that is below a maximum speed of the indoor unit rotary component;

an outdoor unit comprising a second variable speed drive to control a speed of an outdoor unit rotary component, the second variable speed drive including a speed limit that is below a maximum speed of the outdoor unit rotary component;

a thermostat in communication with the indoor unit and the outdoor unit, the thermostat configured to transmit a first control signal to the first variable speed drive and the second variable speed drive; and

transmitting the first control signal to the indoor unit rotary component and the outdoor unit outdoor unit rotary component to operate said rotary components at a high speed mode which is above the speed limit of said rotary components to effectuate an enhanced cooling mode.

16. The method in accordance with claim 15, further comprising operating the rotary components at a low speed mode to reduce the noise generated from the rotary components.

17. The method in accordance with claim 16, further comprising operating the rotary components at a lower speed than that which is required to maintain a set point temperature.

18. The method in accordance with claim 17, further comprising restricting a subsequent enhanced cooling mode to be restarted until the expiration of a pre-set delay time.

19. The method in accordance with claim 15, wherein inducing the enhanced cooling mode includes enabling the high speed mode for a predefined time duration after which the HVAC system reverts back to a normal operation speed.

20. The method in accordance with claim 15, further comprising canceling and/or disabling the enhanced cooling mode in response to a demand curtailment request received from a utility.