Systems and methods for generating operational intelligence for heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) devices

• US 10,216,161 B2
• Filed: 06/10/2016
• Issued: 02/26/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Carrier Corporation (Carrier Global Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Carrier Corporation (Carrier Global Corporation)
• Inventors: Banerjee, Joy, Murugesan, Yoganathan
• Primary Examiner(s): Fennema, Robert E
• Assistant Examiner(s): Monty, Marzia T
• Application Number:
  US15/179,312
• Publication Number:
  US 20170284692A1
• Time in Patent Office: 991 Days
• Field of Search: 700276
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/0008 for air-humidification F24F11/30 takes precedence
• 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 11/46 Improving electric energy efficiency or saving
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/526 giving audible indications
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/56 Remote control
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/58 using Internet communication
• 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 11/63 Electronic processing
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/64 using pre-stored data
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/65 for selecting an operating mode
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/00 Control inputs relating to air properties
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/10 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/12 of the outside air
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/20 Humidity
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2140/30 Condensation of water from cooled air
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2140/60 Energy consumption
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/042 using digital processors G05B19/05 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2614 HVAC, heating, ventillation, climate control

Abstract

This disclosure relates to a method and system for generating operational intelligence for a Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) device. In one embodiment, the method includes detecting, via a plurality of sensors, a plurality of ambient parameters with respect to a building at periodic intervals; computing, via a processor, a plurality of performance parameters at the periodic intervals based on the plurality of ambient parameters; determining, via the processor, a plurality of operation parameters during an unoccupied period based on the plurality of ambient parameters and the plurality of performance parameters; and dynamically providing, via the processor, a recommendation regarding optimum operation for the HVAC device during the unoccupied period based on the plurality of operation parameters during the unoccupied period.

Claims

1. A method for generating operational intelligence for a HVAC device, the method comprising:

receiving, via a processor, a plurality of ambient parameters with respect to a building at periodic intervals from a plurality of sensors communicatively coupled to the processor, wherein the plurality of ambient parameters comprises an inside air ambient temperature, an outside air ambient temperature, and an inside air ambient relative humidity;

computing, via the processor, a plurality of performance parameters at the periodic intervals based on the plurality of ambient parameters, wherein the plurality of performance parameters comprises an inside air water vapor pressure and an inside air dew point temperature;

determining, via the processor, a plurality of operation parameters during an unoccupied period based on the plurality of ambient parameters and the plurality of performance parameters, wherein the plurality of operation parameters comprises a condensation occurrence point inside the building;

dynamically providing, via the processor, a recommendation regarding optimum operation for the HVAC device during the unoccupied period based on the plurality of operation parameters during the unoccupied period, wherein the recommendation comprises an operational state and a dynamic set point of operation;

and operating, via the processor, the HVAC device during the unoccupied period based on the recommendation.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein computing the plurality of performance parameters comprises computing the inside air water vapor pressure based on the inside air ambient relative humidity and the inside air ambient temperature.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein computing the plurality of performance parameters comprises computing the inside air dew point temperature based on the inside air water vapor pressure.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the plurality of operation parameters comprises correlating the plurality of ambient parameters and the plurality of performance parameters.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the plurality of operation parameters comprises determining the condensation occurrence point inside the building by correlating the inside air dew point temperature and the outside air ambient temperature.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the dynamic set point is based on the condensation occurrence point inside the building.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein dynamically providing the recommendation comprises a recommendation to not operate the HVAC device when the outside air ambient temperature is higher than the inside air dew point temperature.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein dynamically providing the recommendation comprises a recommendation to operate the HVAC device at the dynamic set point when the outside air ambient temperature is lower than the inside air dew point temperature.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein a set of sensors from the plurality of sensors that is disposed outside the building is disposed on the north side of the building.

10. An operational intelligence computing device for generating operational intelligence for a HVAC device, the device comprising a processor and a memory coupled to the processor which is configured to execute one or more programmed instructions comprising and stored in the memory to:

receive a plurality of ambient parameters with respect to a building from a plurality of sensors at periodic intervals, wherein the plurality of ambient parameters comprises an inside air ambient temperature, an outside air ambient temperature, and an inside air ambient relative humidity;

compute a plurality of performance parameters at the periodic intervals based on the plurality of ambient parameters, wherein the plurality of performance parameters comprises an inside air water vapor pressure and an inside air dew point temperature;

determine a plurality of operation parameters during an unoccupied period based on the plurality of ambient parameters and the plurality of performance parameters, wherein the plurality of operation parameters comprises a condensation occurrence point inside the building;

dynamically provide a recommendation regarding optimum operation for the HVAC device during the unoccupied period based on the plurality of operation parameters during the unoccupied period, wherein the recommendation comprises an operational state and a dynamic set point of operation, wherein the processor and the memory coupled to the processor is further configured to execute one or more programmed instructions comprising and stored in the memory to;

operate the HVAC device during the unoccupied period based on the recommendation.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein computing the plurality of performance parameters comprises computing the inside air water vapor pressure based on the inside air ambient relative humidity and the inside air ambient temperature.

12. The device of claim 10, wherein computing the plurality of performance parameters comprises computing the inside air dew point temperature based on the inside air water vapor pressure.

13. The device of claim 10, wherein determining the plurality of operation parameters comprises correlating the plurality of ambient parameters and the plurality of performance parameters.

14. The device of claim 10, wherein determining the plurality of operation parameters comprises determining the condensation occurrence point inside the building by correlating the inside air dew point temperature and the outside air ambient temperature.

15. The device of claim 10, wherein the dynamic set point is based on the condensation occurrence point inside the building.

16. The device of claim 10, wherein dynamically providing the recommendation comprises a recommendation to not operate the HVAC device when the outside air ambient temperature is higher than the inside dew point temperature.

17. The device of claim 10, wherein dynamically providing the recommendation comprises a recommendation to operate the HVAC at the dynamic set point when the outside air ambient temperature is lower than the inside dew point temperature.

18. The device of claim 10, wherein a set of sensors from the plurality of sensors that is disposed outside the building is disposed on the north side of the building.