System and method of monitoring performance of an HVAC unit

• US 10,331,117 B2
• Filed: 07/25/2016
• Issued: 06/25/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Carrier Corporation (Carrier Global Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Carrier Corporation (Carrier Global Corporation)
• Inventors: Dempsey, Daniel J.
• Primary Examiner(s): McAndrew, Christopher P
• Application Number:
  US15/219,108
• Publication Number:
  US 20170023934A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,065 Days
• Field of Search: 324511
• 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 11/38 Failure diagnosis
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/46 Improving electric energy efficiency or saving
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/52 Indication arrangements, e.g. displays
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/58 using Internet communication
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/63 Electronic processing
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/10 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/12 of the outside air
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2130/00 Control inputs relating to environmental factors not covered by group F24F2110/00
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2130/10 Weather information or forecasts
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2140/00 Control inputs relating to system states
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2140/60 Energy consumption
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 5/0046 using natural energy, e.g. solar energy, energy from the ground
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 21/06 by measuring current and voltage G01R21/08 - G01R21/133 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 22/063 related to remote communication
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/50 Testing of electric apparatus, lines, cables or components for short-circuits, continuity, leakage current or incorrect line connections testing of sparking plugs H01T13/58
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2614 HVAC, heating, ventillation, climate control
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 23/0235 based on a comparison with predetermined threshold or range, e.g. "classical methods", carried out during normal operation; threshold adaptation or choice; when or how to compare with the threshold

Abstract

A system and method for monitoring performance of an HVAC unit by receiving outdoor temperature data from an outdoor temperature source and indoor temperature data from an indoor temperature source, tracking performance data of the HVAC unit based at least in part on the outdoor temperature data and the indoor temperature data, receiving power consumption data from the power measuring device, tracking the power consumption data based at least in part on the outdoor temperature data, determining whether there is a change in the performance data and the power consumption data, and generating a fault signal based at least in part on the change in the performance data and the power consumption data.

Claims

1. A method of monitoring performance of an HVAC unit operably coupled to a power measuring device, the method comprising:

(a) receiving outdoor temperature data from an outdoor temperature source and indoor temperature data from an indoor temperature source;

(b) tracking performance data of the HVAC unit based at least in part on the outdoor temperature data and the indoor temperature data;

(c) receiving power consumption data from the power measuring device;

(d) tracking the power consumption data based at least in part on the outdoor temperature data;

(e) determining whether there is a change in the performance data and the power consumption data; and

(f) generating a fault signal based on the change in the performance data and the power consumption data.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

(g) communicating the fault to a separate device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the performance data comprises at least one of capacity, run-time, load, and duty cycle.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the outdoor temperature source comprises at least one of an outdoor temperature sensor and a secondary source.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the separate device comprises at least one of a mobile device and a database.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the secondary source comprises a website.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the outdoor temperature data is the temperature of water returning from a ground loop of a geothermal heat pump.

8. An HVAC system comprising:

a system controller including a processor, and a memory;

an HVAC unit in communication with the system controller; and

a power measuring device operably coupled to the HVAC unit, and in communication with the system controller;

wherein the processor is configured to;

(a) receive outdoor temperature data from an outdoor temperature source and indoor temperature data from an indoor temperature source;

(b) track performance data of the HVAC unit based at least in part on the outdoor temperature data and the indoor temperature data;

(c) receive power consumption data from the power measuring device;

(d) track the power consumption data based at least in part on the outdoor temperature data;

(e) determine whether there is a change in the performance data and the power consumption data; and

(f) generate a fault signal based on the change in the performance data and the power consumption data.

9. The HVAC system of claim 8, wherein the system controller is configured to transmit the fault signal to a separate device.

10. The HVAC system of claim 8, wherein the outdoor temperature source comprises at least one of a temperature sensor and a secondary source.

11. The HVAC system of claim 8, wherein the performance data comprises at least one of capacity, run-time, load, and duty cycle.

12. The HVAC system of claim 9, wherein the separate device comprises at least one of a mobile device and a database.

13. The HVAC system of claim 10, wherein the secondary source is configured to supply up to date, but not necessarily instantaneous, outdoor temperature data.

14. The HVAC system of claim 8, wherein the outdoor temperature data is the temperature of water returning from a ground loop of a geothermal heat pump.