Economizer control

• US 20030181158A1
• Filed: 01/30/2003
• Published: 09/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Edwards Systems Technology, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Edwards Systems Technology, Inc.
• Inventors: Schell, Michael B., Valenta, Rod J.
• Application Number:
  US10/353,947
• Publication Number:
  US 20030181158A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 454/229
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/0001 for ventilation 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 11/74 for controlling air flow rate or air velocity
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2011/0002 for admittance of outside air
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2011/0006 using low temperature external supply air to assist cooling
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/20 Humidity
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/70 Carbon dioxide
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 3/0442 with volume control at a constant temperature
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 30/70 Efficient control or regulation technologies, e.g. for control of refrigerant flow, motor or heating

Abstract

An economizer control for controlling air quality. The economizer control includes a sensor that senses characteristics of air, a damper located relative to the sensor so that the damper can control air flow of outside air and re-circulated air to the sensor, and a controller in communication with the sensor and the damper. The controller controls the opening and closing of the damper according to conditions sensed by the sensor.

Claims

1. An economizer control comprising:

a sensor that senses characteristics of air;

a damper located relative to said sensor so that said damper can control air flow of outside air and re-circulated air to said sensor; and

a controller in communication with said sensor and said damper, said controller opening and closing said damper according to conditions sensed by said sensor.

2. The economizer control as recited in claim 1 wherein said damper comprises:

an outside damper that allows outside air to enter a mixed air section of an air handler when said outside damper is open, and prevents outside air from entering the mixed air section when said outside damper is closed.

3. The economizer control as recited in claim 1 where said damper comprises:

an inside damper that allows re-circulated air to enter a mixed air section of an air handler when said inside damper is open, and that prevents re-circulated air to enter the mixed air section when said inside damper is closed.

4. The economizer control as recited in claim 1 wherein said sensor measures temperature, enthalpy and occupancy level.

5. The economizer control as recited in claim 1 wherein said sensor comprises:

a temperature sensor, an absolute humidity control sensor and a CO₂ sensor.

6. The economizer control as recited in claim 1 wherein said controller adjusts said damper to limit the amount of outside air entering a mixed air section of an air handler when said sensor senses a humidity level above a predetermined range.

7. The economizer control as recited in claim 1 wherein said controller adjusts said damper to limit the amount of outside air entering a mixed air section of an air handler when said sensor senses a temperature outside a predetermined range.

8. A method for controlling an economizer comprising the steps of:

sensing characteristics of air; and

controlling a damper to control the air flow of outside air and re-circulated air in accordance with the sensed characteristics of the air.

9. The method as recited in claim 8 wherein said step of controlling the damper comprises the steps of:

opening an outside damper to allow outside air enter a mixed air section of an air handler; and

closing the outside damper to prevent outside air from entering the mixed air section.

10. The method as recited in claim 8 wherein said step of controlling the damper comprises the steps of:

opening an inside damper to allow re-circulated air to enter a mixed air section of an air handler; and

closing the inside damper to prevent re-circulated to enter the mixed air section.

11. The method as recited in claim 8 wherein the step of sensing characteristics of air comprises the step of sensing the temperature, enthalpy and occupancy level.

12. The method as recited in claim 8 wherein the step of sensing characteristics of air comprises the step of sensing the temperature, absolute humidity and CO₂ level of the air.

13. The method as recited in claim 8 wherein the step of controlling the damper comprises the step of adjusting the damper to limit the amount of outside air entering a mixed air section of an air handler when a humidity level above a predetermined range is sensed.

14. The method as recited in claim 8 wherein the step of controlling the damper comprises the step of adjusting the damper to limit the amount of air entering a mixed air section of an air handler when a temperature outside a predetermined range is sensed.

15. A system for controlling an economizer comprises:

a means for sensing characteristics of air located in a mixed air section of an air handler;

a means for controlling a damper to control the air flow of outside air and re-circulated air in accordance with sensed characteristics of the air.

16. The system as recited in claim 15 wherein said means for controlling the damper comprises:

a means for opening an outside damper to allow outside air enter a mixed air section of an air handler; and

a means for closing the outside damper to prevent outside air from entering the mixed air section.

17. The system as recited in claim 15 wherein said means for controlling the damper comprises:

a means for opening an inside damper to allow re-circulated air to enter a mixed air section of an air handler; and

a means for closing the inside damper to prevent re-circulated air from entering the mixed air section.

18. The system as recited in claim 15 wherein said means for sensing characteristics of air comprises a means for sensing temperature, enthalpy and occupancy level of the air.

19. The system as recited in claim 15 wherein said means for sensing characteristics of air comprises a means for sensing the temperature, absolute humidity and CO₂ level of the air.

20. The system as recited in claim 15 wherein said means for controlling the damper comprises a means for adjusting the damper to limit the amount of outside air entering a mixed air section of an handler when a humidity level above a predetermined range is sensed.

21. The system as recited in claim 15 wherein said means for controlling the damper comprises a means for adjusting the damper to limit the amount of air entering a mixed air section of an handler when a temperature outside a predetermined range is sensed.