Zone damper fault detection in an HVAC system

• US 20050155365A1
• Filed: 05/07/2004
• Published: 07/21/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Carrier Corporation (Carrier Global Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Carrier Corporation (Carrier Global Corporation)
• Inventors: Shah, Rajendra K., Puranen, Christopher M.
• Granted Patent: US 6,981,383 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 62/186
• 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 11/49 ensuring correct operation, e.g. by trial operation or configuration checks
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/77 by controlling the speed of ventilators
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2140/40 Damper positions, e.g. open or closed
• 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

A zoned HVAC system is provided with a series of dampers. A control for the dampers causes the dampers to each move between open and closed positions while monitoring a system condition. The system condition is selected to be one that should change as the damper moves between open and closed positions. If the system condition does not change as the control orders the damper to move between the open and closed positions, the particular damper is identified as a potentially faulty damper.

Claims

1. A method of determining the condition of a damper from a remote location comprising the steps of:

(1) providing a zoned HVAC system including a plurality of zone ducts each including a damper and providing a control for operating each of said dampers;

(2) utilizing said control to drive at least one of said dampers between an open and closed position, and monitoring a system condition during said movement of said damper; and

(3) identifying a damper fault if said system condition does not change as expected as said damper moves between said open and closed positions.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said monitored system condition is a blower speed.

3. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the type of damper fault is also identified in step (3).

4. The method as set forth in claim 3, wherein the type of damper fault is identified as a faulty damper if said system condition does not change within an appreciable tolerance as the damper moves between the open and closed positions.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the type of damper fault is identified as a system mis-wiring if the system condition changes in an opposed direction than as would be expected as the damper moves between open and closed positions.

6. An HVAC system comprising:

an indoor air handler for delivering air to a series of ducts;

a series of dampers associated with a series of ducts; and

a control for controlling said dampers, said control being capable of causing each of said dampers to move between an open and closed position, and to monitor a system condition during said movement, said control identifying a fault at a particular one of said dampers that is moving between said open and closed position, if said monitored system condition does not change as expected during movement of said damper.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein said monitored system condition is a blower speed.

8. The system as set forth in claim 6, wherein a type of damper fault is also identified.

9. The system as set forth in claim 8, wherein the type of damper fault is identified as a faulty damper if said system condition does not change within an appreciable tolerance as the damper moves between the open and closed positions.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the type of damper fault is identified as a system mis-wiring if the system condition changes in an opposed direction than as would be expected as the damper moves between open and closed positions.