Variable air volume terminal control systems and methods

• US 20070023533A1
• Filed: 07/20/2006
• Published: 02/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/22/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska
• Original Assignee: Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska
• Inventors: Liu, Mingsheng
• Application Number:
  US11/490,535
• Publication Number:
  US 20070023533A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 236/1.C
• 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 11/56 Remote control
• 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 11/74 for controlling air flow rate or air velocity
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/84 using valves
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 3/044 Systems in which all treatment is given in the central station, i.e. all-air systems

Abstract

A method and system of controlling the temperature of a zone with airflow. In one embodiment, the method includes entering a first temperature control mode that modulates airflow to the zone between a maximum airflow set point and a minimum airflow set point to maintain the temperature of the zone between a zone cooling temperature set point and a zone heating temperature set point. The method also includes switching to a second temperature control mode upon the airflow reaching the maximum airflow set point and the temperature of the zone reaching the zone cooling temperature set point; and switching to a third temperature control mode upon the airflow reaching the minimum airflow set point and the temperature of the zone reaching the zone heating temperature set point.

Claims

1. A method of controlling the temperature of a zone with airflow, the method comprising:

storing, for use by a controller, a set of parameters that comprises a minimum airflow set point, a maximum airflow set point, a zone cooling temperature set point, and a zone heating temperature set point;

entering a first temperature control mode upon initialization of the controller, wherein the first temperature control mode modulates airflow to the zone between the maximum airflow set point and the minimum airflow set point to maintain the temperature of the zone between the zone cooling temperature set point and the zone heating temperature set point;

switching to a second temperature control mode upon the airflow reaching the maximum airflow set point and the temperature of the zone reaching the zone cooling temperature set point; and

switching to a third temperature control mode upon the airflow reaching the minimum airflow set point and the temperature of the zone reaching the zone heating temperature set point.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein a difference of approximately 2 degrees Fahrenheit is between the zone cooling temperature set point and the zone heating temperature set point.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising maintaining, while in the second temperature control mode, the temperature of the zone at the zone cooling temperature set point by modulating the airflow to the zone.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising monitoring the airflow while in the second temperature control mode, and switching to the first temperature control mode if the monitored airflow is below the maximum airflow for a predetermined period of time.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising maintaining, while in the third temperature control mode, the zone temperature at the zone heating temperature set point by heating the airflow to the zone with a heating mechanism.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising monitoring the heating mechanism and switching to an alternative mode based at least partially on the operation of the heating mechanism.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising monitoring operation of the heating mechanism and the temperature of the zone, and switching to the first temperature control mode when the heating mechanism is not heating the airflow and the temperature of the zone reaches the zone cooling temperature set point.

8. The method of claim 5, further comprising initiating an alarm based if the zone temperature does not increase over a period of time while in the third temperature control mode.

9. A temperature control system for a zone, the temperature control system comprising:

an airflow source configured to provide airflow to the zone;

an airflow measurement device configured to measure airflow to the zone;

a damper configured to control airflow to the zone;

a heating device configured to heat the airflow;

a thermostat device configured to measure the temperature of the zone; and

a controller configured to be in communication with the airflow measurement device, the damper, the heating device, and the thermostat, and to alter the airflow to the zone using at least one of the damper and the heating device based at least partially on the temperature of the zone and the airflow to the zone.

10. The temperature control system of claim 9, wherein the heating device is at least one hot water heated element.

11. The temperature control system of claim 9, wherein the thermostat is configured to provide a heating temperature set point and a cooling temperature set point to the controller.

12. The temperature control system of claim 11, wherein the controller alters the airflow to the zone by heating the airflow with the heating device when the temperature of the zone is below the heating temperature set point and the airflow is below a predetermined value.

13. The temperature control system of claim 9, wherein the controller alters the airflow to the zone by restricting the airflow with the damper.

14. The temperature control system of claim 9, wherein the airflow measurement device measures a pressure of the airflow.

15. A method of reconfiguring an existing temperature control system, the temperature control system having a controller and a first set of commands for controlling airflow to a zone, the method comprising:

accessing the controller;

deactivating at least a portion of the first set of commands; and

programming the controller with a second set of temperature control system commands, wherein the second set of temperature control system commands are configured to alter the airflow to the zone based on the temperature of the zone and the airflow being routed to the zone.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the second set of temperature control system commands define a first temperature control mode, a second temperature control mode, and a third temperature control mode.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein, upon programming with the second set of temperature control system commands, the controller controls cooling of the zone using the first temperature control mode and the second temperature control mode and controls heating of the zone using the third temperature control mode.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein, upon programming with the second set of temperature control system commands, the controller alters the airflow to the zone by heating the airflow.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein, upon programming with the second set of temperature control system commands, the controller alters the airflow to the zone by restricting the airflow.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein, upon programming with the second set of temperature control system commands, the controller alters the airflow to the zone to maintain the temperature of the zone between a cooling temperature set point and a heating temperature set point included in the second set of temperature control system commands.