ADAPTIVE INTELLIGENT CIRCULATION CONTROL METHODS AND SYSTEMS

• US 20070130969A1
• Filed: 02/14/2007
• Published: 06/14/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ademco Inc. (Resideo Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Peterson, Mark, Schnell, Robert, Vick, Brent
• Granted Patent: US 7,788,936 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 62/178
• 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 11/61 using timers
• 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 11/70 Control systems characterised by their outputs; Constructional details thereof
• 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 2110/22 of the outside air
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/50 Air quality properties
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/52 of the outside air
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/70 Carbon dioxide
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2120/10 Occupancy
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1904 variable in time
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 30/70 Efficient control or regulation technologies, e.g. for control of refrigerant flow, motor or heating

Abstract

Adaptive intelligent circulation control methods and systems are used to help increase the comfort and/or reduce energy usage and equipment wear. In one illustrative embodiment, the circulation and/or ventilation time is adjusted based on one or more environmental conditions inside or outside the building structure. In another illustrative embodiment, the circulation and/or ventilation time may be adjusted based on the current time of day, current time of year, and/or the current schedule period. In another illustrative embodiment, the circulation and/or ventilation time is randomized over time. The start time, end time, and/or length of a circulation and/or ventilation cycle may be randomly set.

Claims

1. A method of operating a fan of an HVAC system, wherein the HVAC system is controlled, at least in part, by two or more control signals provided by a thermostat including a fan control signal, wherein during normal operation, the fan control signal causes the fan to operate with at least a first fan “

on”

time period followed by a first fan “

off”

time period, followed by a second fan “

on”

time period, the method comprising the steps of;

generating a random or pseudo random fan start time delay;

providing one or more of the control signals other than the fan control signal to the HVAC system without a delay related to the random or pseudo random fan start time delay; and

providing the fan control signal with a delay that is at least related to the random or pseudo random fan start time delay in order to delay the start of the second fan “

on”

time period.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the delay is a positive delay.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the delay is a negative delay.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the one or more of the control signals other than the fan control signal include a heat signal.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the one or more of the control signals other than the fan control signal include a cool signal.

6. A method of operating an HVAC system, wherein the HVAC system includes a fan that is operated with two or more fan “

on”

time periods each separated by a fan “

off”

time period during normal operation of the HVAC system, the method comprising the steps of;

generating a first random or pseudo random time period;

delaying a start of a first fan “

on”

time period by an amount that is at least related to the first random or pseudo random time period;

generating a second random or pseudo random time period;

delaying a start of a second and subsequent fan “

on”

time period by an amount that is at least related to the second random or pseudo random time period.

7. A method according to claim 6, wherein the first random or pseudo random time period and the second random or pseudo random time period are different.

8. A method according to claim 6, wherein the first random or pseudo random time period is a positive delay.

9. A method according to claim 6, wherein the first random or pseudo random time period is a negative delay.

10. A method according to claim 6, wherein the second random or pseudo random time period is a positive delay.

11. A method according to claim 6, wherein the second random or pseudo random time period is a negative delay.

12. A method according to claim 6, wherein the first and second fan “

on”

time periods are different.

13. A method of operating an HVAC system, wherein the HVAC system includes a fan that can be operated with two or more fan “

on”

time periods each separated by a fan “

off”

time period during normal operation of the HVAC system to provide a desired circulation in an inside space, the method comprising the steps of;

generating a random or pseudo random number;

using the random or pseudo random number to affect at least one parameter of one or more of the fan “

on”

time periods and/or one or more fan “

off”

time periods while still achieving or substantially achieving the desired circulation in the inside space.

14. A method according to claim 13, wherein the generating step includes generating a plurality of random or pseudo random numbers, and wherein different random or pseudo random numbers are used to affect at least one parameter of different fan “

on”

time periods and/or fan “

off”

time periods while still achieving or substantially achieving the desired circulation in the inside space.

15. A method according to claim 13, wherein the at least one parameter includes at least a first delay parameter, wherein the first delay parameter defines a delay time period before at least one of the fan “

on”

time periods is initiated.

16. A method according to claim 15, wherein the first delay parameter defines a delay time period before a first fan “

on”

time is initiated.

17. A method according to claim 16, wherein the at least one parameter includes at least a second delay parameter, wherein the second delay parameter defines a delay time period before a second subsequent fan “

on”

time period is initiated.

18. A method according to claim 13, wherein the at least one parameter includes at least a first time period parameter, wherein the first time period parameter defines a length of at least one of the fan “

on”

time periods.

19. A method according to claim 18, wherein the first time period parameter defines the length of a first fan “

on”

time period.

20. A method according to claim 19, wherein the at least one parameter includes at least a second time period parameter, wherein the second time period parameter defines a length of a second and subsequent fan “

on”

time period.