Method for Controlling HVAC Systems

• US 20080277488A1
• Filed: 05/07/2007
• Published: 11/13/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: John F. Cockerill
• Original Assignee: John F. Cockerill
• Inventors: Cockerill, John F.
• Application Number:
  US11/745,232
• Publication Number:
  US 20080277488A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 236/46.R
• CPC Class Codes: F23N 5/203 using electronic means
• 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 11/62 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 11/65 for selecting an operating mode
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1951 with control of the working time of a temperature controlling device

Abstract

The herein method for adjusting the source activation time of a heating or cooling source is based upon variation in temperature sensor or thermostatic means activity within a controlled environment, and involves activating and deactivating the heating or cooling source to provide precise heating or cooling BTU replacement. This method changes the priority of heating and cooling management from a fixed source output, which is called upon by a controlled environment thermostat, to a system of adjusting the source output to the precise delivery of source output to the needs of the enclosed environment at an ideal thermostat demand ratio within the controlled environment.

Claims

1. A method for controlling the activation and deactivation time of a HVAC source for a controlled environment, comprising the steps of:

setting a programmable ideal demand ratio for said controlled environment;

recording the activation status of a sensor in said controlled environment at set intervals over a programmable analysis time period by counting the number of “

on”

status readings of said sensor;

at the conclusion of said programmable analysis time period,

calculating an actual demand ratio for said controlled environment by comparing said recorded activation “

on”

status to a total number of status readings over said programmable analysis time period;

comparing said actual demand ratio to said programmable ideal demand ratio and calculating a source activation time change factor;

calculating a new source activation time for said source, based on said source activation time change factor; and

adjusting the previous source activation time for said source to said new source activation time for the following said variable defined analysis time period;

continuously monitoring activation time of said source;

comparing said activation time to said source activation time;

activating said source when said sensor is activated;

deactivating said source when said source activation time is expired or when said sensor is deactivated; and

continuing said deactivation for a fixed or calculated deactivation time break.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein there are 3600 set intervals to read the status of said sensor and the programmable analysis time period is one hour.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein said source activation time change factor is equal to said actual demand ratio minus said programmable ideal demand ratio multiplied times ten to achieve an positive value, and said source activation time for said source being equal to a programmable time variable multiplied by said source activation time change factor, plus a source activation time from the previous said variable defined analysis time period, wherein a positive said source activation time change factor indicates a need for increase in said source activation time and a negative said source activation time change factor indicates a need for decrease in said source activation time.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein there are 3600 set intervals to read the status of said sensor and the programmable analysis time period is one hour.

4. A method for controlling the activation of a HVAC source for a controlled environment, utilizing a sensor and a micro-controller receiving, storing and processing information from said sensor and connected to and controlling said HVAC source, wherein the improvement comprises controlling the activation and deactivation time of said source, comprising the steps of:

setting a programmable ideal demand ratio for said controlled environment and storing said programmable ideal demand ratio in said micro-controller;

recording periodic sensor “

on”

status recordings for said controlled environment for a programmable analysis time period and storing data in said micro-controller;

at the conclusion of said programmable analysis time period,

creating an actual demand ratio for said controlled environment by comparing said sensor status “

on”

recordings to the total status recordings during the variable defined analysis time period and storing said actual demand ratio in said micro-controller;

comparing said actual demand ratio to said programmable ideal demand ratio and determining an activation time change factor by means of said micro-controller;

calculating a source activation time for said source, based on said source activation time change factor, by means of said micro-controller; and

generating a signal from said micro-controller to activate said source for said source activation time;

continuously monitoring activation time of said source utilizing a rolling time period and storing a new activation time in said micro-controller;

comparing said new activation time to said source activation time by means of said micro-controller;

generating a signal from said micro-controller to said source for deactivating said source when said source activation time has elapsed or said sensor is not in an “

on”

state; and

providing for a deactivation time break to allow transfer medium circulation means to balance thermal production with thermal loss or thermal gain at said sensor or thermostat means.

6. A method according to claim 4, wherein said source activation time change factor is equal to said actual demand ratio minus said programmable ideal demand ratio multiplied times ten to achieve an Integer value, and said source activation time for said source being equal to a programmable time variable multiplied by said source activation time change factor, plus a source activation time from the previous said variable defined analysis time period, wherein a positive said source activation time change factor indicates a need for increase in said source activation time and a negative said source activation time change factor indicates a need for decrease in said source activation time.

7. A device for adjusting source activation time of a HVAC source for a controlled environment and activating and deactivating said source comprising:

a sensor; and

a micro-controller connected to and receiving, storing and processing information from said sensor;

wherein said micro-controller

is connected to and controls said HVAC source;

stores a programmable ideal demand ratio for said controlled environment;

stores a programmable analysis time period;

creates an actual demand ratio from said controlled environment, based upon “

on”

status recordings from said sensor, divided by a total of said status recordings at the conclusion of said programmable analysis time period;

compares said actual demand ratio to said ideal demand ratio multiplied times ten to achieve an integer establishing a source activation time change factor;

calculates a new source activation time for said source, based on said source activation time change factor, multiplied by said programmable time variable;

adjusts the new source activation time of said source for the next programmable analysis time period;

continuously monitors the actual activation time of said source since the start of the current programmable analysis time period and stores said value as the accumulated activation time;

compares said accumulated activation time of said source to said source activation time, deactivating said source when said accumulated activation time is equal to or greater then said source activation time;

activates said source when said sensor indicates an “

on”

status;

deactivates said source when said sensor does not indicate an “

on”

status; and

deactivates said source for a deactivation time break at the end of said source activation time or upon status from said sensor indicating not “

on”

, whichever occurs first, commencing said deactivation time break.

8. A method according to claim 7, wherein there are 3600 set intervals to read the status of said sensor and the programmable analysis time period is one hour.