ALARM AND DIAGNOSTICS SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR A DISTRIBUTED ARCHITECTURE HEATING, VENTILATION AND AIR CONDITIONING NETWORK

• US 20100102136A1
• Filed: 10/21/2009
• Published: 04/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lennox Industries Incorporated (Lennox International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Lennox Industries Incorporated (Lennox International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Powell, Joe, Hadzidedic, Darko, Wallaert, Timothy E.
• Granted Patent: US 8,655,491 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 236/49.300
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/52 Indication arrangements, e.g. displays
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/74 for controlling air flow rate or air velocity
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/77 by controlling the speed of ventilators
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 30/70 Efficient control or regulation technologies, e.g. for control of refrigerant flow, motor or heating
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49 Method of mechanical manufacture

Abstract

The disclosure includes an HVAC data processing and communication network and a method of manufacturing the same. In one embodiment the network includes a duct, a blower and a controller. The blower is configured to receive a control message from a data bus. The duct is configured to direct air flow from the blower. The controller is configured to publish the control message to the data bus. The controller thereby commands the blower to provide air to the duct at an initial volume rate and to increase the volume rate until the controller detects onset of a cutback mode of the blower.

Claims

1. A method of manufacturing an HVAC data processing and communication network, comprising:

configuring a duct to direct air flow from a blower;

configuring said blower to receive a control message from a data bus; and

configuring a controller to publish said control message to said data bus, thereby commanding said blower to provide air to said duct at an initial volume rate and to increase said volume rate until said controller detects onset of a cutback mode of said blower.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said controller is a subnet controller.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said controller is stand-alone diagnostic tool.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said controller is further configured to transmit to a user interface a message containing a volume rate associated with said onset.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said increments are about 5% of a maximum power level of said blower.

6. An HVAC data processing and communication network, comprising:

a blower configured to receive a control message from a data bus;

a duct configured to direct air flow from said blower; and

a controller configured to publish said control message to said data bus, thereby commanding said blower to provide air to said duct at an initial volume rate and to increase said volume rate until said controller detects onset of a cutback mode of said blower.

7. The network as recited in claim 6, wherein said controller is a subnet controller.

8. The network as recited in claim 6, wherein said controller is stand-alone diagnostic tool.

9. The network as recited in claim 6, wherein said controller is further configured to transmit to a user interface a message containing a volume rate associated with said onset.

10. The network as recited in claim 6, wherein said increments are about 5% of a maximum power level of said blower.

11. An HVAC data processing and communication network, comprising:

a subnet controller configured to initiate a test procedure by sending a message including a service demand to a demand unit;

a first temperature sensor configured to measure a discharge temperature of discharge air provided by said demand unit in response to said service demand; and

a second temperature sensor configured to measure an ambient temperature of a space conditioned by said network,

wherein said subnet controller is further configured to take mitigating action in the event that a temperature-time profile of said discharge air relative to said ambient temperature is inconsistent with said service demand.

12. The network as recited in claim 11, wherein said subnet controller initiates said test procedure upon entry of an instruction via a user interface.

13. The network as recited in claim 11, wherein said subnet controller automatically initiates said test procedure periodically.

14. The network as recited in claim 11, wherein in the event that said temperature-time profile is inconsistent with said service demand said subnet controller sends a message to reset said demand unit.

15. The network as recited in claim 11, wherein said mitigating action is selected from the group consisting of:

sending a message to a remote entity;

issuing an alarm message; and

disabling operation of said demand unit.

16. A method of manufacturing an HVAC data processing and communication network, comprising:

configuring a subnet controller to initiate a test procedure by sending a message to a demand unit providing a service demand;

configuring a first temperature sensor to measure a discharge temperature of discharge air provided by said demand unit in response to said service demand;

configuring a second temperature sensor to measure an ambient temperature of a space conditioned by said network; and

further configuring said subnet controller to take mitigating action in the event that a temperature-time profile of said discharge air relative to said ambient temperature is inconsistent with said service demand.

17. The method as recited in claim 16, further comprising configuring said subnet controller to initiate said test procedure upon entry of an instruction via a user interface.

18. The method as recited in claim 16, further comprising configuring said subnet controller to automatically initiate said test procedure periodically.

19. The method as recited in claim 16, further configuring said subnet controller to send a message to reset said demand unit in the event that said temperature-time profile is inconsistent with said service demand.

20. The method as recited in claim 16, wherein said mitigating action is selected from the group consisting of:

sending a message to a remote entity;

issuing an alarm message; and

disabling operation of said demand unit.