Automatically Balancing Register for HVAC Systems

• US 20100163633A1
• Filed: 12/30/2009
• Published: 07/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zoner, LLC
• Original Assignee: Aquante LLC
• Inventors: Barrett, Jon, Lingemann, Ronald
• Granted Patent: US 8,550,370 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 236/49.300
• 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 11/52 Indication arrangements, e.g. displays
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/56 Remote control
• 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 11/755 for cyclical variation of air flow rate or air velocity
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/76 by means responsive to temperature, e.g. bimetal springs
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 13/082 Grilles, registers or guards
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 3/044 Systems in which all treatment is given in the central station, i.e. all-air systems
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1928 sensing the temperature of one space
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1932 to control the temperature of a plurality of spaces
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1934 each space being provided with one sensor acting on one or more control means

Abstract

Distributed nodes, such as intelligent register controllers, of a heating, ventilating and/or air conditioning (HVAC) system wirelessly communicate with each other on a peer-to-peer basis, forming a network, and collectively control the HVAC system, without a central controller. The intelligent register controllers collectively control the amount of conditioned air introduced into each region. Each node may base its operation at least in part on information about one or more (ideally all) of the other nodes. Each intelligent register controller automatically determines how much conditioned air to allow into its region, or how much return air to allow to be withdrawn from its region, based on information collected by the register controller, such as: current temperature of the region; desired temperature of the region; calculated amount of conditioned air required to change the region'"'"'s temperature to the desired temperature; temperature of conditioned air begin supplied by a duct to the register; current time, day of week, vacation or other schedule data; temperatures of other regions and their respective desired temperatures; calculated amounts of air required to be supplied or withdrawn by the other controlled registers to change their respective regions'"'"' temperatures to their desired temperatures; or combinations thereof. Each register controller automatically determines when and to what extent to operate its respective controllable damper.

Claims

1. A system for controlling an HVAC system of a type having a plurality of HVAC vents, each HVAC vent disposed in a corresponding location in a building, the system comprising a corresponding plurality of intelligent controlled registers, each intelligent controlled register associated with a distinct one of the HVAC vents, each one of the intelligent controlled registers being in communication with at least one other of the plurality of intelligent controlled registers and executing an autonomous local control program, such program processing data provided by each of the other intelligent controlled registers, so as to collectively control the plurality of HVAC vents on a peer-to-peer basis.

2. A system for controlling an HVAC system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of intelligent controlled registers is in wireless communication with at least one other of the plurality of intelligent controlled registers.

3. A system for controlling an HVAC system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of intelligent controlled registers is in wired communication with at least one other of the plurality of intelligent controlled registers.

4. A system for controlling an HVAC system according to claim 1, wherein each one of the plurality of intelligent controlled registers is configured to:

automatically determine presence of an intelligent controlled register that is not part of the system for controlling the HVAC system;

automatically ascertain if the determined intelligent controlled register should be added to the system for controlling the HVAC; and

if the determined intelligent controlled register should be added to the system for controlling the HVAC system, automatically add the determined intelligent controlled register to the system for controlling the HVAC system.

5. A system for controlling an HVAC system according to claim 1, wherein each one of the plurality of intelligent controlled registers is configured to:

automatically determine presence of at least one other of the plurality of intelligent controlled registers;

automatically ascertain if the intelligent controlled register should be added to the system for controlling the HVAC; and

if the intelligent controlled register should be added to the system for controlling the HVAC system, automatically add the intelligent controlled register to the system for controlling the HVAC system.

6. A system for controlling an HVAC system according to claim 4, wherein each intelligent controlled register is further configured to automatically ascertain if the determined intelligent controlled register should be added to the system for controlling the HVAC system according to timing of air flow through the intelligent controlled register and timing of air flow through the determined intelligent controlled register.

7. A system for controlling an HVAC system according to claim 4, wherein each intelligent controlled register is further configured to automatically ascertain if the determined intelligent controlled register should be added to the system for controlling the HVAC system according to timing of light detected by the intelligent controlled register and timing of light detected by the determined intelligent controlled register.

8. A system for controlling an HVAC system according to claim 1, wherein each intelligent controlled register is configured to:

wirelessly automatically determine presence of a thermostat that is not part of the system for controlling the HVAC system;

automatically ascertain if the determined thermostat should be added to the system for controlling the HVAC; and

if the determined thermostat should be added to the system for controlling the HVAC system, automatically add the determined thermostat to the system for controlling the HVAC system.

9. A system for controlling an HVAC system according to claim 8, wherein each intelligent controlled register is further configured to automatically ascertain if the determined thermostat should be added to the system for controlling the HVAC system according to timing of light detected by the thermostat and timing of light detected by the intelligent controlled register.

10. A system for controlling an HVAC system according to claim 8, wherein each intelligent controlled register is further configured to automatically ascertain if the determined thermostat should be added to the system for controlling the HVAC system according to timing of temperature changes detected by the thermostat and timing of temperature changes detected by the intelligent controlled register.

11. A system for controlling an HVAC system according to claim 1, wherein each intelligent controlled register includes a controllable damper, and each intelligent controlled register is configured such that, when air flows through the controllable damper, at least one of the dampers of the plurality of intelligent controlled registers is fully open.

12. A system for controlling an HVAC system according to claim 1, wherein each intelligent controlled register is configured to:

wirelessly receive data from at least one other of the plurality of intelligent controlled registers; and

forward at least some of the received data to a different at least one other of the plurality of intelligent controlled registers.

13. A system for controlling an HVAC system according to claim 1, wherein the HVAC system comprises a ducted air handling system.

14. A system for controlling an HVAC system according to claim 1, wherein the HVAC system comprises a hydronic system.

15. A system for controlling an HVAC system according to claim 1, wherein the HVAC system comprises an electric resistance heating system.

16. A system for controlling an HVAC system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of intelligent controlled registers is configured to control a valve.

17. A system for controlling an HVAC system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of intelligent controlled registers is configured to control an electrical switch of a proportional control device.

18. A system for controlling an HVAC system according to claim 1, wherein each intelligent controlled register comprises:

a motor coupled to a controllable damper;

a temperature sensor;

a wireless transceiver for communicating with at least one other of the plurality of intelligent controlled registers;

a controller coupled to the motor, the temperature sensor and the transceiver;

a power source coupled to the motor, the transceiver and the controller;

wherein the controller is configured to carry out processes including;

obtaining data from the temperature sensor and, via the wireless transceiver, data from at least one other of the plurality of intelligent controlled registers;

using the obtained data to automatically determine a desired operation of the damper; and

driving the motor to cause the desired operation of the damper.

19. A system for controlling an HVAC system according to claim 18, wherein the power source comprises an array of photovoltaic cells.

20. A system for controlling an HVAC system according to claim 18, wherein the power source comprises a fan-powered generator.

21. A system for controlling an HVAC system according to claim 18, wherein the controllable damper of at least one of the plurality of intelligent controlled registers comprises a valve.

22. A system for controlling an HVAC system according to claim 18, wherein each of at least one of the plurality of intelligent controlled registers is mounted in an air register.

23. A system for controlling an HVAC system according to claim 18, wherein the motor comprises a coil and each intelligent controlled register further comprises a circuit board comprising electronic circuits implementing at least a portion of the controller and wherein the coil of the motor is mounted directly to the printed circuit board.

24. A system for controlling an HVAC system according to claim 23, wherein the circuit board further comprises a plurality of electrically conductive elements and the motor further comprises a conductive element spaced apart from the plurality of electrically conductive elements to form a capacitor therebetween, such that capacitance of the capacitor depends on a rotational position of the motor, wherein the controller is configured to ascertain the rotational position of the motor based on the capacitance of the capacitor.

25. A system for controlling an HVAC system according to claim 18, wherein the motor comprises two sets of rotors and two sets of stators, one of the rotors and one of the stators forming a first submotor and the other one of the rotors and the other one of the stators forming a second submotor, the two submotors being disposed beside each other and geared together.

26. A system for controlling an HVAC system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a portable remote control unit comprising a wireless transmitter and at least one user-actuateable control;

wherein;

the intelligent controlled register is configured to receive a wireless signal from the portable remote control unit; and

the controller is configured to automatically determine the desired operation of the damper based, at least in part, on the received wireless signal from the portable remote control unit.

27. A system for controlling an HVAC system according to claim 26, wherein the wireless transmitter of the portable remote control comprises a line-of-sight wireless transmitter.

28. A system for controlling an HVAC system according to claim 26, wherein the portable remote control comprises a wireless line-of-sight detector.

29. A system for controlling an HVAC system according to claim 1, each of the plurality of intelligent controlled registers comprising:

a volume control damper configured to adjustably control an amount of heat delivered through the intelligent controlled register;

a motor under control of the autonomous control program and mechanically coupled to operate the volume control damper; and

a printed circuit board including electronic circuits and windings of the motor.

30. A system for controlling an HVAC system according to claim 29, wherein the motor comprises a stepper motor.

31. A system for controlling an HVAC system according to claim 29, further comprising a volume control damper position indicator that includes at least two electrically conductive elements spaced apart by a dielectric thereby forming a capacitor, wherein at least one of the at least two electrically conductive elements is configured to move, with respect to the other of the at least two electrically conductive elements, in relation to the operation of the volume control damper so as to vary capacitance of the capacitor in relation to the operation of the volume control damper.

32. A system for controlling an HVAC system according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of intelligent controlled registers is configured, absent an external input specifying a setpoint temperature for the corresponding location, so as to equalize temperatures of the locations in the building.

33. A system for controlling an HVAC system according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of intelligent controlled registers is configured so as to maximize flow through at least one of the plurality of intelligent controlled registers.

34. A system for controlling an HVAC system according to claim 1, wherein:

the HVAC system comprises a blower and a heating or cooling unit;

at least one of the plurality of HVAC vents comprises a return vent; and

at least one of the plurality of HVAC vents comprises a supply vent;

the system further comprising a thermostat coupled to the HVAC system so as to control the blower and coupled to at least one of the plurality of intelligent controlled registers; and

wherein each of the plurality of intelligent controlled registers is configured to operate so as to permit air to be drawn in by an automatically selected at least one of the return vent, moved by the blower, and exhausted through an automatically selected at least one of the supply vent, without operating the heating or cooling unit, so as to transfer air from at least one automatically selected location in the building to another at least one automatically selected location in the building.

35. A system for controlling an HVAC system according to claim 1, wherein:

the HVAC system comprises a blower controlled by blower control leads and a heating or cooling unit controlled by heating or cooling unit control leads;

the system further comprising a thermostat coupled to the HVAC system so as to control the blower and the heating or cooling unit and further coupled to at least one of the plurality of intelligent controlled registers, the thermostat being configured to automatically identify;

power leads connected to the thermostat, the blower control leads connected to the thermostat and the heating or cooling unit control leads connected to the thermostat.

36. A system for controlling an HVAC system of a type having a plurality of HVAC vents, each HVAC vent disposed in a corresponding location in a building, the system comprising a corresponding plurality of intelligent controlled registers, each intelligent controlled register associated with a distinct one of the HVAC vents, each intelligent controlled register including:

a motor coupled to a controllable damper;

a temperature sensor;

a wireless transceiver for communicating with at least one other of the plurality of intelligent controlled registers;

a controller coupled to the motor, the temperature sensor and the transceiver;

a power source coupled to the motor, the transceiver and the controller;

wherein the controller is configured to carry out processes including;

obtaining data from the temperature sensor and, via the wireless transceiver, data from at least one other of the plurality of intelligent controlled registers;

using the obtained data to automatically determine a desired operation of the damper; and

driving the motor to cause the desired operation of the damper.

37. A method for controlling an HVAC system of a type having a plurality of HVAC vents, each HVAC vent disposed in a corresponding location in a building, the system comprising a corresponding plurality of intelligent controlled registers, each intelligent controlled register associated with a distinct one of the HVAC vents, the method comprising:

obtaining data from a temperature sensor and wirelessly obtaining data from at least one other of the plurality of intelligent controlled registers;

using the obtained data to automatically determine a desired operation of a damper; and

driving a motor to cause the desired operation of the damper.

38. A method according to claim 37, further comprising:

wirelessly automatically determining presence of an intelligent controlled register that is not part of the system for controlling the HVAC system; and

automatically adding the determined intelligent controlled register to the system for controlling the HVAC system.

39. A method according to claim 37, further comprising:

wirelessly receiving data from at least one other of the plurality of intelligent controlled registers; and

forwarding at least some of the received data to a different at least one other of the plurality of intelligent controlled registers.

40. A method according to claim 37, further comprising:

at least one of the plurality of HVAC vents, generating electrical power with an array of photovoltaic cells; and

wherein driving the motor at the at least one of the plurality of HVAC vents comprises powering the motor at least partially by the generated electrical power.

41. A method according to claim 37, further comprising:

at least one of the plurality of HVAC vents, generating electrical power with a fan-powered generator; and

wherein driving the motor at the at least one of the plurality of HVAC vents comprises powering the motor at least partially by the generated electrical power.

42. A method according to claim 37, wherein driving the motor comprises adjusting vanes of an air volume control damper.

43. A method according to claim 37, wherein driving the motor comprises adjusting a valve.

44. A method according to claim 37, wherein driving the motor comprises adjusting an electrically controlled switch.

45. A method according to claim 37, wherein driving the motor comprises adjusting an electrically controlled proportional control device.

46. A method according to claim 37, further comprising:

receiving a wireless signal from a portable remote control unit;

wherein using the obtained data to automatically determine a desired operation of a damper comprises using the received wireless signal from the portable remote control unit.

47. An intelligent controlled register for use in an HVAC system of a type having a plurality of HVAC vents, each HVAC vent disposed in a corresponding location in a building, the intelligent controlled register comprising:

a motor coupled to a controllable damper;

a temperature sensor;

a wireless transceiver for communicating with at least one other intelligent controlled register;

a controller coupled to the motor, the temperature sensor and the transceiver;

a power source coupled to the motor, the transceiver and the controller;

wherein the controller is configured to carry out processes including;

obtaining data from the temperature sensor and, via the wireless transceiver, data from at least one of the at least one other intelligent controlled register;

using the obtained data to automatically determine a desired operation of the damper; and

driving the motor to cause the desired operation of the damper.