DEMAND CONTROL VENTILATION SYSTEM WITH REMOTE MONITORING

• US 20110264273A1
• Filed: 04/21/2010
• Published: 10/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: McMillan, Scott, Grabinger, Cory, Thomle, Adrienne, Kostelecky, Milan
• Granted Patent: US 8,918,218 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/276
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/0001 for ventilation F24F11/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/52 Indication arrangements, e.g. displays
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/56 Remote control
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2011/0006 using low temperature external supply air to assist cooling
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0428 Safety, monitoring G05B19/0423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23135 Display to console, panel which sends parameters, commands
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/24091 Display indication out of order, alarm indication
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/24102 Display status of controller
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2614 HVAC, heating, ventillation, climate control

Abstract

Methods and systems for remotely monitoring and/or controlling a demand control ventilation system are disclosed. In one illustrative embodiment, a demand control ventilation device having a damper and a controller are provided. The damper may have a range of damper positions for controlling a flow of outside air into the building. The controller controls the damper positions such that a desired flow of outside air is drawn through the damper and into the building. A remote monitoring device may also be provided. The remote monitoring device may be located remotely from the demand control ventilation device, but in communication with or part of the controller. In some instances, the remote monitoring device may have a user interface for remotely monitoring and/or controlling at least certain aspects of the demand control ventilation system from the remote location.

Claims

1. A Demand Control Ventilation (DCV) system for a building, comprising:

a demand control ventilation device having a damper and a controller, the damper having a range of damper positions for controlling a flow of outside air into the building, and the controller controlling the damper positions such that a desired flow of outside air is drawn through the damper and into the building; and

a remote monitoring device located remotely from the demand control ventilation device but in communication with the controller, the remote monitoring device having a user interface.

2. The Demand Control Ventilation (DCV) system of claim 1, wherein the demand control ventilation device is a rooftop unit, and the remote monitoring device is located within the building and readily accessible to a user of the building.

3. The Demand Control Ventilation (DCV) system of claim 1, wherein the remote monitoring device is configured to alert a user to a detected fault of the demand control ventilation device.

4. The Demand Control Ventilation (DCV) system of claim 3, wherein the remote monitoring device displays a textual error message when a fault has been detected.

5. The Demand Control Ventilation (DCV) system of claim 3, wherein the remote monitoring device provides a visual alert when a fault has been detected.

6. The Demand Control Ventilation (DCV) system of claim 3, wherein the remote monitoring device provides an audio alert when a fault has been detected.

7. The Demand Control Ventilation (DCV) system of claim 1, wherein the remote monitoring device is in wireless communication with the controller.

8. The Demand Control Ventilation (DCV) system of claim 1, wherein the remote monitoring device includes a user interface that is configured to allow a user to provide control parameters to the controller.

9. The Demand Control Ventilation (DCV) system of claim 1, wherein the remote monitoring device is configured to display one or more current operational parameters.

10. A Demand Control Ventilation (DCV) system for a building, comprising:

a first temperature sensor positioned to sense an outside air temperature;

a second temperature sensor positioned to sense a return air temperature within the DCV system;

one or more dampers, the one or more dampers for controlling a flow of air into and out of the building;

a controller, the controller configured to control a position of the one or more dampers; and

remote monitoring device having a user interface.

11. The Demand Control Ventilation (DCV) system of claim 10, wherein the controller is separate from the remote monitoring device.

12. The Demand Control Ventilation (DCV) system of claim 11, wherein the one or more dampers and the controller are part of a demand control ventilation device, and the remote monitoring device is separate from and configured to be located remotely from the demand control ventilation device.

13. The Demand Control Ventilation (DCV) system of claim 10, wherein the remote monitoring device displays system faults.

14. The Demand Control Ventilation (DCV) system of claim 10, wherein the remote monitoring device displays system operating parameters.

15. The Demand Control Ventilation (DCV) system of claim 10, wherein a user may input control parameters via the user interface of the remote monitoring device, wherein the input control parameters are then used by the controller.

16. The Demand Control Ventilation (DCV) system of claim 10, further comprising a data logging element in communication with the remote monitoring device.

17. A method for operating a Demand Control Ventilation (DCV) system, wherein the Demand Control Ventilation (DCV) system includes a damper with a range of damper positions for controlling a flow of outside air into the building, the method comprising:

controlling the damper position via a controller to achieve a determined ventilation level; and

monitoring one or more operational parameters of the controller from a remote location.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

manually inputting one or more parameters to the controller from the remote location; and

using the one or more parameters by the controller when controlling the damper position.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the one or more parameters that are manually input from the remote location include one or more of a maximum ventilation rate, a ventilation rate that corresponds to a maximum building occupancy (Vbz), and a minimum ventilation rate that corresponds to building material out-gassing (Va).

20. The method of claim 17 further comprising:

displaying one or more operational parameters of the controller and/or faults that are detected by the controller at the remote location.