LOAD MANAGEMENT AWARE FAN CONTROL
First Claim
1. A load-management-aware fan-control device for overriding normal operation of a circulation fan delivering conditioned air through ductwork that is normally controlled by a thermostat that includes a load management device, the load-management-aware fan-control device comprising:
- a detection circuit configured to detect a HVAC system control voltage and a HVAC system control current and to output a fan control override signal when the HVAC system control voltage is detected and the HVAC system control current is absent, the control voltage being detected by the detection circuit when the HVAC system requests that a load under control of a load-management device be powered, and the control current being detected as absent when the HVAC system requests that the load be powered and the load-management device is activated such that the load is not powered; and
a fan relay configured to receive the fan control override signal from the detection circuit and to break an electrical connection between a thermostat of the HVAC system and the fan in response to the fan control override signal, thereby overriding normal control of the fan by the thermostat and preventing operation of the fan and circulation of unconditioned air when the load-management device is activated.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A fan-control device for overriding normal operation of a circulation fan delivering conditioned air through ductwork in an unconditioned space. The fan-control device includes a detection circuit and a fan relay. The detection circuit is configured to detect a cooling system control voltage and a cooling system control current and to output a fan control override signal when the cooling system control voltage is detected and the cooling system control current is absent.
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Citations
34 Claims
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1. A load-management-aware fan-control device for overriding normal operation of a circulation fan delivering conditioned air through ductwork that is normally controlled by a thermostat that includes a load management device, the load-management-aware fan-control device comprising:
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a detection circuit configured to detect a HVAC system control voltage and a HVAC system control current and to output a fan control override signal when the HVAC system control voltage is detected and the HVAC system control current is absent, the control voltage being detected by the detection circuit when the HVAC system requests that a load under control of a load-management device be powered, and the control current being detected as absent when the HVAC system requests that the load be powered and the load-management device is activated such that the load is not powered; and a fan relay configured to receive the fan control override signal from the detection circuit and to break an electrical connection between a thermostat of the HVAC system and the fan in response to the fan control override signal, thereby overriding normal control of the fan by the thermostat and preventing operation of the fan and circulation of unconditioned air when the load-management device is activated. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of controlling a circulation fan of an HVAC system having ductwork located in an unconditioned space and a load-management device controlling an electrical load, the method of controlling the circulation fan comprising:
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detecting an HVAC system control voltage when the HVAC system requests an electrical load under control of a load-management device be powered; detecting an absence of an HVAC system control current when the HVAC system requests the electrical load be powered and when the load-management device is activated such that the electrical load is not powered; in response to detecting the HVAC system control voltage and detecting the absence of the HVAC system control current, generating a fan control override signal for overriding a fan control signal of a thermostat requesting operation of a circulation fan; and breaking an electrical connection between the thermostat and the circulation fan by receiving the fan control override signal at the fan relay and causing the fan relay to open, thereby overriding the fan control signal of the thermostat and preventing operation of the circulation fan. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of optimizing cooling efficiency when managing multiple electrical loads of cooling systems of buildings included in a load-management program, at least some of the cooling systems including above-ground ductwork, the method comprising:
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providing a load-management device to each of a plurality of buildings having cooling systems, each of the load-management devices configured to cause power to a compressor of the cooling system to be interrupted in response to a load-management command, and at least one of the plurality of buildings including a cooling system having above-ground ductwork for distributing conditioned air; providing a fan control device to the at least one of the plurality of buildings including the cooling system having above-ground ductwork, the fan control device configured to communicate with the load-management device provided to the building and to prevent operation of a circulation fan when power to the compressor is interrupted; and transmitting a load-management command to the plurality of load-management devices, the command causing each of the load-management devices to interrupt power to the compressor, the interruption of power to the compressor of any building of the plurality of buildings having above-ground ductwork causing the fan control device to prevent operation of the circulation fan, thereby preventing unconditioned air from being distributed through the above-ground ductwork in that building. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A load-management-aware fan-control device for overriding normal operation of a circulation fan delivering conditioned air through an above-ground ductwork that is normally controlled by a thermostat of a cooling system that includes a load management device controlling a compressor of the system, the load-management-aware fan-control device comprising:
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means for detecting a cooling system control voltage and a cooling system control current and to output a fan control override signal when the cooling system control voltage is detected and the cooling system control current is absent, the control voltage being detected when the cooling system requests that a compressor under control of a load-management device be powered, and the control current being detected as absent when the cooling system requests that the compressor be powered and the load-management device is activated such that the compressor is not powered; and means for receiving the fan control override signal and breaking an electrical connection between a thermostat of the cooling system and the fan in response to the fan control override signal, thereby overriding normal control of the fan by the thermostat and preventing operation of the fan and circulation of uncooled air when the load-management device is activated. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28)
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29. A load-management-aware fan-control device for overriding normal operation of a circulation fan delivering conditioned air through ductwork in an unconditioned space, the circulation fan being normally controlled by a thermostat, the load-management-aware fan-control device comprising:
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a detection circuit configured to detect a cooling system control voltage and a cooling system control current and to output a fan control override signal when the cooling system control voltage is detected and the cooling system control current is absent, the control voltage being detected by the detection circuit when the cooling system requests that a compressor under control of a load-management device be powered, and the control current being detected as absent when the cooling system requests that the compressor be powered and the load-management device is activated such that the compressor is not powered; and a fan relay configured to receive the fan control override signal from the detection circuit and to break an electrical connection between a thermostat of the cooling system and the fan in response to the fan control override signal, thereby overriding normal control of the fan by the thermostat and preventing operation of the fan and circulation of unconditioned air when the load-management device is activated. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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Specification