System and Method for Monitoring HVAC System Operation

• US 20140371917A1
• Filed: 06/13/2013
• Published: 12/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Trane International Inc. (Trane Technologies plc)
• Original Assignee: Trane International Inc. (Trane Technologies plc)
• Inventors: Rite, Raymond Walter
• Granted Patent: US 9,506,666 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/276
• 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 11/38 Failure diagnosis
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/47 Responding to energy costs
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/52 Indication arrangements, e.g. displays
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/64 using pre-stored data
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/00 Control inputs relating to air properties
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/40 Pressure, e.g. wind pressure

Abstract

A comfort controller in an HVAC system is provided. The comfort controller comprises a processor configured such that the comfort controller compares at least one of an actual run time of the HVAC system to a benchmark run time and an actual static pressure of the HVAC system to a benchmark static pressure. The processor is further configured such that, when at least one of the actual run time and the actual static pressure are outside a specified range of their associated benchmarks, the comfort controller determines that the HVAC system has an improper configuration. The processor is further configured such that the comfort controller displays the results of the comparison.

Claims

1. A comfort controller in an HVAC system, the comfort controller comprising:

a processor configured such that the comfort controller compares at least one of (1) an actual run time of the HVAC system to a benchmark run time and (2) an actual static pressure of the HVAC system to a benchmark static pressure, further configured such that, when at least one of the actual run time and the actual static pressure are outside a specified range of their associated benchmarks, the comfort controller determines that the HVAC system has an improper configuration, and further configured such that the comfort controller displays the results of the comparison.

2. The comfort controller of claim 1, wherein, when the actual run time is outside a specified range of the benchmark run time, the comfort controller determines that the HVAC system has an improper size.

3. The comfort controller of claim 1, wherein the results of the comparison are provided in a report card that is displayed on at least one of:

the comfort controller; and

a device in a network to which the comfort controller is connected.

4. The comfort controller of claim 3, wherein, when the actual run time is greater than the benchmark run time, the comfort controller calculates an amount of excessive electricity used during the actual run time compared to an amount of electricity expected to be used during the benchmark run time, and wherein the comfort controller displays in the report card the amount of excessive electricity.

5. The comfort controller of claim 4, wherein the comfort controller uses the calculated amount of excessive electricity and a known cost of electricity to calculate a cost of using the excessive electricity, and wherein the comfort controller displays in the report card the cost of using the excessive electricity.

6. The comfort controller of claim 3, wherein, when the actual run time is outside the specified range of the benchmark run time, the comfort controller determines an appropriate size for the HVAC system and displays the appropriate size in the report card.

7. The comfort controller of claim 3, wherein, when the actual static pressure is outside a specified range of the benchmark static pressure, the comfort controller determines that an improper configuration exists in at least one of the ductwork of the HVAC system and a filter in the HVAC system, and wherein the comfort controller displays in the report card information indicating that the improper configuration exists.

8. The comfort controller of claim 7, wherein, when an actual fan speed is greater than a benchmark fan speed due to the actual static pressure being different from the benchmark static pressure, the comfort controller calculates an amount of excessive electricity used as a result of the increased fan speed, and wherein the comfort controller uses the calculated amount of excessive electricity and a known cost of electricity to calculate a cost of using the excessive electricity, and wherein the comfort controller displays in the report card the cost of using the excessive electricity.

9. A method for determining the installation quality of an HVAC system, the method comprising:

at least one of (1) comparing an actual run time of the HVAC system to a benchmark run time and (2) comparing an actual static pressure of the HVAC system to a benchmark static pressure;

when the actual run time is outside a specified range of the benchmark run time, determining that the HVAC system has an improper size;

when the actual static pressure is outside a specified range of the benchmark static pressure, determining that an improper configuration exists in at least one of the ductwork of the HVAC system and a filter in the HVAC system; and

displaying the results of the comparison.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the results of the comparison are provided in a report card that is displayed on at least one of:

a comfort controller that controls the HVAC system; and

a device in a network to which the comfort controller is connected.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

when the actual run time is greater than the benchmark run time, calculating an amount of excessive electricity used over the actual run time compared to an amount of electricity expected to be used over the benchmark run time; and

displaying in the report card the amount of excessive electricity.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

using the calculated amount of excessive electricity and a known cost of electricity to calculate a cost of using the excessive electricity; and

displaying in the report card the cost of using the excessive electricity.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

when the actual run time is outside the specified range of the benchmark run time, determining an appropriate size for the HVAC system; and

displaying the appropriate size in the report card.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

when an actual fan speed is greater than a benchmark fan speed due to the actual static pressure being different from the benchmark static pressure, calculating an amount of excessive electricity used as a result of the increased fan speed;

using the calculated amount of excessive electricity and a known cost of electricity to calculate a cost of using the excessive electricity; and

displaying in the report card the cost of using the excessive electricity.

15. An HVAC system comprising:

a comfort controller configured to compare an actual run time of the HVAC system to a benchmark run time, further configured to determine, when the actual run time is outside a specified range of the benchmark run time, that the HVAC system has an improper size, and further configured to display the results of the comparison in a report card that is displayed on at least one of the comfort controller or a device in a network to which the comfort controller is connected;

a sensor configured to provide the actual run time to the comfort controller; and

a memory location from which the comfort controller retrieves the benchmark run time.

16. The HVAC system of claim 15, wherein, when the actual run time is greater than the benchmark run time, the comfort controller calculates an amount of excessive electricity used over the actual run time compared to an amount of electricity expected to be used over the benchmark run time, and wherein the comfort controller displays in the report card the amount of excessive electricity.

17. The HVAC system of claim 16, wherein the comfort controller uses the calculated amount of excessive electricity and a known cost of electricity to calculate a cost of using the excessive electricity, and wherein the comfort controller displays in the report card the cost of using the excessive electricity.

18. The HVAC system of claim 15, wherein, when the actual run time is outside the specified range of the benchmark run time, the comfort controller determines an appropriate size for the HVAC system and displays the appropriate size in the report card.

19. The HVAC system of claim 15, wherein the comfort controller compares an actual static pressure of the HVAC system to a benchmark static pressure, and wherein, when the actual static pressure is outside a specified range of the benchmark static pressure, the comfort controller determines that an improper configuration exists in at least one of the ductwork of the HVAC system and a filter in the HVAC system, and wherein the comfort controller displays in the report card information indicating that the improper configuration exists.

20. The HVAC system of claim 19, wherein, when an actual fan speed is greater than a benchmark fan speed due to the actual static pressure being different from the benchmark static pressure, the comfort controller calculates an amount of excessive electricity used as a result of the increased fan speed, and wherein the comfort controller uses the calculated amount of excessive electricity and a known cost of electricity to calculate a cost of using the excessive electricity, and wherein the comfort controller displays in the report card the cost of using the excessive electricity.