METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROACTIVELY AND REMOTELY DIAGNOSING AN HVAC SYSTEM

• US 20160334127A1
• Filed: 05/13/2016
• Published: 11/17/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Watsco Ventures LLC
• Original Assignee: Watsco Ventures LLC
• Inventors: Rupp, Steven, Nahmad, Aaron J., Cruz, Mario A.
• Granted Patent: US 10,753,630 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 11/32 Responding to malfunctions or emergencies
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/38 Failure diagnosis
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/56 Remote control
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/58 using Internet communication
• 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: G05B 15/02 electric

Abstract

Methods and systems for providing remote and proactive diagnostics of HVAC (heating, ventilating, and air conditioning) equipment and HVAC systems.

Claims

1. A method of remotely and proactively diagnosing HVAC equipment, said method comprising:

providing at least one sensor connected to one or more components of the HVAC equipment;

connecting the at least one sensor and the HVAC equipment to an on-premises monitoring device;

collecting, at the monitoring device, data from the at least one sensor and the HVAC equipment; and

diagnosing the collected data to determine if the HVAC equipment requires maintenance.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of providing at least one sensor comprises providing sensors to detect one of pressure at a suction line service valve, temperature on the suction line, pressure at a liquid line service valve, temperature on the liquid line, line voltage at a compressor, system run state and/or ambient temperature located near the service valves.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of providing at least one sensor comprises providing sensors to determine one or more of airflow in cubic feet per minute at a coil of the HVAC equipment, fan motor vibration, blower vibration, supply side air temperature, return air temperature and/or compressor external temperature.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of providing at least one sensor comprises providing sensors at high and low side Schrader valves, temperature sensors at the liquid line at the outlet of a compressor, temperature sensor at the suction line at the outlet of an evaporator, and/or an ambient air temperature sensor near the high and low side Schrader valves.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining one of a superheat value, subcooling value or runtime statistics of the HVAC equipment.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein determining the superheat value comprises:

cycling, via control of the monitoring device, the HVAC equipment for approximately 10 minutes;

measuring, at the monitoring device, suction line pressure;

measuring, at the monitoring device, suction line temperature at the service port;

determining evaporator saturation temperature; and

determining the superheat value based on the evaporator saturation value and the suction line temperature.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein determining the superheat value comprises:

running, via control of the monitoring device, the HVAC equipment until it cycles off based on a thermostat set point;

measuring, at the monitoring device, pressure on a liquid line;

measuring, at the monitoring device, liquid line temperature at an outlet of a compressor;

determining a condenser saturation temperature; and

determining the subcooling value based on the condenser saturation temperature and the liquid line temperature.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein determining run time statistics comprises:

tracking, via the monitoring device, start and stop actions of the HVAC equipment; and

determining run times and cycle durations from the tracked start and stop times.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising transmitting the collected data to a remote device for remote diagnosis.

10. A system for remotely and proactively diagnosing HVAC equipment, said system comprising:

at least one sensor connected to one or more components of the HVAC equipment; and

an on-premises monitoring device connected to HVAC equipment and the at least one sensor, said on-premises monitoring device being adapted to;

collect data from the at least one sensor and the HVAC equipment;

diagnose the collected data to determine if the HVAC equipment requires maintenance; and

transmit the collected data to a remote device for remote diagnosis used for preventative maintenance.

11. The system of claim 10, further comprising:

at least one user device adapted to display an interactive dashboard for obtaining data concerning the HVAC equipment from the remote device.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein said at least one sensor comprises one or more of sensors to detect one of pressure at a suction line service valve, temperature on the suction line, pressure at a liquid line service valve, temperature on the liquid line, line voltage at a compressor, system run state and/or ambient temperature located near the service valves.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein said at least one sensor comprises one or more of sensors to determine one or more of airflow in cubic feet per minute at a coil of the HVAC equipment, fan motor vibration, blower vibration, supply side air temperature, return air temperature and/or compressor external temperature.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein said at least one sensor comprises one or more of sensors at high and low side Schrader valves, temperature sensors at the liquid line at the outlet of a compressor, temperature sensor at the suction line at the outlet of an evaporator, and/or an ambient air temperature sensor near the high and low side Schrader valves.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the on-premises monitoring device is adapted to determine one of a superheat value, subcooling value or runtime statistics of the HVAC equipment.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein the remote device is adapted to determine one of a superheat value, subcooling value or runtime statistics of the HVAC equipment.