FAN MOTOR CONTROL

• US 20200132331A1
• Filed: 11/09/2018
• Published: 04/30/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Johnson Controls Tyco IP Holdings LLP (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Original Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Wilson, Timothy J., Yagy, Joshua J.
• Granted Patent: US 11,143,427 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/63 Electronic processing
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/75 for maintaining constant air flow rate or air velocity
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/77 by controlling the speed of ventilators
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 13/24 Means for preventing or suppressing noise
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2140/60 Energy consumption
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/042 using digital processors G05B19/05 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2614 HVAC, heating, ventillation, climate control
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 30/70 Efficient control or regulation technologies, e.g. for control of refrigerant flow, motor or heating

Abstract

A heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) system includes a motor configured to drive rotation of a fan, and an HVAC controller configured to control operation of the HVAC system. The HVAC controller is configured to determine an operating mode target value of the HVAC system, calcluate an operating parameter target value of the motor based on the operating mode target value of the HVAC system and a control algorithm of the HVAC controller, and control operation of the motor toward or at the operating parameter target value.

Claims

1. A heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) system, comprising:

a motor configured to drive rotation of a fan; and

an HVAC controller configured to control operation of the HVAC system, wherein the HVAC controller is configured to;

determine an operating mode target value of the HVAC system;

calculate an operating parameter target value of the motor based on the operating mode target value of the HVAC system and a control algorithm of the HVAC controller; and

control operation of the motor toward or at the operating parameter target value.

2. The HVAC system of claim 1, wherein determining the operating mode target value of the HVAC system comprises determining a constant airflow mode target value, and wherein calculating the operating parameter target value of the motor based on the operating mode target value and the control algorithm comprises calculating the operating parameter target value of the motor based on the constant airflow mode target value and the control algorithm.

3. The HVAC system of claim 2, wherein calculating the operating parameter target value of the motor based on the constant airflow mode target value and the control algorithm comprises calculating a torque output target value of the motor or a parameter indicative thereof, and wherein controlling the motor toward or at the operating parameter target value comprises controlling the motor toward or at the torque output target value or the parameter indicative thereof.

4. The HVAC system of claim 1, wherein determining the operating mode target value of the HVAC system comprises determining a constant power consumption mode target value, and wherein calculating the operating parameter target value of the motor based on the operating mode target value and the control algorithm comprises calculating the operating parameter target value of the motor based on the constant power consumption mode target value and the control algorithm.

5. The HVAC system of claim 4, wherein calculating the operating parameter target value of the motor based on the constant power consumption mode target value and the control algorithm comprises calculating a torque output target value of the motor or a parameter indicative thereof, and wherein controlling operation of the motor toward or at the operating parameter target value comprises controlling operation of the motor toward or at the torque output target value or the parameter indicative thereof.

6. The HVAC system of claim 1, wherein determining the operating mode target value of the HVAC system comprises determining a constant sound output mode target value, and wherein calculating the operating parameter target value of the motor based on the operating mode target value and the control algorithm comprises calculating the operating parameter target value of the motor based on the constant sound output mode target value and the control algorithm.

7. The HVAC system of claim 6, wherein calculating the operating parameter target value of the motor based on the constant sound output mode target value and the control algorithm comprises calculating a torque output target value of the motor or a parameter indicative thereof, and wherein controlling operation of the motor toward or at the operating parameter target value comprises controlling operation of the motor toward or at the torque output target value or the parameter indicative thereof.

8. The HVAC system of claim 6, wherein the constant sound output mode target value comprises a constant inlet sound output mode target value, a constant radiated sound output mode target value, a constant discharge sound output mode target value, or a constant total sound output mode target value.

9. The HVAC system of claim 1, wherein calculating the operating parameter target value of the motor based on the operating mode target value and the control algorithm comprises calculating a torque output target value of the motor, or a parameter indicative thereof, after inputting to the control algorithm the operating mode target value and a detected RPM of the motor.

10. The HVAC system of claim 1, wherein the HVAC controller is configured to control a damper actuator of the HVAC system, a valve of the HVAC system, or both.

11. The HVAC system of claim 1, wherein the HVAC controller is configured to calculate the operating parameter target value of the motor based on the operating mode target value and the control algorithm by employing a non-linear, two variable regression analysis utilizing the control algorithm.

12. A control system for a heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) system, comprising:

a controller configured to;

receive an operating mode target value of the HVAC system;

calculating an operating parameter target value of a fan motor based on the operating mode target value and a control algorithm;

control the fan motor toward or at the operating parameter target value; and

control an additional HVAC control aspect separate from operation of the fan motor.

13. The control system of claim 12, wherein the controller comprises an HVAC unit controller.

14. The control system of claim 12, wherein determining the operating mode target value of the HVAC system comprises determining a constant airflow mode target value, and wherein calculating the operating parameter target value of the fan motor based on the operating mode target value and the control algorithm comprises calculating the operating parameter target value of the fan motor based on the constant airflow mode target value and the control algorithm.

15. The control system of claim 14, wherein calculating the operating parameter target value of the fan motor based on the constant airflow mode target value and the control algorithm comprises calculating a torque output target value of the fan motor or a parameter indicative thereof, and wherein controlling the fan motor toward or at the operating parameter target value comprises controlling the fan motor toward or at the torque output target value or the parameter indicative thereof.

16. The control system of claim 12, wherein determining the operating mode target value of the HVAC system comprises determining a constant power consumption mode target value, and wherein calculating the operating parameter target value of the fan motor based on the operating mode target value and the control algorithm comprises calculating the operating parameter target value of the fan motor based on the constant power consumption mode target value and the control algorithm.

17. The control system of claim 16, wherein calculating the operating parameter target value of the fan motor based on the constant power consumption mode target value and the control algorithm comprises calculating a torque output target value of the fan motor or a parameter indicative of the torque output target value, and wherein controlling the fan motor toward or at the operating parameter target value comprises controlling the fan motor toward or at the torque output target value or the parameter indicative thereof.

18. The control system of claim 12, wherein determining the operating mode target value of the HVAC system comprises determining a constant sound output mode target value, and wherein calculating the operating parameter target value of the fan motor based on the operating mode target value and the control algorithm comprises calculating the operating parameter target value of the fan motor based on the constant sound output mode target value and the control algorithm.

19. The control system of claim 18, wherein calculating the operating parameter target value of the fan motor based on the constant sound output mode target value and the control algorithm comprises calculating a torque output target value of the fan motor or a parameter indicative thereof, and wherein controlling the fan motor toward or at the operating parameter target value comprises controlling the fan motor toward or at the torque output target value or the parameter indicative thereof.

20. The control system of claim 18, wherein the constant sound output mode target value comprises a constant radiated sound output mode target value, a constant discharge sound output mode target value, or a constant total sound output mode target value.

21. The control system of claim 12, wherein calculating the operating parameter target value of the fan motor based on the operating mode target value and the control algorithm comprises calculating a torque output target value of the fan motor.

22. The HVAC system of claim 12, wherein the controller is configured to calculate the operating parameter target value of the fan motor based on the operating mode target value and the control algorithm by employing a non-linear, two variable regression analysis utilizing the control algorithm.

23. A non-transitory computer readable storage media having computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, perform a method of controlling a heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) system, the instructions comprising:

receiving an operating mode target value of the HVAC system;

calculating, based on the operating mode target value and a control algorithm, an operating parameter target value of a motor configured to drive rotation of a fan;

controlling the motor toward or at the operating parameter target value; and

controlling at least one additional HVAC control aspect separate from operation of the motor.

24. The non-transitory computer readable storage media of claim 23, wherein receiving the operating mode target value of the HVAC system comprises receiving a constant airflow mode target value, and wherein calculating, based on the operating mode target value and the control algorithm, the operating parameter target value of the motor comprises calculating, based on the constant airflow mode target value and the control algorithm, the operating parameter target value of the motor.

25. The non-transitory computer readable storage media of claim 24, wherein calculating, based on the constant airflow mode target value and the control algorithm, the operating parameter target value of the motor comprises calculating, based on the constant airflow mode target value and the control algorithm, a torque output target value of the motor or a parameter indicative thereof, and wherein controlling the motor toward or at the operating parameter target value comprises controlling the motor toward or at the torque output target value.

26. The non-transitory computer readable storage media of claim 23, wherein receiving the operating mode target value of the HVAC system comprises receiving a constant power consumption mode target value, and wherein calculating, based on the operating mode target and the control algorithm, the operating parameter target value of the motor comprises calculating, based on the constant power consumption mode target value and the control algorithm, the operating parameter target value of the motor.

27. The non-transitory computer readable storage media of claim 26, wherein calculating, based on the constant power consumption mode target value and the control algorithm, the operating parameter target value of the motor comprises calculating, based on the constant power consumption mode target value and the control algorithm, a torque output of the motor or a parameter indicative thereof, and wherein controlling the motor toward or at the operating parameter target value comprises controlling the motor toward or at the torque output target value.

28. The non-transitory computer readable storage media of claim 23, wherein receiving the operating mode target value of the HVAC system comprises receiving a constant sound output mode target value, and wherein calculating, based on the operating mode target value and the control algorithm, the operating parameter target value of the motor comprises calculating, based on the constant sound output mode target value and the control algorithm, the operating parameter target value of the motor.

29. The non-transitory computer readable storage media of claim 28, wherein calculating, based on the constant sound output mode target value and the control algorithm, the operating parameter target value of the motor comprises calculating, based on the constant sound output mode target value and the control algorithm, a torque output target value of the motor or a parameter indicative of the torque output target value, and wherein controlling the motor toward or at the operating parameter target value comprises controlling the motor toward or at the torque output target value.

30. The non-transitory computer readable storage media of claim 28, wherein the constant sound output mode target value comprises a constant radiated sound output mode target value, a constant discharge sound output mode target value, or a constant total sound output mode target value.

31. The non-transitory computer readable storage media of claim 23, wherein calculating the operating parameter target value of the motor based on the operating mode target value comprises calculating a torque output target value of the fan motor.

32. The non-transitory computer readable storage media of claim 23, wherein calculating, based on the operating mode target value and the control algorithm, the operating parameter target value of the motor comprises employing a non-linear, two variable regression analysis utilizing the control algorithm.