Microprocessor discharge temperature air controller for multi-stage heating and/or cooling apparatus and outdoor air usage controller

• US 4,347,712 A
• Filed: 11/03/1980
• Issued: 09/07/1982
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/1980
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Honeywell Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Honeywell Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Tinsley, Timothy M., Kidder, Kenneth B., Westley, Curtis E., Benton, Ronald, Linderberg, Robert L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wayner, William E.
• Application Number:
  US06/202,985
• Time in Patent Office: 673 Days
• Field of Search: 236/1 EA, 236/49, 62/175, 62/180, 165/22, 165/16
• US Class Current: 62/175
• 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 11/56 Remote control
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/63 Electronic processing
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/70 Control systems characterised by their outputs; Constructional details thereof
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/81 by controlling the air supply to heat-exchangers or bypass channels
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1934 each space being provided with one sensor acting on one or more control means
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/24 the sensing element having a resistance varying with temperature, e.g. a thermistor

Abstract

An air conditioning system furnishing temperature conditioned air to a plurality of zones each of which has its own zone damper controlled by its own space thermostat. The system has an air discharge temperature sensor downstream of the temperature conditioning heat exchanger which is connected to a microprocessor controller for controlling a plurality of stages of temperature conditioning apparatus such as heating or cooling apparatus and a damper motor control for controlling the entry of outdoor air into the system. A reset thermal comfort sensor located in a representative zone or area is connected to the microprocessor controller for varying the controlled temperature of the supplied discharge air by operating the outdoor air damper motor and the multi-stage temperature conditioning apparatus to maintain the best use of outdoor air for cooling and the most efficient operation of refrigeration cooling apparatus by ensuring maximum air delivery to the heat exchangers during the operation of the mechanical cooling apparatus.

Claims

1. An improvement in a temperature control apparatus for controlling temperature conditioning apparatus having an outdoor air supply apparatus and a mechanical cooling apparatus for supplying temperature conditioning air to a plurality of zones by a blower, each of the zones having its own zone thermostat and air supply control means, the temperature control apparatus having a discharge air duct temperature sensor connected to control the temperature conditioning apparatus and adapted to respond to the temperature of the air delivered to the zones, and a second sensor adapted to respond to an environmental condition of a representative zone, the improvement comprising

first means responsive to the output of said second sensor for controlling the temperature of air delivered to the zones by adjusting the control temperature of said discharge temperature sensor as an environmental condition of said representative zone changes to maintain a maximum use of the mechanical cooling apparatus when said condition of the representative zone is in the highest range and a maximum use of outdoor air when said condition of the representative zone is in the lowest range.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said second sensor responds to the relative humidity.

3. The invention of claim 1 wherein said second sensor responds to space temperature.

4. A temperature control apparatus for controlling temperature conditioning apparatus having damper control means to use a selected amount of outdoor air and mechanical air cooling means for temperature conditioning the air air delivered under the power of a blower means through a duct to a plurality of zones, each of the zones having its own temperature responsive control for controlling a zone air flow control means and thus the delivery of conditioned air from the duct to its zone, comprising

control apparatus adapted to control the set point temperature of the damper control means and the set point temperature of the mechanical air cooling means of the air conditioning apparatus to vary the temperature of the air delivered through the duct to the zones,

first temperature responsive means adapted to respond to the temperature of the air in the duct being delivered to the zones,

second responsive means adapted to respond to an environmental comfort condition of the air in a representative zone,

temperature set point adjustment means,

further means connecting said first temperature responsive means, said temperature set point adjustment means, and said second responsive means to said control apparatus, said first temperature responsive means varying the output of said control apparatus and thus the capacity of the air conditioning apparatus to maintain a temperature of air in the duct as selected by said set point adjustment means, said second responsive means resetting the relationship of said set point adjustment means and said first temperature responsive means to change the set point temperature of the damper control means in a first range of environmental condition and to change the set point temperature of the mechanical air cooling means in a second range of environmental condition to maintain a selected air temperature in the duct as the environmental condition in the representative zone changes.

5. The invention of claim 4 comprising means connected to said control apparatus to provide for said resetting in a manner to raise the controlled temperature of the air of the damper control means through a first range when said condition of the representative zone decreases in a first range, and to provide for said resetting in a manner to lower the controlled temperature of the mechanical cooling through said second range when said condition of the representative zone increases in the second range.

6. The invention of claim 5 wherein said second responsive means is a temperature responsive means and comprising a third range of said condition intermediate said first and second ranges.

7. The invention of claim 6, comprising means responsive to the enthalpy of outdoor air, means adapted to connect said means responsive to enthalpy to the damper control means to determine when outdoor air is to be used for cooling.

8. The invention of claim 6 comprising pressure responsive control means adapted to be mounted in the duct, means adapted to connect said pressure responsive control means to control the capacity of the blower means and thus the delivery of air through the duct to maintain a predetermined pressure in the duct and thus as the flow of air to the zones changes the capacity of the blower means changes.

9. The invention of claim 8 wherein during said second range of temperature a maximum air flow is expected to increase the efficiency of heat transfer through a heat exchanger of the mechanical air cooling means and reduce the power requirements, and during said first range of temperatures a minimum air flow is expected of the blower means to reduce the power requirements of the blower means.

10. The invention of claim 6 comprising means to adjust the resetting action of said second responsive means to provide for different set point levels of operation in said first, second and third ranges.

11. The invention of claim 5 wherein said second responsive means responds to temperature in the representative zone.

12. The invention of claim 4 wherein said further means connecting is a microprocessor.