Microprocessor based controller for heating system

• US 4,381,075 A
• Filed: 12/17/1981
• Issued: 04/26/1983
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/1981
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The Thermonic Corporation
• Original Assignee: The Thermonic Corporation
• Inventors: Cargill, N. Allen, Bunten, Theodore M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Makay, Albert J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BENNETT, HENRY A
• Application Number:
  US06/331,722
• Time in Patent Office: 495 Days
• Field of Search: 237/8 R, 237/7, 237/19, 236/46 R, 236/47, 236/91 F, 236/70, 236/9 R, 236/9 A, 236/94, 165/22, 431/69, 364/557
• US Class Current: 237/8.00R
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1917 using digital means
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/24 the sensing element having a resistance varying with temperature, e.g. a thermistor

Abstract

An integrated, microprocessor-based primary control system for a building heating system. The control system includes in one unit a microprocessor and associated circuitry for (1) establishing the high limit of heat exchanger operation, (2) establishing the low-limit of heat exchanger operation for systems having a summer/winter coil, (3) modulating heat exchanger temperature as a function of outdoor temperature, (4) detecting alarm conditions, providing audio-visual signals while locking out heat exchanger operation in response thereto, and (5) providing an override time period for domestic hot water production in systems having a summer/winter coil.

Claims

1. An integrated primary, safety and limit control device for a building heating system, said system including a heat exchanger having a combustion side and a fluid side in which a fluid is heated, a gas or oil fired fuel burner coupled to said combustion side for heating said fluid when said fuel is ignited, heat radiating means coupled to said heat exchanger, circulating means for transporting said fluid between said heat exchanger and said heat rediating means, adjustable thermostat means for establishing a desired temperature within said building, first sensor means for providing a signal indicative of heat exchanger fluid side temperature, second sensor means for providing a signal indicative of outdoor temperature, said device comprising, limit control means for establishing high and low temperature limits for said system, lockout means for selectively disabling said burner and said circulating means in response to a lockout signal, temperature sensing means responsive to said first and second sensor means for providing control signals indicative of outdoor temperature and fluid side temperature and for providing control signals indicative of a failure of said first sensor means, microprocessor means responsive to said temperature sensing means, said thermostat means and said limit control means for providing said lockout signal in response to said control signal indicative of a failure of said first sensor means and for providing signals to said burner and said circulating means for controlling the operation thereof, whereupon said fluid side temperature is modulated by the operation of said burner as a function of said fluid side temperature and outdoor temperature and said circulating means is enabled to operate whether or not said burner is ignited as a function of said fluid side temperature and outdoor temperature to attain the indoor temperature as established by said thermostatic means, said microprocessor being responsive to said limit control means for disabling said burner to prevent fuel ignition if said fluid side temperature would exceed said high temperature limit and for enabling burner ignition when called upon to do so if the fluid side temperature drops below said low temperature limit.

2. The integrated control device of claim 1 wherein said limit control means comprises first adjustable switch means for establishing said high temperature limit.

3. The integral control device of claim 1 additionally comprising means for producing an alarm signal in the event of a failure of said first sensor means.

4. The integral control device of claim 3 wherein said alarm is audible.

5. The integral control device of claim 3 additionally comprising display means for displaying a massage in the event of a failure of said first sensor means.

6. The integral control device of claim 1 additionally comprising display means for displaying heating system conditions.

7. The integral control device of claim 1 and wherein said heat exchanger comprises a boiler, said fluid comprises water, and said circulcating means comprises a pump, said heating system including a domestic hot water coil through which hot water for domestic use is passed, said coil being heated by the water in said boiler, said control device additionally comprising means for controlling said domestic hot water temperature in response to an external signal in the event that said boiler water temperature is below a predetermined threshold value.

8. The integral control system of claim 7 wherein said external signal is an override signal and wherein said last mentioned means comprises override means responsive to said override input signal, said microprocessor being responsive to said override means, whereupon said controller causes the burner to be ignited to raise the domestic water to a predetermined temperature for a predetermined override period of time.

9. The integral control system of claim 8 wherein said override signal is produced by manually operated means.

10. The integral control system of claim 8 wherein said override signals are produced by programmable clock means.

11. The integral control system of claim 8 wherein said pump is disabled if said boiler water temperature would result in the raising of the temperature of said building beyond its temperature set by the thermostat means during said override time period.

12. The integral control system of claim 1 wherein said heating system is oil fired and includes a light-detecting element for detecting the existence of a flame at said burner and for providing a signal indicative thereof, said microprocessor being responsive to said signal from said light-detecting means for producing said lockout signal in the event that said light-detecting means fails to provide said signal within a predetermined time after said burner is called upon to ignite by said microprocessor.

13. An integrated primary, safety limit and control device for a building heating system, said system including a heat exchanger having a combustion side and a fluid side in which a fluid is heated, a gas or oil fired fuel burner coupled to said combustion side for heating said fuel when said fuel is ignited, heat radiating means coupled to said heat exchanger, circulating means for transporting said fluid between said heat exchanger and said heat radiating means, first means for providing a signal indicative of outdoor temperature, second means for providing a signal indicative of heat exchanger fluid side temperature, and third means for providing a signal indicative of desired temperature within said building, said device comprising microprocessor means, heat exchanger and outdoor sense circuit means, limit decode and select means, and lockout circuit means, said limit decode and select circuit means providing high and low temperature limit control signals and decode signals, said high and low temperature limit control signals being coupled to said heat exchanger and outdoor sense circuit means, said decode signals being coupled to said microprocessor means, said heat exchanger and outdoor sense circuit means being coupled to said first and second means for providing control signals indicative of outdoor temperature and heat exchanger fluid side temperature in response to the signals provided by said first and second means and for providing control signals indicative of a failure of said second means, said control signals being coupled to said microprocessor means under the control of said decode signals from said limit decode and select circuit means, said microprocessor means being coupled to said third means for receipt of the signal indicative of desired temperature within said building, said microprocessor means providing first output signals coupled to said heat exchanger burner, second output signals coupled to said circulating means, and a lockout signal coupled to said lockout circuit means in the event of a failure of said second means, irrespective of whether or not said failure results in an open or closed circuit signal produced by said second means, said lockout circuit means for selectively disabling said burner and said circulating means in response to said lockout signal, whereupon if said burner and said circulating means are not disabled by said lockout means, said microprocessor means effects the modulation of said fluid side temperature by the operation of said burner as a function of said fluid side temperature and outdoor temperature and wherein said circulating means is enabled to operate whether or not said burner is ignited as a function of said fluid side temperature and outdoor temperature to attain the indoor temperature as established by said third means, said microprocessor operating in response to said decode signals and said control signals for disabling said burner to prevent fuel ignition if said fluid side temperature would exceed a maximum limit as established by said limit decode and select means and for enabling burner ignition if the fluid side temperature drops below a predetermined threshold temperature.

14. The integrated control system of claim 13 wherein said heating system is oil fired and includes a light-detecting element for detecting the existence of a flame at said burner and for providing a signal indicative thereof, said microprocessor being responsive to said signal from said light-detecting means for effecting the disabling of said burner and said circulating means producing said lockout signal in the event that said light-detecting means fails to provide said signal within a predetermined time after said burner is called upon to ignite by said microprocessor.