Electronic control and method for increasing efficiency of heating

• US 4,607,787 A
• Filed: 04/12/1985
• Issued: 08/26/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/1985
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Conduff/Rogers
• Original Assignee: Conduff/Rogers
• Inventors: Rogers, Charles F. III
• Primary Examiner(s): Wayner, William E.
• Application Number:
  US06/722,516
• Time in Patent Office: 501 Days
• Field of Search: 236/10, 236/11, 236/46 F, 236/46 R, 165/12, 62/231
• US Class Current: 236/11
• CPC Class Codes: F23N 1/082 using electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: F23N 2225/12 room temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F23N 2227/20 Calibrating devices
• CPC Class Codes: F24B 1/028 with means for regulating combustion
• CPC Class Codes: F24D 19/1084 for air heating systems
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 15/156 Reducing the quantity of energy consumed; Increasing efficiency
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 15/204 Temperature of the air before heating
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 15/208 Temperature of the air after heating
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 15/254 Room temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 15/345 Control of fans, e.g. on-off control control of fans of heat pump units F24H15/375
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 15/36 of burners
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 15/414 using electronic processing, e.g. computer-based

Abstract

A method of increasing the efficiency of a hot air furnace by measuring the temperature differential across the heated air inlet and outlet plenums which occurs during normal operation of the furnace to raise the room temperature from its turn on point to its turn off point. The plenum temperature differential is then used to time cycle the burner.

Claims

1. A method of increasing efficiency of a heating system having a burner, a control to turn said burner on and off and an inlet whereby cool air enters said heating system and an outlet whereby warm air exits said heating system, comprising:

positioning a first temperature sensing means in said in1et;

positioning a second temperature sensing means in said outlet;

measuring temperature rise between said inlet and said outlet occurring during normal operation of said heating system in heating a room from a first temperature to a second temperature;

cycling said burner on when said room reaches said first temperature until the temperature differential between said outlet and said inlet reaches a first percentage of said temperature rise which occurred during normal operation of said heating systen and off until the temperature differential between said outlet and said inlet reaches a second percentage of said temperature rise which occurred during normal operation and continuing said cycling until said room reaches said second temperature reached during normal operation.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said heating system includes a fan for circulating air through said heating system and wherein said fan is held on until said room reaches said second temperature.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said fan is held on after cycling until said outlet reaches a third temperature.

4. The method of claim 1, including disconnecting said control, positioning a microcomputer having a room temperature sensor in its place and programming said microcomputer to monitor room temperature, said first and second temperature sensing means and said heating system, and to operate said heating system accordingly.

5. The method of claim 4, including programming said microcomputer to compute the increase in efficiency due to said microcomputer on the basis of the following formulae:

##EQU2## and displaying said percentage savings.