Control apparatus and method for maximizing energy saving in operation of HVAC equipment and the like

• US 5,909,378 A
• Filed: 04/09/1997
• Issued: 06/01/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kontrol Energy Group Inc. (Kontrol Technologies Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Hugues D.E. Milleville
• Inventors: De Milleville, Hugues
• Primary Examiner(s): WACHSMAN, HAL D
• Application Number:
  US08/838,657
• Time in Patent Office: 783 Days
• Field of Search: 364/528.11, 364/528.13, 364/528.1, 364/528.26, 364/528.31, 364/528.34, 364/528.35, 364/528.41, 364/141, 364/143, 702/33, 702/40, 702/49, 702/57, 702/79, 702/89, 702/99, 702/105, 702/119, 702/123, 702/125, 702/130, 702/131, 702/134, 702/176, 702/177, 702/182, 702/183, 702/189, 250/214 AL, 236/46 R, 236/47, 236/49.3, 165/232, 165/233, 165/237, 165/200, 165/201, 165/203, 165/238, 165/239, 165/242, 340/528, 340/545, 340/573, 340/581, 340/588, 340/600, 374/102, 374/103, 374/108-111
• US Class Current: 700/276
• 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 11/61 using timers
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/62 characterised by the type of control or by internal processing, e.g. using fuzzy logic, adaptive control or estimation of values
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2011/0006 using low temperature external supply air to assist cooling
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1904 variable in time

Abstract

The multi-function energy management system has a plurality of predetermined operating programs stored in memory in or around a micro controller. The micro controller may be pre-set to operate a plurality of heating ventilation, air conditioning and other operating devices according to selected ones of such operating programs for maintaining the temperature in a room of a building at a desired ambient temperature condition and other loads at various operating conditions. The system has a continuously operating internal clock with a back up battery having a life span of ten years. Adjustment allowance is provided in the clock for leap years and daylight savings time. The system is capable of selectively operating the heating, ventilation, air conditioning devices and other energy consuming devices such as lighting, thermal storage heaters according to the occupancy of the room to provide a maximum saving of energy consumption.

Claims

1. An energy saving control apparatus for a heating, venting and air conditioning equipment in a building having a plurality of rooms in which each room has at least one entrance door, comprising:

a micro controller means having a plurality of mechanical memory means with stored algorithms adapted to provide a plurality of predetermined programs for operating said heating, venting and air conditioning equipment,

a plurality of mechanically operated dip switches coupled to said micro controller means and adapted for selecting said plurality of predetermined programs for providing desired ambient temperature conditions for said room, including time of day when said selected ambient temperature conditions are to be provided,

interface circuit means connected to said micro controller means and operative to generate a plurality of output signals to said micro controller means according to said plurality of predetermined programs selected,

a door contact mounted at said at least one entrance door and connected to said interface circuit means,

a motion sensor located in said room and connected also to said interface circuit means,

said door contact and said motion sensor, in combination, adapted to actuate said interface circuit means to control said micro controller means for operating said heating, venting and air conditioning equipment in response to occupancy conditions of said room.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 including a temperature sensor connected to said micro controller means, and a clock means adapted to operate said micro controller means to determine in real time, actual temperature condition in said room for varying said predetermined programs according to said occupancy conditions in said room.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said predetermined programs include a fast speed program adapted to operate said predetermined programs selected in an accelerated speed for testing the general operation of said apparatus and said equipment.

4. An apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said room has at least two entrance doors with a door contact mounted at each one of said doors and connected to said interface circuit means, and said micro controller means in response to operation of said door contact mounted at each one of said doors and in combination with the operation of said motion sensor for determining an accurate occupancy condition of said room so as to operate said heating, venting and air conditioning equipment efficiently according to said accurate occupancy condition.

5. A method of maximizing energy saving in providing heating, venting and air conditioning operations in a room within a building having a plurality of rooms, by heating, venting and air conditioning equipment, comprising:

storing a plurality of predetermined operating programs in a micro controller means, said micro controller means being addressable by a plurality of mechanically operated switch means to operate selected ones of said predetermined operating programs,

actuating selected ones of said plurality of mechanically operated switch means to execute selected ones of said predetermined operating programs including selecting a desired ambient temperature condition in a selected time period for said room,

monitoring real time temperature condition of said room with a temperature sensing means and inputting said real time temperature condition to said micro controller means,

detecting accurate occupancy conditions of said room by mounting a door contact at a door of said room, and also mounting a motion sensor in said room, said door contact and said motion sensor cooperatively addressing said micro controller means to determine accurately said occupancy conditions for operating said equipment to obtain said desired ambient temperature condition for said room according to said predetermined operating programs and said occupancy conditions.

6. A method of maximizing energy saving according to claim 5 including providing a temperature probe means outside of said building for inputting ambient outside temperature from outside of said building to said micro controller means for determining the amount of energy stored in said equipment and for determining selectively, to remain in a heating mode, to modulate an outside air damper to said room, or to actuate an air conditioning device in said equipment for obtaining said desired ambient temperature condition in said room.

7. A method according to claim 5 wherein said micro controller means is settable to operate selectively in a pulse width modulation mode and a 0 to 10 volt mode, and in said pulse width modulation mode said micro controller means generating a 5 volt level when a heat source of said heating, venting and air conditioning equipment is turned on, and a 0 volt level when the heat source of said heating, venting and air conditioning equipment is turned off, and in said 0 to 10 volt mode said micro controller means generating a differential signal proportional to predetermined differences between actual temperature condition in said room and said desired ambient temperature condition.

8. A method according to claim 5 wherein said selected predetermined programs include a program for turning said equipment in a series of on and off cycles prior to a pre-set time at which said room is to be at said desired ambient temperature condition so as to attain said desired ambient temperature condition at said pre-set time accurately.

9. A method according to claim 8 including operating said equipment in a selective time period chosen from 1, 1.5, 2 and 3 time operating periods.

10. A method according to claim 8 wherein said predetermined programs include a program for turning said equipment off when said door contact is opened for a predetermined time period and when said motion sensor has detected motion in said room.

11. A method according to claim 10 wherein said equipment is turned off when said door contact is opened for more than 10 minutes.

12. A method according to claim 8 including pre-heating said room at 50% capacity prior to said pre-set time and adjusting a heating rate of said room in real time so as to attain said desired ambient temperature condition of said room at said pre-set time.

13. A method according to claim 5 wherein said micro controller means includes a program selectively actuated for operating selected predetermined programs at an accelerated speed for testing overall operation of said equipment and said selected predetermined programs.

14. A method according to claim 5 including providing a temperature probe means outside of said building for informing outside temperature condition to said micro controller means for modulating a damper coupled to said room to draw outside air selectively into said room in cooperation with the operation of said heating venting and air conditioning equipment so as to attain said desired ambient temperature condition for said room.

15. A method according to claim 14 wherein said outside air is drawn selectively into said room by a blower fan operating at a constant speed.

16. A method according to claim 5 wherein said micro controller means includes a program adapted for selectively turning on and off lighting equipment provided in said room according to said occupancy conditions.