HVAC system control incorporating humidity and carbon monoxide measurement

• US 5,911,747 A
• Filed: 09/19/1997
• Issued: 06/15/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Elutions, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Pentech Energy Solutions, Inc.
• Inventors: Gauthier, Dale A.
• Primary Examiner(s): WAYNER, WILLIAM E
• Application Number:
  US08/934,147
• Time in Patent Office: 634 Days
• Field of Search: 62/176.6, 62/93, 236/44 R
• US Class Current: 62/176.6
• 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 11/62 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 11/65 for selecting an operating mode

Abstract

A controller for an HVAC system incoporates humidity and carbon monoxide measurements in its control of the system. System cycling may be inhibited by high humidity. A portion of the system may be turned off by high carbon monoxide concentration.

Claims

1. An energy recovery apparatus in an environmental control system coupled to a controlled space comprising:

an input terminal for receiving a signal indicative of a call for cooling from said controlled space;

an output terminal for sending said signal indicative of a call for cooling from said controlled space to portions of an air conditioning unit;

a humidity sensor located to sense humidity of said controlled space, said humidity sensor providing an output signal representative of the humidity in said controlled space; and

a controller coupled to said humidity sensor and configured to selectively connect and disconnect said input terminal and said output terminal, wherein said controller is configured to maintain said input terminal and output terminal connected when said humidity of said controlled space is greater than a selected level, and wherein said controller is further configured to enable the periodic disconnection of said input terminal from said output terminal when said humidity is less than a selected level.

2. The energy recovery apparatus of claim 1, wherein said humidity sensor is configured to mount within said controlled space.

3. The energy recovery apparatus of claim 1, wherein said humidity sensor is configured to mount within an air return duct.

4. The energy recovery apparatus of claim 1, additionally comprising;

a first temperature sensor adapted to sense temperature of air being supplied to said controlled space, said first temperature sensor configured to provide a first output signal representative of said temperature of air;

a second temperature sensor adapted to sense temperature of said controlled space, said second temperature sensor configured to provide a second output signal representative of said temperature in said controlled space;

wherein said controller is configured to receive said output signals from said first and second temperature sensors, and wherein said controller, when enabled by said humidity being less than a selected level, is configured to perform said periodic disconnection of said input terminal and said output terminal based at least in part on said first and said second output signals.