Automatic control of air delivery in forced air furnaces
First Claim
1. A furnace air delivery control apparatus for a forced air furnace having a heat exchanger, a fan, and a fan motor, comprising:
- (a) temperature sensing means operatively coupled to the heat exchanger for sensing the temperature thereof and for generating sensor signals correlatable therewith;
(b) signal conditioning means operatively coupled to the temperature sensing means for conditioning the sensor signals and generating conditioned temperature signals;
(c) a controller operatively coupled to signal conditioning means, including means for utilizing the conditioned temperature signals to continuously determine speed adjustment factors for adjusting the speed of the fan motor so as to maintain a constant air delivery, and means for generating output signals correlatable with the speed adjustment factors; and
(d) speed adjusting means operatively coupled to the controller and to the fan motor, for adjusting the speed of the fan motor in accordance with the output signals.
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Abstract
A forced air furnace circulation fan controller adjusts the speed of the circulation fan according to the incidence of air delivery restrictions. Upon detecting insufficient air delivery as a function of the temperature of the furnace heat exchanger, the control system increases the circulation fan speed to increase the air delivery within the heating system. The controller utilizes fuzzy logic techniques to determine a speed adjustment for the furnace fan motor, based on the value of the furnace heat exchanger temperature. The use of fuzzy logic control allows the circulation fan controller to provide a highly adaptive response to changes in air delivery. The resulting balanced air delivery provides for efficient furnace operation and superior occupant comfort.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A furnace air delivery control apparatus for a forced air furnace having a heat exchanger, a fan, and a fan motor, comprising:
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(a) temperature sensing means operatively coupled to the heat exchanger for sensing the temperature thereof and for generating sensor signals correlatable therewith; (b) signal conditioning means operatively coupled to the temperature sensing means for conditioning the sensor signals and generating conditioned temperature signals; (c) a controller operatively coupled to signal conditioning means, including means for utilizing the conditioned temperature signals to continuously determine speed adjustment factors for adjusting the speed of the fan motor so as to maintain a constant air delivery, and means for generating output signals correlatable with the speed adjustment factors; and (d) speed adjusting means operatively coupled to the controller and to the fan motor, for adjusting the speed of the fan motor in accordance with the output signals. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for controlling furnace air delivery, comprising the steps of:
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(a) sensing the temperature of the heat exchanger and generating sensor signals correlatable therewith; (b) conditioning the sensor signals and generating conditioned temperature signals; (c) processing the conditioned temperature signals and continuously determining speed adjustment factors based thereupon and generating output signals correlatable with the speed adjustment factors; (d) adjusting the speed of the fan motor based on the output signals. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification