Enhanced economizer controller
First Claim
1. A controller for controlling mechanical cooling equipment and ventilating equipment for conditioning air within an enclosed space in response to signals indicative of air temperature and of at least one non-temperature air parameter respectively, the ventilating equipment being responsive to a ventilating equipment control signal to exchange a variable proportion of air within the space for air outside the space, the controller comprising:
- economizer control apparatus operable in response to a space thermostat signal indicating that a temperature in the enclosed space is above a setpoint temperature, and an enthalpy sensor signal indicating that air outside the enclosed space is suitable for providing cooling within the space, to produce mechanical cooling equipment control signals, said economizer control apparatus further being operable to produce an economizer control signal;
air temperature apparatus connected to receive the economizer control signal and operable, at least partially dependent on the economizer control signal, to produce an air temperature control signal representative of a commanded temperature change of air entering the space;
air quality apparatus operable to produce an air quality control signal representative of a commanded change in a non-temperature parameter of air within the space; and
a signal processor connected to receive the air temperature and air quality control signals, and operable to produce a ventilating equipment control signal based on the one of the air temperature control signal, and air quality control signal which corresponds to the greater exchange of air within the space for air outside the space, the ventilating equipment control signal being suitable for causing ventilating equipment receiving the ventilating equipment control signal to increase the proportion of air within the enclosed space exchanged for air outside the space at least in part in response to the space thermostat and enthalpy sensor signals.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An enhanced controller for an air conditioning system incorporating mechanical cooling equipment and an economizer, the enhanced controller including circuits for producing signals indicative of commanded changes in temperature of air admitted into the air conditioned space and of a non-temperature parameter, such as carbon dioxide concentration, of air within the space. The signals are supplied to a logic circuit which produces a ventilation damper control signal based on which of the temperature and non-temperature parameters requires greater change. Freeze protection, and maximum and minimum damper position circuits override the basic damper control signal to avoid excessively low space temperatures and to provide air exchange limits.
164 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A controller for controlling mechanical cooling equipment and ventilating equipment for conditioning air within an enclosed space in response to signals indicative of air temperature and of at least one non-temperature air parameter respectively, the ventilating equipment being responsive to a ventilating equipment control signal to exchange a variable proportion of air within the space for air outside the space, the controller comprising:
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economizer control apparatus operable in response to a space thermostat signal indicating that a temperature in the enclosed space is above a setpoint temperature, and an enthalpy sensor signal indicating that air outside the enclosed space is suitable for providing cooling within the space, to produce mechanical cooling equipment control signals, said economizer control apparatus further being operable to produce an economizer control signal; air temperature apparatus connected to receive the economizer control signal and operable, at least partially dependent on the economizer control signal, to produce an air temperature control signal representative of a commanded temperature change of air entering the space; air quality apparatus operable to produce an air quality control signal representative of a commanded change in a non-temperature parameter of air within the space; and a signal processor connected to receive the air temperature and air quality control signals, and operable to produce a ventilating equipment control signal based on the one of the air temperature control signal, and air quality control signal which corresponds to the greater exchange of air within the space for air outside the space, the ventilating equipment control signal being suitable for causing ventilating equipment receiving the ventilating equipment control signal to increase the proportion of air within the enclosed space exchanged for air outside the space at least in part in response to the space thermostat and enthalpy sensor signals. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. In a system for conditioning the air in an enclosed space, the improvement which comprises:
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temperature changing apparatus including mechanical cooling equipment, ventilating equipment operable to exchange a variable proportion of the air within the enclosed space for air outside the space, and a ventilating equipment actuator responsive to an actuator control signal to determine the proportion of air within the space exchanged for air outside the space; air temperature apparatus operable to produce an air temperature control signal representative of a commanded change in temperature of air entering the space; a space thermostat operable to sense whether temperature within the enclosed space is above a setpoint temperature, and to supply a corresponding call for cooling signal to said temperature changing apparatus; enthalpy sensor apparatus operable to sense whether air outside the enclosed space is suitable for providing cooling within the space and to supply a corresponding low enthalpy signal to said air temperature apparatus, said air temperature apparatus being enabled to produce the actuator control signal in response to the call for cooling and low enthalpy signals, the actuator control signal being effective to cause the ventilating equipment actuator to increase proportion of air within the enclosed space exchanged for air outside the space at least in part in response to a call for cooling signal from said space thermostat and a low enthalpy signal from said enthalpy sensor apparatus; air quality apparatus operable to produce an air quality control signal representative of a commanded change in a non-temperature parameter of air within the space; and a signal processor connected to receive the air temperature control and air quality control signal, and operable to supply the actuator control signal to the ventilating equipment actuator, said signal processor generating the actuator control signal based at least in part on the relative magnitudes of the air temperature and air quality changes commanded by the air temperature control and air quality control signals respectively. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification