Air filter monitoring system

• US 7,244,294 B2
• Filed: 05/17/2005
• Issued: 07/17/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Emerson Climate Technologies Incorporated (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: Lawrence Kates
• Inventors: Kates, Lawrence
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAM, MINH CHAU THI
• Application Number:
  US11/130,569
• Publication Number:
  US 20060032379A1
• Time in Patent Office: 791 Days
• Field of Search: 96/26, 964/14, 964/21, 964/17, 961/17, 55D/IG.34, 116/268, 116/271, 116/DIG.25
• US Class Current: 96/417
• 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 11/32 Responding to malfunctions or emergencies
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/39 Monitoring filter performance
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/47 Responding to energy costs
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/56 Remote control
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 8/90 Cleaning of purification apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2500/19 Calculation of parameters
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2600/07 Remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2700/02 Humidity
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2700/133 through the condenser
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2700/1351 of the cooled fluid upstream or downstream of the evaporator
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2700/15 Power, e.g. by voltage or current
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2700/151 of the compressor motor
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2700/172 of the condenser fan
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2700/1931 Discharge pressures
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2700/1933 Suction pressures
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2700/195 of the condenser
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2700/2106 of fresh outdoor air
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2700/21151 at the suction side of the compressor
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2700/21152 at the discharge side of the compressor
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2700/21161 : of the fluid heated by the condenser
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2700/21163 : of the refrigerant at the outlet of the condenser
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2700/21172 : at the inlet
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2700/21173 : at the outlet
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2700/21174 : of the refrigerant at the inlet of the evaporator
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2700/21175 : of the refrigerant at the outlet of the evaporator
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 49/00 : Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 49/005 : of safety devices F25B49/02 and F25B49/04 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2400/36 : Visual displays
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 13/00 : Thermometers specially adapted for specific purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 2201/00 : Application of thermometers in air-conditioning systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 15/0826 : and measuring fluid flow rate, i.e. permeation rate or pressure change
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2015/084 : Testing filters
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2015/0846 : by use of radiation, e.g. transmitted or reflected light
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 : electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1917 : using digital means
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1928 : sensing the temperature of one space
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1932 : to control the temperature of a plurality of spaces
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 116/25 : Air filter condition indicator
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 116/42 : Oil filter
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 55/34 : Indicator and controllers

Abstract

A real-time monitoring system that monitors various aspects of the operation of a refrigerant-cycle system is described. In one embodiment, the system includes a processor that measures power provided to the refrigerant-cycle system and that gathers data from one or more sensors and uses the sensor data to calculate a figure of merit related to the efficiency of the system. In one embodiment, the sensors include one or more of the following sensors: a suction line temperature sensor, a suction line pressure sensor, a suction line flow sensor, a hot gas line temperature sensor, a hot gas line pressure sensor, a hot gas line flow sensor, a liquid line temperature sensor, a liquid line pressure sensor, a liquid line flow sensor. In one embodiment, the sensors include one or more of an evaporator air temperature input sensor, an evaporator air temperature output sensor, an evaporator air flow sensor, an evaporator air humidity sensor, and a differential pressure sensor. In one embodiment, the sensors include one or more of a condenser air temperature input sensor, a condenser air temperature output sensor, and a condenser air flow sensor, an evaporator air humidity sensor. In one embodiment, the sensors include one or more of an ambient air sensor and an ambient humidity sensor.

Claims

1. A removable monitoring system for monitoring an air filter in a forced-air heating or cooling system, comprising:

a filter frame dimensioned to fit in place of a filter in an HVAC system, said frame comprising an electronics module and a mount to hold a filter element, said electronics module comprising;

a differential pressure sensor configured to measure a pressure drop across a filter element;

a processing system configured to calculate a performance criteria of said filter element using at least a portion of the data from said differential pressure sensor; and

a communication system configured to communicate sensor data electronically to a remote monitoring system.

2. The monitoring system of claim 1, wherein said processing system is configured to indicate when said filter needs replacement.

3. The monitoring system of claim 1, wherein said processing system is configured to calculate energy costs due to inefficient operation of said filter.

4. The monitoring system of claim 1, wherein said processing system is configured to identify performance problems due to low airflow.

5. The monitoring system of claim 1, further comprising an airflow sensor.

6. The monitoring system of claim 1, further comprising a wireless transmitter system to transmit data from said differential pressure sensor to said processing system.

9. The monitoring system of claim 1, wherein said processing system is configured to identify performance problems due to low airflow caused by a dirty filter element.

10. The monitoring system of claim 1, further comprising an airflow sensor.

7. A monitoring system for monitoring an air filter in a forced-air heating and cooling system comprising:

a filter frame dimensioned to fit in place of a filter in an HVAC system, said frame comprising an electronics module and a mount to hold a filter element, said electronics module comprising;

a differential pressure sensor configured to measure a pressure drop across said filter element;

a processing system configured to calculate a performance criteria of said filter using at least a portion of the data from said differential pressure sensor; and

a timer, said processor configured to indicate filter replacement when said timer exceeds a specified time of use for said filter or when a pressure drop across said filter exceeds a specified amount.

8. A monitoring system for monitoring an air filter in a forced-air heating or cooling system, comprising:

a filter frame dimensioned to fit in place of a filter in an HVAC system, said frame comprising an electronics module and a mount to hold a filter element, said electronics module comprising;

a light source configured to illuminate a portion of said filter element;

a light sensor configured to receive light from said light source that has passed through said filter element;

a processing system configured to calculate a performance criteria of said filter using at least a portion of the data from said light source, said processing system configured to establish a baseline light transmission value when said filter element is newly installed and to indicate filter replacement when said light transmission value drops below a threshold value relative to said baseline light transmission value; and

a wireless transmitter system to transmit data to an HVAC monitoring system.

11. A monitoring system for monitoring an air filter in a forced-air heating or cooling system:

a filter frame dimensioned to fit in place of a filter in an HVAC system, said frame comprising an electronics module and a mount to hold a filter element, said electronics module comprising;

a light source configured to illuminate a portion of a filter element;

a light sensor configured to receive light from said light source that has passed through said filter element;

a processing system configured to calculate a performance criteria of said filter using at least a portion of the data from said light source, said processing system configured to establish a baseline light transmission value when said filter element is newly installed and to indicate filter replacement when said light transmission value drops below a threshold value relative to said baseline light transmission value; and

a timer, said processor configured to indicate filter replacement when said timer exceeds a specified time of use for said filter element or when a light transmission through across said filter falls below a specified amount.

12. The monitoring system of claim 11, further comprising a communication system configured to communicate data to a remote monitoring system.