Control system and method for controlling multi-stage air conditioners
First Claim
1. A method of controlling operation of a pair of two-stage air conditioners that both serve a same area to be cooled, the method comprising:
- monitoring a temperature of the area served by the air conditioners;
activating a first stage of a first one of the air conditioners when the temperature rises above a first set point temperature;
activating a first stage of a second one of the air conditioners when the temperature rises above a second set point temperature;
activating a second stage of one of the first or second air conditioners if the temperature remains above the second set point temperature beyond a first selected time period and only after the first stages of both the air conditioners have already been activated; and
activating a second stage of the other one of the first or second air conditioners if the temperature remains above the second set point temperature beyond a second selected time period and only after the first stages of both the air conditioners have already been activated.
22 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method of controlling operation of a pair of two-stage air conditioners. The method monitors a temperature of an area served by the air conditioners; activates a first stage of a first or lead air conditioner when the temperature rises above a first set point temperature; activates a first stage of a second or lag air conditioner when the temperature rises above a second set point temperature; activates a second stage of the first air conditioner only if the temperature remains above the second set point temperature beyond a first selected time period; and activates a second stage of the second air conditioner only if the temperature remains above the second set point temperature beyond a second selected time period. Neither of the air conditioners is operated in their less efficient second stages if both air conditioners are not first operating in their high efficiency first stages so that the entire cooling requirements of the area served by the air conditioners is primarily served by the first high efficiency stage of one or both the air conditioners.
20 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of controlling operation of a pair of two-stage air conditioners that both serve a same area to be cooled, the method comprising:
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monitoring a temperature of the area served by the air conditioners; activating a first stage of a first one of the air conditioners when the temperature rises above a first set point temperature; activating a first stage of a second one of the air conditioners when the temperature rises above a second set point temperature; activating a second stage of one of the first or second air conditioners if the temperature remains above the second set point temperature beyond a first selected time period and only after the first stages of both the air conditioners have already been activated; and activating a second stage of the other one of the first or second air conditioners if the temperature remains above the second set point temperature beyond a second selected time period and only after the first stages of both the air conditioners have already been activated. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A cooling system comprising:
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a first two-stage air conditioner; a second two-stage air conditioner; and a control system for controlling operation of the first and second air conditioners to maintain a desired temperature range within an area served by both the first and second air conditioners, wherein the control system is operable to; monitor a temperature of an area served by the first and second air conditioners; activate a first stage of the first air conditioner when the temperature rises above a first set point temperature; activate a first stage of the second air conditioner when the temperature rises above a second set point temperature; activate a second stage of one of the first or second air conditioners if the temperature remains above the second set point temperature beyond a first selected time period and only after the first stages of both the air conditioners have already been activated; and activate a second stage of the other of the first or second air conditioners if the temperature remains above the second set point temperature beyond a second selected time period and only after the first stages of both the air conditioners have already been activated. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A cooling system comprising:
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a first two-stage air conditioner; a second two-stage air conditioner; and a control system for controlling operation of the first and second air conditioners to maintain a desired temperature range within an area served by both the first and second air conditioners, the control system comprising; a thermostat controller; a first timer coupled with the thermostat controller; and a second timer coupled with the thermostat controller; the thermostat controller being operable to monitor a temperature of the area;
activate a first stage of the first air conditioner when the temperature rises above a first set point temperature;
activate a first stage of the second air conditioner when the temperature rises above a second set point temperature;
trigger the first timer when the first stage of the second air conditioner has been activated;
activate a second stage of the first air conditioner if the temperature remains above the second set point temperature upon expiration of a countdown time period of the first timer and only after the first stages of both the air conditioners have already been activated;
trigger the second timer when the second stage of the first air conditioner has been activated; and
activate a second stage of the second air conditioner if the temperature remains above the second set point temperature upon expiration of a countdown time period of the second timer and only after the first stages of both the air conditioners have already been activated. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification