Air filter monitoring system

• US 8,034,170 B2
• Filed: 07/17/2007
• Issued: 10/11/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Copeland Corporation LLC (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: Lawrence Kates
• Inventors: Kates, Lawrence
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Duane
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHAM, MINH CHAU THI
• Application Number:
  US11/779,203
• Publication Number:
  US 20080015797A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,547 Days
• Field of Search: 554/00, 55D/IG.34, 95/1, 95/26, 952/77, 964/17, 964/21, 96/26, 964/14, 961/17, 116/112, 116/137.R, 116/276, 116/DIG.42, 116/268, 116/271, 116/DIG.25
• US Class Current: 96/421
• 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 monitoring system for monitoring an air filter in a forced-air heating or cooling system, comprising:

means for holding a filter element;

means for measuring a pressure drop across said filter element at desired intervals; and

means for wirelessly sending pressure drop data to a processing system when said pressure drop data indicates that a pressure drop across said filter element exceeds a specified threshold and conserving power by not sending said pressure drop data when said pressure drop data indicates that said pressure drop across said filter element does not exceed said specified threshold.

2. The monitoring system of claim 1, wherein said means for holding includes a frame and said frame includes said means for measuring.

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

means for holding a filter element;

means for measuring light transmission through said filter element; and

means for sending light transmission data to a processing system when said light transmission data indicates that light transmission of said filter element is below a specified threshold and conserving power by not sending said light transmission data when said light transmission data indicates that said light transmission exceeds said specified threshold.

4. The monitoring system of claim 3, wherein said means for holding includes a frame and said frame includes said means for measuring.

5. The monitoring system of claim 3, wherein said means for measuring is calibrated to a baseline light transmission level.

6. The monitoring system of claim 3, wherein said means for measuring is calibrated to a baseline light transmission level, and means for wirelessly sending light transmission data sends said light transmission data to a processing system when the light transmission falls below a percentage of the baseline level.

7. The monitoring system of claim 3, wherein said means for measuring calibrates a baseline light transmission level when a Previously Presented filter element is installed in the means for holding.

8. The monitoring system of claim 3, wherein said means for sending sends light transmission data wirelessly.