Control method and device for an air conditioning economizer system

• US 8,042,352 B2
• Filed: 01/07/2009
• Issued: 10/25/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Belimo Holding AG
• Original Assignee: Belimo Holding AG
• Inventors: Deangelis, Darryl W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jiang; Chen Wen
• Application Number:
  US12/349,630
• Publication Number:
  US 20100170272A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,021 Days
• Field of Search: 236/49.1, 621/57, 622/60, 700/275, 700/276, 700/278
• US Class Current: 62/260
• 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 11/52 Indication arrangements, e.g. displays

Abstract

In an air conditioning economizer system outdoor air intake is reduced automatically by a control device based on a shut-off control setting for a measured outdoor air quality. A geographical location associated with the air conditioning economizer system is received (S2) in the control device. The control device defines automatically (S3) the shut-off control setting based on the geographical location. Thus, the air conditioning economizer system is adapted specifically for a geographic location and its climate zone, without the requirement for installing or operating personnel to determine a shut-off control setting for a specific climate zone and/or select a corresponding operating range.

Claims

1. A control device for reducing automatically in an air conditioning economizer system outdoor air intake based on a shut-off control setting for a measured outdoor air quality, wherein the device comprises:

a location determination module configured to determine a geographical location; and

a configuration module configured to define automatically the shut-off control setting based on the geographical location.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising a table for mapping geographical locations to shut-off control settings.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the device further comprises a table for mapping geographical locations to climate zones;

and the configuration module is configured to define the shut-off control setting based on the climate zone assigned to the geographical location.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the location determination module includes a user interface for entering geographical location data defining the geographical location;

and the geographical location data includes at least one of a postal code, an area code, state and county names, and geographical coordinates.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the user interface includes a touch screen for displaying a geographical map and entering the geographical location data through touching a geographical location depicted on the geographical map.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the location determination module includes a receiver for a satellite-based positioning system.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the location determination module includes an interface for receiving geographical location data from an external receiver for a satellite-based positioning system.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the configuration module is configured to define the shut-off control setting based on a sensor type which defines the type of sensor used for measuring the outdoor air quality.

9. A control method for reducing automatically in an air conditioning economizer system outdoor air intake based on a shut-off control setting for a measured outdoor air quality, wherein the method comprises:

storing in a control device of the air conditioning economizer system a geographical location; and

defining automatically in the control device the shut-off control setting based on the geographical location.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the shut-off control setting is determined from a table which is stored in the control device and maps geographical locations to shut-off control settings.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein defining the shut-off control setting includes determining, from a climate zone table stored in the control device, a climate zone assigned to the geographical location, and defining the shut-off control setting based on the climate zone assigned to the geographical location.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein geographical location data defining the geographical location is received through a user interface, the geographical location data including at least one of a postal code, an area code, state and county names, and geographical coordinates.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the geographical location is determined by way of a receiver for a satellite-based positioning system.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the shut-off control setting is defined based on a sensor type used for measuring the outdoor air quality.

15. A computer program product including a computer readable medium comprising computer program code means for controlling one or more processors of a control device for an air conditioning economizer system such that the control device performs the steps of

storing in the control device a geographical location;

and

defining automatically in the control device, based on the geographical location, a shut-off control setting associated with a measured outdoor air quality for reducing automatically in the air conditioning economizer system outdoor air intake based on the shut-off control setting.

16. A control device for setting in an air conditioning economizer system a shut-off control value for limiting outdoor air intake based on a measured outdoor air quality, wherein the device comprises:

a location determination module configured to receive geographical location data defining a geographical location; and

a configuration module configured to define automatically the shut-off control value based on the geographical location data.

17. A control method for setting in an air conditioning economizer system a shut-off control value for limiting outdoor air intake based on a measured outdoor air quality, wherein the method comprises:

receiving in a control device of the air conditioning economizer system geographical location data defining a geographical location; and

defining automatically in the control device the shut-off control value based on the geographical location data.