Window fan control system and method of controlling a fan unit

• US 8,155,797 B2
• Filed: 08/12/2009
• Issued: 04/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: James Wiese
• Original Assignee: James Wiese
• Inventors: Wiese, James
• Primary Examiner(s): Chaki, Kakali
• Assistant Examiner(s): LAUGHLIN, NATHAN L
• Application Number:
  US12/540,080
• Publication Number:
  US 20110040412A1
• Time in Patent Office: 972 Days
• Field of Search: 700276-278, 700299-300
• US Class Current: 700/300
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/0001 for ventilation F24F11/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 13/18 specially adapted for insertion in flat panels, e.g. in door or window-pane
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 7/013 using wall or window fans, displacing air through the wall or window
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/023 the sensing element being placed outside a regulating fluid flow

Abstract

In the specification and drawings a window fan control system and a method of controlling a fan unit are described and shown. The window fan control system may comprise an electronic controller, an indoor sensor responsive to at least one characteristic of interior air, and an outdoor sensor responsive to at least one characteristic of exterior air. The electronic controller may cause at least one fan of a window fan to be activated when the interior air meets certain criteria relative to a set point and the exterior air meets certain preselected criteria relative to the interior air. The method of controlling a fan unit may comprise the steps of measuring at least one characteristic of exterior air, measuring at least one characteristic of interior air, and activating an intake fan of the fan unit when the interior air meets certain criteria relative to a set point and the exterior air meets certain preselected criteria relative to the interior air.

Claims

1. A control system for a window fan, the window fan having a fan for communicating air between an interior area having interior air and an exterior area having exterior air, comprising:

an electronic controller in electrical communication with said fan;

a control panel having a user selectable set point input, said set point input in electrical communication with said electronic controller and providing a user selected set point to said electronic controller;

an indoor sensor located so as to be responsive to at least one characteristic of said interior air, said indoor sensor in electrical communication with said electronic controller and communicating said at least one characteristic of said interior air to said electronic controller;

an outdoor sensor located so as to be responsive to at least one characteristic of said exterior air, said outdoor sensor in electrical communication with said electronic controller and communicating said at least one characteristic of said exterior air to said electronic controller;

wherein said window fan is operable in an automatic mode, wherein in said automatic mode said electronic controller causes said fan to be activated when;

said at least one characteristic of said interior air indicates a dry bulb temperature of said interior air is greater than said set point,

said at least one characteristic of said exterior air indicates a dry bulb temperature of said exterior air is less than said dry bulb temperature of said interior air, and

said at least one characteristic of said exterior air indicates a dew point of said exterior air is less than a dew point of said interior air as indicated by said at least one characteristic of said interior air;

wherein said fan may be driven at variable speeds;

wherein the speed of said fan corresponds to a differential between said set point and said indoor dry bulb temperature;

a second fan, wherein said second fan is an exhaust fan for expelling said interior air into an exterior area and wherein said fan is an intake fan for drawing exterior air into an interior area, and wherein the speed of said second fan corresponds to a differential between said set point and said indoor dry bulb temperature;

wherein said fan and said second fan may be driven at low, medium, and high speeds; and

wherein said electronic controller causes said fan and said second fan to be operated at said low speed when said differential between said set point and said indoor dry bulb temperature is within a first range, wherein said electronic controller causes said fan and said second fan to be operated at said medium speed when said differential between said set point and said indoor dry bulb temperature is within a second range greater than said first range, and wherein said electronic controller causes said fan and said second fan to be operated at said high speed when said differential between said set point and said indoor dry bulb temperature is within a third range greater than said second range.

2. The control system for a window fan of claim 1, wherein said second fan is disposed vertically above said fan when said window fan is installed.

3. A method of controlling a fan unit installable in an opening between an interior area and an exterior area, the fan unit having an intake fan for drawing exterior air into a building interior, the method comprising the steps of:

providing an input device to allow a user to select a set point indicative of a minimum desired temperature of interior air;

measuring at least one characteristic of said exterior air;

measuring at least one characteristic of said interior air;

activating said intake fan when;

said at least one characteristic of said interior air indicates a dry bulb temperature of said interior air is above said set point,

said at least one characteristic of said exterior air indicates a dry bulb temperature of said exterior air is less than said dry bulb temperature of said interior air, and

said at least one characteristic of said exterior air indicates a dew point of said exterior air is less than a dew point of said interior air as indicated by said at least one characteristic of said interior air;

wherein said at least one characteristic of said interior air includes an interior humidity measurement and wherein said at least one characteristic of said exterior air includes an exterior humidity measurement; and

wherein said intake fan is a variable speed fan and wherein the step of activating said intake fan further includes determining a difference between said set point and said indoor dry bulb temperature and activating said intake fan at a first speed when said difference between said set point and said indoor dry bulb temperature is within a first range of numbers and activating said intake fan at a second speed greater than said first speed when said difference between said set point and said indoor dry bulb temperature is within a second range of numbers, wherein said second range of numbers contains numbers larger than said first range of numbers.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising the step of deactivating said intake fan when said at least one characteristic of said interior air indicates a dry bulb temperature of said interior air is less than or equal to said set point.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising the step of deactivating said intake fan when said at least one characteristic of said interior air indicates a dry bulb temperature of said interior air is less than said set point.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein said fan unit is an air conditioning unit that includes a housing having an exterior side for positioning in said exterior area and an interior side for positioning in said interior area;

said air conditioning unit further including a compressor; and

wherein the method further comprises the step of deactivating said compressor when;

said at least one characteristic of said interior air indicates a dry bulb temperature of said interior air is above said set point,

said at least one characteristic of said exterior air indicates a dry bulb temperature of said exterior air is less than said dry bulb temperature of said interior air, and

said at least one characteristic of said exterior air indicates a dew point of said exterior air is less than a dew point of said interior air as indicated by said at least one characteristic of said interior air.

7. A method of controlling a fan unit, the fan unit having an intake fan for drawing exterior air through said fan unit into a building interior, an exhaust fan for expelling interior air through said fan unit into an exterior, and at least one louver assembly for selectively inhibiting airflow through said fan unit, the method comprising the steps of:

allowing a user to select a set point indicative of a minimum desired temperature of interior air;

measuring at least one characteristic of said exterior air;

measuring at least one characteristic of said interior air;

activating said intake fan, activating said exhaust fan, and opening said at least one louver assembly to allow airflow through said fan unit when;

said at least one characteristic of said interior air indicates a dry bulb temperature of said interior air is above said set point,

said at least one characteristic of said exterior air indicates a dry bulb temperature of said exterior air is less than said dry bulb temperature of said interior air, and

said at least one characteristic of said exterior air indicates a dew point of said exterior air is less than a dew point of said interior air as indicated by said at least one characteristic of said interior air;

wherein said intake fan and said exhaust fan are variable speed fans; and

wherein the step of activating said intake fan and said exhaust fan further includes determining a difference between said set point and said indoor dry bulb temperature and activating said intake fan and said exhaust fan at a first speed when said difference between said set point and said indoor dry bulb temperature is within a first range of numbers and activating said intake fan and said exhaust fan at a second speed greater than said first speed when said difference between said set point and said indoor dry bulb temperature is within a second range of numbers, wherein said second range of numbers contains numbers larger than said first range of numbers.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of deactivating said intake fan, deactivating said exhaust fan, and closing said at least one louver when said at least one characteristic of said interior air indicates a dry bulb temperature of said interior air is less than said set point.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of deactivating said intake fan when said at least one characteristic of said interior air indicate a dry bulb temperature of said interior air is less than said set point.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said fan unit is an air conditioning unit that includes a housing having an exterior side for positioning in said exterior area and an interior side for positioning in said interior area;

said air conditioning unit further including a compressor; and

wherein the method further comprises the step of deactivating said compressor when;

said at least one characteristic of said interior air indicates a dry bulb temperature of said interior air is above said set point,

said at least one characteristic of said exterior air indicates a dry bulb temperature of said exterior air is less than said dry bulb temperature of said interior air, and

said at least one characteristic of said exterior air indicates a dew point of said exterior air is less than a dew point of said interior air as indicated by said at least one characteristic of said interior air.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein said at least one characteristic of said interior air includes an interior relative humidity measurement and wherein said at least one characteristic of said exterior air includes an exterior relative humidity measurement.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said at least one characteristic of said interior air includes an interior dry bulb temperature measurement and wherein said at least one characteristic of said exterior air includes an exterior dry bulb temperature measurement;

wherein an interior dew point is calculated from said interior dry bulb temperature measurement and said interior relative humidity measurement and an exterior dew point is calculated from said exterior dry bulb temperature measurement and said exterior relative humidity measurement; and

wherein said interior dew point is compared to said exterior dew point to thereby determine if said dew point of said exterior air is less than said dew point of said interior air.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said at least one characteristic of said interior air includes an interior dry bulb temperature measurement and wherein said at least one characteristic of said exterior air includes an exterior dry bulb temperature measurement;

wherein an interior specific humidity level is calculated from said interior dry bulb temperature measurement and said interior relative humidity measurement and an exterior specific humidity level is calculated from said exterior dry bulb temperature measurement and said exterior relative humidity measurement; and

wherein said exterior specific humidity level is compared to said specific humidity level to thereby indirectly determine if said dew point of said exterior air is less than said dew point of said interior air.