Economizer control
First Claim
1. A method for controlling an economizer of an HVAC system, wherein the economizer is configured to provide an air stream to a cooling unit, the economizer having an outside air stream of incoming outside air, a return air stream of return air, and a mixed air stream of mixed incoming outside air and return air, wherein the mixed air stream is provided to the cooling unit of the HVAC system, the economizer further including one or more controllable dampers for controlling a mixing ratio of incoming outside air to return air in the mixed air stream, the method comprising:
- positioning the one or more controllable dampers such that the mixed air stream has a first mixing ratio of incoming outside air to return air in the mixed air stream;
with the mixed air stream having the first mixing ratio, recording a first measure of the temperature of the mixed air stream;
positioning the one or more controllable dampers such that the mixed air stream has a second mixing ratio of incoming outside air to return air in the mixed air stream, wherein the second mixing ratio is different from the first mixing ratio;
with the mixed air stream having the second mixing ratio, recording a second measure of the temperature of the mixed air stream;
based on the recorded first and second measures related to the temperature of the mixed air stream, determining whether and/or how much of the incoming outside air to admit into the economizer via the one or more controllable dampers during subsequent operation of the HVAC system.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present disclosure provides a method for controlling an economizer of an HVAC system. The economizer has an outside air stream of incoming outside air, a return air stream of return air, and a mixed air stream of mixed incoming outside air and return air that is provided to the cooling unit of the HVAC system. The economizer also includes one or more controllable dampers for controlling a mixing ratio of incoming outside air to return air in the mixed air stream. The control method includes positioning the one or more controllable dampers in first and second configurations such that the mixed air stream has first and second mixing ratios of incoming outside air to return air in the mixed air stream. The method also includes recording first and second measures related to the temperature of the mixed air stream when the dampers are in each of the first and second configurations. First and second measures related to other parameters of the mixed air stream may be recorded as well. Based on the recorded first and second measures related to the temperature of the mixed air stream and possibly other recorded measures related to mixed air stream parameters, the method determines whether and/or how much of the incoming outside air to admit into the economizer via the one or more controllable dampers during subsequent operation of the HVAC system.
72 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method for controlling an economizer of an HVAC system, wherein the economizer is configured to provide an air stream to a cooling unit, the economizer having an outside air stream of incoming outside air, a return air stream of return air, and a mixed air stream of mixed incoming outside air and return air, wherein the mixed air stream is provided to the cooling unit of the HVAC system, the economizer further including one or more controllable dampers for controlling a mixing ratio of incoming outside air to return air in the mixed air stream, the method comprising:
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positioning the one or more controllable dampers such that the mixed air stream has a first mixing ratio of incoming outside air to return air in the mixed air stream; with the mixed air stream having the first mixing ratio, recording a first measure of the temperature of the mixed air stream; positioning the one or more controllable dampers such that the mixed air stream has a second mixing ratio of incoming outside air to return air in the mixed air stream, wherein the second mixing ratio is different from the first mixing ratio; with the mixed air stream having the second mixing ratio, recording a second measure of the temperature of the mixed air stream; based on the recorded first and second measures related to the temperature of the mixed air stream, determining whether and/or how much of the incoming outside air to admit into the economizer via the one or more controllable dampers during subsequent operation of the HVAC system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for assessing the suitability of using outside air in an HVAC system having an economizer that is configured to control mixing of an outside air stream with a return air stream to produce a mixed air stream that is provided to a cooling unit of the HVAC system, the method comprising:
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measuring one or more parameters of a first mixed air stream while one or more dampers of the economizer are disposed in a first damper configuration; moving the one or more dampers from the first damper configuration to a second damper configuration; measuring the one or more parameters of a second mixed air stream while one or more dampers of the economizer are disposed in the second damper configuration; based on the one or more mixed air stream parameters in the first damper configuration and the second damper configuration, determining if outside air usage by the economizer is desirable. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 22, 23, 24)
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15. A method for controlling an economizer of an HVAC system, wherein the economizer is configured to provide an air stream to a cooling unit, the economizer having an outside air stream of incoming outside air, a return air stream of return air, and a mixed air stream of mixed incoming outside air and return air, wherein the mixed air stream is provided to the cooling unit of the HVAC system, the economizer further including one or more controllable dampers for controlling a mixing ratio of incoming outside air to return air in the mixed air stream, the method comprising:
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positioning the one or more controllable dampers such that the mixed air stream includes substantially all incoming outside air and substantially no return air, and recording a first measure related to the temperature of the mixed air stream; and based at least in part on the recorded first measure related to the temperature of the mixed air stream, determining whether and/or how much of the incoming outside air to admit into the economizer via the one or more controllable dampers during subsequent operation of the HVAC system. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification