HVAC system with automated blower capacity dehumidification, a HVAC controller therefor and a method of operation thereof

• US 8,538,587 B2
• Filed: 01/27/2010
• Issued: 09/17/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lennox Industries Incorporated (Lennox International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Lennox Industries Incorporated (Lennox International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Hess, Mark D., Hundt, Roger C., Walter, Stephen A.
• Primary Examiner(s): KASENGE, CHARLES R
• Application Number:
  US12/694,511
• Publication Number:
  US 20100298989A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,329 Days
• Field of Search: 700/276, 700/282, 700/300, 700/278, 624/26, 624/98
• US Class Current: 700/276
• 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 11/50 characterised by user interfaces or communication
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/58 using Internet communication
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/62 characterised by the type of control or by internal processing, e.g. using fuzzy logic, adaptive control or estimation of values
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/63 Electronic processing
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/88 Electrical aspects, e.g. circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/00 Tariff metering apparatus in taximeters G07B13/00; apparatus actuated by coins, cards or the like with meter-controlled dispensing of liquid, gas, or electricity G07F15/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 21/00 Arrangements for measuring electric power or power factor G01R7/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 21/127 by using pulse modulation G01R21/133 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 21/133 by using digital technique
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 21/1335 Tariff switching circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 13/00 Adaptive control systems, i.e. systems automatically adjusting themselves to have a performance which is optimum according to some preassigned criterion G05B19/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 13/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/042 using digital processors G05B19/05 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2614 HVAC, heating, ventillation, climate control
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1393 characterised by the use of electric means
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/00 Structural associations of a plurality of mutually-insulated electrical connecting elements, specially adapted for printed circuits, e.g. printed circuit boards [PCB], flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures, e.g. terminal strips, terminal blocks; Coupling devices specially adapted for printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures; Terminals specially adapted for contact with, or insertion into, printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures printed connections to, or between, printed circuits H05K1/11
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6456 comprising keying elements at different positions along the periphery of the connector
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/14 : The load or loads being home appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/64 : The condition being economic, e.g. tariff based load management
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 25/04 : Single phase motors, e.g. capacitor motors
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/082 : the condition being updates or upgrades of network functionality
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/30 : Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/3225 : Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 80/10 : Efficient use of energy, e.g. using compressed air or pressurized fluid as energy carrier
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/221 : General power management systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/222 : Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/242 : Home appliances
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/244 : the home appliances being or involving heating ventilating and air conditioning [HVAC] units
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49 : Method of mechanical manufacture
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49117 : Conductor or circuit manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49147 : Assembling terminal to base
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4935 : Heat exchanger or boiler making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49359 : Cooling apparatus making, e.g., air conditioner, refrigerator
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 : Assembling or joining

Abstract

An HVAC controller, a method of operating a HVAC unit and a HVAC system are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, the HVAC controller includes: (1) an interface configured to receive both a latent cooling demand and a sensible cooling demand and (2) a processor configured to direct both a dehumidification function and a cooling function when simultaneously processing both the latent cooling demand and the sensible cooling demand, the dehumidification function based on an operating capacity of an indoor air blower system.

Claims

1. A controller for a heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) system having an indoor air blower system configured to operate at multiple air volume capacities including a low indoor capacity and a high indoor capacity and a compressor system configured to operate at multiple air volume capacities including a low compressor capacity and a high compressor capacity, wherein said high indoor capacity is a higher air volume operating capacity than said low indoor capacity and said high compressor capacity is a higher air volume operating capacity than said low compressor capacity, said controller comprising:

an interface configured to receive both a latent cooling demand and a sensible cooling demand; and

a processor configured to direct both a dehumidification function and a cooling function when simultaneously processing both said latent cooling demand and said sensible cooling demand, said dehumidification function based on an operating capacity of said indoor air blower system, wherein said processor simultaneously operates said indoor air blower system at said low indoor capacity and said compressor system at said high compressor capacity when simultaneously processing said latent cooling demand and said sensible cooling demand.

2. The HVAC controller as recited in claim 1 wherein said HVAC system further includes an outdoor fan system configured to operate at multiple air volume capacities including a low outdoor capacity and a high outdoor capacity and said processor is further configured to operate said outdoor fan system at said low outdoor capacity when simultaneously processing said latent cooling demand and said sensible cooling demand, wherein said high outdoor capacity is a higher air volume operating capacity than said low outdoor capacity.

3. The HVAC controller as recited in claim 1 wherein said indoor air blower system includes at least one indoor air blower configured to operate at variable air volume capacities.

4. The HVAC controller as recited in claim 1 wherein said controller is a rooftop unit controller.

5. The HVAC controller as recited in claim 2 wherein said HVAC system is configured to operate under multiple sensible cooling demands including a low sensible cooling demand and a high sensible cooling demand, wherein said high sensible cooling demand is for a higher cooling load than said low sensible cooling demand, and said low outdoor capacity for said outdoor fan system is based on an operating capacity for said low sensible cooling demand and said high compressor capacity for said compressor system is based on an operating capacity for said high sensible cooling demand.

6. A method of operating a heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) unit having an indoor air blower system configured to operate at multiple air volume capacities including a low indoor capacity and a high indoor capacity and a compressor system configured to operate at multiple air volume capacities including a low compressor capacity and a high compressor capacity, wherein said high indoor capacity is a higher air volume operating capacity than said low indoor capacity and said high compressor capacity is a higher air volume operating capacity than said low compressor capacity, said method comprising:

receiving at least one cooling demand;

determining if both a latent cooling demand and a sensible cooling demand are being simultaneously processed; and

directing both a dehumidification function and a cooling function when simultaneously processing both said latent cooling demand and said sensible cooling demand, said dehumidification function based on an operating capacity of said indoor air blower system, wherein said directing is performed by a processor, wherein said directing comprises simultaneously operating said indoor air blower system at said low indoor capacity and said compressor system at said high compressor capacity.

7. The method as recited in claim 6 wherein said HVAC system further includes an outdoor fan system configured to operate at multiple air volume capacities including a low outdoor capacity and a high outdoor capacity, wherein said high outdoor capacity is a higher air volume operating capacity than said low outdoor capacity, said directing further comprising operating said outdoor fan system at said low capacity.

8. The method as recited in claim 6 wherein said indoor air blower system includes at least one indoor air blower configured to operate at variable air volume capacities.

9. The method as recited in claim 6 wherein said processor is a rooftop unit controller.

10. The method as recited in claim 7 wherein said HVAC system is configured to operate under multiple sensible cooling demands including a low sensible cooling demand and a high sensible cooling demand, wherein said high sensible cooling demand is for a higher cooling load than said low sensible cooling demand, and said low outdoor capacity for said outdoor fan system is based on an operating capacity for a low sensible cooling demand and said high compressor capacity for said compressor system is based on an operating capacity for said high sensible cooling demand.

11. A heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) system, comprising:

a refrigeration system having at least one compressor, a corresponding evaporator coil and a corresponding condenser coil, said at least one compressor being configured to operate at multiple air volume capacities including a low compressor capacity and a high compressor capacity, wherein said high compressor capacity is a higher air volume operating capacity than said low compressor capacity;

an indoor air blower system configured to move air across said evaporator coil at multiple air volume capacities including a low indoor capacity and a high indoor capacity, wherein said high indoor capacity is a higher air volume operating capacity than said low indoor capacity;

an outdoor fan system configured to move air across said condenser coil at multiple air volume capacities including a low outdoor capacity and a high outdoor capacity, wherein said high outdoor capacity is a higher air volume operating capacity than said low outdoor capacity; and

a controller configured to direct operation of said refrigeration system, said indoor air blower system and said outdoor fan system, comprising;

an interface configured to receive both a latent cooling demand and a sensible cooling demand, wherein said high sensible cooling demand is for a higher cooling load than said low sensible cooling demand; and

a processor configured to direct both a dehumidification function and a cooling function when simultaneously processing both said latent cooling demand and said sensible cooling demand, said dehumidification function based on an operating capacity of said indoor air blower system, wherein said processor simultaneously operates said indoor air blower system at said low indoor capacity and said compressor system at said high compressor capacity when simultaneously processing said latent cooling demand and said sensible cooling demand.

12. The HVAC system as recited in claim 11 wherein said processor is further configured to operate said outdoor fan system at said low outdoor capacity when simultaneously processing said latent cooling demand and said sensible cooling demand.

13. The HVAC system as recited in claim 11 wherein said HVAC system is a variable air volume system.

14. The HVAC system as recited in claim 11 wherein said indoor air blower system includes at least one indoor air blower configured to operate at variable air volume capacities.