Airflow managing system, a method of monitoring the airflow in an HVAC system and a HVAC system

• US 8,880,224 B2
• Filed: 01/27/2010
• Issued: 11/04/2014
• 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: Eaton, Erroll L., Hess, Mark D., Mauk, Richard A., Walter, Stephen A., Wynnick, David M.
• Primary Examiner(s): HARTMAN JR, RONALD D
• Application Number:
  US12/694,487
• Publication Number:
  US 20100298993A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,742 Days
• Field of Search: 700/276, 700/282, 700/301, 700/304, 73/11.6, 73/13.5, 73/13.7
• 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 airflow managing system for monitoring airflow of a HVAC system, a HVAC system and a method of monitoring the airflow in a HVAC system is provided. In one embodiment, the airflow managing system includes: (1) an air pressure sensor configured to obtain an air pressure measurement directly from a scroll of an air blower of the HVAC system and (2) a HVAC controller configured to determine an airflow rate for the HVAC system based on the air pressure measurement and corresponding parameters associated with the air blower.

Claims

1. An airflow managing system for monitoring airflow of an HVAC system, comprising:

an air pressure sensor configured to obtain an air pressure measurement directly from a scroll of an air blower of said HVAC system, wherein said air pressure sensor is not located adjacent a cut-off of said blower; and

an HVAC controller configured to determine an airflow rate for said HVAC system based on said air pressure measurement and corresponding parameters associated with said air blower, wherein said corresponding parameters include a diameter of said air blower.

2. The airflow managing system as recited in claim 1 wherein said HVAC controller is further configured to determine said airflow rate based on HVAC system operating parameters.

3. The airflow managing system as recited in claim 2 wherein said HVAC system operating parameters include a parameter selected from the list consisting of:

motor speed of said air blower,

motor current of said air blower, and

motor voltage of said air blower.

4. The airflow managing system as recited in claim 1 wherein said air blower is a centrifugal blower having forward or backward swept fan blades.

5. The airflow managing system as recited in claim 1 wherein said air blower is for a cooling subsystem of said HVAC system.

6. The airflow managing system as recited in claim 1 wherein said air blower is employed for both a cooling subsystem and a heating subsystem of said HVAC system.

7. A method of monitoring air flow in an HVAC system, comprising:

obtaining, by an air pressure sensor, an air pressure measurement directly from a scroll of an air blower of said HVAC system, wherein said air pressure sensor is not located adjacent a cut-off of said blower; and

determining, by an HVAC controller, an airflow rate for said HVAC system based on said air pressure measurement and corresponding parameters associated with said air blower, wherein said corresponding parameters include a diameter of said air blower.

8. The method as recited in claim 7 wherein said HVAC controller is further configured to determine said airflow rate based on HVAC system operating parameters.

9. The method as recited in claim 8 wherein said HVAC system operating parameters include a parameter selected from the list consisting of:

motor speed of said air blower,

motor current of said air blower, and

motor voltage of said air blower.

10. The method as recited in claim 8 further comprising determining a torque value for said air blower that corresponds to said airflow rate.

11. The method as recited in claim 10 further comprising adjusting said torque value of said air blower based on a desired operating parameter for said HVAC system.

12. The method as recited in claim 11 wherein said desired operating parameter is associated with an air conditioning portion of said HVAC system.

13. The method as recited in claim 11 wherein said desired operating parameter is associated with a heating subsystem of said HVAC system.

14. An HVAC system, comprising:

an air blower; and

an airflow managing system for monitoring airflow of said HVAC system, including;

an air pressure sensor configured to obtain a air pressure measurement directly from a scroll of said air blower, wherein said air pressure sensor is not located adjacent a cut-off of said blower; and

an HVAC controller configured to determine an airflow rate for said HVAC system based on said air pressure measurement and corresponding parameters associated with said air blower, wherein said corresponding parameters include a diameter of said air blower.

15. The HVAC system as recited in claim 14 wherein said HVAC controller is further configured to determine said airflow rate based on operating parameters of said HVAC system.

16. The HVAC system as recited in claim 15 wherein said HVAC system operating parameters include a parameter selected from the list consisting of:

motor speed of said air blower,

motor current of said air blower, and

motor voltage of said air blower.

17. The HVAC system as recited in claim 14 wherein said HVAC system further comprises an air conditioning portion including coils and said air blower, said HVAC controller further configured to control said airflow rate over said coils employing said air pressure measurement.

18. The HVAC system as recited in claim 14 wherein said HVAC system further comprises a heating subsystem including a heating element and said air blower, said HVAC controller further configured to control said airflow rate over said heating element employing said air pressure measurement.

19. The HVAC system as recited in claim 18 wherein said heating element is a gas heat burner section, said HVAC controller further configured to control an air volume amount used for combustion in said gas heat burner section.

20. The HVAC system as recited in claim 14 further comprising at least one operating sensor configured to obtain an operating parameter of said HVAC system.

21. The HVAC system as recited in claim 14 wherein said HVAC controller includes a memory section having further parameters associated with said air blower including said corresponding parameters.