System and method for controlling a fan unit
First Claim
1. A control system for a fan unit, the fan unit having a fan for selectively drawing air from an exterior area having exterior air into an interior area having interior 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 two characteristics of said interior air, said indoor sensor in electrical communication with said electronic controller and communicating indoor air data indicative of said at least two characteristics of said interior air to said electronic controller;
an outdoor sensor located so as to be responsive to at least two characteristics of said exterior air, said outdoor sensor in electrical communication with said electronic controller and communicating exterior air data indicative of said at least two characteristics of said exterior air to said electronic controller;
wherein said fan unit is operable in an automatic mode, wherein in said automatic mode said electronic controller causes said fan to be activated and exterior air to be communicated from said exterior area into said interior area when;
said interior air data indicates a dry bulb temperature of said interior air is greater than said set point,said exterior air data indicates a dry bulb temperature of said exterior air is less than said dry bulb temperature of said interior air, andsaid exterior air data indicates a dew point of said exterior air is less than a dew point of said interior air as indicated by said interior air data; and
wherein in said automatic mode said electronic controller prevents said fan from being activated and exterior air from being communicated from said exterior area into said interior area without concurrent activation of a compressor when any of the following conditions is met;
said interior air data does not indicate said dry bulb temperature of said interior air is greater than said set point,said exterior air data does not indicate said dry bulb temperature of said exterior air is less than said dry bulb temperature of said interior air, orsaid exterior air data does not indicate said dew point of said exterior air is less than said dew point of said interior air as indicated by said interior air data.
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Abstract
A system and method for controlling a fan unit are described and shown. The 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 interior air meets certain criteria relative to a set point and exterior air meets certain criteria relative to interior air. The method may comprise the steps of measuring at least one characteristic of exterior air, at least one characteristic of interior air, and activating an intake fan when the interior air meets certain criteria relative to a set point and the exterior air meets certain criteria relative to the interior air. The fan unit may optionally include a selectively activated compressor and selectively provide air conditioning.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A control system for a fan unit, the fan unit having a fan for selectively drawing air from an exterior area having exterior air into an interior area having interior air, comprising:
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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 two characteristics of said interior air, said indoor sensor in electrical communication with said electronic controller and communicating indoor air data indicative of said at least two characteristics of said interior air to said electronic controller; an outdoor sensor located so as to be responsive to at least two characteristics of said exterior air, said outdoor sensor in electrical communication with said electronic controller and communicating exterior air data indicative of said at least two characteristics of said exterior air to said electronic controller; wherein said fan unit is operable in an automatic mode, wherein in said automatic mode said electronic controller causes said fan to be activated and exterior air to be communicated from said exterior area into said interior area when; said interior air data indicates a dry bulb temperature of said interior air is greater than said set point, said exterior air data indicates a dry bulb temperature of said exterior air is less than said dry bulb temperature of said interior air, and said exterior air data indicates a dew point of said exterior air is less than a dew point of said interior air as indicated by said interior air data; and wherein in said automatic mode said electronic controller prevents said fan from being activated and exterior air from being communicated from said exterior area into said interior area without concurrent activation of a compressor when any of the following conditions is met; said interior air data does not indicate said dry bulb temperature of said interior air is greater than said set point, said exterior air data does not indicate said dry bulb temperature of said exterior air is less than said dry bulb temperature of said interior air, or said exterior air data does not indicate said dew point of said exterior air is less than said dew point of said interior air as indicated by said interior air data. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of controlling a fan unit, the fan unit having an intake fan that selectively draws exterior air through said fan unit into a building interior and at least one barrier that selectively inhibits airflow through said fan unit, the method comprising the steps of:
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allowing a user to select a set point indicative of a minimum desired temperature of interior air; measuring at least two characteristics of said exterior air; measuring at least two characteristics of said interior air; activating said intake fan and opening said at least one barrier to allow exterior air through said fan unit and into said interior area when; at least one of said characteristics of said interior air indicates a dry bulb temperature of said interior air is above said set point, at least one of said characteristics 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 at least one of said characteristics 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 at least one of said characteristics of said interior air; and preventing said intake fan from being activated and preventing opening said at least one barrier to allow exterior air through said fan unit without concurrent activation of a compressor when any of the following conditions is met; said interior air data does not indicate said dry bulb temperature of said interior air is greater than said set point, said exterior air data does not indicate said dry bulb temperature of said exterior air is less than said dry bulb temperature of said interior air, or said exterior air data does not indicate said dew point of said exterior air is less than said dew point of said interior air as indicated by said interior air data. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification