Automated HVAC system functionality test

• US 9,244,469 B2
• Filed: 05/14/2013
• Issued: 01/26/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens Industry Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Industry Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Vaughn, Tyrell Craig, Bester, Colin
• Primary Examiner(s): Bahta, Kidest
• Application Number:
  US13/894,165
• Publication Number:
  US 20130338836A1
• Time in Patent Office: 987 Days
• Field of Search: 700/276, 702/122, 236/51, 705/305
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 11/32 Responding to malfunctions or emergencies
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/49 ensuring correct operation, e.g. by trial operation or configuration checks
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/65 for selecting an operating mode
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2120/20 Feedback from users
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2221/54 Heating and cooling, simultaneously or alternatively
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/19 characterised by the use of electric means G05D23/1393 takes precedence

Abstract

Systems, methods, and mediums perform automated functionality testing for a heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system. A method includes receiving a user input to test one of a heating or cooling functionality of the HVAC system. The method also includes identifying an amount to change a setpoint for a zone controller for the HVAC system based on the user input. The method further includes changing the setpoint for the zone controller to force the HVAC system into one of a heating mode and a cooling mode in accordance with the user input. Additionally, the method includes storing data from the HVAC system operating in the one of the heating mode and the cooling mode.

Claims

1. A method for automated functionality testing for a heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system, the method comprising:

receiving a user input to test one of a heating or cooling functionality of the HVAC system;

identifying an amount to change a setpoint for a zone controller for the HVAC system based on the user input;

changing the setpoint for the zone controller to force the HVAC system into one of a heating mode and a cooling mode in accordance with the user input;

storing data from the HVAC system operating in the one of the heating mode and the cooling mode; and

determining whether the HVAC system has been installed properly based on the stored data,

wherein;

the HVAC system comprises a plurality of HVAC systems installed at one or more locations,

each of the HVAC systems is controlled by a separate one of a plurality of zone controllers, respectively, and

determining whether the HVAC system has been installed properly comprises determining whether supply temperature sensors for two or more of the zone controllers have been switched during installation based on the stored data.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether the HVAC system has been installed properly further comprises determining whether a zone temperature sensor and a supply temperature sensor for the HVAC system have been switched during installation based on the stored data.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein determining whether the zone temperature sensor and the supply temperature sensor have been switched comprises:

during the cooling mode, comparing a current zone temperature measured using the zone temperature sensor with a previous zone temperature measured using the zone temperature sensor; and

when the current zone temperature is equal to or within a threshold temperature of the previous zone temperature and a supply temperature measured using the supply temperature sensor is greater than the current zone temperature, determining that the zone temperature sensor and the supply temperature sensor may have been switched during installation.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein changing the setpoint for the zone controller to force the HVAC system into one of the heating mode and the cooling mode and storing data from the HVAC system operating in the one of the heating mode and the cooling mode comprises:

changing the setpoint for the zone controllers for each of the HVAC systems to force the HVAC systems into one of the heating mode and the cooling mode to test the HVAC systems simultaneously, and storing data from each of the HVAC systems simultaneously operating in the one of the heating mode and the cooling mode; and

then changing the setpoint for zone controllers for each of the HVAC systems to force the HVAC systems into one of the heating mode and the cooling mode to test the HVAC systems individually, and storing data from each of the HVAC systems individually operating in the one of the heating mode and the cooling mode.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein determining whether supply temperature sensors for two or more of the zone controllers have been switched during installation comprises determining that the HVAC systems controlled by the two or more of the zone controllers appeared to properly cool or heat during the simultaneous test of the HVAC systems based on the stored data from each of the HVAC systems simultaneously operating but did not appear to properly cool or heat during the individual test of the HVAC systems based on the stored data from each of the HVAC systems individually operating.

6. A data processing system for automated functionality testing for a heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system, the data processing system comprising:

a storage device comprising a testing application;

an accessible memory comprising instructions of the testing application; and

a processor configured to execute the instructions of the testing application to;

receive a user input to test one of a heating or cooling functionality of the HVAC system;

identify an amount to change a setpoint for a zone controller for the HVAC system based on the user input;

change the setpoint for the zone controller to force the HVAC system into one of a heating mode and a cooling mode in accordance with the user input;

store data from the HVAC system operating in the one of the heating mode and the cooling mode; and

determine whether the HVAC system has been installed properly based on the stored data,

wherein;

the HVAC system comprises a plurality of HVAC systems installed at one or more locations,

each of the HVAC systems is controlled by a separate one of a plurality of zone controllers, respectively, and

to determine whether the HVAC system has been installed properly, the processor is configured to execute the instructions of the testing application to determine whether supply temperature sensors for two or more of the zone controllers have been switched during installation based on the stored data.

7. The data processing system of claim 6, wherein to determine whether the HVAC system has been installed properly, the processor is further configured to execute the instructions of the testing application to determine whether a zone temperature sensor and a supply temperature sensor for the HVAC system have been switched during installation based on the stored data.

8. The data processing system of claim 7, wherein to determine whether the zone temperature sensor and the supply temperature sensor have been switched, the processor is configured to execute the instructions of the testing application to:

during the cooling mode, compare a current zone temperature measured using the zone temperature sensor with a previous zone temperature measured using the zone temperature sensor; and

when the current zone temperature is equal to or within a threshold temperature of the previous zone temperature and a supply temperature measured using the supply temperature sensor is greater than the current zone temperature, determine that the zone temperature sensor and the supply temperature sensor may have been switched during installation.

9. The data processing system of claim 6, wherein to change the setpoint for the zone controller to force the HVAC system into one of the heating mode and the cooling mode and store data from the HVAC system operating in the one of the heating mode and the cooling mode, the processor is configured to execute the instructions of the testing application to:

change the setpoint for the zone controllers for each of the HVAC systems to force the HVAC systems into one of the heating mode and the cooling mode to test the HVAC systems simultaneously, and store data from each of the HVAC systems simultaneously operating in the one of the heating mode and the cooling mode; and

then change the setpoint for zone controllers for each of the HVAC systems to force the HVAC systems into one of the heating mode and the cooling mode to test the HVAC systems individually, and store data from each of the HVAC systems individually operating in the one of the heating mode and the cooling mode.

10. The data processing system of claim 9, wherein to determine whether supply temperature sensors for two or more of the zone controllers have been switched during installation, the processor is configured to execute the instructions of the testing application to determine that the HVAC systems controlled by the two or more of the zone controllers appeared to properly cool or heat during the simultaneous test of the HVAC systems based on the stored data from each of the HVAC systems simultaneously operating but did not appear to properly cool or heat during the individual test of the HVAC systems based on the stored data from each of the HVAC systems individually operating.

11. A data processing system for automated functionality testing for a heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system, the data processing system comprising:

a storage device comprising a testing application;

an accessible memory comprising instructions of the testing application; and

a processor configured to execute the instructions of the testing application to;

receive a user input to test one of a heating or cooling functionality of the HVAC system;

identify an amount to change a setpoint for a zone controller for the HVAC system based on the user input;

change the setpoint for the zone controller to force the HVAC system into one of a heating mode and a cooling mode in accordance with the user input; and

store data from the HVAC system operating in the one of the heating mode and the cooling mode; and

determine whether the HVAC system has been installed properly based on the stored data, wherein to determine whether the HVAC system has been installed properly, the processor is configured to execute the instructions of the testing application to determine whether a zone temperature sensor and a supply temperature sensor for the HVAC system have been switched during installation based on the stored data, and wherein to determine whether the zone temperature sensor and the supply temperature sensor have been switched, the processor is configured to execute the instructions of the testing application to;

during the heating mode, compare a current zone temperature measured using the zone temperature sensor with a previous zone temperature measured using the zone temperature sensor; and

when the current zone temperature is equal to or beyond a threshold temperature of the previous zone temperature and a supply temperature measured using the supply temperature sensor is less than the current zone temperature, determine that the zone temperature sensor and the supply temperature sensor may have been switched during installation.

12. A method for automated functionality testing for a heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system, the method comprising:

receiving a user input to test one of a heating or cooling functionality of the HVAC system;

identifying an amount to change a setpoint for a zone controller for the HVAC system based on the user input;

changing the setpoint for the zone controller to force the HVAC system into one of a heating mode and a cooling mode in accordance with the user input;

storing data from the HVAC system operating in the one of the heating mode and the cooling mode; and

determining whether the HVAC system has been installed properly based on the stored data wherein determining whether the HVAC system has been installed properly comprises determining whether a zone temperature sensor and a supply temperature sensor for the HVAC system have been switched during installation based on the stored data, and wherein determining whether the zone temperature sensor and the supply temperature sensor have been switched comprises;

during the heating mode, comparing a current zone temperature measured using the zone temperature sensor with a previous zone temperature measured using the zone temperature sensor; and

when the current zone temperature is equal to or beyond a threshold temperature of the previous zone temperature and a supply temperature measured using the supply temperature sensor is less than the current zone temperature, determining that the zone temperature sensor and the supply temperature sensor may have been switched during installation.

13. A non-transitory computer-readable medium encoded with executable instructions for automated functionality testing for a heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system, the executable instructions, when executed, cause one or more data processing systems to:

receive a user input to test one of a heating or cooling functionality of the HVAC system;

identify an amount to change a setpoint for a zone controller for the HVAC system based on the user input;

change the setpoint for the zone controller to force the HVAC system into one of a heating mode and a cooling mode in accordance with the user input;

store data from the HVAC system operating in the one of the heating mode and the cooling mode; and

determine whether the HVAC system has been installed properly based on the stored data,

wherein;

the HVAC system comprises a plurality of HVAC systems installed at one or more locations,

each of the HVAC systems is controlled by a separate one of a plurality of zone controllers, respectively, and

the executable instructions that, when executed, cause the one or more data processing systems to determine whether the HVAC system has been installed properly comprise executable instructions that, when executed, cause the one or more data processing systems to determine whether supply temperature sensors for two or more of the zone controllers have been switched during installation based on the stored data.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the executable instructions that, when executed, cause the one or more data processing systems to determine whether the HVAC system has been installed properly further comprise executable instructions that, when executed, cause the one or more data processing systems to determine whether a zone temperature sensor and a supply temperature sensor for the HVAC system have been switched during installation based on the stored data.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 14, wherein the executable instructions that, when executed, cause the one or more data processing systems to determine whether the zone temperature sensor and the supply temperature sensor have been switched comprise executable instructions that, when executed, cause the one or more data processing systems to:

during the cooling mode, compare a current zone temperature measured using the zone temperature sensor with a previous zone temperature measured using the zone temperature sensor; and

when the current zone temperature is equal to or within a threshold temperature of the previous zone temperature and a supply temperature measured using the supply temperature sensor is greater than the current zone temperature, determine that the zone temperature sensor and the supply temperature sensor may have been switched during installation.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein:

the executable instructions that, when executed, cause the one or more data processing systems to change the setpoint for the zone controller to force the HVAC system into one of the heating mode and the cooling mode and store data from the HVAC system operating in the one of the heating mode and the cooling mode comprise executable instructions that, when executed, cause the one or more data processing systems to;

change the setpoint for the zone controllers for each of the HVAC systems to force the HVAC systems into one of the heating mode and the cooling mode to test the HVAC systems simultaneously, and store data from each of the HVAC systems simultaneously operating in the one of the heating mode and the cooling mode; and

then change the setpoint for zone controllers for each of the HVAC systems to force the HVAC systems into one of the heating mode and the cooling mode to test the HVAC systems individually, and store data from each of the HVAC systems individually operating in the one of the heating mode and the cooling mode, and

the executable instructions that, when executed, cause the one or more data processing systems to determine whether supply temperature sensors for two or more of the zone controllers have been switched during installation comprise executable instructions that, when executed, cause the one or more data processing systems to determine that the HVAC systems controlled by the two or more of the zone controllers appeared to properly cool or heat during the simultaneous test of the HVAC systems based on the stored data from each of the HVAC systems simultaneously operating but did not appear to properly cool or heat during the individual test of the HVAC systems based on the stored data from each of the HVAC systems individually operating.

17. A non-transitory computer-readable medium encoded with executable instructions for automated functionality testing for a heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system, the executable instructions, when executed, cause one or more data processing systems to:

receive a user input to test one of a heating or cooling functionality of the HVAC system;

identify an amount to change a setpoint for a zone controller for the HVAC system based on the user input;

change the setpoint for the zone controller to force the HVAC system into one of a heating mode and a cooling mode in accordance with the user input;

store data from the HVAC system operating in the one of the heating mode and the cooling mode; and

determine whether the HVAC system has been installed properly based on the stored data

wherein the executable instructions that, when executed, cause the one or more data processing systems to determine whether the HVAC system has been installed properly comprise executable instructions that, when executed, cause the one or more data processing systems to determine whether a zone temperature sensor and a supply temperature sensor for the HVAC system have been switched during installation based on the stored data, and wherein the executable instructions that, when executed, cause the one or more data processing systems to determine whether the zone temperature sensor and the supply temperature sensor have been switched comprise executable instructions that, when executed, cause the one or more data processing systems to;

during the heating mode, compare a current zone temperature measured using the zone temperature sensor with a previous zone temperature measured using the zone temperature sensor; and

when the current zone temperature is equal to or beyond a threshold temperature of the previous zone temperature and a supply temperature measured using the supply temperature sensor is less than the current zone temperature, determine that the zone temperature sensor and the supply temperature sensor may have been switched during installation.