Hybrid air conditioning control process

• US 9,546,794 B1
• Filed: 10/15/2013
• Issued: 01/17/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NaturalAir E-Controls, LLC
• Original Assignee: Sylvia H. Carson, William S. Carson
• Inventors: Carson, William S, Carson, Sylvia H
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Len
• Assistant Examiner(s): VAZQUEZ, ANA M
• Application Number:
  US14/054,436
• Time in Patent Office: 1,190 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/0008 for air-humidification F24F11/30 takes precedence
• 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 11/46 Improving electric energy efficiency or saving
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/52 Indication arrangements, e.g. displays
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/56 Remote control
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/65 for selecting an operating mode
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2003/144 by dehumidification only
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/10 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/20 Humidity
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2203/02 System or Device comprising a heat pump as a subsystem, e.g. combined with humidification/dehumidification, heating, natural energy or with hybrid system
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 3/14 by humidification; by dehumidification
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 22/02 characterised by the use of electric means
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1927 using a plurality of sensors G05D23/1902, G05D23/1917, and G05D23/1919 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 27/02 characterised by the use of electric means

Abstract

The present invention is a process of controlling a hybrid central air conditioning system that incorporates multiple air treatment devices operated by a process controller reacting to an input of either a comfort or an energy saving program and which uses temperature and humidity sensors that matches specific air treatment machines to varying air treatment needs, such as humidity control to maximize air conditioning performance while minimizing energy use. A timed test cycle is used to make corrections to the selected program based on a timed reading of the temperature and humidity sensors.

Claims

1. A process for conditioning air in a building comprising the steps of:

selecting an air conditioning system in the building having a first air conditioning unit of predetermined capacity and a second air conditioning unit having an equal or smaller capacity than the first air conditioning unit and having a dehumidifier and having a process controller wirelessly connected to each said first and second air conditioner units and to said dehumidifier and having a control panel having energy saving or comfort operating priority inputs and being operatively coupled to said process controller, said air conditioning system also having a temperature sensor for sensing temperature within said building and a humidity sensor for sensing humidity within the building both sensors being operatively connected to said process controller;

selectively inputting energy saving and comfort operating priorities into said control panel and into said control processor;

sensing the temperature and humidity in said building with said temperature sensor and said humidity sensor and transmitting the sensed temperature and humidity reading to the process controller;

selectively activating said first and second air conditioning units and said dehumidifier for a timed test cycle to determine the resultant temperature and humidity in the building for the selected inputs; and

selectively activating said first and second air conditioning units and said dehumidifier based on the temperature and humidity sensor readouts during the timed test period to further adjust the temperature and humidity in the building responsive to the timed test period for greater comfort or greater efficiency in said building;

whereby the air in the building is conditioned with either increased efficiency for more energy savings or maximum comfort.

2. The process for conditioning air in a building in accordance with claim 1 in which the step of selectively inputting said operating priorities includes inputting said energy saving priority into said control panel which first activates said second air conditioning unit for said timed test period.

3. The process for conditioning air in a building in accordance with claim 1 in which the step of selectively inputting said operating priorities includes inputting said comfort priority into said control panel which first simultaneously activates said first and second air conditioning units for said timed test period.

4. The process for conditioning air in a building in accordance with claim 1 in which said process controller has a wireless connection to a wireless on-off switch connected to said first and second air conditioning units and to said dehumidifier.

5. The process for conditioning air in a building in accordance with claim 4 in which said process controller has a wireless connection to said temperature sensor and a wireless connection to said humidity sensor.

6. The process for conditioning air in a building in accordance with claim 5 in which said process controller has a wireless connection to said control panel.

7. The process for conditioning air in a building in accordance with claim 5 including the step of running a second timed test cycle following changes made in response to said first timed test cycle.

8. A process for treating air inside a building comprising the steps of:

selecting an air conditioning system in a building having a first air conditioning unit of predetermined capacity and a second air conditioning unit having an equal or smaller capacity than the first air conditioning unit and having a dehumidifier and having a process controller operatively connected to each said first and second air conditioner units and to said dehumidifier and having a control panel operatively connected to said process controller and having a temperature sensor for sensing temperature within said building and a humidity sensor for sensing humidity within the building both operatively connected to said process controller;

sensing the temperature and humidity within the building;

selecting either a comfort or energy saving scale on said control panel to activate said process controller;

selectively activating said selected air conditioning system first and second air conditioning units and said dehumidifier to run a test cycle and testing the temperature and humidity of the building air responsive to the timed test cycle; and

controlling the air in the building responsive to the temperature and humidity of the building air following the timed test cycle with a selected combination of said air conditioning system first and second air conditioning units and said dehumidifier;

whereby air inside a building is controlled with increased efficiency over a conventional dedicated air conditioning system.

9. The process for conditioning air inside in a building in accordance with claim 8 in which the step of selectively inputting said operating priorities includes inputting said energy saving priority into said control panel which first activates said second air conditioning unit for said timed test period.

10. The process for conditioning air in a building in accordance with claim 9 in which the step of selectively inputting said operating priorities includes inputting said comfort priority into said control panel which first simultaneously activates said first and second air conditioning units for said timed test period.

11. The process for conditioning air in a building in accordance with claim 8 in which said process controller has a wireless connection to said first and second air conditioning units and to said dehumidifier.

12. The process for conditioning air in a building in accordance with claim 11 in which said process controller has a wireless connection to a wireless on-off switch connected to said first and second air conditioning units and to said dehumidifier.

13. The process for conditioning air in a building in accordance with claim 11 in which said process controller has a wireless connection to said first and second air conditioning units and to said dehumidifier.

14. The process for conditioning air in a building in accordance with claim 13 in which said process controller has a wireless connection to said temperature sensor and to said humidity sensor.

15. The process for conditioning air in a building in accordance with claim 14 in which said process controller has a wireless connection to said control panel.

16. The process for conditioning air in a building in accordance with claim 15 including the step of running a second timed test cycle following changes made in response to said first timed test cycle.