HVAC system grading systems and methods

• US 9,551,495 B2
• Filed: 05/06/2015
• Issued: 01/24/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Emersub Cxiii Incorporated (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: Emerson Electric Company
• Inventors: Abiprojo, Priotomo
• Primary Examiner(s): CRENSHAW, HENRY T
• Application Number:
  US14/705,263
• Publication Number:
  US 20150323211A1
• Time in Patent Office: 629 Days
• Field of Search: 236/94, 236/1.C, 700/276, 700/278
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F24D 5/12 using heat pumps
• 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 11/38 Failure diagnosis
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/52 Indication arrangements, e.g. displays
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/61 using timers
• 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 2110/00 Control inputs relating to air properties
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/10 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2120/20 Feedback from users
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 30/13 Hot air central heating systems using heat pumps

Abstract

A first tracking module increments a first period of time when a heating, ventilation, or air conditioning (HVAC) system of a building is ON during a predetermined period of time. A second tracking module increments a second period of time when, during the predetermined period of time: (i) the HVAC system is ON and (ii) a split temperature of the HVAC system is outside of a temperature range of the HVAC system. A grade determination module determines a grade of the HVAC system for the predetermined period of time based on both the first period of time and the second period of time. A reporting module generates a displayable report for the HVAC system for the predetermined period of time. The report includes the grade of the HVAC system for the predetermined period of time.

Claims

1. A grading system comprising:

a first tracking module that tracks a first period of time when a heating, ventilation, or air conditioning (HVAC) system of a building is ON during a first predetermined period of time;

a second tracking module that tracks a second period of time when, during the first predetermined period of time both of the following are satisfied concurrently;

(i) the HVAC system is ON; and

(ii) a split temperature of the HVAC system is outside of a temperature range of the HVAC system;

a learning module that, in response to a determination that the split temperature has increased by at least a predetermined amount within a second predetermined period of time after the HVAC system transitions from OFF to ON;

(i) determines an average split temperature based on an average of two or more of the split temperatures;

(ii) sets an upper temperature limit of the temperature range of the HVAC system based on the average split temperature plus a first predetermined temperature; and

(iii) sets a lower temperature limit of the temperature range of the HVAC system based on the average split temperature minus a second predetermined temperature;

a grade determination module that determines a grade of the HVAC system for the first predetermined period of time based on both the first period of time and the second period of time, wherein the grade determination module decreases the grade of the HVAC system for the first predetermined period as the second period of time increases; and

a reporting module that generates a displayable report for the HVAC system for the first predetermined period of time, the report including the grade of the HVAC system for the first predetermined period of time.

2. The grading system of claim 1 wherein the split temperature corresponds to a temperature difference between a supply air temperature of the HVAC system and a return air temperature of the HVAC system.

3. The grading system of claim 1 further comprising an enabling/disabling module that disables the first tracking module and the second tracking module for a delay period of the HVAC system after the HVAC system transitions from OFF to ON.

4. The grading system of claim 3 further comprising a learning module that sets the delay period of the HVAC system based on at least two split temperatures measured while the HVAC system is ON.

5. The grading system of claim 4 wherein the learning module sets the delay period of the HVAC system based on at least two split temperatures measured after the split temperature increases by at least a predetermined amount during a second predetermined period after the HVAC system transitions from OFF to ON.

6. The grading system of claim 1 wherein the grade determination module determines the grade of the HVAC system for the first predetermined period based on the second period of time divided by the first period of time.

7. The grading system of claim 1 wherein the grade determination module determines the grade of the HVAC system based on

100−

(100*P2/P1),

where P2 is the second period of time and P1 is the first period of time.

8. A grading method comprising:

tracking a first period of time when a heating, ventilation, or air conditioning (HVAC) system of a building is ON during a predetermined period of time;

tracking a second period of time when, during the first predetermined period of time both of the following are satisfied concurrently;

(i) the HVAC system is ON and (ii) a split temperature of the HVAC system is outside of a temperature range of the HVAC system;

in response to a determination that the split temperature has increased by at least a predetermined amount within a second predetermined period of time after the HVAC system transitions from OFF to ON;

(i) determining an average split temperature based on an average of two or more of the split temperatures;

(ii) setting an upper temperature limit of the temperature range of the HVAC system based on the average split temperature plus a first predetermined temperature; and

(iii) setting a lower temperature limit of the temperature range of the HVAC system based on the average split temperature minus a second predetermined temperature;

determining a grade of the HVAC system for the first predetermined period of time based on both the first period of time and the second period of time, wherein determining the grade of the HVAC system for the first predetermined period of time includes decreasing the grade of the HVAC system for the first predetermined period of time as the second period of time increases; and

generating a displayable report for the HVAC system for the first predetermined period of time, the report including the grade of the HVAC system for the first predetermined period of time.

9. The grading method of claim 8 wherein the split temperature corresponds to a temperature difference between a supply air temperature of the HVAC system and a return air temperature of the HVAC system.

10. The grading method of claim 8 further comprising preventing incrementing of the first and second periods for a delay period of the HVAC system after the HVAC system transitions from OFF to ON.

11. The grading method of claim 10 further comprising setting the delay period of the HVAC system based on at least two split temperatures measured while the HVAC system is ON.

12. The grading method of claim 11 further comprising setting the delay period of the HVAC system based on at least two split temperatures measured after the split temperature increases by at least a predetermined amount during a second predetermined period after the HVAC system transitions from OFF to ON.

13. The grading method of claim 8 further comprising determining the grade of the HVAC system for the first predetermined period based on the second period of time divided by the first period of time.

14. The grading method of claim 8 further comprising determining the grade of the HVAC system based on

100−

(100*P2/P1),

where P2 is the second period of time and P1 is the first period of time.

15. A grading system comprising:

a first tracking module that tracks a first period of time when a heating, ventilation, or air conditioning (HVAC) system of a building is ON during a predetermined period of time;

a second tracking module that tracks a second period of time when, during the first predetermined period of time both of the following are satisfied concurrently;

(i) the HVAC system is ON; and

(ii) a split temperature of the HVAC system is outside of a temperature range of the HVAC system;

an enabling/disabling module that disables the first tracking module and the second tracking module for a delay period of the HVAC system after the HVAC system transitions from OFF to ON;

a learning module that, in response to a determination that the split temperature has increased by at least a predetermined amount within a second predetermined period of time after the HVAC system transitions from OFF to ON;

(i) determines an average split temperature based on an average of two or more of the split temperatures;

(ii) determines a threshold split temperature change based on a predetermined percent of the average split temperature; and

(iii) sets the delay period of the HVAC system as a function of the threshold split temperature change;

a grade determination module that determines a grade of the HVAC system for the first predetermined period of time based on both the first period of time and the second period of time, wherein the grade determination module decreases the grade of the HVAC system for the first predetermined period as the second period of time increases; and

a reporting module that generates a displayable report for the HVAC system for the first predetermined period of time, the report including the grade of the HVAC system for the first predetermined period of time.

16. The grading system of claim 15 wherein the learning module further:

(ii) sets an upper temperature limit of the temperature range of the HVAC system based on the average split temperature plus a first predetermined temperature; and

(iii) sets a lower temperature limit of the temperature range of the HVAC system based on the average split temperature minus a second predetermined temperature.

17. A grading method comprising:

tracking a first period of time when a heating, ventilation, or air conditioning (HVAC) system of a building is ON during a predetermined period of time;

tracking a second period of time when, during the first predetermined period of time both of the following are satisfied concurrently;

(i) the HVAC system is ON and (ii) a split temperature of the HVAC system is outside of a temperature range of the HVAC system;

preventing incrementing of the first and second periods for a delay period of the HVAC system after the HVAC system transitions from OFF to ON;

in response to a determination that the split temperature has increased by at least a predetermined amount within a second predetermined period of time after the HVAC system transitions from OFF to ON;

(i) determining an average split temperature based on an average of two or more of the split temperatures;

(ii) determining a threshold split temperature change based on a predetermined percent of the average split temperature; and

(iii) setting the delay period of the HVAC system as a function of the threshold split temperature change;

determining a grade of the HVAC system for the first predetermined period of time based on both the first period of time and the second period of time, wherein determining the grade of the HVAC system for the first predetermined period of time includes decreasing the grade of the HVAC system for the first predetermined period of time as the second period of time increases; and

generating a displayable report for the HVAC system for the first predetermined period of time, the report including the grade of the HVAC system for the first predetermined period of time.

18. The grading method of claim 17 further comprising:

setting an upper temperature limit of the temperature range of the HVAC system based on the average split temperature plus a first predetermined temperature; and

setting a lower temperature limit of the temperature range of the HVAC system based on the average split temperature minus a second predetermined temperature.