ADAPTIVE INTELLIGENT CIRCULATION CONTROL METHODS AND SYSTEMS

• US 20100292849A1
• Filed: 08/03/2010
• Published: 11/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ademco Inc. (Resideo Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Schnell, Robert J., Vick, Brent D., Peterson, Mark W.
• Granted Patent: US 8,141,373 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/278
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/0001 for ventilation 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 11/61 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 11/70 Control systems characterised by their outputs; Constructional details thereof
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/10 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/12 of the outside air
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/20 Humidity
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/22 of the outside air
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/50 Air quality properties
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/52 of the outside air
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/70 Carbon dioxide
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2120/10 Occupancy
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1904 variable in time
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 30/70 Efficient control or regulation technologies, e.g. for control of refrigerant flow, motor or heating

Abstract

Adaptive intelligent circulation control methods and systems are used to help increase the comfort and/or reduce energy usage and equipment wear. In one illustrative embodiment, the circulation and/or ventilation time is adjusted based on one or more environmental conditions inside or outside the building structure. In another illustrative embodiment, the circulation and/or ventilation time may be adjusted based on the current time of day, current time of year, and/or the current schedule period. In another illustrative embodiment, the circulation and/or ventilation time is randomized over time. The start time, end time, and/or length of a circulation and/or ventilation cycle may be randomly set.

Claims

1. A method of operating an HVAC system of a building, wherein the HVAC system includes a fan that is operated with fan “

on”

time periods separated by fan “

off”

time periods to provide a desired circulation in an inside space of the building, the method comprising;

generating a random or pseudo random indicator; and

delaying a start of at least one of the fan “

on”

time periods by an amount that is related to the random or pseudo random indicator, while still achieving or substantially achieving the desired circulation in the inside space of the building.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving one or more time dependent parameters;

adaptively adjusting the desired circulation level in the building based in part on one or more of the time dependent parameters; and

adjusting one or more of the fan “

on”

time periods and/or fan “

off”

time periods to achieve or substantially achieve the desired circulation level in the building.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating another random or pseudo random indicator;

delaying a subsequent one of the fan “

on”

time periods of the HVAC system by an amount the is related to the another random or pseudo random indicator, while still achieving or substantially achieving the desired circulation in the inside space of the building.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the generating step includes generating a plurality of random or pseudo random indicators, and wherein different random or pseudo random indicators are used to affect different fan “

on”

time periods, while still achieving or substantially achieving the desired circulation in the inside space.

5. A method of operating an HVAC system of a building, wherein the HVAC system includes a fan that is operated with fan “

on”

time periods separated by fan “

off”

time periods to provide a desired circulation level in the building, the method comprising;

receiving one or more time dependent parameters;

adaptively adjusting the desired circulation level in the building based in part on one or more of the time dependent parameters; and

adjusting one or more of the fan “

on”

time periods and/or fan “

off”

time periods to achieve or substantially achieve the desired circulation level in the building.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein a length of a fan “

on”

time period is adjusted based on a random number generator, while still achieving or substantially achieving the desired circulation level in the building.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein a start of a fan “

on”

time period is adjusted based on a random number generator, while still achieving or substantially achieving the desired circulation level in the building.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the one or more time dependent parameters include one or more of:

an output from a temperature sensor, an output from a humidity sensor, an output from an air quality sensor, an output from a gas sensor, a time of day parameter, and a time of year parameter.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein the desired circulation level in the building is also adaptively adjusted based in part on one or more of:

a set point value, a system mode setting, and whether the building is expected to be occupied or unoccupied.

10. The method of claim 5, wherein the receiving, adaptively adjusting and adjusting steps are performed by a thermostat.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the desired circulation level has a default value stored in a memory of the thermostat.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the thermostat has a user interface, and wherein the user interface can be manipulated by a user to change an initial value of the desired circulation level.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the initial value of the desired circulation level is adaptively adjusted by the adaptively adjusting step.

14. A method of operating an HVAC system of a building, wherein the HVAC system includes a fan that is operated with two or more fan “

on”

time periods separated by fan “

off”

time periods, the method comprising;

generating a first random or pseudo random time delay;

delaying a start of a first fan “

on”

time period by an amount that is at least related to the first random or pseudo random time delay;

generating a second random or pseudo random time delay;

delaying a start of a second fan “

on”

time period by an amount that is at least related to the second random or pseudo random time delay.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the first random or pseudo random time delay and the second random or pseudo random time delay are different.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the first random or pseudo random time delay is a positive delay.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the first random or pseudo random time delay is a negative delay.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the second random or pseudo random time delay is a positive delay.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the second random or pseudo random time delay is a negative delay.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein a length of the first and second fan “

on”

time periods are different.