HVAC Health Monitoring Systems and Methods

• US 20170146964A1
• Filed: 11/25/2015
• Published: 05/25/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: EchoStar Technologies International Corporation (Echostar Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Echostar Technologies LLC (Echostar Corporation)
• Inventors: Beals, William Michael
• Granted Patent: US 9,996,066 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/24015 Monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2614 HVAC, heating, ventillation, climate control
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2642 Domotique, domestic, home control, automation, smart house

Abstract

Identifying errors with home HVAC systems and notifying the homeowner of the error and potential remedial steps can be useful. In some embodiments, a method is provided including receiving, at an electronic device, a temperature value and an airflow value from sensors located at a vent grate of the HVAC system. A temperature delta value can be calculated using the temperature value and an ambient temperature value. The temperature delta value can be compared with predetermined temperature delta threshold value. The airflow value can be compared with predetermined airflow threshold value. Based on comparing the temperature delta value step and/or the comparing the airflow value step, an error with the HVAC system can be identified. A notification of the error and subsequent potential remedial steps can be sent from the electronic device to the homeowner.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, at an electronic device, a temperature value from a temperature sensor located at a vent grate of a Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system, the temperature value indicating the temperature of the air emitting from the HVAC system;

receiving, at the electronic device, an airflow value from a pressure sensor located at the vent grate of the HVAC system, the airflow value determined by the pressure of the air emitting from the HVAC system;

calculating, at the electronic device, a temperature delta value based on the temperature value and an ambient temperature value;

comparing, at the electronic device, the temperature delta value with a predetermined temperature delta threshold value, wherein the predetermined temperature delta threshold value is stored in a storage device communicatively coupled to the electronic device;

comparing, at the electronic device, the airflow value with a predetermined airflow threshold value, wherein the predetermined airflow threshold value is stored in the storage device;

identifying, by the electronic device, based on at least one of the comparing the temperature delta value step and the comparing the airflow value step, an error with the HVAC system; and

sending a notification of the error from the electronic device to a user.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, at the electronic device, a known good airflow value from the pressure sensor located at the vent grate of the HVAC system, the known good airflow value determined by the pressure of the air emitting from the HVAC system during a known good operating cycle;

receiving, at the electronic device, a known good temperature value from the temperature sensor located at the vent grate of the HVAC system, the known good temperature value indicating the temperature of the air emitting from the HVAC system during a known good operating cycle;

calculating, by the electronic device, the predetermined airflow threshold value based on the known good airflow value;

calculating, by the electronic device, the predetermined temperature delta threshold value based on the known good temperature value; and

storing the predetermined airflow threshold value and the predetermined temperature delta threshold value in the storage device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the vent grate of the HVAC system is located in a premises, further comprising:

receiving, at the electronic device, a carbon monoxide value from a carbon monoxide sensor located at the vent grate of the HVAC system, the carbon monoxide value indicating the level of carbon monoxide emitting from the HVAC system; and

identifying, by the electronic device, the error as a leak in a heat exchanger based on;

determining, by the electronic device, the temperature delta value is an acceptable value based on comparing the temperature delta value to the predetermined temperature delta threshold value;

comparing, by the electronic device, the carbon monoxide value with a predetermined carbon monoxide threshold; and

determining, by the electronic device, that the carbon monoxide value is above the predetermined carbon monoxide threshold, indicating the carbon monoxide value is a dangerous level;

wherein the notification alerts the user to leave the premises.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the premises contains a window, further comprising:

sending a signal from the electronic device to an electronic window opening device instructing the electronic window opening device to open the window.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying, by the electronic device, the error as an HVAC system failure based on;

receiving, at the electronic device, a signal from the HVAC system indicating that the HVAC system is actively running; and

determining, by the electronic device, based on comparing the airflow value with the predetermined airflow threshold value, that the HVAC system is not actively running

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying, by the electronic device, the error as degrading of a filter based on;

determining, by the electronic device, that the airflow value is below the predetermined airflow threshold value; and

determining, by the electronic device, that the temperature delta value is above the predetermined temperature delta threshold;

wherein the notification alerts the user to change the filter.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the predetermined airflow threshold indicates the filter is dirty and the predetermined temperature delta threshold indicates air from the HVAC system is overheating because of low airflow through the filter.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying, by the electronic device, the error as a pilot light failure based on;

determining, by the electronic device, that the airflow value is an acceptable value based on comparing the airflow value to the predetermined airflow threshold value; and

determining, by the electronic device, that the temperature delta value is below the predetermined temperature delta threshold value, wherein the predetermined temperature delta threshold value indicates a pilot light failure;

wherein the notification alerts the user to light the pilot light.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the notification is displayed on a television.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the temperature sensor is a first temperature sensor, the method further comprising:

receiving, at the electronic device, the ambient temperature value from a second temperature sensor located at the vent grate of the HVAC system.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein the temperature sensor is a first temperature sensor, and wherein the memory further has stored therein processor-readable instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:

receive the ambient temperature value from a second temperature sensor located at the vent grate of the HVAC system.

11. A system, comprising:

a temperature sensor, the temperature sensor being located in a vent grate of a Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system and configured to measure a temperature of air emitting from the HVAC system;

a pressure sensor, the pressure sensor being located in the vent grate of the HVAC system and configured to measure a pressure differential of air emitting from the HVAC system;

a storage device; and

an electronic device communicatively coupled to the temperature sensor, the pressure sensor, and the storage device, the electronic device comprising;

one or more processors; and

memory communicatively coupled with and readable by the one or more processors and having stored therein processor-readable instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to;

receive a temperature value from the temperature sensor;

receive an airflow value from the pressure sensor;

calculate a temperature delta value based on the temperature value and an ambient temperature value;

compare the temperature delta value with a predetermined temperature delta threshold value, wherein the predetermined temperature delta threshold value is stored in the storage device;

compare the airflow value with a predetermined airflow threshold value, wherein the predetermined airflow threshold is stored in the storage device;

identify, based on at least one of comparing the temperature delta value with the predetermined temperature delta threshold value and comparing the airflow value with the predetermined airflow threshold value, an error with the HVAC system; and

send a notification of the error to a user.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the memory further has stored therein processor-readable instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:

receive a known good airflow value from the pressure sensor located at the vent grate of the HVAC system, the known good airflow value determined by the pressure of the air emitting from the HVAC system during a known good operating cycle;

receive a known good temperature value from the temperature sensor located at the vent grate of the HVAC system, the known good temperature value indicating the temperature of the air emitting from the HVAC system during a known good operating cycle;

calculate the predetermined airflow threshold value based on the known good airflow value;

calculate the predetermined temperature delta threshold value based on the known good temperature value; and

store the predetermined airflow threshold value and the predetermined temperature delta threshold value in the storage device.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the vent grate of the HVAC system is located in a premises, and wherein the memory further has stored therein processor-readable instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:

receive a carbon monoxide value from a carbon monoxide sensor located at the vent grate of the HVAC system, the carbon monoxide value indicating the level of carbon monoxide emitting from the HVAC system; and

identify the error as a leak in a heat exchanger based on;

determining the temperature delta value is an acceptable value based on comparing the temperature delta value to the predetermined temperature delta threshold value;

comparing the carbon monoxide value with a predetermined carbon monoxide threshold; and

determining that the carbon monoxide value is above the predetermined carbon monoxide threshold, indicating the carbon monoxide value is a dangerous level;

wherein the notification alerts the user to leave the premises.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the premises contains a window, and wherein the memory further has stored therein processor-readable instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:

send a signal to an electronic window opening device instructing the electronic window opening device to open the window.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the memory further has stored therein processor-readable instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:

identify the error as an HVAC system failure based on;

receiving a signal from the HVAC system indicating that the HVAC system is actively running; and

determining, based on comparing the airflow value with the predetermined airflow threshold value, that the HVAC system is not actively running

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the memory further has stored therein processor-readable instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:

identify the error as degrading of a filter based on;

determining that the airflow value is below the predetermined airflow threshold value; and

determining that the temperature delta value is above the predetermined temperature delta threshold;

wherein the notification alerts the user to change the filter.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the predetermined airflow threshold indicates the filter is dirty and the predetermined temperature delta threshold indicates air from the HVAC system is overheating because of low airflow through the filter.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein the memory further has stored therein processor-readable instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:

identify the error as a pilot light failure based on;

determining that the airflow value is an acceptable value based on comparing the airflow value to the predetermined airflow threshold value; and

determining that the temperature delta value is below the predetermined temperature delta threshold value, wherein the predetermined temperature delta threshold value indicates a pilot light failure;

wherein the notification alerts the user to light the pilot light.

19. The system of claim 11, wherein the notification is displayed on a television.