Zoned control system
First Claim
1. In a thermal system having a central plant feeding a plurality of adjustable zone regulators for bringing their respective zones to corresponding target temperatures, a controller comprising:
- a plurality of temperature sensors distributed one to a zone, each of said sensors being operable to produce a zone signal signifying zone temperature;
a plurality of zone actuators, each having a zone control terminal and each, in response to a signal at its zone control terminal, being operable to adjust a corresponding one of said zone regulators; and
a control means coupled to each of the temperature sensors and to the zone control terminal of each of said zone actuators for calculating the zone temperature errors with respect to their respective target temperatures and for starting said central plant response to a predetermined function of the cumulative zone temperature errors exceeding a given limit, each of said zone temperature errors being at least producible at above said given limit and at a plurality of non-zero values smaller in magnitude than that of said given limit so that the zone temperature errors may be insufficient individually but sufficient cumulatively to start said central plant, said control means being operable to apply corresponding signals to each zone control terminal with a timing determined by its corresponding temperature error.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In this thermal system there is a central plant feeding a plurality of adjustable zone regulators which bring their respective zones to corresponding target temperatures. The system has a controller including a plurality of temperature sensors. The sensors are distributed one to a zone. Each of the sensors can produce a zone signal signifying zone temperature. The controller also has a plurality of zone actuators, each having a zone control terminal. Each of the actuators can, in response to a signal at its zone control terminal, adjust a corresponding one of the zone regulators. Also included is a control subsystem that is coupled to each of the temperature sensors and to the zone control terminal of each of the zone actuators. The control subsystem can start the central plant in response to a predetermined function of the zone temperature errors with respect to their respective target temperatures exceeding a given limit. The control subsystem can also apply corresponding signals to each zone control terminal, with a timing determined by its corresponding temperature error.
215 Citations
18 Claims
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1. In a thermal system having a central plant feeding a plurality of adjustable zone regulators for bringing their respective zones to corresponding target temperatures, a controller comprising:
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a plurality of temperature sensors distributed one to a zone, each of said sensors being operable to produce a zone signal signifying zone temperature; a plurality of zone actuators, each having a zone control terminal and each, in response to a signal at its zone control terminal, being operable to adjust a corresponding one of said zone regulators; and a control means coupled to each of the temperature sensors and to the zone control terminal of each of said zone actuators for calculating the zone temperature errors with respect to their respective target temperatures and for starting said central plant response to a predetermined function of the cumulative zone temperature errors exceeding a given limit, each of said zone temperature errors being at least producible at above said given limit and at a plurality of non-zero values smaller in magnitude than that of said given limit so that the zone temperature errors may be insufficient individually but sufficient cumulatively to start said central plant, said control means being operable to apply corresponding signals to each zone control terminal with a timing determined by its corresponding temperature error. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for regulating temperatures with a central plant feeding a plurality of zone regulators at respective zones, comprising the steps of:
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measuring the error in temperature in each zone from a corresponding target temperature; calculating a cumulative value from a predetermined function of said errors; starting said central plant when said cumulative value exceeds a predetermined limit; and adjusting each of said zone regulators to an extent determined by its corresponding error in temperature. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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Specification