Wireless air balancing system

• US 5,341,988 A
• Filed: 05/27/1993
• Issued: 08/30/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Trane International Inc. (Trane Technologies plc)
• Original Assignee: American Standard Companies Incorporated (Ideal Standard International Topco SCA)
• Inventors: Foye, David M., Rein, Alan D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wayner, William E.
• Application Number:
  US08/068,021
• Time in Patent Office: 460 Days
• Field of Search: 454/256, 236/49, 236/3, 236/51, 165/22
• US Class Current: 236/49.3
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/00 Control or safety arrangements
• 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 11/38 Failure diagnosis
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/46 Improving electric energy efficiency or saving
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/526 giving audible indications
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/54 using one central controller connected to several sub-controllers
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/56 Remote control
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/61 using timers
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/64 using pre-stored data
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/74 for controlling air flow rate or air velocity
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/77 by controlling the speed of ventilators
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2120/00 Control inputs relating to users or occupants
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2221/54 Heating and cooling, simultaneously or alternatively
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 3/00 Air-conditioning systems in which conditioned primary air is supplied from one or more central stations to distributing units in the rooms or spaces where it may receive secondary treatment; Apparatus specially designed for such systems room units F24F1/00
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1905 associated with tele control
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1934 each space being provided with one sensor acting on one or more control means
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/00 Arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless electrical link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/40 Remote control systems using repeaters, converters, gateways
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/41 Remote control of gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00002 characterised by monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00007 : using the power network as support for the transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00017 : using optical fiber
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00022 : using wireless data transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/30 : Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/20 : Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/00 : Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 10/30 : State monitoring, e.g. fault, temperature monitoring, insulator monitoring, corona discharge
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/20 : End-user application control systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/221 : General power management systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/244 : the home appliances being or involving heating ventilating and air conditioning [HVAC] units
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/00 : Systems for electrical power generation, transmission, distribution or end-user application management characterised by the use of communication or information technologies, or communication or information technology specific aspects supporting them
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/121 : using the power network as support for the transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/124 : using wired telecommunication networks or data transmission busses
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/126 : using wireless data transmission

Abstract

A hierarchical control system including a central receiver; a first communications medium operably connecting the central receiver to at least one controller; and a controller operably connected to the central receiver by the first communications medium. The system also includes a sensor for sensing conditions; a second communication medium; and a transmitter for transmitting the sensed conditions from the sensor to the central receiver via the second communications medium. The central receiver also includes receiver for receiving transmissions on the second communications medium and a transmitter for retransmitting the transmissions on the first communications medium.

Claims

1. A hierarchical control system comprising:

a first central receiver;

a first communications medium operably connecting the first central receiver to at least one controller;

a controller operably connected to the first central receiver by the first communications medium;

first means for sensing conditions;

a second communication medium;

means for transmitting the sensed conditions from the first sensing means to the first central receiver via the second communications medium, the first central receiver including means for receiving transmissions on the second communications medium and means for retransmitting the transmissions on the first communications medium;

a third communications medium;

third means for sensing conditions, the third means including means for transmitting the sensed conditions on the third communications medium;

wherein the first sensing means includes means for receiving sensed conditions transmitted on the third communications medium, and means for retransmitting transmissions from the third communications medium on the second transmissions medium;

wherein the third sensing means includes means for registering indications of personal discomfort, and wherein the controller includes means for responding to the indications of personal discomfort; and

wherein responding means includes means for rebalancing a localized portion of an air distribution system.

2. A method of balancing an air distribution system comprising the steps of:

(A) providing a plurality of devices, each capable of controlling the airflow through ducts;

(B) determining an optimum or balanced airflow setpoint for each of the ducts;

(C) identifying the optimum or balanced airflow setpoint for each of the ducts t the respective controlling device;

(D) distributing air through the air distribution system;

(E) measuring airflow in the ducts;

(F) reporting measured airflow to a respective controlling device

(G) initiating, at substantially the same time, a comparison by each of the controlling devices of measured airflow and optimum or balanced airflow

(H) controlling the airflow in the various ducts to minimize the difference between measured airflow and optimum or balanced airflow setpoint;

(I) repeating steps until the air distribution system is balanced; and

(J) customizing the air balancing system in response to indications of personal discomfort or environment changing conditions.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the customizing step includes the further step of monitoring a plurality of personal comfort devices, and altering the balancing in portions of the air distribution system in response to indications of discomfort provided by the personal comfort device.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the monitoring step includes transmitting wireless transmissions on a second communications medium to a central receiver, relaying the wireless transmissions from the second communications medium to a first communications medium, and receiving the transmission on the first communication medium in each of the plurality of controlling devices.

5. A method of controlling an HVAC system comprising the steps of:

distributing conditioned air to a plurality of zones;

controlling the flow of conditioned air to each of the plurality of zones with a plurality of controllers;

operably linking the controllers with a first communications medium;

monitoring the effect of the conditioned air in each of the plurality of zones with at least one sensor;

transmitting the monitored effects on a second wireless communications medium;

receiving the transmissions on the second communications medium in a central receiver;

retransmitting the monitored effects from the central receiver on the first communications medium;

receiving the monitored effects from the first communications medium in the plurality of controllers;

balancing the distribution of conditioned air to the zones during system installation; and

rebalancing portions of the air distribution system in response to the monitored effects.

6. The method of claim 5 including the further steps of linking each of the plurality of controllers to zone lighting systems respectively located in each zone;

and controlling the lighting level of each zone lighting system in response to indications of personal discomfort.

7. The method of claim 5 including the further step of altering the flow of conditioned air to particular zones so as to operate in an environmentally or energy conservative manner.

8. The method of claim 7 including the further step of allowing an occupant to positively indicate that the altering step should be taken.

9. A method of air balancing an HVAC system having ductwork for conveying conditioned air, comprising the steps of:

(a.) providing a plurality of dampers in the ductwork of the HVAC system;

(b.) providing a plurality of airflow sensors in the ductwork where each sensor is positioned to sense the airflow relative to a particular one of said plurality of dampers;

(c.) providing a plurality of airflow controllers where each controller is operably connected to at least one of said airflow sensors and where each controller is operably connected to and controls the particular one of said plurality of dampers associated with the respective airflow sensor;

(d.) providing an airflow setpoint in each airflow controller for establishing a design airflow in the particular one of said plurality of dampers controlled by that airflow controller;

(e.) simultaneously transmitting an initiate balancing signal to the plurality of airflow controllers;

(f.) substantially simultaneously comparing, in each airflow controller, the measured airflow form the respective airflow sensor with the airflow setpoint and establishing an error therebetween;

(g.) substantially simultaneously adjusting, by means of the appropriate airflow controller, the particular one of said plurality of dampers associated with the respective airflow sensor to minimize the error,

(h.) repeating steps (f.) and (g.) until the errors established by the airflow controller'"'"'s are less than a predetermined amount.

10. The method of claim 9 including the further step of rebalancing a portion of the HVAC system.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the rebalancing step is initiated in response to an external command.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein the rebalancing step is automatically initiated in response to a pattern of personal discomfort indications.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the rebalancing step includes the further step of adjusting the previous airflow setpoint or setpoints by a percentage factor from the previous setpoint.