Air distribution fan recycling control

• US 5,547,017 A
• Filed: 01/05/1995
• Issued: 08/20/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ABT Systems LLC
• Original Assignee: University of Central Florida (State University System of Florida)
• Inventors: Rudd, Armin
• Primary Examiner(s): Wayner, William E.
• Application Number:
  US08/369,180
• Time in Patent Office: 593 Days
• Field of Search: 236/49.3, 236/46 R, 454/256, 454/258, 454/229, 454/233, 165/16, 165/12, 62/231
• US Class Current: 165/244
• 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 11/63 Electronic processing
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/65 for selecting an operating mode
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/67 Switching between heating and cooling modes
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2120/10 Occupancy

Abstract

An system for controlling the operation of the circulating fan of a closed central air conditioning(CAC) system is disclosed. The system periodically activates and deactivates only the circulating fan after a preselected delay time from the normal running of the cooling and heating modes of the CAC system. The preselected delay time is adjustable based on non thermostat parameters and include parameters such as room volume size to be ventilated and the number of occupants in the room. The control can periodically distribute and mix ventilation air or spot-conditioned (humidified, de-humidified, or cleaned) air while the CAC system is not running in the heating, cooling or constant fan modes. The cooling and heating modes of the CAC system operate independently of the fan recycling control.

Claims

1. A fan recycling control apparatus for a central air conditioning(CAC) system comprising:

a circulating fan;

a central air conditioning system with ducts to distribute cooled and heated conditioned air throughout a building;

a thermostat for activating and deactivating both the central air conditioning system and the circulating fan; and

a recycle control for periodically activating and deactivating only the circulating fan after a preselected time period, since the central air conditioning system or the circulating fan have been deactivated.

2. The recycling control apparatus of claim 1, where the air conditioning system includes:

a cooling only mode.

3. The recycling control apparatus of claim 1, where the air conditioning system includes:

a cooling mode and a electric heat mode.

4. The recycling control apparatus of claim 1, where the air conditioning system includes:

a heat pump.

5. The recycling control apparatus of claim 1, where the air conditioning system includes:

a gas heat source.

6. The recycling control apparatus of claim 1, where the air conditioning system includes:

an oil heat source.

7. The recycling control apparatus of claim 1, where the preselected time period includes:

a time delay based on number of occupants within the building to be ventilated.

8. The recycling control apparatus of claim 1, where the preselected time period includes:

a time delay based on volume dimensions of the building to be ventilated.

9. The recycling control apparatus of claim 1, where the preselected time period includes:

a time delay based on both number of occupants and volume dimensions of an air-space to be ventilated.

10. A method of mixing air throughout a building when not running a heating and cooling air conditioning system comprising the steps of:

shutting off both cooling and heating modes on an air-conditioning system;

activating a circulating fan only after preselected delay time periods, wherein each the delay time periods is adjusted based on nontemperature conditions, wherein the nontemperature conditions are chosen from at least one of;

volume dimensions of an air-space to be ventilated and number of occupants of the air-space to be ventilated.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein each of the delay time period is selected from:

a range of approximately 20 minutes to approximately 3 hours for a room having volume dimensions between 600 to 3800 cubic feet, when 1 occupant is within the room.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein each of the delay time period is selected from:

a range of approximately 12 minutes to approximately 1 and 1/4 hours for a room having volume dimensions between 600 to 3800 cubic feet, when 2 occupants are within the room.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein each of the delay time period is selected from:

a range of approximately 10 minutes to approximately 3/4 of an hour for a room having volume dimensions between 600 to 3800 cubic feet, when 3 occupants are within the room.

14. The method of claim 10, further including the step of:

turning on the heating and the cooling modes of the air-conditioning system when a temperature threshold has been reached.

15. An automated fan recycling control apparatus for a central air conditioning(CAC) system comprising:

a circulating fan;

a central air conditioning system with ducts to distribute cooled and heated conditioned air throughout a building;

a thermostat for activating and deactivating both the central air conditioning system and the circulating fan; and

a recycle control for periodically activating and deactivating only the circulating fan after a preselected time period based on selected nontemperature conditions, since the central air conditioning system or the circulating fan have been deactivated, and wherein the nontemperature conditions are chosen from at least one of;

volume dimensions of an air-space to be ventilated and number of occupants of the air-space to be ventilated.

16. The automated fan recycling control apparatus of claim 15, wherein the preselected time period is selected from:

a range of approximately 20 minutes to approximately 3 hours for a room having volume dimensions between 600 to 3800 cubic feet, when 1 occupant is within the room.

17. The automated fan recycling control apparatus of claim 15 wherein the preselected time period is selected from:

a range of approximately 12 minutes to approximately 1 and 1/4 hours for a room having volume dimensions between 600 to 3800 cubic feet, when 2 occupants are within the room.

18. The automated fan recycling control apparatus of claim 15, wherein the preselected time period is selected from:

a range of approximately 10 minutes to approximately 3/4 of an hour for a room having volume dimensions between 600 to 3800 cubic feet, when 3 occupants are within the room.