Staggered start-up HVAC system, a method for starting an HVAC unit and an HVAC controller configured for the same

• US 8,977,399 B2
• Filed: 01/27/2010
• Issued: 03/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lennox Industries Incorporated (Lennox International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Lennox Industries Incorporated (Lennox International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Stachler, John P., Walter, Stephen A., Bennett, Alan E., Mauk, Richard A.
• Primary Examiner(s): HARTMAN JR, RONALD D
• Application Number:
  US12/694,503
• Publication Number:
  US 20100298988A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,868 Days
• Field of Search: 700/210, 700276-277, 700/300, 165/200, 165/244, 165/247, 165/267, 236/1.B, 236/1.C, 236/44
• US Class Current: 700/276
• 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 11/50 characterised by user interfaces or communication
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/58 using Internet communication
• 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 11/63 Electronic processing
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/88 Electrical aspects, e.g. circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/00 Tariff metering apparatus in taximeters G07B13/00; apparatus actuated by coins, cards or the like with meter-controlled dispensing of liquid, gas, or electricity G07F15/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 21/00 Arrangements for measuring electric power or power factor G01R7/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 21/127 by using pulse modulation G01R21/133 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 21/133 by using digital technique
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 21/1335 Tariff switching circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 13/00 Adaptive control systems, i.e. systems automatically adjusting themselves to have a performance which is optimum according to some preassigned criterion G05B19/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 13/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/042 using digital processors G05B19/05 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2614 HVAC, heating, ventillation, climate control
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1393 characterised by the use of electric means
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/00 Structural associations of a plurality of mutually-insulated electrical connecting elements, specially adapted for printed circuits, e.g. printed circuit boards [PCB], flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures, e.g. terminal strips, terminal blocks; Coupling devices specially adapted for printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures; Terminals specially adapted for contact with, or insertion into, printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures printed connections to, or between, printed circuits H05K1/11
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6456 comprising keying elements at different positions along the periphery of the connector
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/14 : The load or loads being home appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/64 : The condition being economic, e.g. tariff based load management
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 25/04 : Single phase motors, e.g. capacitor motors
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/082 : the condition being updates or upgrades of network functionality
• 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 70/3225 : Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 80/10 : Efficient use of energy, e.g. using compressed air or pressurized fluid as energy carrier
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/221 : General power management systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/222 : Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/242 : Home appliances
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/244 : the home appliances being or involving heating ventilating and air conditioning [HVAC] units
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49 : Method of mechanical manufacture
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49117 : Conductor or circuit manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49147 : Assembling terminal to base
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4935 : Heat exchanger or boiler making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49359 : Cooling apparatus making, e.g., air conditioner, refrigerator
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 : Assembling or joining

Abstract

An HVAC controller, a method of starting a HVAC unit and a HVAC system are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, the HVAC controller includes: (1) an interface configured to receive a delay originating signal and (2) a processor configured to automatically generate an offset delay value for the HVAC unit upon receipt of the delay originating signal and delay starting identified components of the HVAC unit based on the offset delay value.

Claims

1. A controller for a heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) unit, comprising:

an interface configured to receive a delay originating signal; and

a processor configured to automatically generate an offset delay value for said HVAC unit upon receipt of said delay originating signal, determine whether to apply said offset delay value based on at least one configurable parameter and delay starting identified components of said HVAC unit based on said offset delay value.

2. The HVAC controller as recited in claim 1 wherein said offset delay value is a unique value for said HVAC unit.

3. The HVAC controller as recited in claim 1 wherein said delay originating signal is an initialization signal for said HVAC unit.

4. The HVAC controller as recited in claim 3 wherein said processor establishes said offset delay value as zero and broadcast said offset delay value to another HVAC controller of another HVAC unit at a same installation of said HVAC unit.

5. The HVAC controller as recited in claim 3 wherein said processor generates said offset delay value based on a GPS coordinate for said HVAC unit.

6. The HVAC controller as recited in claim 1 wherein said processor generates said offset delay value based on a serial number associated with said HVAC unit.

7. The HVAC controller as recited in claim 1 wherein said processor generates said offset delay value based on a clock counter of said HVAC controller.

8. The HVAC controller as recited in claim 1 wherein said processor includes an offset delay generator and an offset delay applicator, said generator configured to generate said offset delay value and said applicator configured to determine when to apply said offset delay value.

9. The HVAC controller as recited in claim 8 wherein said offset delay applicator is configured to determine when to apply said offset delay value based on at least one configurable parameter.

10. A method for starting a heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) unit, said method comprising:

receiving a delay originating signal at a controller for said HVAC unit;

automatically generating said offset delay value for said HVAC unit based upon receipt of said delay originating signal; and

determining if said offset delay value is applicable for said delay originating signal;

starting identified components of said HVAC unit based on said offset delay value and said determining, wherein said offset delay value differs from an offset delay value for another HVAC unit at the same application.

11. The method as recited in claim 10 wherein said offset delay value is a unique value for said HVAC unit.

12. The method as recited in claim 10 wherein said delay originating signal is an initialization signal for said HVAC unit.

13. The method as recited in claim 12 wherein said automatically generating said offset delay value includes establishing said offset delay value as zero when said originating signal is a initialization signal and further comprising broadcasting said offset delay value to another HVAC controller of another HVAC unit at a same installation of said HVAC unit.

14. The method as recited in claim 12 wherein said automatically generating said offset delay value is based on a GPS coordinate for said HVAC unit when said originating signal is a initialization signal.

15. The method as recited in claim 10 wherein said automatically generating said offset delay value is based on a serial number associated with said HVAC unit.

16. The method as recited in claim 10 wherein said automatically generating said offset delay value is based on a clock counter of said HVAC controller.

17. A heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) system, comprising:

a first and second HVAC unit, each HVAC unit including;

a refrigeration circuit having at least one compressor, a corresponding evaporator coil and a corresponding condenser coil;

an indoor air blower configured to move air across said evaporator coil;

an outdoor fan configured to move air across said condenser coil; and

a controller coupled to said refrigeration circuit, said indoor air blower and said outdoor fan, said controller having;

an interface configured to receive a delay originating signal; and

a processor configured to

automatically generate an offset delay value for said HVAC unit upon receipt of said delay originating signal,

determine whether to apply said offset delay value based on at least one configurable parameter, and

delay starting identified components of said HVAC unit based on said offset delay value,

wherein an offset delay value for said first HVAC unit differs from an offset delay value for said second HVAC unit and said identified components include said at least one compressor, said indoor air blower and said outdoor fan of said first and second HVAC unit.

18. The HVAC system as recited in claim 17 wherein said processor includes an offset delay generator and an offset delay applicator, said generator configured to generate said offset delay value and said applicator configured to determine when to apply said offset delay value.