Other

Robert J Mowris

John E Walsh

John D Walsh

James Shum Lau

John Walsh

A method of measuring a Heating, Ventilating Air Conditioning (HVAC) system airflow across an evaporator coil or heat exchanger comprising drilling a single hole in a near side of a plenum, a duct, or a box and inserting an anemometer probe in the single hole, and taking at least one airflow measurement selected from the group consisting of: a near side airflow, a centerline airflow, and a far side airflow. Calculating an average HVAC system airflow based on the at least one airflow measurement. A second method determines which side of the plenum, duct, or box has higher airflow based the near side airflow, the centerline airflow, and the far side airflow and measures more than 50% of the airflow measurements on the higher airflow side and calculates an average HVAC system airflow based on a sum of the airflow measurements divided by the total number of airflow measurements.

Simple airflow measurement method

An occupancy fan controller method to detect a Heating, Ventilating Air Conditioning (HVAC) fan is operating based on a fan-on duration control selected by a user and after a fan-on delay selected by the user, overriding the fan-on duration control. The method comprises monitoring an occupancy sensor signal to determine an occupancy in a conditioned space served by an HVAC system and automatically overriding the fan-on duration control to save energy when the conditioned space is unoccupied. The overriding may comprise waiting until after a fan-off delay, operating the HVAC fan in auto mode based only on a thermostat call for cooling or a thermostat call for heating, controlling an economizer damper to reduce or increase outdoor airflow, and operating the HVAC fan for a variable fan-off delay after the thermostat call for cooling or heating based on the duration of the thermostat call for cooling or heating.

Occupancy fan controller

A Non-invasive Temperature-based Diagnostic (NTD) method for evaluating Air Conditioning (AC) system faults based on Return-air Drybulb Temperature (RDT), Return-air Wetbulb Temperature (RWT), Supply-air Drybulb Temperature (SDT), Suction Temperature (ST), Liquid Temperature (LT), Outdoor-Air Temperature (OAT), Delta Temperature Split (DTS) equal to Actual Temperature Split (ATS) minus Required Temperature Split (RTS), and Liquid Over Ambient Temperature (LOA) equal to LT minus OAT. The method diagnoses proper Refrigerant Charge and Airflow (RCA) based on DTS and LOA or at least one AC system fault based on DTS, ST, and LOA. The processing order comprises at least one diagnostic selected from the group consisting of: low cooling capacity, condenser heat exchanger, refrigerant restriction, evaporator heat exchanger, proper RCA, refrigerant undercharge, overcharge, non-condensables, and low airflow. DTS is used to determine an undercharge amount. The ratio of ATS measured before and after correcting AC system faults is used to calculate an energy-efficiency improvement.

Non-invasive temperature-based diagnostic method

An occupancy fan control method to detect a Heating, Ventilating Air Conditioning (HVAC) fan is operating based on a fan-on duration control selected by a user and after a fan-on time delay selected by the user, providing at least one fan-on alarm message prior to overriding the fan-on duration control. The method further comprises monitoring an occupancy sensor signal to determine an occupancy in a conditioned space served by an HVAC system and after the fan-on time delay selected by the user, automatically overriding the fan-on duration control to save energy when the conditioned space is unoccupied. The overriding may comprise operating the HVAC fan based only on a thermostat call for cooling or heating, operating the HVAC fan for a non-zero time less time than the fan-on duration control, or operating the HVAC fan for a non-zero frequency less than the fan-on duration control.

The ionizer feedback control converts high-voltage signals to feedback signals to monitor the corresponding high-voltage signals and compares the feedback signals to a first specification to determine whether the feedback signals are within the first specification. The ionizer varies a frequency and a duty cycle of a digital signal to control an excitation signal for a step-up transformer and modulates the frequency and the duty cycle of a step-up transformer output voltage to consistently maintain the feedback signals within the first specification and maintain the high-voltage signals within a second specification to generate consistent ion concentrations over a range of electrical signal inputs. The microprocessor calculates and reports high-voltage signals, and ion concentrations based on feedback signals. The microprocessor monitors concentrations of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) in an airflow serving the ionizer and adjusts the high-voltage signals and ion concentration when VOC concentrations are above a threshold.

Ionizer feedback control

A Heating, Ventilating Air Conditioning (HVAC) fan control method to detect an HVAC fan is controlled by at least one fan-on duration control selected by a user and provide at least one fan-on alarm message prior to overriding the at least one fan-on duration control. The method monitors an occupancy sensor signal to determine an occupancy in a conditioned space served by an HVAC system and automatically overrides the at least one fan-on duration control to save energy when the conditioned space is unoccupied. The overriding may comprise operating the HVAC fan based only on a thermostat call for cooling or a thermostat call for heating, operating the HVAC fan for less time than the at least one fan-on duration control selected by the user, and operating the HVAC fan for less frequency than the at least one fan-on duration control selected by the user.

Occupancy-based fan control

A bipolar ionizer comprising an electronic circuit, microprocessor, and step-up transformer providing high-voltage signals to carbon-fiber electrodes producing bipolar ion concentrations greater than +/&#x2212;200 million ions per cubic centimeter. The bipolar ionizer monitors, reduces, and converts high-voltage signals to feedback signals used by the microprocessor to vary a frequency and a duty cycle of a digital signal to control an excitation signal for a step-up transformer output voltage to consistently maintain an unbalanced high-voltage output ratio less than 80 percent, balanced bipolar ion concentration ratio greater than 80 percent, and zero ozone concentration over a range of electrical signal inputs. The microprocessor calculates and reports bipolar ionizer concentrations based on feedback signals. The microprocessor monitors concentrations of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) in an airflow serving the bipolar ionizer and adjusts the positive/negative DC high-voltage signals and bipolar ion concentration when VOC concentrations are above a threshold.

Bipolar ionizer with feedback control

A programmable controller circuit that can be connected directly to the fan switch of any thermostat with a forced air heating and/or cooling system that includes a blower fan for circulating air throughout the home. The controller can be installed with minimal modifications to the existing wiring. The present invention increases the efficiency of the cooling system by evaporating condensate and extracting residual coolness from the thermal mass of the evaporator coils. The present invention can be programmed with a single button. A method of adapting additional fan run time based oncompressor run timean AC compressor off time and an AC compressor on time.

External thermostat fan controller

Detecting a thermostat call for heating or cooling based on detecting a heat W or compressor Y signal is activated and energizing a fan signal output and operating a system fan/blower while the W or Y signal is activated and energizing the fan signal and operating the fan for a variable fan-off delay immediately after the W or Y signal is de-activated and de-energizing the fan signal and not operating the fan after the variable fan-off delay when a fan G signal is not activated. Detecting the fan G signal is activated and the W or Y signal is not activated indicating a fan-on duration control selected by a user, and energizing the fan signal and operating the fan while the fan G signal is activated and de-energizing the fan signal and not operating the fan and not providing the variable fan-off delay when the fan G signal is de-activated.

Smart thermostat fan controller

A method for providing a variable fan-off delay after a thermostat call for cooling or after a heating on cycle for a Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning (HVAC) system. The variable fan-off delay may be ended based on comparing a measurement of a Conditioned Space Temperature (CST) to a CST threshold. The CST threshold may be based on a previous measurement of the CST monitored during the current variable fan-off delay. The CST threshold may be an inflection point where the rate of change of the CST with respect to time equals zero plus or minus a confidence interval tolerance. The CST threshold may also be a fan-off delay differential offset or a thermostat setpoint differential where the variable fan-off delay is ended when the measurement of the CST during the variable fan-off delay crosses the differential at least once after the cooling or heating on cycle.

Thermostat variable fan-off delay

A balanced bipolar ionizer that generates zero or nearly-zero ozone concentration by providing a bipolar ion concentration ratio greater than 80 percent based on a high-voltage output ratio less than 80 percent over a range of electric signal inputs. A signal-conditioning element provides an excitation signal to a step-up transformer which provides an output voltage to a positive and a negative voltage multiplier which provide a positive high-voltage output greater than an absolute value of a negative high-voltage output or vice versa. The high-voltage output ratio is equal to a minimum of an absolute value of a negative and positive high-voltage output divided by a maximum of the absolute value of the negative and positive high-voltage output. The bipolar ion-concentration ratio is equal to a minimum of an absolute value of a negative-ion and positive-ion concentration divided by a maximum of the absolute value of the negative-ion and positive-ion concentration.

Balanced bipolar ionizer based on unbalanced high-voltage output

A fan-on Fault Detection Diagnostic (FDD) and correction method comprising at least one method selected from the group consisting of: detecting a Heating, Ventilating, Air Conditioning (HVAC) fan is controlled by a fan-on duration setting or a continuous or intermittent fan-on duration setting or schedule, and performing at least one action selected from the group consisting of: providing at least one fan-on alarm message, overriding the fan-on duration setting or the fan-on duration schedule, and turning off the HVAC fan for a fraction of the fan-on duration setting or schedule. Turning off the HVAC fan is based on at least one method selected from the group consisting of: a variable duration, skipping a scheduled fan-on duration setting, based on a call for cooling/heating, based on a geofencing or occupancy sensor signal, and based on a user-selected fan-on duration setting or a user-selected fan-off duration schedule.

Fan-on detection and correction

An economizer controller calibration method, comprising: sealing an economizer perimeter gap between the economizer frame and a Heating, Ventilating Air Conditioning (HVAC) system cabinet to reduce an uncontrolled outdoor airflow; determining a functional relationship between an economizer actuator voltage (x) and a damper position Outdoor Airflow Fraction (OAF) (y); monitoring the economizer actuator voltage (x) and measuring at least one airflow characteristic to calculate the damper position OAF (y) and obtain a set of x-versus-y data for at least two damper positions: closed, intermediate, and fully-open; calculating at least two coefficients of the functional relationship using the x-versus-y data; calculating a target economizer actuator voltage (x) as a function of a required OAF(y) using the functional relationship; and positioning the damper using the target economizer actuator voltage (x) to provide the target damper position OAF(y) within a tolerance of the required OAF(y).

Economizer controller calibration

A method for sealing an economizer perimeter gap to reduce an uncontrolled excess outdoor airflow by applying a sealing material over or into the economizer perimeter gap between the economizer frame and a Heating, Ventilating, Air Conditioning (HVAC) system cabinet comprising: locating the economizer perimeter gap between the economizer frame and the HVAC system cabinet and applying a sealing material over or into the economizer perimeter gap. The sealing material is selected from the group consisting of: an adhesive tape sealant, an adhesive sealant, a mastic sealant, a caulking material, and a weatherstripping. The method comprises: disconnecting an electrical power to the HVAC system, removing an economizer hood, locating and cleaning the metal services on both sides of the gap between the economizer frame and the HVAC cabinet, applying the sealing material over or into the gap, reinstalling the economizer hood, and reconnecting the electrical power to the HVAC system.

Economizer perimeter gap sealing

A Fault Detection Diagnostic (FDD) correction method for increasing the cooling capacity delivered by an Air-Conditioning (AC) system with an economizer comprising: correcting/superseding at least one cooling fault/delay, the correcting/superseding selected from the group consisting of: correcting/superseding a High-limit-Shut-off-Temperature (HST) fault/delay based on detecting an Outdoor Air Temperature (OAT) is less than or equal to a High-limit-Control Temperature (HCT) during a thermostat call for cooling to enable economizer cooling otherwise delayed by the at least one HST fault/delay, superseding a thermostat second-stage time/temperature-deadband delay based on detecting an OAT is greater than or equal to an AC Control Temperature (ACT) during a call for cooling and energizing an AC compressor otherwise delayed by a thermostat second-stage time/temperature-deadband delay, superseding at least one economizer second-stage time/temperature delay based on detecting a thermostat second-stage cooling signal and energizing an AC compressor otherwise delayed by the at least one economizer second-stage time/temperature delay.

Growing community of inventors

Olympic Valley, CA, United States of America

Robert J Mowris