Microtherm LLC

Steven P Harter

Steven G Landry

David L Gilvar

A self optimizing device for controlling a heating unit in a manner so as to improve the energy efficiency of the heating unit using an autocalibration processor. The heating unit employs a heating medium that is heated by the heating unit and which transfers the heat into an ambient atmosphere outside of the heating unit. The heating unit has an on-state initiated when a characteristic of the heating medium representative of the heating capacity of the medium decreases below a minimum level, and an off-state initiated when the characteristic of the heating medium reaches a maximum level. The controller includes an input element, an output element, a time-measuring element, and a processor. The input element receives a signal from a sensor, the signal indicating the heating medium characteristic representative of the heating capacity of the heating medium. The output element signals the heating unit to begin its on-state. The time-measuring element measures an off-time, the off-time being the length of time from initiation of the off-state of the heating unit until the characteristic of the heating medium decreases below the minimum level. The processor determines a delay time and for signaling the heating unit to delay initiation of the on-state by the delay time amount, the extension of the off-time resulting in an energy savings over an undelayed initiation. The processor further comprising an autocalibration processor for determining a delay time that results in optimum energy savings.

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Merrimack, NH, United States of America

Steven P Harter