Thermal balance temperature control system

Abstract

A method and apparatus for controlling a temperature-regulated zone utilizing a thermal balance temperature control system. The thermal balance control system is a dynamic real time control system that measures the sensible thermal load in the zone, and directly regulates the BTU output of the HVAC package to balance such output with the measured sensible thermal load.

1 . A method of controlling room temperature within a zone of a temperature control system utilizing supply air having a temperature T, comprising the steps of: 
 defining a thermal demand set point temperature curve for said temperature control system;    measuring a sensible thermal load within said zone;    calculating a thermal demand set point temperature based upon said sensible thermal load;    defining at least one load band for said temperature control system corresponding to an equilibrium condition; and    operating said temperature control system to maintain individual components of said system in a constant operating condition for as long as said system operates within said load band.    
   
   
       2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said first defining step includes the steps of establishing a heating curve extending between a minimum heating thermal demand set point corresponding to a condition of minimum heating output and a maximum heating thermal demand set point corresponding to a condition of maximum heating output and establishing a cooling curve extending between a minimum cooling thermal demand set point corresponding to a condition of minimum cooling output and a maximum cooling thermal demand set point corresponding to a condition of maximum cooling output.  
   
   
       3 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein said sensible thermal load is equal to the amount of deviation between a set point temperature for said zone and an actual room temperature for said zone, and wherein said measuring step includes the step of calculating the difference between said set point temperature and said actual room temperature.  
   
   
       4 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein said calculating step includes the further steps of: 
 establishing a point on said thermal demand set point temperature curve corresponding to said sensible thermal load;    determining a delta temperature T from said set point temperature; and    calculating said thermal demand set point temperature based upon said room set point temperature and said delta temperature T.    
   
   
       5 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein said second defining step includes the steps of establishing an operating load band having a preselected width corresponding generally to the operating characteristics of a unit temperature control stage.  
   
   
       6 . The method according to  claim 5 , further comprising the step of defining an upper integrating region located above said operating load band and a lower integrating region located below said operating load band; and 
 providing integrating action for increasing the responsiveness of said system when a signal enters one of said upper and lower integrating regions.    
   
   
       7 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein said operating step includes the step of energizing a temperature control unit stage to move said temperature T of said supply air into said load band, and maintaining said unit in an energized state as long as said temperature T remains within said load band.  
   
   
       8 . A thermal balance temperature control system for controlling room temperature within a predefined zone, comprising: 
 at least one air handling unit for providing supply air at a preselected temperature, said air handling unit including at least one unit stage;    a supply duct for transporting said supply air from said air handling unit to said predefined zone;    at least one controller for controlling room temperature within said predefined zone, said controller comprising at least one processor circuit for measuring a sensible thermal load within said zone and for calculating a thermal demand set point temperature based upon said sensible thermal load in accordance with a predefined thermal demand set point temperature curve, and wherein said processor circuit operates said temperature control system to maintain said unit stage in an energized condition for as long as said system operates within a predefined load band corresponding to an equilibrium condition.    
   
   
       9 . The system according to  claim 8 , wherein said sensible thermal load is equal to the deviation between a set point temperature for said zone and an actual room temperature for said zone.  
   
   
       10 . The system according to  claim 9 , wherein said predefined thermal demand set point temperature curve includes a heating curve extending between a minimum thermal demand set point corresponding to minimum heating output and a maximum thermal demand set point corresponding to maximum heating output and also includes a cooling curve extending between a minimum thermal demand set point corresponding to minimum cooling output and a maximum thermal demand set point corresponding to maximum cooling output.  
   
   
       11 . The system according to  claim 11 , wherein said predefined load band includes an upper integrating region located above said operating load band and a lower integrating region located below said operating load band, and wherein said integrating regions provide integrating action for increased responsiveness to signals entering one of said upper and lower integrating regions.  
   
   
       12 . A controller for controlling room temperature within a zone of a temperature control system utilizing supply air A, said supply air having a temperature T, comprising: 
 at least one processor circuit for measuring a sensible thermal load within said zone and for calculating a thermal demand set point temperature based upon said sensible thermal load in accordance with a predefined thermal demand set point temperature curve, and wherein said processor circuit operates said temperature control system to maintain individual components in a constant operating condition for as long as said system operates within a predefined load band corresponding to an equilibrium condition.