Controller configured to receive a cfm setting less than a blower minimum in a zoning application, an hvac system including the controller and a method of operating the controller

Abstract

The disclosure provides a HVAC system, a method of operating a controller of an HVAC system and a controller of an HVAC system. In one embodiment, the HVAC system includes: (1) a blower having a minimum CFM value, and (2) a controller having (2A) an interface configured to receive a desired CFM value for conditioning a zone and (2B) a processor configured to determine a total CFM value for conditioning multiple zones including the above zone based on the desired CFM value. The desired CFM value is below the minimum CFM value of the blower.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A HVAC system comprising:
 a blower having a minimum CFM value;   a controller having:
 an interface configured to receive a desired CFM value for conditioning a zone; and 
 a processor configured to determine a required CFM value for conditioning multiple zones including said zone based on said desired CFM value, wherein said desired CFM value is below said minimum CFM value of said blower. 
   
     
     
         2 . The HVAC system of  claim 1 , wherein said interface is further configured to receive environmental data from a comfort sensor. 
     
     
         3 . The HVAC system of  claim 1 , wherein said required CFM value is also based on other desired CFM values for zones other than said zone. 
     
     
         4 . The HVAC system of  claim 1 , wherein said processor is further configured to compare said required CFM value to said minimum CFM value of said blower. 
     
     
         5 . The HVAC system of  claim 1 , wherein said controller further comprises a memory for storing said desired CFM value. 
     
     
         6 . The HVAC system of  claim 4 , wherein said processor is further configured to instruct said blower to generate a volume of air corresponding to said required CFM value when said required CFM value is greater than said minimum CFM value. 
     
     
         7 . The HVAC system of  claim 4 , wherein said processor is further configured to instruct said blower to generate a volume of air corresponding to said minimum CFM value when said required CFM value is equal to or less than said minimum CFM value. 
     
     
         8 . A controller for a HVAC system comprising:
 an interface configured to receive a desired CFM value for conditioning a zone; and   a processor configured to determine a required CFM value for conditioning multiple zones including said zone based on said desired CFM value, wherein said desired CFM value is below a minimum CFM value of a blower for said HVAC system.   
     
     
         9 . The controller of  claim 8 , wherein said required CFM value is also based on other desired CFM values for zones other than said zone. 
     
     
         10 . The controller of  claim 8 , wherein said required CFM value is greater than said minimum CFM value. 
     
     
         11 . The controller of  claim 8 , wherein said required CFM value is equal to or less than said minimum CFM value. 
     
     
         12 . The controller of  claim 10 , wherein said processor is further configured to instruct said blower to generate a volume of air corresponding to said required CFM value. 
     
     
         13 . The controller of  claim 11 , wherein said processor is further configured to instruct said blower to generate a volume of air corresponding to said minimum CFM value. 
     
     
         14 . The controller of  claim 8  further comprising a memory for storing said desired CFM value. 
     
     
         15 . A method of operating a controller of an HVAC system, comprising:
 receiving a desired CFM value for conditioning a zone, wherein said desired CFM value is below a minimum CFM value of said blower; and   determining a required CFM for conditioning multiple zones including said zone based on said desired CFM value.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said required CFM value is also based on other desired CFM values for zones other than said zone. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising storing said desired CFM value in a memory associated with said controller. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising comparing said required CFM value to said minimum CFM value of said blower. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising, when said required CFM value is greater than said minimum CFM value, instructing said blower to generate a volume of air corresponding to said required CFM value, and when said required CFM value is less than said minimum CFM value, instructing said blower to generate a volume of air corresponding to said minimum CFM value. 
     
     
         20 . The method as recited in  claim 15 , wherein said method is performed during manufacturing or testing of said controller or said HVAC system.