Hvac filter monitoring

Abstract

A method is described for identifying faults relating to an HVAC system, such a clogged filter. Sensor data is used to estimate HVAC system efficiency. Trends in system efficiency are then used to identify faults such as clogged filters. The sensor(s) can include one or more of the following types: optical sensor, temperature sensor, pressure sensor, acoustic transducer, humidity sensor, resistive sensor, capacitive sensor, and infrared sensor. The efficiency estimation can also be based on conditions external to the building, such as data from exterior sensors and/or data gathered from third parties such as government or private weather stations. The efficiency estimation can also be based on performance metrics such as the time used to reach a set point temperature. The fault identification includes filtering out non-fault related events.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An air filter for use with an HVAC system comprising:
 a housing;   filtering media housed within the housing, the filtering media being adapted to remove unwanted material from air passing through the HVAC system;   a sensor housed within the housing so as to be positioned adjacent the filtering media, the sensor being of a type that senses conditions associated with the filtering media such that an estimate of filter condition is determinable based at least in part on data provided by the sensor;   a wireless communication device housed within the housing, the wireless communication device being adapted to transmit data from the sensor to a receiver; and   a power harvester positioned adjacent the filter and being adapted to generate power from air passing through the filter.   
     
     
         2 . The air filter of  claim 1 , wherein data is transmitted from the sensor to the receiver via the wireless communication device only when sufficient power is available via the power harvester. 
     
     
         3 . The air filter of  claim 1 , wherein the power harvester includes one or more piezoelectric elements. 
     
     
         4 . The air filter of  claim 1 , further comprising a power storage device adapted to store power generated by the power harvester. 
     
     
         5 . The air filter of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor is of a type selected from a group consisting of: optical sensor, temperature sensor, pressure sensor, acoustic transducer, humidity sensor, resistive sensor, capacitive sensor, and infrared sensor. 
     
     
         6 . The air filter of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor is of a type such that an HVAC system fault is identifiable based at least in part on data provided by the sensor. 
     
     
         7 . The air filter of  claim 1 , wherein the air filter is disposable. 
     
     
         8 . The air filter of  claim 1 , wherein the HVAC system is installed in building used primarily for residential or light-industrial purposes. 
     
     
         9 . An HVAC system comprising:
 a thermostat device configured to receive input from a user;   a processing system communicatively coupled with the HVAC system and thermostat, the processing system being configured to control the HVAC system to condition a room or space within a building or structure based on said input received from said user; and   an air filter disposed within the HVAC system, the air filter comprising:
 a housing; 
 filtering media housed within the housing, the filtering media being adapted to remove unwanted material from air passing through the HVAC system; 
 a sensor housed within the housing so as to be positioned adjacent the filtering media; 
 a wireless communication device housed within the housing, the wireless communication device being adapted to transmit data from the sensor to a receiver; and 
 a power harvester positioned adjacent the filter and being adapted to generate power from air passing through the filter. 
   
     
     
         10 . The HVAC system of  claim 9 , wherein the sensor is of a type that senses conditions associated with the filtering media and wherein the processing system is configured to estimate HVAC system performance based at least in part on data received from the sensor. 
     
     
         11 . The HVAC system of  claim 9 , wherein data is transmitted from the sensor to the receiver via the wireless communication device only when sufficient power is available via the power harvester. 
     
     
         12 . The HVAC system of  claim 9 , wherein the power harvester includes one or more piezoelectric elements. 
     
     
         13 . The HVAC system of  claim 9 , wherein the air filter further comprises a power storage device adapted to store power generated by the power harvester. 
     
     
         14 . The HVAC system of  claim 9 , wherein the sensor is of a type selected from a group consisting of: optical sensor, temperature sensor, pressure sensor, acoustic transducer, humidity sensor, resistive sensor, capacitive sensor, and infrared sensor. 
     
     
         15 . An HVAC system comprising:
 an air filter disposed within the HVAC system, the air filter comprising:
 a housing; 
 filtering media disposed within the housing, the filtering media being adapted to remove unwanted material from air passing through the HVAC system; 
 a sensor disposed within the housing and positioned adjacent the filtering media; 
 a wireless communication device disposed within the housing, the wireless communication device being adapted to transmit data from the sensor to a receiver; and 
 a power harvester disposed adjacent the air filter, the power harvester being adapted to generate power from air passing through the air filter; and 
   a processing system communicatively coupled with the HVAC system to control the HVAC system based on input received from a user, the processing system being configured to receive data from the sensor via the receiver and being further configured to:
 estimate a performance of the HVAC system using the data received from the sensor and to; 
 determine an efficiency of the air filter using the estimated performance of the HVAC system. 
   
     
     
         16 . The HVAC system of  claim 15 , wherein the processing system is further configured to estimate a time to reach a setpoint temperature based on the efficiency of the air filter. 
     
     
         17 . The HVAC system of  claim 16 , wherein the processing system is further configured to estimate a cost associated with the efficiency of the air filter based on the time to reach the setpoint temperature. 
     
     
         18 . The HVAC system of  claim 17 , wherein the processing system is further configured to:
 generate a visual icon for a display on an electronic display of a thermostat device, wherein the visual icon provides an indication of the estimated cost associated with the efficiency of the air filter; and   display the visual icon on the electronic display of the thermostat device.   
     
     
         19 . The HVAC system of  claim 15 , wherein data is transmitted from the sensor to the receiver via the wireless communication device only when sufficient power is available via the power harvester. 
     
     
         20 . The HVAC system of  claim 15 , wherein the air filter further comprises a power storage device that is adapted to store power generated by the power harvester.