Hvac system configuration and zone management

Abstract

Systems and methods for HVAC system design and zone group management are disclosed. A floor plan of a building is received, and an HVAC system configuration is selected from among a set of template HVAC configurations. HVAC components are selected from set of template HVAC components to customize the configuration. As components are selected, candidate positions for the HVAC component within the HVAC system configuration are determined and presented to a user to ensure compliance with engineering requirements. The floor plan includes a mapping of an HVAC system configuration to an HVAC zone group. If a change is made to the HVAC system configuration of a zone associated with a zone group, it is determined if another zone group shares the same properties as the changed HVAC configuration. If one exists, the changes]d zone is moved to the new zone group. If not, a new zone group is created and the changes zone is moved to the new zone group.

1 - 19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . A device for constructing an HVAC system for a structure having distinct thermal zones, comprising:
 a processor; and   a memory operatively coupled to the processor and storing instructions, which, when executed by the processor, cause the device to:
 define the structure; 
 define an HVAC topology included in the structure; 
 identify common elements of the HVAC topology associated with a distinct thermal zone; 
 define a zone group comprising distinct zones sharing a common element; 
 modify membership of the zone group in response to a determination that a first zone of the zone group no longer shares the common element with a second zone of the zone group; and 
 determine a different common element shared by the first zone. 
   
     
     
         21 . The device in accordance with  claim 20 , wherein the memory further stores instructions, which, when executed by the processor, cause the device to define one or more HVAC components included in the structure. 
     
     
         22 . The device in accordance with  claim 20 , wherein the memory further stores instructions, which, when executed by the processor, cause the device to define an interconnection between one or more HVAC components included in the structure. 
     
     
         23 . The device in accordance with  claim 20 , wherein the memory further stores instructions, which, when executed by the processor, cause the device to remove from the zone group the first zone that no longer shares the common element with the second zone of the zone group; and
 add the first zone to a different zone group comprising distinct zones sharing the different common element.   
     
     
         24 . The device in accordance with  claim 20 , wherein the memory further stores instructions, which, when executed by the processor, cause the device to:
 provide a set of pre-defined characteristics of an HVAC component, wherein the pre-defined characteristics include a configuration rule and a simulation rule;   insert a representation of a distinct thermal zone into a zone tree;   join the HVAC component to at least one other HVAC component in the representation of the distinct thermal zone based upon the pre-defined characteristics of the respective HVAC components being joined.   
     
     
         25 . The device in accordance with  claim 24 , wherein the set of pre-defined characteristics of an HVAC component is expressed in an extensible markup language. 
     
     
         26 . The device in accordance with  claim 24 , wherein the memory further stores instructions, which, when executed by the processor, cause the device to store the configuration rule and the simulation rule in third normal form. 
     
     
         27 . A device for constructing an HVAC system for a structure having distinct thermal zones, comprising:
 a processor; and   a memory operatively coupled to the processor and storing instructions, which, when executed by the processor, cause the device to:
 define the structure; 
 define a plurality of HVAC components included in the structure; 
 define interconnections between two or more of the plurality of HVAC components included in the structure; 
 identify a further HVAC component to be inserted into an interconnection of the structure; and 
 identify a candidate interconnection into which the further HVAC component may be inserted. 
   
     
     
         28 . The device in accordance with  claim 27 , wherein the memory further stores instructions, which, when executed by the processor, cause the device to insert the further HVAC component into the candidate interconnection. 
     
     
         29 . The device in accordance with  claim 27 , wherein the memory further stores instructions, which, when executed by the processor, cause the device to select the candidate interconnection from the group consisting of a refrigerant circuit, an air duct, and a control circuit. 
     
     
         30 . A device, comprising:
 a processor;   a graphic display operatively coupled to the processor; and   a memory operatively coupled to the processor and storing instructions, which, when executed by the processor, cause the device to:
 display a plurality of HVAC system configurations on the graphic display; 
 receive a user selection of HVAC system configuration; 
 display the selected HVAC system configuration on the graphic display; 
 display a plurality of HVAC components on the graphic display; 
 receive a user selection of a HVAC component; 
 apply a rules-based engine to determine the possible locations within the HVAC system configuration at which the selected HVAC component may be placed; and 
 display the possible locations the selected HVAC component may be placed on the HVAC system configuration on the graphic display. 
   
     
     
         31 . The device in accordance with  claim 30 , wherein the memory further stores instructions, which, when executed by the processor, cause the device to place the selected HVAC component at one of the determined possible locations. 
     
     
         32 . A device for configuring a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system of a building, comprising:
 a processor;   a graphic display operatively coupled to the processor; and   a memory operatively coupled to the processor and storing instructions, which, when executed by the processor, cause the device to:
 receive a floor plan of the building; 
 receive an HVAC system configuration selected from among a set of template HVAC configurations; 
 receive an HVAC component selected from among a set of template HVAC components; 
 determine a candidate position for the HVAC component within the HVAC system configuration; 
 display a schematic diagram of the HVAC system configuration on the graphic display; and 
 display the candidate position for the HVAC component on the schematic diagram. 
   
     
     
         33 . A device for configuring a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system of a building, comprising:
 a processor;   a graphic display operatively coupled to the processor; and   a memory operatively coupled to the processor and storing instructions, which, when executed by the processor, cause the device to:
 receive a floor plan of the building, wherein the floor plan includes a mapping of an HVAC system configuration to a first HVAC zone group; 
 receive a change to the HVAC system configuration associated with a first HVAC zone of the first HVAC zone group; 
 determine whether a second HVAC zone group is mapped to a system configuration having the same properties as the changed HVAC configuration of the first zone; 
 respond to a determining that a second HVAC zone group is not mapped to a system configuration having the same properties as the changed HVAC configuration of the first zone by removing the first zone from the first HVAC zone group, creating a new HVAC zone group, and adding the first zone to the new HVAC zone group; and 
 displaying, on the graphic display, the zone of the new zone group using a different visual representation from that of the first zone group. 
   
     
     
         34 . The device in accordance with  claim 33 , wherein the memory further stores instructions, which, when executed by the processor, cause the device to respond to a determining that a second HVAC zone group is mapped to a system configuration having the same properties as the changed HVAC configuration of the first zone by removing the first zone from the first HVAC zone group and adding the first zone to the second HVAC zone group. 
     
     
         35 . The device in accordance with  claim 33 , wherein the memory further stores instructions, which, when executed by the processor, cause the device to automatically assign a new name to the new HVAC zone group. 
     
     
         36 . The device in accordance with  claim 33 , wherein the different visual representation includes a different color, a different hatching, and/or a different background image.