Efficient multi-zone multi-velocity hvac control method and apparatus

Abstract

The present invention provides heating and cooling conditioning control in a multiple zone HVAC system to achieve enhanced user comfort and energy efficiency. In particular, the present invention provides a multiple zone HVAC control apparatus that senses and responds to changes in duct air pressure in order to prevent undesirable zone conditioning, energy loss, and register noise. The present invention offers particular benefit in high and medium velocity HVAC environments which typically suffer from pronounced deficiencies when zone demands diverge. Due to its ability to respond to changes in duct pressure, the present invention permits the conditioning of an increased number of zones without degradation in performance or user comfort. Additionally, the present invention provides a means to control elements within a multiple zone HVAC system including but not limited to heating and cooling sources, air circulator fans, zone dampers, and circulating pumps to achieve desired zone conditioning.

I claim as my invention: 
     
         1 . An efficient multiple zone and multiple velocity HVAC control apparatus comprising:
 (a) a source control element;   (b) a fan control element;   (c) a damper control element;   (d) a pressure sensor element;   (e) a thermostat input element;   (f) a controller processor;   (g) a power source.   
     
     
         2 . An efficient multiple zone and multiple velocity HVAC control apparatus as in  claim 1 , wherein said source control element can switch a heating or cooling source on or off as required by the operation of an HVAC system. 
     
     
         3 . An efficient multiple zone and multiple velocity HVAC control apparatus as in  claim 1 , wherein said fan control element can control the speed of an air circulator fan as required by the operation of an HVAC system. 
     
     
         4 . An efficient multiple zone and multiple velocity HVAC control apparatus as in  claim 3 , wherein said fan control element uses a variable type signal such as a pulse width modulated or other proportional control scheme signal to control the speed of an air circulator fan. 
     
     
         5 . An efficient multiple zone and multiple velocity HVAC control apparatus as in  claim 1 , wherein said damper control element facilitates the opening or closing of dampers permitting or restricting airflow to zones as required by the operation of a multiple zone HVAC system. 
     
     
         6 . An efficient multiple zone and multiple velocity HVAC control apparatus as in  claim 5 , wherein said damper control element facilitates the incremental adjustment of damper angles to provide precision air flow regulation as required to zones in a multiple zone HVAC system. 
     
     
         7 . An efficient multiple zone and multiple velocity HVAC control apparatus as in  claim 1 , wherein said pressure sensor element provides duct network air pressure data to said controller processor. 
     
     
         8 . An efficient multiple zone and multiple velocity HVAC control apparatus as in  claim 1 , wherein said controller processor uses duct network air pressure data provided by said air pressure sensor element to identify deviations from a predefined optimal static air pressure level. 
     
     
         9 . An efficient multiple zone and multiple velocity HVAC control apparatus as in  claim 1 , wherein said controller processor sends signals to said fan control element to increase or decrease fan speed in response to duct network air pressure data in order to correct deviations from a predefined static air pressure level for the optimal operation and performance of an HVAC system. 
     
     
         10 . An efficient multiple zone and multiple velocity HVAC control apparatus as in  claim 1 , wherein said thermostat input element provides zone temperature data and user desired zone conditioning data to said controller processor. 
     
     
         11 . An efficient multiple zone and multiple velocity HVAC control apparatus as in  claim 1 , wherein said controller processor uses zone temperature data provided by said thermostat input element to determine actions required to achieve user desired zone conditioning. 
     
     
         12 . An efficient multiple zone and multiple velocity HVAC control apparatus as in  claim 1 , wherein said controller processor sends signals to any or all of said source control element, fan control element, and damper control element in response to temperature data provided by said thermostat input element in order to achieve user desired zone conditioning. 
     
     
         13 . An efficient multiple zone and multiple velocity HVAC control apparatus as in  claim 1 , wherein said power source provides electrical power to the component elements of the control apparatus and is sufficient to allow said component elements to send control signals to components of an HVAC system for the optimal operation and performance thereof. 
     
     
         14 . An efficient multiple zone and multiple velocity HVAC control apparatus as in  claim 1 , wherein said controller processor may also be configured to receive and act on data provided to it by building automation elements in an HVAC system. 
     
     
         15 . An efficient multiple zone and multiple velocity HVAC control apparatus as in  claim 1 , wherein said controller processor may also be configured to send signals to a pump controller which in turn modulates the speed of a circulating pump in an HVAC system to achieve user desired zone conditioning. 
     
     
         16 . An efficient multiple zone and multiple velocity HVAC control apparatus as in  claim 1 , wherein said controller processor is readily programmable by an HVAC technician to set the number of zones, the primary zone, the optimal static duct pressure, and the heating and cooling strategy. 
     
     
         17 . An efficient multiple zone and multiple velocity HVAC control apparatus as in  claim 1 , wherein said apparatus may be implemented in either high velocity, medium velocity, or low velocity HVAC environments. 
     
     
         18 . An efficient multiple zone and multiple velocity HVAC control method comprising:
 (a) a primary zone element;   (b) a heating and cooling strategy.   
     
     
         19 . An efficient multiple zone and multiple velocity HVAC control method as in  claim 18 , wherein a primary zone is selected by an installation technician and said primary zone element determines whether an HVAC system is in a heating or cooling mode of operation. 
     
     
         20 . An efficient multiple zone and multiple velocity HVAC control method as in  claim 18 , wherein said heating and cooling strategy is programmed into a multiple zone HVAC control apparatus and said strategy is typically determined by the capacity, features, geometry, and specific application of an HVAC system and further determined by the requirements of the user and climactic factors in the region of application.