Air-treatment assemblies and methods for monitoring performance

Abstract

A method of operating an air-treatment appliance, as provided herein, may include directing a fluid-motivating unit (FMU) to motivate a fluid through the air-treatment appliance based on a condition setpoint. The method may also include receiving an ambient condition signal. The method may further include measuring a total active time of the FMU over a predetermined time period and estimating a power consumption based on the total active time of the FMU. The method may still further include determining a diagnostic state of the air-treatment appliance based on the ambient condition signal and the estimated power consumption. The method may include transmitting a state signal to a user interface according to the determined diagnostic state.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for operating an air-treatment appliance comprising a fluid-motivating unit (FMU) and a heat exchanger in fluid communication with the FMU, the method comprising:
 directing the FMU to motivate a fluid through the air-treatment appliance based on a condition setpoint;   receiving an ambient condition signal;   measuring a total active time of the FMU over a predetermined time period;   estimating a power consumption based on the total active time of the FMU;   determining a diagnostic state of the air-treatment appliance based on the ambient condition signal and the estimated power consumption; and   transmitting a state signal to a user interface according to the determined diagnostic state.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the FMU comprises a compressor in upstream fluid communication with the heat exchanger to direct a refrigerant therethrough. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the air-treatment appliance further comprises a second FMU comprising a fan in upstream fluid communication with the heat exchanger to direct an airflow across the heat exchanger, wherein the method further comprises:
 directing the second FMU to motivate the airflow based on the condition setpoint; and   measuring a total active time of the second FMU over the predetermined time period,   wherein estimating the power consumption is further based on the total active time of the second FMU.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the FMU comprises a fan in upstream fluid communication with the heat exchanger to direct an airflow across the heat exchanger. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the ambient condition signal is an ambient temperature signal. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the ambient temperature signal is received from a temperature sensor mounted on an outdoor portion of the air-treatment appliance. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the ambient temperature signal is received from a remote server in operable communication with the air-treatment appliance. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the ambient condition signal comprises an ambient humidity signal. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the ambient humidity signal is received from a humidity sensor mounted on an outdoor portion of the air-treatment appliance. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the ambient humidity signal is received from a remote server in operable communication with the air-treatment appliance. 
     
     
         11 . A method for operating an air-treatment appliance comprising a fluid-motivating unit (FMU) and a heat exchanger in fluid communication with the FMU, the method comprising:
 directing the FMU to motivate a fluid through the air-treatment appliance based on a condition setpoint;   receiving an ambient condition signal;   measuring an ambient condition value according to the ambient condition signal;   measuring a total active time of the FMU over a predetermined time period;   estimating a power consumption based on the total active time of the FMU;   determining a diagnostic state of the air-treatment appliance based on the ambient condition signal and the estimated power consumption, determining a diagnostic state including determining a variation in the power consumption from an expected power consumption for the predetermined time period; and   transmitting a state signal to a user interface according to the determined diagnostic state.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the FMU comprises a compressor in upstream fluid communication with the heat exchanger to direct a refrigerant therethrough. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the air-treatment appliance further comprises a second FMU comprising a fan in upstream fluid communication with the heat exchanger to direct an airflow across the heat exchanger, wherein the method further comprises:
 directing the second FMU to motivate the airflow based on the condition setpoint; and   measuring a total active time of the second FMU over the predetermined time period,   wherein estimating the power consumption is further based on the total active time of the second FMU.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the FMU comprises a fan in upstream fluid communication with the heat exchanger to direct an airflow across the heat exchanger. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the ambient condition signal is an ambient temperature signal. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the ambient temperature signal is received from a temperature sensor mounted on an outdoor portion of the air-treatment appliance. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the ambient temperature signal is received from a remote server in operable communication with the air-treatment appliance. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the ambient condition signal comprises an ambient humidity signal 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the ambient humidity signal is received from a humidity sensor mounted on an outdoor portion of the air-treatment appliance. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the ambient humidity signal is received from a remote server in operable communication with the air-treatment appliance.