Multifunction adaptive fan system

Abstract

A multifunction adaptive fan system can include a whole house fan to pull air through a building structure. The multifunction adaptive fan system can include an attic fan to pull air though an attic and expel air out of the attic. The system can monitor the environment to operate the fans when desired conditions are present in coordination with other systems of the building structure to reduce overall energy consumption.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A multifunction adaptive attic fan system for use with a building structure having an attic, the multifunction adaptive attic fan system comprising:
 an attic fan comprising:
 a cylindrical housing configured to be connected to a building structure having an attic space, the cylindrical housing comprising an inflow end and an outflow end; 
 a motor configured to rotate a fan drive shaft; and 
 a fan blade assembly secured to the fan drive shaft so that rotation of the fan drive shaft causes the fan blade assembly to rotate, 
 wherein the motor and the fan blade assembly are disposed within the cylindrical housing and configured to draw air from the attic space into the cylindrical housing through the inflow end and to exhaust air out of the attic space through the outflow end of the cylindrical housing; 
   a power control unit comprising a controller and a voltage regulator, the voltage regulator configured to be in electrical communication with the motor to supply DC power based on a predetermined voltage to the motor to rotate the fan drive shaft at a desired fan speed;   a voltage converter configured to be connected to AC power from an electrical utility power grid, the voltage converter configured to convert the AC power to DC power, the voltage converter in electrical communication with the power control unit to provide the converted DC power to the power control unit to be supplied to the voltage regulator;   a solar panel configured to be mounted to the attic fan or the building structure, the solar panel configured to generate DC power from solar energy, the solar panel in electrical communication with the power control unit to provide the generated DC power to the power control unit to be supplied to the motor; and   a temperature sensor configured to send an attic temperature signal corresponding to an attic temperature of the attic, wherein the power control unit is configured to receive the attic temperature signal to determine the attic temperature,   wherein the controller is configured to cause the voltage regulator to control an amount of converted voltage from the converted DC power that is provided to the motor based on an amount of generated voltage from the generated DC power being provided to the power control unit by the solar panel such that the amount of converted voltage plus the amount of generated voltage equals the predetermined voltage,   wherein the predetermined voltage comprises a first predetermined voltage, a second predetermined voltage, and a third predetermined voltage, wherein the first predetermined voltage is less than the second predetermined voltage, and the second predetermined voltage is less than the third predetermined voltage, wherein the desired fan speed comprises a first desired fan speed, a second desired fan speed, and a third desired fan speed, wherein the first desired fan speed is less than the second desired fan speed, and the second desired fan speed is less than the third desired fan speed, and   wherein controller is configured to:
 compare the attic temperature to a first predetermined temperature, a second predetermined temperature, and a third predetermined temperature, wherein the first predetermined temperature is less than the second predetermined temperature, and the second predetermined temperature is less than the third predetermined temperature; 
 based on a comparison being that the attic temperature is between the first predetermined temperature and the second predetermined temperature, cause the attic fan to operate at the first predetermined voltage to operate the attic fan at the first desired fan speed for the attic fan to operate on generated DC power when the amount of generated voltage is less than the second predetermined voltage; 
 based on a comparison being that the attic temperature is between the second predetermined temperature and the third predetermined temperature, cause the attic fan to operate at the second predetermined voltage to operate the attic fan at the second desired fan speed for the attic fan to operate on generated DC power when the amount of generated voltage is less than the third predetermined voltage; and 
 based on a comparison being that the attic temperature is greater than the third predetermined temperature, cause the attic fan to operate at the third predetermined voltage to operate the attic fan at the third desired fan speed. 
   
     
     
         2 . The multifunction adaptive attic fan system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to compare the amount of generated voltage to the predetermined voltage, wherein based on the comparison being that the attic temperature is between the first predetermined temperature and the second predetermined temperature and a comparison being that the amount of generated voltage is greater than the first predetermined voltage, the controller is configured to cause the attic fan to operate at the generated voltage to operate the attic fan at a speed that is greater than the first desired fan speed. 
     
     
         3 . The multifunction adaptive attic fan system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to compare the amount of generated voltage to the predetermined voltage, wherein based on the comparison being that the attic temperature is between the second predetermined temperature and the third predetermined temperature and a comparison being that the amount of generated voltage is greater than the second predetermined voltage, the controller is configured to cause the attic fan to operate at the generated voltage to operate the attic fan at a speed that is greater than the second desired fan speed. 
     
     
         4 . The multifunction adaptive attic fan system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to compare the amount of generated voltage to the predetermined voltage, wherein based on the comparison being that the attic temperature is greater than the third predetermined temperature and a comparison being that the amount of generated voltage is greater than the third predetermined voltage, the controller is configured to cause the attic fan to operate at the generated voltage to operate the attic fan at a speed that is greater than the third desired fan speed. 
     
     
         5 . The multifunction adaptive attic fan system of  claim 1 , wherein the cylindrical housing is configured to be secured to a gable vent of the building structure. 
     
     
         6 . The multifunction adaptive attic fan system of  claim 1 , wherein the cylindrical housing is configured to be secured to a roof of the building structure. 
     
     
         7 . The multifunction adaptive attic fan system of  claim 1 , wherein the motor and the fan blade assembly are configured to exhaust air out of the cylindrical housing through the outflow end to exhaust air out of the attic through an opening in a surface of the attic. 
     
     
         8 . The multifunction adaptive attic fan system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to monitor the amount of generated voltage from the generated DC power to determine the amount of converted voltage from the converted DC power to be provided to the motor, and wherein the power control unit supplies the generated DC power to the motor without directing the generated DC power through the voltage regulator. 
     
     
         9 . An attic fan system for use with a building structure having an attic, the attic fan system comprising:
 an attic fan comprising:
 a housing configured to be connected to a building structure having an attic space, the housing comprising an inflow end and an outflow end; 
 a motor configured to rotate a fan drive shaft; and 
 a fan blade assembly secured to the fan drive shaft so that rotation of the fan drive shaft causes the fan blade assembly to rotate, 
 wherein the motor and the fan blade assembly are disposed within the housing and configured to draw air from the attic space into the housing through the inflow end and to exhaust air out of the attic space through the outflow end of the housing; 
   a controller configured to control a voltage regulator, the voltage regulator configured to be in communication with the motor to supply DC power based on a predetermined voltage to the motor to rotate the fan drive shaft at a desired fan speed;   a voltage converter configured to be connected to AC power from an electrical utility power grid, the voltage converter configured to convert the AC power to DC power, the voltage converter configured to provide the converted DC power to the voltage regulator; and   a solar panel configured to be mounted to the attic fan or the building structure, the solar panel configured to generate DC power from solar energy, the solar panel in communication with the motor to provide the generated DC power to the motor,   wherein the controller is configured to cause the voltage regulator to control an amount of converted voltage from the converted DC power that is provided to the motor based on an amount of generated voltage from the generated DC power such that the amount of converted voltage plus the amount of generated voltage equals the predetermined voltage.   
     
     
         10 . The attic fan system of  claim 9 , further comprising a temperature sensor configured to send an attic temperature signal corresponding to an attic temperature of the attic, wherein the controller is configured to receive the attic temperature signal to determine the attic temperature. 
     
     
         11 . The attic fan system of  claim 10 , wherein the predetermined voltage comprises a first predetermined voltage, a second predetermined voltage, and a third predetermined voltage, wherein the first predetermined voltage is less than the second predetermined voltage, and the second predetermined voltage is less than the third predetermined voltage, wherein the desired fan speed comprises a first desired fan speed, a second desired fan speed, and a third desired fan speed, wherein the first desired fan speed is less than the second desired fan speed, and the second desired fan speed is less than the third desired fan speed, and wherein the controller is configured to:
 compare the attic temperature to a first predetermined temperature, a second predetermined temperature, and a third predetermined temperature, wherein the first predetermined temperature is less than the second predetermined temperature, and the second predetermined temperature is less than the third predetermined temperature;   based on a comparison being that the attic temperature is between the first predetermined temperature and the second predetermined temperature, cause the attic fan to operate at the first predetermined voltage to operate the attic fan at the first desired fan speed;   based on a comparison being that the attic temperature is between the second predetermined temperature and the third predetermined temperature, cause the attic fan to operate at the second predetermined voltage to operate the attic fan at the second desired fan speed; and   based on a comparison being that the attic temperature is greater than the third predetermined temperature, cause the attic fan to operate at the third predetermined voltage to operate the attic fan at the third desired fan speed.   
     
     
         12 . The attic fan system of  claim 11 , further comprising a humidity sensor configured to send an attic humidity signal corresponding to an attic humidity of the attic, wherein the controller is configured to:
 receive the attic humidity signal to determine the attic humidity;   compare the attic humidity to a predetermined humidity; and   based on a comparison being that the attic temperature is less than the first predetermined temperature and a comparison that the attic humidity is less than a predetermined attic humidity, cause the attic fan to suspend operation.   
     
     
         13 . The attic fan system of  claim 12 , wherein based on the comparison being that the attic temperature is less than the first predetermined temperature and a comparison that the attic humidity is greater than the predetermined attic humidity, the controller is configured to operate the attic fan based on a set speed, wherein the set speed comprises a first set speed, a second set speed, and a third set speed, and wherein the controller is configured to:
 based on the set speed being the first set speed, cause the attic fan to operate at the first predetermined voltage to operate the attic fan at the first set speed;   based on the set speed being the second set speed, cause the attic fan to operate at the second predetermined voltage to operate the attic fan at the second set speed; and   based on the set speed being the third set speed, cause the attic fan to operate at the third predetermined voltage to operate the attic fan at the third set speed.   
     
     
         14 . The attic fan system of  claim 12 , wherein based on a comparison being that the attic temperature is less than the first predetermined temperature and a comparison that the attic humidity is greater than a predetermined attic humidity, the controller is configured to operate the attic fan based on the attic humidity signal. 
     
     
         15 . The attic fan system of  claim 14 , wherein the controller is configured to:
 compare the attic humidity to a first predetermined humidity, a second predetermined humidity, and a third predetermined humidity, wherein the first predetermined humidity is less than the second predetermined humidity, and the second predetermined humidity is less than the third predetermined humidity;   based on a comparison being that the attic humidity is between the first predetermined humidity and the second predetermined humidity, cause the attic fan to operate at the first predetermined voltage to operate the attic fan at the first desired fan speed;   based on a comparison being that the attic humidity is between the second predetermined humidity and the third predetermined humidity, cause the attic fan to operate at the second predetermined voltage to operate the attic fan at the second desired fan speed; and   based on a comparison being that the attic humidity is greater than the third predetermined humidity, cause the attic fan to operate at the third predetermined voltage to operate the attic fan at the third desired fan speed.   
     
     
         16 . The attic fan system of  claim 9 , wherein the controller is configured to cause the attic fan to operate at the generated voltage without using DC power from the voltage converter. 
     
     
         17 . The attic fan system of  claim 16 , further comprising a temperature sensor configured to send an attic temperature signal corresponding to an attic temperature of the attic, wherein the controller is configured to:
 receive the attic temperature signal to determine the attic temperature;   compare the attic temperature to a predetermined temperature;   based on a comparison being that the attic temperature is greater than the predetermined temperature, cause the attic fan to operate at the generated voltage; and   based on a comparison being that the attic temperature is less than the predetermined temperature, cause the attic fan to suspend operation.   
     
     
         18 . The attic fan system of  claim 17 , further comprising a humidity sensor configured to send an attic humidity signal corresponding to an attic humidity of the attic, wherein the controller is configured to:
 receive the attic humidity signal to determine the attic humidity;   compare the attic humidity to a predetermined humidity;   based on the comparison being that the attic temperature is less than the predetermined temperature and a comparison being that the attic humidity is greater than the predetermined humidity, cause the attic fan to operate at the generated voltage; and   based on the comparison being that the attic temperature is less than the predetermined temperature and a comparison being that the attic humidity is less than the predetermined humidity, cause the attic fan to suspend operation.   
     
     
         19 . The attic fan system of  claim 9 , wherein the controller is configured to operate the attic fan based on a set speed set by a user. 
     
     
         20 . The attic fan system of  claim 19 , wherein the controller is configured to compare the amount of generated voltage to the predetermined voltage, wherein based on a comparison being that the amount of generated voltage is greater than the predetermined voltage, the controller is configured to cause the attic fan to operate at the generated voltage to operate the attic fan at a speed that is greater than the set speed. 
     
     
         21 . The attic fan system of  claim 9 , further comprising a DC circuit power board configured to be connected to the voltage converter, the DC circuit power board configured to receive the converted voltage. 
     
     
         22 . The attic fan system of  claim 9 , wherein the voltage regulator is configured to provide the predetermined voltage to the motor. 
     
     
         23 . An attic fan system for use with a building structure having an attic, the attic fan system comprising:
 an attic fan comprising:
 a housing configured to be connected to a building structure having an attic space, the housing comprising an inflow end and an outflow end; 
 a motor configured to rotate a fan drive shaft; and 
 a fan blade assembly secured to the fan drive shaft so that rotation of the fan drive shaft causes the fan blade assembly to rotate, 
 wherein the motor and the fan blade assembly are disposed within the housing and configured to draw air from the attic space into the housing through the inflow end and to exhaust air out of the attic space through the outflow end of the housing; 
   a controller configured to cause DC power to be supplied to the motor based on a predetermined voltage to rotate the fan drive shaft at a desired fan speed;   a voltage converter configured to be connected to AC power from an electrical utility power grid, the voltage converter configured to convert the AC power to DC power, the voltage converter configured to provide the converted DC power to power the motor; and   a solar panel configured to be mounted to the attic fan or the building structure, the solar panel configured to generate DC power from solar energy, the solar panel configured to provide the generated DC power to the power the motor,   wherein the controller is configured to control an amount of converted voltage from the converted DC power that is provided to the motor based on an amount of generated voltage from the generated DC power such that the amount of converted voltage plus the amount of generated voltage equals the predetermined voltage.   
     
     
         24 . The attic fan system of  claim 23 , wherein the controller is configured to control a voltage regulator, the voltage regulator configured to be in communication with the motor to supply DC power to the motor based on the predetermined voltage. 
     
     
         25 . The attic fan system of  claim 23 , wherein the predetermined voltage comprises a first predetermined voltage, a second predetermined voltage, and a third predetermined voltage, wherein the first predetermined voltage is less than the second predetermined voltage, and the second predetermined voltage is less than the third predetermined voltage, wherein the desired fan speed comprises a first desired fan speed, a second desired fan speed, and a third desired fan speed, wherein the first desired fan speed is less than the second desired fan speed, and the second desired fan speed is less than the third desired fan speed, and wherein the controller is configured to:
 compare an attic temperature of the attic to a first predetermined temperature, a second predetermined temperature, and a third predetermined temperature, wherein the first predetermined temperature is less than the second predetermined temperature, and the second predetermined temperature is less than the third predetermined temperature;   based on a comparison being that the attic temperature is between the first predetermined temperature and the second predetermined temperature, cause the attic fan to operate at the first predetermined voltage to operate the attic fan at the first desired fan speed;   based on a comparison being that the attic temperature is between the second predetermined temperature and the third predetermined temperature, cause the attic fan to operate at the second predetermined voltage to operate the attic fan at the second desired fan speed; and   based on a comparison being that the attic temperature is greater than the third predetermined temperature, cause the attic fan to operate at the third predetermined voltage to operate the attic fan at the third desired fan speed.