Air conditioning appliance and methods for determining make-up air actions

Abstract

An air conditioning appliance or method may include detecting a first indoor pollutant level within an indoor environment while holding an auxiliary fan in an inactive state. The appliance or method may further include activating the auxiliary fan to urge the flow of make-up air to the indoor portion following detecting the first indoor pollutant level and detecting a second indoor pollutant level within the indoor environment following detecting the first indoor pollutant level and activating the auxiliary fan. The appliance or method may still further include determining an outdoor pollution level or a room volume of the indoor environment based on the first and second indoor pollutant levels and estimating a high-pollutant timepoint for the indoor environment based on the determined outdoor pollution level or room volume. The appliance or method may yet further include adjusting activation of the auxiliary fan prior to reaching the high-pollutant timepoint.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of operating a single-package air conditioner unit mounted within an indoor environment, the single-package air conditioner unit comprising a bulkhead defining an indoor portion and an outdoor portion, a vent aperture defined in the bulkhead, and an auxiliary fan for urging a flow of make-up air from the outdoor portion through the vent aperture to the indoor portion, the method comprising:
 detecting a first indoor pollutant level within the indoor environment while holding the auxiliary fan in an inactive state;   activating the auxiliary fan to urge the flow of make-up air to the indoor portion following detecting the first indoor pollutant level;   detecting a second indoor pollutant level within the indoor environment following detecting the first indoor pollutant level and activating the auxiliary fan;   determining an outdoor pollutant level based on the first and second indoor pollutant levels;   estimating a high-pollutant timepoint for the indoor environment based on the determined outdoor pollutant level; and   adjusting activation of the auxiliary fan prior to reaching the high-pollutant timepoint.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 detecting a third indoor pollutant level within the indoor environment following detecting the second indoor pollutant level,   wherein determining the outdoor pollutant level is further based on the third indoor pollutant level.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining a room volume of the indoor environment based on the first and second indoor pollutant levels.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 detecting a third indoor pollutant level within the indoor environment following detecting the second indoor pollutant level,   wherein determining the room volume is further based on the third indoor pollutant level.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein adjusting activation further comprises holding the auxiliary fan in the inactive state based on the estimated high-pollutant timepoint. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining, prior to detecting the first indoor pollutant level, the indoor environment is in an unoccupied state.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second indoor pollution levels are detected at a carbon dioxide sensor mounted to the single-package air conditioner unit at the indoor portion. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second indoor pollution levels are detected at a carbon dioxide sensor mounted apart from the indoor portion within the indoor environment. 
     
     
         9 . A method of operating a single-package air conditioner unit mounted within an indoor environment, the single-package air conditioner unit comprising a bulkhead defining an indoor portion and an outdoor portion, a vent aperture defined in the bulkhead, and an auxiliary fan for urging a flow of make-up air from the outdoor portion through the vent aperture to the indoor portion, the method comprising:
 detecting a first indoor pollutant level within the indoor environment while holding the auxiliary fan in an inactive state;   activating the auxiliary fan to urge the flow of make-up air to the indoor portion following detecting the first indoor pollutant level;   detecting a second indoor pollutant level within the indoor environment following detecting the first indoor pollutant level and activating the auxiliary fan;   determining a room volume of the indoor environment based on the first and second indoor pollutant levels;   estimating a high-pollutant timepoint for the indoor environment based on the determined room volume; and   adjusting activation of the auxiliary fan prior to reaching the high-pollutant timepoint.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 detecting a third indoor pollutant level within the indoor environment following detecting the second indoor pollutant level,   wherein determining the room volume is further based on the third indoor pollutant level.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein adjusting activation further comprises holding the auxiliary fan in the inactive state based on the estimated high-pollutant timepoint. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 determining, prior to detecting the first indoor pollutant level, the indoor environment is in an unoccupied state.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the first and second indoor pollution levels are detected at a carbon dioxide sensor mounted to the single-package air conditioner unit at the indoor portion. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the first and second indoor pollution levels are detected at a carbon dioxide sensor mounted apart from the indoor portion within the indoor environment. 
     
     
         15 . A single-package air conditioner unit mounted within an indoor environment, the single-package air conditioner unit comprising:
 a cabinet defining an outdoor portion and an indoor portion;   an outdoor heat exchanger disposed in the outdoor portion;   an indoor heat exchanger disposed in the indoor portion;   a compressor in fluid communication with the outdoor heat exchanger and the indoor heat exchanger to circulate a refrigerant between the outdoor heat exchanger and the indoor heat exchanger;   a bulkhead disposed between the indoor portion and the outdoor portion, the bulkhead defining a vent aperture extending therethrough to permit airflow between the indoor portion and the outdoor portion;   an auxiliary fan mounted within the cabinet in fluid communication with the vent aperture for urging a flow of make-up air from the outdoor portion through the vent aperture to the indoor portion; and   a controller in operative communication with the compressor and the auxiliary fan, the controller being configured to initiate a conditioning operation, the conditioning operation comprising
 detecting a first indoor pollutant level within the indoor environment while holding the auxiliary fan in an inactive state, 
 activating the auxiliary fan to urge the flow of make-up air to the indoor portion following detecting the first indoor pollutant level, 
 detecting a second indoor pollutant level within the indoor environment following detecting the first indoor pollutant level and activating the auxiliary fan, 
 determining an outdoor pollutant level and a room volume based on the first and second indoor pollutant levels, 
 estimating a high-pollutant timepoint for the indoor environment based on the determined outdoor pollutant level and the room volume, and 
 adjusting activation of the auxiliary fan prior to reaching the high-pollutant timepoint. 
   
     
     
         16 . The single-package air conditioner unit of  claim 15 , wherein the conditioning operation further comprises
 detecting a third indoor pollutant level within the indoor environment following detecting the second indoor pollutant level,   wherein determining the outdoor pollutant level and the room volume is further based on the third indoor pollutant level.   
     
     
         17 . The single-package air conditioner unit of  claim 15 , wherein adjusting activation further comprises holding the auxiliary fan in the inactive state based on the estimated high-pollutant timepoint. 
     
     
         18 . The single-package air conditioner unit of  claim 15 , wherein the conditioning operation further comprises
 determining, prior to detecting the first indoor pollutant level, the indoor environment is in an unoccupied state.   
     
     
         19 . The single-package air conditioner unit of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 a carbon dioxide sensor mounted to the single-package air conditioner unit at the indoor portion,   wherein the first and second indoor pollution levels are detected at the carbon dioxide sensor.   
     
     
         20 . The single-package air conditioner unit of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 a carbon dioxide sensor mounted apart from the indoor portion within the indoor environment,   wherein the first and second indoor pollution levels are detected at the carbon dioxide sensor.