Variable air volume environmental management system including a fuzzy logic control system

Abstract

A controller for a variable air volume terminal of a variable air volume air conditioning system which comprises a temperature sensing circuitry for generating a temperature process value, a setpoint determining circuitry for establishing a temperature setpoint, an airflow signal circuitry for generating an airflow setpoint in response to the temperature process value and the temperature setpoint. A flow sensing circuitry for generating a flow process value in response to a predetermined set of flow sensing inputs and damper control circuitry for generating a damper motor operation signal to control the damper motor in response to the flow process value and the airflow setpoint. The damper control circuitry comprises a fuzzy logic control mechanism for implementing a set of fuzzy logic rule-based instructions in generating the damper motor operating signal.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A controller for a variable air volume terminal, of a variable air volume air conditioning system, comprising: 
       temperature sensing circuitry for generating a temperature process value;  
       setpoint determining circuitry for establishing a temperature setpoint;  
       airflow signal circuitry for generating an airflow setpoint in response to said temperature process value and said temperature setpoint;  
       flow sensing circuitry for generating a flow process value in response to a predetermined set of flow sensing inputs; and  
       damper control circuitry for generating a damper motor operation signal to control the damper motor in response to said flow process value and said airflow setpoint, said damper control circuitry comprising a fuzzy logic control mechanism for implementing a set of fuzzy logic rule-based instructions in generating said damper motor operating signal.  
     
     
       2. The controller of claim  1 ,  A controller for a variable air volume terminal, of a variable air volume air conditioning system, comprising: 
       
         temperature sensing circuitry for generating a temperature process value;  
       
       
         setpoint determining circuitry for establishing a temperature setpoint;  
       
       
         airflow signal circuitry for generating an airflow setpoint in response to said temperature process value and said temperature setpoint;  
       
       
         flow sensing circuitry for generating a flow process value in response to a predetermined set of flow sensing inputs; and  
       
         damper control circuitry for generating a damper motor operation signal to control the damper motor in response to said flow process value and said airflow setpoint, said damper control circuitry comprising a fuzzy logic control mechanism for implementing a set of fuzzy logic rule - based instructions in generating said damper motor operating signal,  wherein said temperature sensing circuitry, said setpoint determining circuitry, said airflow signal circuitry, said flow sensing circuitry, and said damper control circuitry are formed sufficiently small for placement on a single printed circuit board, said printed circuit board formed for placement on the damper motor when said damper motor is installed in the damper shaft.  
     
     
       3. The controller of claim  1 , wherein said temperature sensing circuitry, said setpoint determining circuitry, said airflow signal circuitry, and said flow sensing circuitry operate under an open protocol that permits system-wide control and monitoring of said controller within said variable air volume air conditioning system. 
     
     
       4. The controller of claim  1 , wherein said temperature sensing circuitry, said setpoint determining circuitry, said airflow signal circuitry, and said flow sensing circuitry are associated to permit pressure dependent operation of said controller. 
     
     
       5. The controller of claim  1 , wherein said temperature sensing circuitry, said setpoint determining circuitry, said airflow signal circuitry, and said flow sensing circuitry are associated to permit pressure independent operation of said controller. 
     
     
       6. The controller of claim  1 ,  A controller for a variable air volume terminal, of a variable air volume air conditioning system, comprising: 
       
         temperature sensing circuitry for generating a temperature process value;  
       
       
         setpoint determining circuitry for establishing a temperature setpoint;  
       
       
         airflow signal circuitry for generating an airflow setpoint in response to said temperature process value and said temperature setpoint;  
       
       
         flow sensing circuitry for generating a flow process value in response to a predetermined set of flow sensing inputs; and  
       
         damper control circuitry for generating a damper motor operation signal to control the damper motor in response to said flow process value and said airflow setpoint, said damper control circuitry comprising a fuzzy logic control mechanism for implementing a set of fuzzy logic rule - based instructions in generating said damper motor operating signal,  wherein said controller further comprises circuitry for permitting a fire mode of operation for said variable air volume terminal.  
     
     
       7. The controller of claim  1 , further comprising circuitry for permitting a warm-up mode of operation for said variable air volume terminal. 
     
     
       8. The controller of claim  1 , further comprising circuitry for permitting remote control of said controller for controlling operation of said variable air volume terminal. 
     
     
       9. The controller of claim  1 , wherein said damper control circuitry further comprises circuitry for automatically calibrating the damper stroke of the damper in the variable air volume terminal. 
     
     
       10. The controller of claim  1 , wherein said damper control circuitry further comprises circuitry for manually driving the damper of the variable air volume terminal. 
     
     
       11. The controller of claim  1 , wherein said damper control circuitry further comprises circuitry for automatically stopping movement of the damper at a control stop position for the damper. 
     
     
       12. The controller of claim  1 , further comprising Hall Effect circuitry for identifying and controlling operation of said temperature sensing circuitry, said setpoint determining circuitry, said airflow signal circuitry, said flow sensing circuitry, and said damper control circuitry upon placing a predetermined magnet device proximate said Hall Effect circuitry. 
     
     
       13. The controller of claim  1 , wherein said damper control circuitry further comprises circuitry for counting alternating current voltage frequencies to said controller and determining from said alternating current voltage cycles the position of the damper in response to operation of said damper motor. 
     
     
       14. The controller of claim  1 , further comprising a shield surrounding said flow sensing circuitry for limiting affects of temperature variations on operation of said flow sensing circuitry. 
     
     
       15. A method for controlling a variable air volume terminal, having a damper and a damper motor, comprising the steps of: 
       generating a temperature process value using temperature sensing circuitry;  
       establishing a temperature setpoint using setpoint determining circuitry;  
       generating an airflow setpoint in response to said temperature process value and said temperature setpoint using airflow signal circuitry;  
       generating a flow process value in response to a predetermined set of flow sensing inputs using flow sensing circuitry; and  
       generating a damper motor operation signal using damper control circuitry to control the damper motor in response to said flow process value and said airflow setpoint, said damper motor operation signal generating step further comprising the step of implementing a set of fuzzy logic rule-based instructions in generating said damper motor operating signal.  
     
     
       16. The method of claim  5 , further comprising the step of  A method for controlling a variable air volume terminal, having a damper and a damper motor, comprising the steps of: 
       
         generating a temperature process value using temperature sensing circuitry;  
       
       
         establishing a temperature setpoint using setpoint determining circuitry;  
       
       
         generating an airflow setpoint in response to said temperature process value and said temperature setpoint using airflow signal circuitry;  
       
         operating said variable air volume terminal in a warm - up mode of operation    
       
         generating a flow process value in response to a predetermined set of flow sensing inputs using flow sensing circuitry;  
       
         generating a damper motor operation signal using damper control circuitry to control the damper motor in response to said flow process value and said airflow setpoint, said damper motor operation signal generating step further comprising the step of implementing a set of fuzzy logic rule - based instructions in generating said damper motor operating signal; and    
       forming said temperature sensing circuitry, said set point  setpoint determining circuitry, said air flow  airflow signal circuitry, said flow sensing circuitry, and said damper control circuitry sufficiently small for their placement on a single printed circuit board, said printed circuit board formed sufficiently small for placement on the damper motor when said damper motor is installed in the damper shaft.  
     
     
       17. The method of claim  15 , further comprising the step of operating said temperature sensing circuitry, said set point determining circuitry, said air flow signal circuitry, and said flow sensing circuitry under an open protocol that permits system-wide control and monitoring of said controller within said variable air volume air conditioning system. 
     
     
       18. The method of claim  15 , further comprising the step of associating said temperature sensing circuitry, said set point determining circuitry, said air flow signal circuitry, and said flow sensing circuitry to permit pressure dependent operation of said controller. 
     
     
       19. The method of claim  15 , further comprising the step of associating said temperature sensing circuitry, said set point determining circuitry, said air flow signal circuitry, and said flow sensing circuitry to permit pressure independent operation of said controller. 
     
     
       20. The method of claim  15 , further comprising the step of  A method for controlling a variable air volume terminal, having a damper and a damper motor, comprising the steps of: 
       
         generating a temperature process value using temperature sensing circuitry;  
       
       
         establishing a temperature setpoint using setpoint determining circuitry;  
       
       
         generating an airflow setpoint in response to said temperature process value and said temperature setpoint using airflow signal circuitry;  
       
         operating said variable air volume terminal in a warm - up mode of operation    
       
         generating a flow process value in response to a predetermined set of flow sensing inputs using flow sensing circuitry;  
       
         generating a damper motor operation signal using damper control circuitry to control the damper motor in response to said flow process value and said airflow setpoint, said damper motor operation signal generating step further comprising the step of implementing a set of fuzzy logic rule - based instructions in generating said damper motor operating signal; and    
       permitting a fire mode of operation for said variable air volume terminal.  
     
     
       21. The method of claim  15 , further comprising the step of operating said variable air volume terminal in a warm-up mode of operation. 
     
     
       22. The method of claim  15 , further comprising circuitry for permitting remote control of said controller for controlling operation of said variable air volume terminal. 
     
     
       23. The method of claim  15 , further comprising the step of automatically calibrating the damper stroke of the damper in the variable air volume terminal. 
     
     
       24. The method of claim  15 , further comprising the step of manually driving the damper of the variable air volume terminal. 
     
     
       25. The method of claim  15 , further comprising the step of automatically stopping movement of the damper at a control stop for the damper. 
     
     
       26. The method of claim  15 , further comprising the step of identifying and controlling operation of said temperature sensing circuitry, said setpoint determining circuitry, said airflow signal circuitry, said flow sensing circuitry, and said damper control circuitry by placing a predetermined magnet device proximate a Hall Effect circuit of the controller. 
     
     
       27. The method of claim  15 , further comprising the step of counting alternating current voltage frequencies to the controller and determining from the alternating current voltage cycles the position of the damper in response to operation of the damper motor. 
     
     
       28. The method of claim  15 , further comprising the step of limiting affects of temperature variations on operation of said flow sensing circuitry using an enclosed shield surrounding the airflow signal circuitry. 
     
     
       29. A variable air volume air conditioning system, comprising: 
       a controller for a variable air volume terminal;  
       a variable air volume terminal comprising a damper, a damper motor associated to move said damper, and a terminal controller for controlling operation of said damper motor, said terminal controller comprising:  
       temperature sensing circuitry for generating a temperature process value;  
       setpoint determining circuitry for establishing a temperature setpoint;  
       airflow signal circuitry for generating an airflow setpoint in response to said temperature process value and said temperature setpoint;  
       flow sensing circuitry for generating a flow process value in response to a predetermined set of flow sensing inputs; and  
       damper control circuitry for generating a damper motor operation signal to control the damper motor in response to said flow process value and said airflow setpoint, said damper control circuitry comprising a fuzzy logic control mechanism for implementing a set of fuzzy logic rule-based instructions in generating said damper motor operating signal.  
     
     
       30. The system of claim  29 ,  A variable air volume air conditioning system, comprising: 
       
         a variable air volume terminal controller; and  
       
       
         a variable air volume terminal further comprising a damper, a damper motor associated to move said damper, and a terminal controller for controlling operation of said damper motor, said terminal controller comprising:  
       
       
         temperature sensing circuitry for generating a temperature process value;  
       
       
         setpoint determining circuitry for establishing a temperature setpoint;  
       
       
         airflow signal circuitry for generating an airflow setpoint in response to said temperature process value and said temperature setpoint;  
       
       
         flow sensing circuitry for generating a flow process value in response to a predetermined set of flow sensing inputs; and  
       
         damper control circuitry for generating a damper motor operation signal to control the damper motor in response to said flow process value and said airflow setpoint, said damper control circuitry comprising a fuzzy logic control mechanism for implementing a set of fuzzy logic rule - based instructions in generating said damper motor operating signal,  wherein said temperature sensing circuitry, said setpoint determining circuitry, said airflow signal circuitry, said flow sensing circuitry, and said damper control circuitry are formed sufficiently small for placement on a single printed circuit board, said printed circuit board being formed for placement on the damper motor when said damper motor is installed in the damper shaft.  
     
     
       31. The system of claim  29 , wherein said temperature sensing circuitry, said setpoint determining circuitry, said airflow signal circuitry, and said flow sensing circuitry operate under an open protocol that permits system-wide control and monitoring of said controller within said variable air volume air conditioning system. 
     
     
       32. The system of claim  29 , wherein said temperature sensing circuitry, said setpoint determining circuitry, said airflow signal circuitry, and said flow sensing circuitry are associated to permit pressure dependent operation of said controller. 
     
     
       33. The system of claim  29 , wherein said temperature sensing circuitry, said set point determining circuitry, said air flow signal circuitry, and said flow sensing circuitry, are associated to permit pressure independent operation of said controller. 
     
     
       34. The system of claim  29 , wherein said controller further comprises  A variable air volume air conditioning system, comprising: 
       
         a variable air volume terminal controller; and  
       
       
         a variable air volume terminal further comprising a damper, a damper motor associated to move said damper, and a terminal controller for controlling operation of said damper motor, said terminal controller comprising:  
       
       
         temperature sensing circuitry for generating a temperature process value;  
       
       
         setpoint determining circuitry for establishing a temperature setpoint;  
       
       
         airflow signal circuitry for generating an airflow setpoint in response to said temperature process value and said temperature setpoint;  
       
       
         flow sensing circuitry for generating a flow process value in response to a predetermined set of flow sensing inputs;  
       
         damper control circuitry for generating a damper motor operation signal to control the damper motor in response to said flow process value and said airflow setpoint, said damper control circuitry comprising a fuzzy logic control mechanism for implementing a set of fuzzy logic rule - based instructions in generating said damper motor operating signal; and    
       circuitry for permitting a fire mode of operation for said variable air volume terminal.  
     
     
       35. The system of claim  29 , further comprising circuitry for permitting a warm-up mode of operation for said variable air volume terminal. 
     
     
       36. The system of claim  29 , further comprising circuitry for permitting remote control of said controller for controlling operation of said variable air volume terminal. 
     
     
       37. The system of claim  29 , wherein said damper control circuitry further comprises circuitry for automatically calibrating the damper stroke of the damper in the variable air volume terminal. 
     
     
       38. The system of claim  29 , wherein said damper control circuitry further comprises circuitry for manually driving the damper of the variable air volume terminal. 
     
     
       39. The system of claim  29 , wherein said damper control circuitry further comprises circuitry for automatically stopping movement of the damper at a control stop position for the damper. 
     
     
       40. The system of claim  29 , further comprising Hall Effect circuitry for identifying and controlling operation of said temperature sensing circuitry, said setpoint determining circuitry, said airflow signal circuitry, said flow sensing circuitry, and said damper control circuitry upon placing a predetermined magnet device in proximity to said Hall Effect circuitry. 
     
     
       41. The system of claim  29 , wherein said damper control circuitry further comprises circuitry for counting alternating current voltage frequencies to said controller and determining from said alternating current voltage cycles the position of the damper in response to operation of said damper motor. 
     
     
       42. The system of claim  29 , further comprising a shield surrounding said flow sensing circuitry for limiting affects of temperature variations on operation of said flow sensing circuitry. 
     
     
       43. A controller for a variable air volume terminal, of a variable air volume air conditioning system, comprising: 
       
         temperature sensing circuitry for generating a temperature process value;  
       
       
         setpoint determining circuitry for establishing a temperature setpoint;  
       
       
         airflow signal circuitry for generating an airflow setpoint in response to said temperature process value and said temperature setpoint;  
       
       
         flow sensing circuitry for generating a flow process value in response to a predetermined set of flow sensing inputs; and  
       
       
         damper control circuitry for generating a damper motor operation signal to control the damper motor in response to said flow process value and said airflow setpoint, said damper control circuitry comprising:  
       
         a fuzzy logic control mechanism for implementing a set of fuzzy logic rule - based instructions in generating said damper motor operating signal; and    
       
         circuitry for automatically stopping movement of the damper at a control stop position for the damper.  
       
     
     
       44. The controller of claim  43 , further comprising circuitry for permitting a warm- up mode of operation for said variable air volume terminal.    
     
     
       45. The controller of claim  43 , wherein said damper control circuitry further comprises circuitry for automatically calibrating the damper stroke of the damper in the variable air volume terminal.  
     
     
       46. The controller of claim  43 , wherein said damper control circuitry further comprises circuitry for manually driving the damper of the variable air volume terminal.  
     
     
       47. The controller of claim  43 , further comprising Hall Effect circuitry for identifying and controlling operation of said temperature sensing circuitry, said setpoint determining circuitry, said airflow signal circuitry, said flow sensing circuitry, and said damper control circuitry upon placing a predetermined magnet device proximate said Hall Effect circuitry.  
     
     
       48. The controller of claim  43 , wherein said damper control circuitry further comprises circuitry for counting alternating current voltage frequencies to said controller and determining from said alternating current voltage cycles the position of the damper in response to operation of said damper motor.  
     
     
       49. The controller of claim  43 , further comprising a shield surrounding said flow sensing circuitry for limiting affects of temperature variations on operation of said flow sensing circuitry.  
     
     
       50. A method for controlling a variable air volume terminal, having a damper and a damper motor, comprising the steps of: 
       
         generating a temperature process value using temperature sensing circuitry;  
       
       
         establishing a temperature setpoint using setpoint determining circuitry;  
       
       
         generating an airflow setpoint in response to said temperature process value and said temperature setpoint using airflow signal circuitry;  
       
         operating said variable air volume terminal in a warm - up mode of operation    
       
         generating a flow process value in response to a predetermined set of flow sensing inputs using flow sensing circuitry; and  
       
       
         generating a damper motor operation signal using damper control circuitry to control the damper motor in response to said flow process value and said airflow setpoint, said damper motor operation signal generating step further comprising the steps of:  
       
         implementing a set of fuzzy logic rule - based instructions in generating said damper motor operating signal; and    
       
         automatically stopping movement of the damper at a control stop for the danger.  
       
     
     
       51. The method of claim  50 , further comprising the step of operating said variable air volume terminal in a warm- up mode of operation.    
     
     
       52. The method of claim  50 , further comprising the step of automatically calibrating the damper stroke of the damper in the variable air volume terminal.  
     
     
       53. The method of claim  50 , further comprising the step of manually driving the damper of the variable air volume terminal.  
     
     
       54. The method of claim  50 , further comprising the step of identifying and controlling operation of said temperature sensing circuitry, said setpoint determining circuitry, said airflow signal circuitry, said flow sensing circuitry, and said damper control circuitry by placing a predetermined magnet device proximate a Hall Effect circuit of the controller.  
     
     
       55. The method of claim  50 , further comprising the step of counting alternating current voltage frequencies to the controller and determining from the alternating current voltage cycles the position of the damper in response to operation of the damper motor.  
     
     
       56. The method of claim  50 , further comprising the step of limiting affects of temperature variations on operation of said flow sensing circuitry using an enclosed shield surrounding the airflow signal circuitry.  
     
     
       57. A variable air volume air conditioning system, comprising: 
       
         a controller for a variable air volume terminal; and  
       
       
         a variable air volume terminal comprising a damper, a damper motor associated to move said damper, and a terminal controller for controlling operation of said damper motor, said terminal controller comprising:  
       
       
         temperature sensing circuitry for generating a temperature process value;  
       
       
         setpoint determining circuitry for establishing a temperature setpoint;  
       
       
         airflow signal circuitry for generating an airflow setpoint in response to said temperature process value and said temperature setpoint;  
       
       
         flow sensing circuitry for generating a flow process value in response to a predetermined set of flow sensing inputs; and  
       
       
         damper control circuitry for generating a damper motor operation signal to control the damper motor in response to said flow process value and said airflow setpoint, said damper control circuitry comprising:  
       
         a fuzzy logic control mechanism for implementing a set of fuzzy logic rule - based instructions in generating said damper motor operating signal; and    
       
         circuitry for automatically stopping movement of the damper at a control stop position for the damper.  
       
     
     
       58. The system of claim  57 , further comprising circuitry for permitting a warm- up mode of operation for said variable air volume terminal.    
     
     
       59. The system of claim  57 , wherein said damper control circuitry further comprises circuitry for automatically calibrating the damper stroke of the damper in the variable air volume terminal.  
     
     
       60. The system of claim  57 , wherein said damper control circuitry further comprises circuitry for manually driving the damper of the variable air volume terminal.  
     
     
       61. The system of claim  57 , further comprising Hall Effect circuitry for identifying and controlling operation of said temperature sensing circuitry, said setpoint determining circuitry, said airflow signal circuitry, said flow sensing circuitry, and said damper control circuitry upon placing a predetermined magnet device in proximity to said Hall Effect circuitry.  
     
     
       62. The system of claim  57 , wherein said damper control circuitry further comprises circuitry for counting alternating current voltage frequencies to said controller and determining from said alternating current voltage cycles the position of the damper in response to operation of said damper motor.  
     
     
       63. The system of claim  57 , further comprising a shield surrounding said flow sensing circuitry for limiting affects of temperature variations on operation of said flow sensing circuitry.