US 10,767,880 B2Granted

HVAC controller for a variable air volume (VAV) box

AssigneeHoneywell International Inc.

InventorsShanna Leeland, Brent Barker, Jennifer Teves, Albert Holaso, Fred Becher, Kevin Callahan

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Abstract

An HVAC system may include a VAV box including a damper movable between a first damper position and a second damper position and an HVAC controller that is mounted remotely from the VAV box. The HVAC controller may be configured to control the VAV box in accordance with a temperature set point entered into the HVAC controller and may be programmed with a test and balance procedure. In some cases, the HVAC controller may also be programmed with functionality that facilitates an installer or other technician in configuring and/or reconfiguring the VAV box. This may include providing a user interface that supports a test and balance procedure of the VAV box. Such functionality may be user-accessible via the user interface of the HVAC controller, and in some cases, may be used to drive the damper of the VAV box between various damper positions as well as perform other functionality.

Claims14

Dependent claims

A method for using an HVAC controller to control a VAV box, wherein the VAV box includes a damper movable between a first damper position and a second damper position to provide a variable amount of conditioned air to one or more downstream air vents servicing a space, wherein the HVAC controller is mounted in the space serviced by the VAV box and includes a user interface, the HVAC controller includes a temperature control mode in which the damper of the VAV box is controlled to provide conditioned air to the space in accordance with a temperature set point of the HVAC controller, the method comprising:

using the user interface of the HVAC controller to enter a VAV box configuration mode, wherein in the VAV box configuration mode, the damper position of the damper of the VAV box is user controllable via the user interface of the HVAC controller;
using the user interface of the HVAC controller to control the damper of the VAV box to move to a first damper position;
measuring a first measured air flow through the VAV box with the damper at the first damper position;
comparing the first measured air flow with a first desired air flow;
setting a first damper set position in the HVAC controller in accordance with the comparison;
using the user interface of the HVAC controller to control the damper of the VAV box to move to a second damper position;
measuring a second measured air flow through the VAV box with the damper at the second damper position;
comparing the second measured air flow with a second desired air flow;
and
setting a second damper set position in the HVAC controller in accordance with the comparison.

7 more elements

An HVAC controller for controlling a VAV box, wherein the VAV box includes a damper movable between a first damper position and a second damper position to provide a variable amount of conditioned air to one or more downstream air vents servicing a space, wherein the HVAC controller is configured to be mounted in the space serviced by the VAV box and in communication with the VAV box, the HVAC controller comprising:

a housing;
a user interface housed by the housing and accessible by a user from outside of the housing;
an I/O block for providing one or more control signals to a VAV box, including one or more control signals for controlling a damper position of the damper of the VAV box;
a controller housed by the housing and operatively coupled to the user interface and the I/O block, the controller configured to:
when the HVAC controller is in a temperature control mode, control the damper position of the damper of the VAV box to provide conditioned air to the space in accordance with a temperature set point of the HVAC controller;
and
when the HVAC controller is in a VAV box configuration mode, control the damper of the VAV box in accordance with user input received via the user interface of the HVAC controller;
and
wherein the controller is further configured to automatically titrate the damper position of the VAV box to find a position that provides a desired air flow.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 15/958,196Filed 20 Apr 2018 · continuation
Priority: 21 Apr 2015
Published: US 2018/0238576 A123 Aug 2018
Granted: 8 Sep 2020
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification13 codes

F24F 11/74
For controlling the supply of treated air, e.g. its pressure: for controlling air flow rate or air velocity
F24F 11/30
Control or safety arrangements: for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring
F24F 11/49
For purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring: ensuring correct operation, e.g. by trial operation or…
F24F 11/52
Characterised by user interfaces or communication: indication arrangements, e.g. displays

Family

Application14/692,546Parent of this continuation · filed 21 Apr 2015
US 2018/0238576 A1Pre-grant publication · published 23 Aug 2018
US 9,976,763 B2Parent of this continuation
US 2016/0313018 A1Published application
US 10,767,880 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

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