US 12,092,354 B1Granted

Systems and methods for detecting air filter fouling in a climate control system

AssigneeTrane International Inc.

InventorRaymond Walter Rite

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Abstract

Methods and related systems for operating a climate control system for an indoor space are disclosed. In an embodiment, the method includes increasing a speed of a fan of the climate control system, and determining a first fitted external static pressure (ESP) function from a first plurality of airflow values and a first plurality of ESP values. Additionally, the method includes obtaining a baseline ESP from the first fitted ESP function, and determining a second fitted ESP function from a second plurality of airflow values and a second plurality of ESP values collected at least one week after the first plurality of airflow values and the first plurality of ESP values are collected. Further, the method includes comparing the first calculated ESP obtained from the second fitted ESP function to the baseline ESP to determine a condition of an air filter of the climate control system.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method of operating a climate control system for an indoor space, the method comprising:

conducting a first active filter test on the climate control system at a first time, the climate control system being installed at a given location and including a given air filter during the first active filter test, the first active filter test including:
placing the climate control system in an idle mode, the idle mode including setting the climate control system to a fan only mode and setting an initial speed of an indoor fan of the climate control system,
setting one or more dampers to an open position,
increasing, from idle, a speed of an indoor fan of the climate control system to increase an airflow through the indoor space,
determining a first fitted external static pressure (ESP) function from a first plurality of airflow values and a first plurality of ESP values, and
obtaining a first baseline ESP value of the climate control system from the first fitted ESP function;
and
conducting a second active filter test on the climate control system at a second time, the climate control system being installed at the given location and including the given air filter during the second active filter test, the second time being at least one week after the first time, the second active filter test including:
placing the climate control system in the idle mode,
setting the one or more dampers to the open position,
obtaining a second ESP value of the climate control system, and
comparing the second ESP value to the first baseline ESP value to determine a condition of the air filter of the climate control system.

9 more elements

A climate control system for an indoor space, the climate control system comprising:

an indoor fan configured to produce an airflow through the indoor space;
an air filter configured to filter contaminants in the airflow produced by the indoor fan;
one or more dampers configured to regulate the airflow to the indoor space;
a controller to be coupled to the indoor fan and the one or more dampers, wherein the controller is configured to:
conduct a first active filter test on the climate control system at a first time, the climate control system being installed at a given location and including the air filter during the first active filter test, the first active filter test including:
placing the climate control system in an idle mode, the idle mode including setting the climate control system to a fan only mode and setting an initial speed of an indoor fan of the climate control system,
setting the one or more dampers to an open position,
increasing, from idle, a speed of the indoor fan of the climate control system to increase the airflow through the indoor space,
determining a first fitted external static pressure (ESP) function from a first plurality of airflow values and a first plurality of ESP values, and
obtaining a first baseline ESP value of the climate control system from the first fitted ESP function;
conduct a second active filter test on the climate control system at a second time, the climate control system being installed at the given location and including the air filter during the second active filter test, the second time being at least one week after the first time, the second active filter test including:
placing the climate control system in the idle mode,
setting the one or more dampers to the open position,
obtaining a second ESP value of the climate control system;
and
comparing the second ESP value to the first baseline ESP value to determine a condition of the air filter of the climate control system.

13 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 18/059,760Filed 29 Nov 2022 · continuation
Priority: 28 Oct 2019
Granted: 17 Sep 2024
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification12 codes

F24F 11/745
For controlling air flow rate or air velocity: the air flow rate increasing with an increase of air-current or wind pressure
B01D 46/0086
Provided with safety means: filter condition indicators
B01D 46/446
Controlling filtration: by pressure measuring
F24F 11/39
Responding to malfunctions or emergencies: monitoring filter performance