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US 6,385,510 B1Granted
HVAC remote monitoring system
OwnerKlaus D. Hoog, Nims P. Knobloch, Jr.inventors
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An electronic HVAC monitoring computer continuously monitors the general condition and efficiency of an HVAC system and notifies a central station computer via modem link or other signal transmission means, when the general condition or efficiency of the HVAC system falls below certain industry standard values by a pre-set amount.
Claims22
An apparatus for monitoring the performance of an HVAC unit having a heating mode and a cooling mode operation, said apparatus comprising:
- means for continuously monitoring air temperature and air humidity, the means for monitoring positioned to sense a real-time value for a supply air temperature, a return air temperature and a return air relative humidity for the HVAC unit, and responsively generating data outputs for said supply air temperature, said return air temperature and said return air relative humidity;
- a monitor processing unit constructed and arranged to receive said data outputs for the real-time values for both return air temperature and return air relative humidity in addition to supply air temperature during a selected one of the heating mode and cooling mode operations and responsively establishing a corresponding correction factor, said correction factor representing a difference between a theoretical ideal performance operation of said HVAC unit and a best actual performance operation of said HVAC unit, and responsively establishing an adjustable operating range based on said correction factor;
- and
- means for inputting data defining a selected operating range for the HVAC unit encompassing the adjustable operating range;
- said monitor processing unit being constructed and arranged to output a performance result of said HVAC unit when said HVAC unit operates outside the selected operating range.
2 more elements
An apparatus for monitoring the performance of an HVAC unit having a heating mode and a cooling mode operation, said apparatus comprising:
- means for monitoring air temperature and air humidity, the means for monitoring positioned to sense a value for a supply air temperature, a return air temperature and a return air relative humidity for the HVAC unit, and responsively generating data outputs for said supply air temperature, said return air temperature and said return air relative humidity;
- a monitor processing unit constructed and arranged to receive said data outputs for the real-time values for both return air temperature and return air relative humidity in addition to supply air temperature during a selected one of the heating mode and cooling mode operations and responsively establishing a corresponding correction factor, said correction factor representing a difference between a theoretical ideal performance operation of said HVAC unit and a best actual performance operation of said HVAC unit, and responsively establishing an adjustable operating range based on said correction factor, wherein the heating mode correction factor is a temperature value equal to the difference between a theoretical ideal temperature differential and a best actual temperature differential for a given return air temperature reading measured, respectively, by the supply air temperature and the return air temperature during the theoretical ideal performance operation of the HVAC unit and the best actual performance operation of the HVAC unit;
- and
- means for inputting data defining a selected operating range for the HVAC unit encompassing the adjustable operating range, wherein the adjustable operating range is a temperature differential greater than the theoretical ideal temperature differential minus the correction factor for said given return air temperature reading;
- said monitor processing unit being constructed and arranged to output a performance result of said HVAC unit when said HVAC unit operates outside the selected operating range.
2 more elements
An apparatus for monitoring the performance of an HVAC unit having a heating mode operation, said apparatus comprising:
- means for continuously monitoring air temperature and air humidity, the means for monitoring positioned to sense a real-time value for a supply air temperature, a return air temperature and a return air relative humidity for the HVAC unit, and responsively generating data outputs for said supply air temperature, said return air temperature and said return air relative humidity;
- a monitor processing unit constructed and arranged to receive said data outputs for the real-time values for both return air temperature and return air relative humidity in addition to supply air temperature during a selected one of the heating mode and cooling mode operations and responsively establishing a corresponding correction factor, said correction factor representing a difference between a theoretical ideal performance operation of said HVAC unit and a best actual performance operation of said HVAC unit, and responsively establishing an adjustable operating range based on said correction factor, wherein the heating mode correction factor is a temperature value equal to the difference between a theoretical ideal temperature differential and a best actual temperature differential for a given return air temperature reading measured, respectively, by the supply air temperature and the return air temperature during the theoretical ideal performance operation of the HVAC unit and the best actual performance operation of the HVAC unit, wherein the ideal temperature differential is calculated according to an equation selected from the group consisting of:
- for heat generated by electric:
- ΔT=(kW)(3193)/CFM,
- wherein:
- ΔT is the ideal temperature differential in degrees Fahrenheit,
- kW is a furnace capacity in kilo-Watts,
- CFM is a capacity of a fan of the HVAC unit in cubic feet of air per minute;
- and
- for heat generated by natural gas:
- ΔT=(BTU)(EFF)/(CFM)(1.08)
- wherein:
- ΔT is the ideal temperature differential in degrees Fahrenheit,
- BTU is a furnace capacity in British thermal units for the HVAC unit,
- EFF is an heat efficiency rating of the HVAC unit in percentage, and
- CFM is a capacity of a fan of the HVAC unit in cubic feet of air per minute;
- means for inputting data defining a selected operating range for the HVAC unit encompassing the adjustable operating range;
- and
- said monitor processing unit being constructed and arranged to output a performance result of said HVAC unit when said HVAC unit operates outside the selected operating range.
16 more elements
An apparatus for monitoring the performance of an HVAC unit having a cooling mode operation, said apparatus comprising:
- means for monitoring air temperature and air humidity, the means for monitoring positioned to sense a value for a supply air temperature, a return air temperature and a return air relative humidity for the HVAC unit, and responsively generating data outputs for said supply air temperature, said return air temperature and said return air relative humidity;
- a monitor processing unit constructed and arranged to receive said data outputs for the real-time values for both return air temperature and return air relative humidity in addition to supply air temperature during a selected one of the heating mode and cooling mode operations and responsively establishing a corresponding correction factor, said correction factor representing a difference between a theoretical ideal performance operation of said HVAC unit and a best actual performance operation of said HVAC unit, and responsively establishing an adjustable operating range based on said correction factor, wherein the cooling mode correction factor is a temperature value equal to the difference between a theoretical ideal temperature differential and a best actual temperature differential for a given return air temperature and relative humidity reading measured, respectively, by the supply air temperature and the return air temperature during the theoretical ideal performance operation of the HVAC unit and the best actual performance operation of the HVAC unit;
- and
- means for inputting data defining a selected operating range for the HVAC unit encompassing the adjustable operating range, wherein the adjustable operating range is a temperature differential greater than the theoretical ideal temperature differential plus the correction factor for said given return air temperature and relative humidity;
- and
- said monitor processing unit being constructed and arranged to output a performance result of said HVAC unit when said HVAC unit operates outside the selected operating range.
3 more elements
An apparatus for monitoring the performance of an HVAC unit, comprising:
- means for continuously monitoring a supply air temperature, a return air temperature and a return air relative humidity of the HVAC unit, said means for monitoring generating data outputs for said supply air temperature, said return air temperature and said return air relative humidity;
- monitor processing unit having a microprocessor and a memory storage, said monitor processing unit linked to said means for monitoring to record and analyze said data outputs;
- means for calibrating said monitor processing unit establishing an operating correction factor for said HVAC unit, said correction factor representing a difference between an ideal performance operation of said HVAC unit and an actual performance operation of said HVAC unit;
- means for determining when said HVAC unit operates outside a desirable operating range;
- a telemeter device for transmitting a performance result of said HVAC unit when it operates outside the selected operating range, said performance results comprising a periodic sampling of the supply air temperature, return air temperature and the return air relative humidity of the HVAC unit over a determined time period and an HVAC unit identification, specification and correction factor information for the HVAC unit;
- and
- a remote central station computer for diagnosing the performance result of the HVAC unit when the HVAC unit operates outside the selected operating range.
4 more elements
A method for monitoring the performance of an HVAC unit, comprising the steps of:
- monitoring continuously a supply air temperature, a return air temperature and a return air relative humidity of the HVAC unit;
- transmitting a plurality of output readings generated from the monitoring of temperatures and relative humidity of the HVAC unit;
- calibrating a monitor processing unit that receives the output readings from the monitoring of temperatures and relative humidity, wherein a comparison is made between an actual operating range and an pre-selected operating range of the HVAC unit during a heating and cooling mode operation;
- triggering an alarm when the HVAC unit is operating outside said pre-selected operating range;
- telemetering the output readings and HVAC unit specifications to a remote central computer;
- and
- evaluating the output readings for determining recommended repairs and maintenance of the HVAC unit.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.