1181results about "Auxillary controllers with auxillary heating devices" patented technology

A method for controlling energy consumption within a building includes providing at least one environment sensing device and at least one energy consumption sensing device associated with the building. Current data is collected from the environment sensing device and the energy consumption sensing device along with associated time-of-day data. A value of a future energy consumption parameter is predicted based upon the collected current data, the associated time-of-day data, and historic data collected from the environment sensing device and the energy consumption sensing device. A profile of future costs per unit of energy consumption as a function of time is determined. Energy consumption is controlled dependent upon the predicted future energy consumption parameter value and the determined profile of energy consumption costs.

According to the present invention, environment indicators computed for a particular environment from among multiple environments are converted into a common transmittable data format. The environment indicators are transmitted in the common transmittable data format to a data processing system, wherein the data processing system has access to a personal storage device proffered by a particular user. An environment sensitivity profile for the particular user associated with the particular environment, is retrieved from the personal storage device to the data processing system. An environment indicator analyzer application executing on the data processing system analyzes the multiple environment indicators received at the data processing system according to the environmental sensitivity profile and determines control signals for adjusting multiple environmental control systems that control the particular environment.

An air conditioning unit may be controlled based on an index of performance designed to quantify re-circulation levels. For the air conditioning unit control, an index of performance set point is determined and the index of performance for a first iteration is measured. In addition, it is determined whether the measured index of performance for the first iteration equals or exceeds the index of performance set point. Moreover, a supply air temperature of the air conditioning unit is increased in response to the measured index of performance for the first iteration equaling or exceeding the index of performance set point.

The present embodiments disclose a system (100) for reducing inlet air temperature of a device, comprising: a fogging system that provides air cooling, wherein the fogging system comprises at least one low pressure atomiser (110).

A field programmable or configurable thermostat for an HVAC system is provided. The configurable thermostat allows field programmability of service contact information, including name and contact telephone number information for the installer or service person. The system reminders and service intervals may be provided based upon calendar time or run time, and may be adjusted to particular periods by the service person in the field. Soft keys whose function is described on various changing menus allow service person to navigate through the various display and information entry screens. Scrolling or selection keys are used in one embodiment to vary the information on appropriate screens. Alternate embodiments utilize touch screens, alphanumeric keypads, etc., for the entry and editing of such information.

A system and method for detecting failure of a cooling system in an alternating current machine, such as a motor and/or a generator. For example, in one embodiment energy wasting is initiated and a failure is indicated if a temperature rises by more than a selected amount over a selected time period.

A combination oven includes convection, steam and microwave cooking sources. When implementing a user selected cooking program using the microwave source and at least one of the other sources, the oven control is configured to implement the cooking program in a manner using an input food product mass value to set microwave energy level applied to the food product during operation of the cooking program and without changing cook time as set by the cooking program. The microwave energy level may be set such that end product achieved without changing cook time has a comparable degree of doneness regardless of mass. The oven control, or a separate computerized device, may be used to automatically convert a non-microwave cooking program into a microwave enhanced cooking program that is stored by the oven control for selection by an operator. Where a collective power consumption capability of the convection heat cooking source, steam cooking source and microwave energy cooking source is higher than rated power available from a power source of the combination oven, the oven control implements power sharing rules.

The present invention applies a slope predictive control method to a Variable Temperature Control (VTC) system, measuring the slope of the discharge temperature as a function of flow regulation device position, and using this slope to predict the position of the flow regulation device needed to achieve the desired discharge temperature. The present invention also monitors the response of the VTC over time and utilizes a self-learning algorithm to predict the response time of the system in order to determine when further control adjustments need to be taken.

A system and method for cooling a room configured to house a plurality of computer systems. A heat exchanger unit is configured to receive air from the room and to deliver air to the room. The heat exchanger unit is supplied with cooling fluid operable to cool the received air in the heat exchanger unit. At least one of the temperature of the cooling fluid supplied to the heat exchanger unit and the air delivery to the room may be controlled in response to temperatures sensed at one or more locations in the room.

The invention relates to an electric cooker and a porridge-cooking control method thereof. In the electric cooker, a temperature memory is preset with a second temperature T2 and a third temperature T3 and T2 is less than or equal to T3; a time memory is preset with a first boiling time t3 and a second boiling time t4; a heating power memory is preset with a second power ratio B, a third power ratio C and a fourth power ratio D corresponding to rice quantity grades; a main controller is provided with a control module; after the electric cooker is used for heating and finishes the first boiling time t3 by the second power ratio B at the boiling stage, a heating device is controlled to heat by the third power ratio C or the fourth power ratio D according to a ratio of an upper cover temperature T to the second temperature T2 and the third temperature T3 until the set second boiling time t4 is met. Heating power is changed according to the upper cover temperature at the boiling stage, so the defect that rice and water are not boiled completely under low voltage or low environmental temperature is overcome, and the porridge-cooking effect is effectively improved.

A refrigerant recovery unit is provided that can recover and recharge refrigerant. The unit is further configured with a pair of service hoses and a refrigerant control circuit operable to receive and transport the refrigerant between the hoses and the storage vessel and to process the refrigerant to substantially remove contaminants from the refrigerant. A fluid connector is provided in fluid communication with the hoses to enable the refrigerant to flow between the hoses and to establish a closed loop through the refrigerant control circuit, and a controller is operatively connected to the refrigerant control circuit and configured to control a flow of the refrigerant through the refrigerant control circuit and through the fluid connector.

The invention discloses a cooking control method of an electric rice cooker. The electric rice cooker comprises a cooker body, an inner container arranged in the cooker body, an upper cover, a heating device, a bottom temperature measurer, an upper cover temperature measurer and a control device used for controlling rice cooking work and arranged on the cooker body, wherein the control device comprises a main controller as well as a first timer, a second timer, a rice-water volume level storage, a temperature storage, a time storage and a heating power storage which are respectively connected with the main controller, and a plurality of powers are preset in the heat power storage. A method for controlling the rice cooking of the electric rice cooker by the control device comprises a heating stage, a boiling stage and a cooking stage. The control device controls the heating device to heat until boiling by using gradually reduced powers. In the invention, the gradually reduced powers are adopted for heating unit boiling at the heating stage, and meanwhile, a boiling state is judged according to the bottom temperature, thus, not only is the problem that a small amount of rice is easy to overflow and be ebullient avoided, but also a large amount of rice can be sufficiently heated to reach the boiling state, and the heating time is effectively controlled.

A variable speed air handling system for cooling and/or heating a room and a method of controlling the system. The system includes a fan assembly to transport air from the system into the room, the fan assembly having a substantially continuously adjustable speed within a range of speeds defined by a predetermined upper limit and a predetermined lower limit. A user interface transmits a signal in response to a desired speed of the fan assembly input by an operator via the user interface. The system further includes a control unit to substantially continuously adjust the speed of the fan assembly to a speed in the range of speeds in response to the signal transmitted by the user interface, and a climate control unit for heating and/or cooling the air to be transported from the air conditioner by the fan assembly.

Methods of controlling air conditioning and HVAC units using a thermostat for a discrete-speed unit that include changing speed based on how long the unit operates at a particular speed. Speed may be increased if a unit operates for longer than a predetermined time at a particular speed, and speed may be reduced if the unit operated for less than a specific amount of time during the prior run. In different embodiments, single-stage thermostats may control units that operate at three speeds, and two-stage thermostats may control units that operate at three to five or more speeds. In addition, in some embodiments, outdoor coil temperature may be measured and considered in determining speed. Further, in some embodiments, maintaining continuous or repeated operation at a boost speed may be avoided. Energy savings and noise reduction may result.

A vehicle air conditioner is controlled to directly lower the temperature of the interior equipment before a driver enters a vehicle, using an airflow from an air outlet. The air outlet can be placed on and/or against the interior equipment. The interior equipment can be an instrument panel, a steering wheel or a seat.

A method of making ice cubes in a compact ice maker by setting a freeze time based on the determined volume of a mold for the ice maker.

A control system for an icemaker for an ice/beverage dispenser is responsive to both a sensed level of ice in an ice bin of the dispenser and to a customer ice usage profile to operate the icemaker at such times as to build ice for the ice bin just before and in sufficient time and quantity to meet an anticipated demand for ice. The control system may be programmed manually or automatically through use of adaptive algorithms, with ice usage patterns that identify the days and times of day when demands for ice will occur, and the control system then operates the icemaker in accordance with such ice usage patterns.

A programmable thermostat with a heat-cool switch, a temperature value input, and a fan switch with on, auto, and recirculating positions, and a microprocessor that superimposes a fan recirculating mode or cycle on the heat-cool or off modes or cycles by determining when the heat-cool or off cycles have been off for a user selectable time period; 2 hours, for example, and if so initiating a fan cycle for a predetermined time; 12 minutes for example, to provide a more uniform room temperature by mixing hotter and cooler air and cleaner air by running more space air through the heating and cooling system filter assembly.

A thermostat may include a plurality of heat-generating components; a plurality of first temperature sensors, each of the plurality of first temperature sensors being disposed next to a corresponding one of the plurality of heat-generating components; a second temperature sensor that is disposed away from the plurality of heat-generating components; and a memory device storing a coefficient matrix. The thermostat may also include one or more processors that combine a plurality of inputs to calculate an ambient temperature for an enclosure in which the thermostat is installed, the plurality of inputs including readings from the plurality of first temperature sensors, readings from the second temperature sensor, and the coefficient matrix.

The invention provides an electric cooker and a heat preservation method thereof. The heat preservation method of the electric cooker comprises the following steps that: a control unit receives a preset heating mode selected by the user from multiple preset heating modes; a temperature detection unit obtains the temperature of a heating area in a liner; and a control unit receives the temperature of the heating area, and controls the heating device according to the preset heating mode selected by the user to preserve heat of the food contained in the liner according to the preset heat preservation curve. According to the invention, the heating device is controlled according to the heat preservation mode selected by the user to preserve heat of the food contained in the liner according to the preset heat preservation curve, the heat preservation needs for different functions can be met, and the heat preservation temperature is dynamically set according to the external input and the conditions in the electric cooker so as to solve the problem that the electric cooker of the prior art cannot dynamically set the heat preservation temperature according to the conditions inside and outside.

A method and apparatus for limiting the adverse effects of temperature on the electrical energy storage system (ESS) of an electric vehicle after the vehicle has been turned off are provided. In general, whether or not coolant is circulated through a coolant loop coupled to the ESS depends on the difference between the ambient temperature and a preset temperature, the preset temperature typically corresponding to the temperature of the ESS.

An air conditioning system for use in a motor vehicle powered by an internal combustion engine is described. The system comprises an electric motor powered by a battery; a compressor arranged to be powered by at least one of the internal combustion engine and the electric motor; and a control unit that controls the driving of the compressor. The control unit is configured to execute driving the compressor by only the electric motor when the combustion engine is under an idling stop; restarting the combustion engine upon expiration of a first given time from the time when the idling stop has occurred, so that thereafter the compressor is driven by both the combustion engine and the electric motor; and stopping the driving of the compressor by the electric motor upon expiration of a second given time from the restarting of the combustion engine, so that thereafter the compressor is driven by only the combustion engine.

The invention provides a refrigeration system with a compressing unit, and a method of controlling a refrigeration system. To facilitate a better control, the capacity of the compressing unit is controlled based on a predicted future cooling demand rather than an actually determined cooling demand. The invention further provides a system wherein a cost value for changing the cooling capacity of the system is taken into consideration.

A central control system and method for controlling air conditioners. The central control system performs central control operations for the air conditioners according to an operation schedule or control command inputted from a central controller coupled to the air conditioners through an internal network or a remote controller accessible to an external Internet network. When the air conditioners are simultaneously operated, control signals based on the control command are adjusted to prevent electric power consumption from abruptly increasing and hence the stability and reliability of control can be improved. The central controller includes a touch screen-based monitor. A control program included in the central controller provides a timetable corresponding to a specified period. An operator can conveniently input/edit the operation schedule through a dragging operation performed on the monitor, and confirm the inputted/edited operation schedule.

Methods and apparatus for using humidity level to adjust the temperature set point of an HVAC system for increased occupant comfort. In one illustrative embodiment, the temperature set point for the inside space is moved downward when the humidity of the inside space rises above a predetermined humidity set point threshold value. In warm climates, this causes the air conditioner of the HVAC system to be activated, which lowers the temperature of the inside space to a new lower temperature set point. In some embodiments, the HVAC system retains the new lower temperature set point for a predetermined time period. The predetermined time period may be dependent on a number of factors, including whether the space is expected to occupied or unoccupied.

A method for calculating key performance indexes. The method comprising defining running indexes for a heat exchanger of a chiller, obtaining an outlet temperature of output matter of the heat exchanger according to the running indexes, at least comprising load temperature, load current, inlet temperature of cooling matter, outlet temperature of the cooling matter, and inlet temperature of the output matter, obtaining a performance index according to the inlet and outlet temperatures of the output matter and the load current of the heat exchanger, obtaining a predicted performance index according to the inlet temperature of the output matter, a predicted outlet temperature of the output matter, and the load current, obtaining a real performance index according to the inlet temperature of the output matter, real outlet temperature of output matter, and the load current, and obtaining a key performance index according to the predicted and real performance indexes.

A refrigeration vapor compression system including a compressor, an electronic expansion valve with closed loop feedback into a controller, sensors to measure and monitor the system superheat and sub-cooling, and condenser fans controlling the flow of air through the condensing coils, the refrigeration system is operated in at least one of two functional modes to either give priority control to the level of superheat in the system or maintain a minimum level of sub-cooling in the system.

Apparatus and method for controlling compressors of a multi-chamber type air conditioner. The apparatus includes an operating time-accumulating unit for accumulating operating times of the plural compressors; a storage unit for storing the cumulative operating times obtained by the operating time-accumulating unit; indoor control units for respectively controlling the indoor units; and an outdoor control unit for selecting compressors to be operated based on the cumulative operating times of the compressors and controlling the operations of the selected compressors, when it is necessary to operate at least one compressor based on air conditioning loads required by the indoor control units. The apparatus provides uniform chances of operation to all the compressors, thereby providing convenience in replacing the compressors with new ones and checking the life spans of the compressors.

A method to control the sleep operation of an air conditioner is provided. The method includes determining whether or not a sleep operation is activated and sequentially performing a plurality of sub-modes of the sleep operation when the sleep operation is activated.

The present invention concerns a method for pre-cooling the passenger compartment of an automotive vehicle. The vehicle includes at least one electrically actuatable window and a HVAC system having at least a controller, a blower, a passenger compartment temperature sensor, and a HVAC ducting leading to the passenger compartment. The controller and the blower are connected to a vehicle battery. The method includes determining the passenger compartment temperature and comparing the temperature to a first predetermined value; cycling an blower inlet to an outside air intake position and operating the blower to provide pressurized air to the passenger compartment if the passenger compartment temperature is greater than the first predetermined value; opening the vehicle windows; comparing the passenger compartment temperature to a second predetermined value; and stopping operation of the blower when the passenger compartment temperature drops below the second predetermined value.