HVAC Comfort Controller for Static Pressure Benchmarking
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Solution Overview
Problem
HVAC systems often suffer from improper configuration due to poor sizing, duct design, and installation issues, leading to inefficiencies and increased energy costs, which existing technologies fail to systematically address.
Innovation Solution
A comfort controller that compares actual run time and static pressure of an HVAC system to benchmark values, generating a report card to identify improper configurations and provide recommendations for improvement, using existing sensors and digital processing capabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If HVAC system components are selected based on standard sizing procedures, then the system can provide basic heating and cooling functionality, but the system may have improper configuration due to poor sizing, duct design, and installation issues leading to inefficiencies and increased energy costs
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors actual run time and static pressure, comparing these measurements against benchmark values to detect configuration problems. This feedback loop enables identification of improper sizing and installation issues, allowing corrective actions to reduce energy waste while maintaining reliable system operation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex manual system evaluation and sizing procedures with electronic sensors and digital processing. The comfort controller automatically measures run time and static pressure, substituting mechanical judgment with electronic measurement and comparison to benchmark data, thereby improving configuration accuracy without increasing energy consumption
2Loss of information
If existing HVAC monitoring technologies are used, then basic system operation can be tracked, but systematic identification of improper configurations and installation issues is not achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The comfort controller serves multiple functions: it monitors basic system operation, compares performance against benchmarks, identifies configuration problems, and provides diagnostic information. This multi-functional approach reduces information loss without requiring separate complex monitoring systems for each function
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses existing sensors and digital processing capabilities within the HVAC controller itself to perform monitoring and diagnostics. By leveraging already-present components, the system achieves comprehensive performance tracking without adding external monitoring devices, thereby minimizing device complexity while maximizing information availability
3Measurement precision
If benchmark comparisons are implemented to evaluate system performance, then objective evaluation of HVAC system integrity and performance is provided, but additional processing and comparison capabilities are required
Solution Approach 1:
Benchmark values for run time and static pressure are pre-established and stored in the comfort controller. By having reference data ready before actual measurements are taken, the system can immediately compare and evaluate performance without requiring complex real-time calculations, thereby achieving precise measurement evaluation with minimal additional processing complexity
Data Source
AI summary
A comfort controller in an HVAC system is provided. The comfort controller comprises a processor configured such that the comfort controller compares at least one of an actual run time of the HVAC system to a benchmark run time and an actual static pressure of the HVAC system to a benchmark static pressure. The processor is further configured such that, when at least one of the actual run time and the actual static pressure are outside a specified range of their associated benchmarks, the comfort controller determines that the HVAC system has an improper configuration. The processor is further configured such that the comfort controller displays the results of the comparison.