Room Conditioning Comfort Switch for Localized HVAC Damper Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing HVAC systems often require centralized temperature control, which can lead to inefficiencies as rooms that are unoccupied or require different environmental settings consume conditioned air or liquid unnecessarily, increasing energy costs and reducing comfort.
Innovation Solution
A wall-mounted control device with user input mechanisms that wirelessly adjust damper positions in HVAC systems, allowing users to easily turn conditioning on or off and set intermediate positions, enabling localized control of air or liquid flow within a building.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If centralized thermostat control is used, then system simplicity is maintained, but energy efficiency deteriorates as unoccupied rooms continue to receive conditioned air
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the centralized HVAC control system into distributed components by placing individual control devices in each room. Each control device independently manages dampers and conditioned air delivery for its specific zone, allowing rooms to be segmented and controlled separately based on occupancy status, thereby reducing energy waste in unoccupied spaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements local control quality by enabling each room to have its own control device that adjusts conditioned air delivery based on local occupancy conditions. This allows different rooms to have different control states (occupied/unoccupied) simultaneously, with each room's damper position optimized for its specific needs rather than uniform centralized control.
2Ease of operation
If centralized thermostat control is used, then installation simplicity is maintained, but user comfort deteriorates due to inability to control individual room environments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the control function from the HVAC system by providing separate, simple control devices for each room that interface with the existing HVAC infrastructure. This allows users to independently control their specific room environment without complexity of reconfiguring the entire HVAC system, as each control device operates autonomously in its zone.
Solution Approach 2:
The control devices are designed to be self-contained units that users can install and operate independently. Each device autonomously monitors its room's occupancy status and automatically adjusts damper positions and conditioned air delivery without requiring user intervention or complex system configuration, enabling easy individual room control.
3Productivity
If conditioned air is delivered to all rooms continuously, then system operation simplicity is maintained, but energy consumption increases in unoccupied rooms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic control action by having control devices continuously monitor occupancy status and periodically adjust damper positions based on detected conditions. When a room becomes unoccupied, the system periodically closes dampers to stop conditioned air delivery, and reopens them when occupancy is detected, optimizing energy efficiency while maintaining system responsiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The control devices incorporate occupancy sensing and feedback mechanisms that detect whether a room is occupied or unoccupied. This feedback information is used to automatically adjust damper positions and conditioned air delivery, creating a closed-loop control system that reduces energy consumption in unoccupied rooms while maintaining efficiency in occupied spaces.
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure is directed to a control device configured to control the distribution of conditioned air, or liquid, to a space inside a building. In some examples, the control device may be a wall mounted switch, similar to a light switch, inside or near the space. Operating the switch may send signals to control the position of a vent, or a valve, to allow or prevent conditioned air, or liquid, from changing the environment of the space in the building.