Systems and methods for active fault detection in HVAC systems

1 . An active fault detection system for a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system, the active fault detection system comprising:

at least one processor; and

memory storing instructions executable by the at least one processor, the instructions when executed cause the system to:

obtain system data related to operation of one or more components of the HVAC system;

determine a fault probability value based on the system data, the fault probability value indicating a probability of a fault in the HVAC system;

send a control signal to a component of the HVAC system to modify one or more control parameters of the component responsive to the fault probability value being within a fault probability threshold range, the probability threshold range having an upper and lower threshold values, the control signal configured to amplify behavior of the component;

update the determined fault probability based on updated system data resulting from modifying the one or more control parameters; and

generate a service schedule responsive to the updated fault probability being above the upper threshold value.

2 . The active fault detection system of claim 1 , further comprising:

one or more sensors configured to generate output signals related to the operation of one or more components of the HVAC system, and wherein the instructions further cause the system to:

determine the system data based on the output signals.

3 . The active fault detection system of claim 1 , wherein the instructions further cause the system to:

identify the component of the HVAC based on the system data; and

determine the one or more control parameters to modify based on the system data.

4 . The active fault detection system of claim 1 , wherein modifying the one or more control parameters of the component is temporary, and wherein the instructions further cause the system to return the one or more control parameters to a pre-modification state.

5 . The active fault detection system of claim 1 , wherein the instructions further cause the system to:

determine a control action to resolve the fault; and

apply the control action to the HVAC system, and/or include the control action in the generated service schedule.

6 . The active fault detection system of claim 1 , wherein the HVAC system comprises a thermostat, and wherein the thermostat comprises the at least one processor and the memory storing instructions.

7 . The active fault detection system of claim 1 , wherein the instructions further cause the system to determine the fault probability based on occupancy information or energy consumption needs.

8 . The active fault detection system of claim 1 , wherein modifying the one or more control parameters comprises increasing or decreasing a compressor speed for a determined length of modification.

9 . The active fault detection system of claim 1 , wherein modifying the one or more control parameters comprises modulating a degrees of opening of an electronic expansion valve (EXV) to observe transient changes in superheat.

10 . The active fault detection system of claim 1 , wherein:

the active detection system is configured to reduce false fault predictions, and wherein

sending the control signal is responsive to the fault probability being near the upper or lower probability thresholds.

11 . A method for active fault detection in a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system, the method being implemented using at least one processor, and memory storing instructions, the method comprising:

obtaining system data related to operation of one or more components of the HVAC system;

determining a fault probability value based on the system data, the fault probability value indicating a probability of a fault in the HVAC system;

sending a control signal to a component of the HVAC system to modify one or more control parameters of the component responsive to the fault probability value being within a fault probability threshold range, the probability threshold range having an upper and lower threshold values, the control signal configured to amplify behavior of the component;

updating the determined fault probability based on updated system data resulting from modifying the one or more control parameters; and

generating a service schedule responsive to the updated fault probability being above the upper threshold value.

12 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

generating, with one or more sensors, output signals related to the operation of one or more components of the HVAC system; and

determining the system data based on the output signals.

13 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

identifying the component of the HVAC based on the system data; and

determining the one or more control parameters to modify based on the system data.

14 . The method of claim 11 , wherein modifying the one or more control parameters of the component is temporary, and wherein the method further comprises:

causing the system to return the one or more control parameters to a pre-modification state.

15 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

determining a control action to resolve the fault; and

applying the control action to the HVAC system, and/or including the control action in the generated service schedule.

16 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing program instructions, wherein the program instructions are computer-executable to implement:

obtaining system data related to operation of one or more components of a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system;

determining a fault probability value based on the system data, the fault probability value indicating a probability of a fault in the HVAC system;

sending a control signal to a component of the HVAC system to modify one or more control parameters of the component responsive to the fault probability value being within a fault probability threshold range, the probability threshold range having an upper and lower threshold values, the control signal configured to amplify behavior of the component;

updating the determined fault probability based on updated system data resulting from modifying the one or more control parameters; and

generating a service schedule responsive to the updated fault probability being above the upper threshold value.

17 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 16 , wherein the instructions are computer-executable to implement:

identifying the component of the HVAC based on the system data; and

determining the one or more control parameters to modify based on the system data.

18 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 16 , wherein modifying the one or more control parameters of the component is temporary, and wherein the instructions further implement returning the one or more control parameters to a pre-modification state.

19 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 16 , wherein the instructions are computer-executable to implement:

determining a control action to resolve the fault; and

applying the control action to the HVAC system, and/or including the control action in the generated service schedule.