HVAC system monitoring via sensor module/assembly including sensors for refrigerant detection, pressure, temperature, and humidity
Disclosed are exemplary systems and methods for monitoring (e.g., diagnosis of, etc.) HVAC system operation via sensor modules or assemblies that include multiple sensors for pressure, temperature, humidity, and refrigerant detection (e.g., A2L refrigerant, other flammable, low Global Warming Potential (GWP) refrigerant, etc.). In exemplary embodiments, the refrigerant detection, pressure, temperature, and humidity sensors are disposed (e.g., integrated, collocated, incorporated, etc.) within a single housing and usable for monitoring (e.g., diagnosis of, etc.) HVAC system operation.
1 . A system for monitoring HVAC system operation, the system comprising a sensor module including a refrigerant detection sensor, a pressure sensor, a temperature sensor, and a humidity sensor that are integrated and/or incorporated within the sensor module, wherein the system is configured to:
(A) monitor static pressure data obtained via the pressure sensor of the sensor module for pressure change(s) indicative of a blockage;
(B) monitor temperature data obtained via the temperature sensor of the sensor module for temperature change(s) indicative of an underperforming HVAC system; and
(C) monitor humidity data obtained via the humidity sensor of the sensor module for a humidity reading above a humidity threshold;
wherein the refrigerant detection sensor, the pressure sensor, the temperature sensor, and the humidity sensor are collocated within a same internal space under a single housing of the sensor module.
2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the system uses the refrigerant detection sensor of the sensor module to monitor for a presence of refrigerant indicative of a refrigerant leak.
3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the system uses the sensor module to:
monitor via the refrigerant sensor of the sensor module, for a presence of refrigerant indicative of a refrigerant leak; and
monitor static pressure data obtained via the pressure sensor of the sensor module for pressure change(s) indicative of a blockage; and
monitor temperature data obtained via the temperature sensor of the sensor module for temperature change(s) indicative of an underperforming HVAC system; and
monitor humidity data obtained via the humidity sensor of the sensor module for a humidity reading above a humidity threshold.
4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the system uses the refrigerant detection sensor of the sensor module to detect a presence of A2L refrigerant.
5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the system algorithmically determines, from the static pressure data obtained via the pressure sensor of the sensor module, pressure change(s) within ductwork of the HVAC system indicative of a blockage, such as a blocked or clogged condition of a filter, a closed vent, and/or an evaporator coil freeze up.
6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the system monitors the temperature data obtained via the temperature sensor of the sensor module and temperature data obtained via a temperature sensor onboard an integrated furnace control (IFC) of the HVAC system for temperature change(s) indicative of an underperforming HVAC system.
7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the system automatically adjusts blower speed in response to the system detecting a humidity reading above the humidity threshold.
8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the system automatically decreases blower speed in response to algorithmically determining, from the humidity data obtained via the humidity sensor of the sensor module, that humidity is above the humidity threshold.
9 . A HVAC system comprising the system of claim 1 , an evaporator coil having first and second opposite sides, and an integrated furnace control including a temperature sensor onboard the integrated furnace control, wherein:
the temperature sensor onboard the integrated furnace control is along the first side of the evaporator coil, the temperature sensor of the sensor module is along the second side of the evaporator coil, whereby temperature data along the first and second opposite sides of the evaporator coil is respectively obtainable via the temperature sensor onboard the integrated furnace control that is along the first side of the evaporator coil and the temperature sensor of the sensor module that is along the second side of the evaporator coil; and
the system:
monitors the temperature data obtained via the temperature sensor of the sensor module and temperature data obtained via the temperature sensor onboard the integrated furnace control for temperature change(s) indicative of underperformance of the HVAC system; and
monitors, via the refrigerant sensor of the sensor module, for a presence of refrigerant indicative of a refrigerant leak; and
monitors static pressure data obtained via the pressure sensor of the sensor module for pressure change(s) indicative of a blockage; and
monitors humidity data obtained via the humidity sensor of the sensor module for a humidity reading above a humidity threshold.
10 . The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the sensor module consists of one of each said refrigerant detection sensor, said pressure sensor, said temperature sensor, and said humidity sensor that are integrated and/or incorporated within the same sensor module; and
the sensor module obtains each of the following four parameters from a single location at which the sensor module is located:
(A) static pressure data via the only one said pressure sensor of the sensor module;
(B) temperature data via the only one said temperature sensor of the sensor module;
(C) humidity data via the only one said humidity sensor of the sensor module; and
(D) detection of a presence of refrigerant indicative of a refrigerant leak via the only one said refrigerant detection sensor.
11 . A system for monitoring HVAC system operation, the system comprising a sensor module including a refrigerant detection sensor, a pressure sensor, a temperature sensor, and a humidity sensor that are integrated and/or incorporated within the sensor module, wherein the system is configured to:
(A) monitor static pressure data obtained via the pressure sensor of the sensor module for pressure change(s) indicative of a blockage;
(B) monitor temperature data obtained via the temperature sensor of the sensor module for temperature change(s) indicative of an underperforming HVAC system; and
(C) monitor humidity data obtained via the humidity sensor of the sensor module for a humidity reading above a humidity threshold;
wherein:
the system monitors the temperature data obtained via the temperature sensor of the sensor module and temperature data obtained via a temperature sensor onboard an integrated furnace control (IFC) of the HVAC system for temperature change(s) indicative of an underperforming HVAC system;
the HVAC system includes an evaporator coil having first and second opposite sides;
the temperature sensor onboard the integrated furnace control (IFC) is along the first side of the evaporator coil; and
the temperature sensor of the sensor module is along the second side of the evaporator coil;
whereby temperature data along the first and second opposite sides of the evaporator coil is respectively obtainable via the IFC's onboard temperature sensor along the first side of the evaporator coil and the sensor module's temperature sensor along the second side of the evaporator coil; and
wherein the system algorithmically determines, from the temperature data obtained via the temperature sensor of the sensor module and the temperature sensor onboard the integrated furnace control, temperature changes indicative of an underperforming HVAC system.
12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the refrigerant detection sensor, the pressure sensor, the temperature sensor, and the humidity sensor are collocated within a same internal space under a single housing of the sensor module.
13 . A system for monitoring HVAC system operation, the system comprising a sensor module including a refrigerant detection sensor, a pressure sensor, a temperature sensor, and a humidity sensor that are integrated and/or incorporated within the sensor module, wherein the system is configured to:
(A) monitor static pressure data obtained via the pressure sensor of the sensor module for pressure change(s) indicative of a blockage;
(B) monitor temperature data obtained via the temperature sensor of the sensor module for temperature change(s) indicative of an underperforming HVAC system; and
(C) monitor humidity data obtained via the humidity sensor of the sensor module for a humidity reading above a humidity threshold;
wherein:
the refrigerant detection sensor is a flammable gas detection sensor;
the pressure sensor is a raw pressure sensing element included with the flammable gas detection sensor and configured to obtain raw static pressure data including serial, digital, and/or analog data;
the temperature sensor is a raw temperature sensing element included with the flammable gas detection sensor and configured to obtain raw static temperature data including serial, digital, and/or analog data;
the humidity sensor is a raw humidity sensing element included with the flammable gas detection sensor and configured to obtain raw static humidity data including serial, digital, and/or analog data; and
the system:
(A) monitors the raw static pressure data obtained via the raw pressure sensing element included with the flammable gas detection sensor for pressure change(s) indicative of a blockage;
(B) monitors the raw static temperature data obtained via the raw temperature sensing element included with the flammable gas detection sensor for temperature change(s) indicative of an underperforming HVAC system; and
(C) monitors the raw static humidity data obtained via the raw humidity sensing element included with the flammable gas detection sensor for a humidity reading above a humidity threshold.
14 . A system for monitoring HVAC system operation, the system comprising a sensor module including a refrigerant detection sensor, a pressure sensor, a temperature sensor, and a humidity sensor that are integrated and/or incorporated within the sensor module, wherein the system is configured to:
(A) monitor static pressure data obtained via the pressure sensor of the sensor module for pressure change(s) indicative of a blockage;
(B) monitor temperature data obtained via the temperature sensor of the sensor module for temperature change(s) indicative of an underperforming HVAC system; and
(C) monitor humidity data obtained via the humidity sensor of the sensor module for a humidity reading above a humidity threshold;
wherein:
the system automatically decreases blower speed in response to algorithmically determining, from the humidity data obtained via the humidity sensor of the sensor module, that humidity is above the humidity threshold;
the system automatically decreases blower speed by automatically lowering blower speed tap by increments of one; and
the system automatically resets blower speed to an original tap speed after algorithmically determining, from the humidity data obtained via the humidity sensor of the sensor module, that the humidity is below the humidity threshold.
15 . A system for monitoring HVAC system operation, the system comprising a sensor module including a refrigerant detection sensor, a pressure sensor, a temperature sensor, and a humidity sensor that are integrated and/or incorporated within the sensor module, wherein the system is configured to:
(A) monitor static pressure data obtained via the pressure sensor of the sensor module for pressure change(s) indicative of a blockage;
(B) monitor temperature data obtained via the temperature sensor of the sensor module for temperature change(s) indicative of an underperforming HVAC system; and
(C) monitor humidity data obtained via the humidity sensor of the sensor module for a humidity reading above a humidity threshold;
wherein the system:
compares static pressure data obtained via the pressure sensor of the sensor module to a base pressure value during active calls of the HVAC system;
determines whether a pressure delta between the static pressure data minus the base pressure value is greater than a predetermined value (X) for a predetermined number (Y) of consecutive calls; and
generates an alert when the system determines that the pressure delta is greater than the predetermined value (X) for the predetermined number (Y) of consecutive calls.
16 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the system:
compares temperature data obtained via the temperature sensor of the sensor module to a base temperature value during active calls of the HVAC system;
determines whether a temperature delta between the static temperature data minus the base temperature value is greater than a predetermined value (X) for a predetermined number (Y) of consecutive calls; and
generates an alert when the system determines that the temperature delta is greater than the predetermined value (X) for the predetermined number (Y) of consecutive calls.
17 . The system of claim 16 , wherein the system:
compares humidity data obtained via the humidity sensor of the sensor module to a humidity value during active calls of the HVAC system;
determines whether a humidity delta between the humidity data minus the base humidity value is greater than a predetermined value (X) for a predetermined number (Y) of consecutive calls; and
automatically reduces blower speed when the system determines that the humidity delta is greater than the predetermined value (X) for the predetermined number (Y) of consecutive calls.
18 . A method for monitoring HVAC system operation, the method comprising using a sensor module including a refrigerant detection sensor, a pressure sensor, a temperature sensor, and a humidity sensor that are integrated and/or incorporated within the sensor module, wherein the method includes:
(A) monitoring static pressure data obtained via the pressure sensor of the sensor module for pressure change(s) indicative of a blockage;
(B) monitoring temperature data obtained via the temperature sensor of the sensor module for temperature change(s) indicative of an underperforming HVAC system; and
(C) monitoring humidity data obtained via the humidity sensor of the sensor module for a humidity reading above a humidity threshold;
and wherein the method further includes:
comparing static pressure data obtained via the pressure sensor of the sensor module to a base pressure value during active calls of the HVAC system;
determining whether a pressure delta between the static pressure data minus the base pressure value is greater than a predetermined value (X) for a predetermined number (Y) of consecutive calls;
generating an alert when the system determines that the pressure delta is greater than the predetermined value (X) for the predetermined number (Y) of consecutive calls;
comparing temperature data obtained via the temperature sensor of the sensor module to a base temperature value during active calls of the HVAC system;
determining whether a temperature delta between the static temperature data minus the base temperature value is greater than a predetermined value (X) for a predetermined number (Y) of consecutive calls;
generating an alert when the system determines that the temperature delta is greater than the predetermined value (X) for the predetermined number (Y) of consecutive calls,
comparing humidity data obtained via the humidity sensor of the sensor module to a humidity value during active calls of the HVAC system;
determining whether a humidity delta between the humidity data minus the base humidity value is greater than a predetermined value (X) for a predetermined number (Y) of consecutive calls; and
automatically reducing blower speed when the system determines that the humidity delta is greater than the predetermined value (X) for the predetermined number (Y) of consecutive calls.
19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the method includes using the refrigerant detection sensor of the sensor module for monitoring for a presence of refrigerant indicative of a refrigerant leak.
20 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the method includes monitoring the temperature data obtained via the temperature sensor of the sensor module and temperature data obtained via a temperature sensor onboard an integrated furnace control (IFC) of the HVAC system for temperature change(s) indicative of an underperforming HVAC system.