IP Library › Granted Patent US 10,655,874

Granted Patent B1

US 10,655,874 · App. 16/004,694 · Granted May 19, 2020

Enthalpy measurement and system control

Inventor: Alexander Lawrence Reeder (Arlington, VA)

Assignee: Alarm.com Incorporated

F24F11/30 G05B15/02 F24F2110/10 F24F2110/20

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Quick Facts

Patent No.: US 10,655,874
App. No.: 16/004,694
Granted: May 19, 2020
Kind: B1

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Abstract

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for tracking computing enthalpy measurements indicating abnormalities associated with operation of a heating, ventilating, and cooling (HVAC) system. In some implementations, a computer-implemented method includes: obtaining, from one or more sensors associated with the HVAC system, (i) temperature data including a source vent temperature measurement and a return vent temperature of the HVAC system, and (ii) humidity data including a source vent humidity measurement and a return vent humidity measurement of the HVAC system; computing an enthalpy measurement associated with operation of the HVAC system; determining that the computed enthalpy measurement indicates an efficiency issue associated with operation of the HVAC system; and in response to determining that the computed enthalpy measurement indicates the efficiency issue associated with operation of the HVAC system, taking action related to the HVAC system.

Claims (73)

1. A method performed by one or more computing devices, the method comprising:

identifying, based at least on (i) the obtained source vent temperature measurement of the HVAC system, (ii) the obtained return vent temperature of the HVAC system, and (iii) the obtained temperature measurement at the component of the HVAC unit in the HVAC system, at least one opportunity for efficient use of the HVAC unit;

determining a scheme for HVAC unit operation based on the identified at least one opportunity for efficient use of the HVAC unit; and

controlling HVAC unit operation based on the determined scheme,

wherein controlling HVAC unit operation comprises:

measuring air temperature at a heat exchanger of the HVAC unit to determine whether there is usable energy in the heat exchanger based on a determination that the source vent temperature measurement of the HVAC system exceeds a temperature threshold; and

continuing to operate an HVAC fan of the HVAC unit after a furnace of the HVAC unit has turned off to circulate heated air for a particular amount of time to reduce energy required to deliver a maximum amount of heat from the HVAC unit.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

obtaining (i) the source vent temperature measurement of the HVAC system, (ii) the return vent temperature of the HVAC system, and (iii) the temperature measurement at the component of the HVAC unit in the HVAC system comprises periodically obtaining temperature measurements over a particular period of time; and

identifying at least one opportunity for efficient use of the HVAC unit comprises identifying at least one opportunity for efficient use of the HVAC unit over the particular period of time.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more sensors associated with the HVAC system comprise an anemometer that determines a volumetric airflow produced by the HVAC system.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the scheme for HVAC unit operation comprises performing a calculation to determine potential reduction in energy related to the scheme for HVAC unit operation.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the scheme for HVAC unit operation comprises determining a scheme for reducing system fuel consumption, electricity usage, or losses within a property that impact HVAC efficiency.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the scheme for HVAC unit operation comprises determining a scheme that combines different efficiency techniques.

7. A method performed by one or more computing devices, the method comprising:

obtaining, from one or more sensors associated with a heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) system, (i) a source vent temperature measurement of the HVAC system, (ii) a return vent temperature of the HVAC system, and (iii) a temperature measurement at a component of an HVAC unit in the HVAC system, wherein the one or more sensors associated with the HVAC system comprise an anemometer that determines a volumetric airflow produced by the HVAC system;

obtaining, from the anemometer, airspeed data that includes a source vent airspeed measurement and a return vent airspeed measurement associated with the HVAC system;

identifying, based at least on (i) the obtained source vent temperature measurement of the HVAC system, (ii) the obtained return vent temperature of the HVAC system, (iii) the obtained temperature measurement at the component of the HVAC unit in the HVAC system, and (iv) the obtained airspeed data, at least one opportunity for efficient use of the HVAC unit;

determining a scheme for HVAC unit operation based on the identified at least one opportunity for efficient use of the HVAC unit; and

controlling HVAC unit operation based on the determined scheme.

8. A method performed by one or more computing devices, the method comprising:

determining a scheme for HVAC unit operation based on the identified at least one opportunity for efficient use of the HVAC unit; and

controlling HVAC unit operation based on the determined scheme,

wherein identifying at least one opportunity for efficient use of the HVAC unit comprises comparing the temperature measurement at the component of the HVAC unit in the HVAC system and the source vent temperature measurement of the HVAC system and, based on comparison results, determining whether any loss due to air leakage occurs.

9. A method performed by one or more computing devices, the method comprising:

determining a scheme for HVAC unit operation based on the identified at least one opportunity for efficient use of the HVAC unit; and

controlling HVAC unit operation based on the determined scheme,

wherein identifying at least one opportunity for efficient use of the HVAC unit comprises comparing the temperature measurement at the component of the HVAC unit in the HVAC system to the source vent temperature measurement of the HVAC system and the return vent temperature of the HVAC system and, based on comparison results, determining whether insufficient insulation exists within air ducts of the HVAC system.

10. A system comprising:

one or more computing devices; and

one or more storage devices storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more computing devices, cause the one or more computing devices to perform operations comprising:

determining a scheme for HVAC unit operation based on the identified at least one opportunity for efficient use of the HVAC unit; and

controlling HVAC unit operation based on the determined scheme wherein controlling HVAC unit operation comprises:

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein:

identifying at least one opportunity for efficient use of the HVAC unit comprises identifying at least one opportunity for efficient use of the HVAC unit over the particular period of time.

12. The system of claim 10 , wherein the one or more sensors associated with the HVAC system comprise an anemometer that determines a volumetric airflow produced by the HVAC system.

13. The system of claim 10 , wherein determining the scheme for HVAC unit operation comprises performing a calculation to determine potential reduction in energy related to the scheme for HVAC unit operation.

14. The system of claim 10 , wherein determining the scheme for HVAC unit operation comprises determining a scheme for reducing system fuel consumption, electricity usage, or losses within a property that impact HVAC efficiency.

15. The system of claim 10 , wherein determining the scheme for HVAC unit operation comprises determining a scheme that combines different efficiency techniques.

16. A system comprising:

one or more computing devices; and

one or more storage devices storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more computing devices, cause the one or more computing devices to perform operations comprising:

obtaining, from the anemometer, airspeed data that includes a source vent airspeed measurement and a return vent airspeed measurement associated with the HVAC system;

determining a scheme for HVAC unit operation based on the identified at least one opportunity for efficient use of the HVAC unit; and

controlling HVAC unit operation based on the determined scheme.

17. A system comprising:

one or more computing devices; and

one or more storage devices storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more computing devices, cause the one or more computing devices to perform operations comprising:

determining a scheme for HVAC unit operation based on the identified at least one opportunity for efficient use of the HVAC unit; and

controlling HVAC unit operation based on the determined scheme,

18. A system comprising:

one or more computing devices; and

one or more storage devices storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more computing devices, cause the one or more computing devices to perform operations comprising:

determining a scheme for HVAC unit operation based on the identified at least one opportunity for efficient use of the HVAC unit; and

controlling HVAC unit operation based on the determined scheme,

wherein identifying at least one opportunity for efficient use of the HVAC unit comprises comparing the temperature measurement at the component of the HVAC unit in the HVAC system to the source vent temperature measurement of the HVAC system and the return vent temperature of the HVAC system and, based on comparison results, determining whether insufficient insulation exists within air ducts of the HVAC system.

Assignments (1)

ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 19, 2018

From: REEDER, ALEXANDER LAWRENCE

To: ALARM.COM INCORPORATED

Reel/Frame 046399/0721 →

Continuity (2)

Continuation 15165964 · May 26, 2016

Provisional Application 62166348 · May 26, 2015

Cited By (1)

US 12,359,830