IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,920,819
Granted Patent B2
US 11,920,819 · App. 17/930,162 · Granted Mar 5, 2024

HVAC system operated with adaptive discharge air temperature setpoint

Inventors: Rakesh Goel (Irving, TX); Juan Antonio Contreras Lafaire (Frisco, TX)
Assignee: Lennox Industries Inc.
F24F11/86
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,920,819
App. No.
17/930,162
Granted
Mar 5, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

An HVAC system includes a blower, a variable-speed compressor, an indoor air temperature sensor that measures an indoor air temperature (IAT) of an enclosed space, and a controller. The controller stores an indoor temperature setpoint and a default discharge air temperature setpoint. The controller receives the IAT. The controller determines that the IAT is not within a threshold range of the indoor temperature setpoint. The controller then determines an adaptive discharge air temperature setpoint. The controller determines a compressor speed at which to operate the variable-speed compressor based on the adaptive discharge air temperature setpoint. The controller causes the variable-speed compressor to operate at the determined compressor speed.

Claims (67)

1. A heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system, comprising:

a blower configured to provide a flow of air across an evaporator of the HVAC system;

a variable-speed compressor configured to compress a refrigerant flowing through the HVAC system;

an indoor air temperature sensor positioned and configured to measure an indoor air temperature (IAT) of the enclosed space; and

a controller communicatively coupled to the blower, variable-speed compressor, the indoor air temperature sensor, and the discharge air temperature sensor, the controller comprising:

a memory configured to store an indoor temperature setpoint and a default discharge air temperature setpoint; and

a processor configured to:

receive the IAT;

determine, based on a difference between the received IAT and the indoor temperature setpoint, that the IAT is not within a threshold range of the indoor temperature setpoint;

after determining that the IAT is not within the threshold range of the indoor temperature setpoint, determine an adaptive discharge air temperature setpoint based on the default discharge air temperature setpoint and the difference between the received IAT and the indoor temperature setpoint;

determine a compressor speed at which to operate the variable-speed compressor based on the adaptive discharge air temperature setpoint; and

cause the variable-speed compressor to operate at the determined compressor speed.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to determine that the IAT is not within the threshold range of the indoor temperature setpoint when the IAT is greater than the indoor temperature setpoint.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein:

the memory is further configured to store a default dehumidification mode discharge air temperature setpoint and a maximum temperature differential; and

the processor is further configured to determine the adaptive discharge air temperature setpoint based on the default discharge air temperature setpoint, the difference between the received IAT and the indoor temperature setpoint, the default dehumidification mode discharge air temperature setpoint, and the maximum temperature differential.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to determine the compressor speed based on a difference between a discharge air temperature and the adaptive discharge air temperature setpoint.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein:

the HVAC system further comprises a second compressor; and

the processor is further configured to:

determine that the determined compressor speed is greater than a maximum speed of the variable-speed compressor;

after determining that the determined compressor speed is greater than the maximum speed of the variable-speed compressor:

cause the variable-speed compressor to operate at the maximum speed; and

cause the second compressor to activate.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein following causing the variable-speed compressor to operate at the determined compressor speed, the IAT is within a threshold value of the indoor temperature setpoint within a threshold time.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to:

determine a blower speed at which to operate the blower based on the received IAT and the indoor temperature setpoint; and

cause the blower to operate at the determined blower speed.

8. A method comprising, by a controller of a heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system:

receiving an indoor air temperature (IAT) of an enclosed space to which conditioned air is provided by the HVAC system;

determining, based on a difference between the received IAT and the indoor temperature setpoint, that the IAT is not within a threshold range of an indoor temperature setpoint;

after determining that the IAT is not within the threshold range of the indoor temperature setpoint, determining an adaptive discharge air temperature setpoint based on a default discharge air temperature setpoint and the difference between the received IAT and the indoor temperature setpoint;

determining a compressor speed at which to operate a variable-speed compressor of the HVAC system based on the adaptive discharge air temperature setpoint; and

causing the variable-speed compressor to operate at the determined compressor speed.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising determining that the IAT is not within the threshold range of the indoor temperature setpoint when the IAT is greater than the indoor temperature setpoint.

10. The method of claim 8 , further comprising determining that the adaptive discharge air temperature setpoint based on the default discharge air temperature setpoint, the difference between the received IAT and the indoor temperature setpoint, a default dehumidification mode discharge air temperature setpoint, and a maximum temperature differential.

11. The method of claim 8 , further comprising determining the compressor speed based on a difference between a discharge air temperature and the adaptive discharge air temperature setpoint.

12. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

determining that the determined compressor speed is greater than a maximum speed of the variable-speed compressor;

after determining that the determined compressor speed is greater than the maximum speed of the variable-speed compressor:

causing the variable-speed compressor to operate at the maximum speed; and

causing a second compressor of the HVAC system to activate.

13. The method of claim 8 , wherein following causing the variable-speed compressor to operate at the determined compressor speed, the IAT is within a threshold value of the indoor temperature setpoint within a threshold time.

14. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

determining a blower speed at which to operate a blower of the HVAC system based on the received IAT and the indoor temperature setpoint; and

causing the blower to operate at the determined blower speed.

15. A controller for operating a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system, the controller comprising:

a memory configured to store an indoor temperature setpoint and a default discharge air temperature setpoint; and

a processor configured to:

receive an indoor air temperature (IAT) of an enclosed space to which conditioned air is provided by the HVAC system;

determine, based on a difference between the received IAT and the indoor temperature setpoint, that the IAT is not within a threshold range of the indoor temperature setpoint;

after determining that the IAT is not within the threshold range of the indoor temperature setpoint, determine an adaptive discharge air temperature setpoint based on the default discharge air temperature setpoint and the difference between the received IAT and the indoor temperature setpoint;

determine a compressor speed at which to operate a variable-speed compressor of the HVAC system based on the adaptive discharge air temperature setpoint; and

cause the variable-speed compressor to operate at the determined compressor speed.

16. The controller of claim 15 , wherein the processor is further configured to determine that the IAT is not within the threshold range of the indoor temperature setpoint when the IAT is greater than the indoor temperature setpoint.

17. The controller of claim 15 , wherein:

the memory is further configured to store a default dehumidification mode discharge air temperature setpoint and a maximum temperature differential; and

the processor is further configured to determine the adaptive discharge air temperature setpoint based on the default discharge air temperature setpoint, the difference between the received IAT and the indoor temperature setpoint, the default dehumidification mode discharge air temperature setpoint, and the maximum temperature differential.

18. The controller of claim 15 , wherein the processor is further configured to determine the compressor speed based on a difference between a discharge air temperature and the adaptive discharge air temperature setpoint.

19. The controller of claim 15 , wherein the processor is further configured to:

determine that the determined compressor speed is greater than a maximum speed of the variable-speed compressor;

after determining that the determined compressor speed is greater than the maximum speed of the variable-speed compressor:

cause the variable-speed compressor to operate at the maximum speed; and

cause a second compressor of the HVAC system to activate.

20. The controller of claim 15 , wherein the processor is further configured to:

determine a blower speed at which to operate a blower of the HVAC system based on the received IAT and the indoor temperature setpoint; and

cause the blower to operate at the determined blower speed.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 7, 2022
From: GOEL, RAKESH; CONTRERAS LAFAIRE, JUAN ANTONIO
To: LENNOX INDUSTRIES INC.
Reel/Frame 061013/0134 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation 17203528 · Mar 16, 2021
Related Publication 20220412599A1 · Dec 29, 2022
Cited By (1)
US 12,339,027