Abstract: Supervisory controllers, and methods, for use in a coordinated IAQ and economizer system. Various control objectives are defined and met. Some illustrative control objectives include economizer control, sequencing of economizer free cooling with compressor driven cooling, indoor air quality and FAV aims, demand ventilation settings, system protection from low temperatures, and smoke, supervisory and fault tolerance commands. The controller may be self configuring. A tiered fault tolerant controller is also provided. An illustrative controller is configured to determine whether various system sensors and devices are operational. The illustrative controller is also configured to perform a first method when all system sensors and/or devices are functioning, and at least a second method in response to sensor or device failures. The supervisory controller may include integrated economizer control, or may be configured as a separate controller.

Abstract: A device and method that may be used at nearly any place to set and adjust a control system such as a thermostat, controller or computer having numerous parameters and options that may be selected for desired operation of an air management system. One may remotely, via a personal digital assistant or computer, configure, commission, select, set or adjust the parameters and options of a control system. The configuration information may be shared with other personal digital assistants in a wireless or non-wireless manner. Further, enhanced diagnostics and repair may be achieved with the sending of configuration information from one PDA or computer to a PDA or computer at a diagnostic and repair facility. New modifications and calibration may be provided for the configuration. Such added information and configuring may be sent back to the originating PDA or computer for the providing to the controller or thermostat.

Abstract: Supervisory controllers, and methods, for use in a coordinated IAQ and economizer system. Various control objectives are defined and met. Some illustrative control objectives include economizer control, sequencing of economizer free cooling with compressor driven cooling, indoor air quality and FAV aims, demand ventilation settings, system protection from low temperatures, and smoke, supervisory and fault tolerance commands. The controller may be self configuring. A tiered fault tolerant controller is also provided. An illustrative controller is configured to determine whether various system sensors and devices are operational. The illustrative controller is also configured to perform a first method when all system sensors and/or devices are functioning, and at least a second method in response to sensor or device failures. The supervisory controller may include integrated economizer control, or may be configured as a separate controller.

Abstract: A method for protecting an HVAC system of an air handling unit from low temperature outdoor ventilation air. The air handling unit may include an outdoor fresh air region, a return air region, a supply air region, and a damper situated in or adjacent to the fresh air region to regulate the flow of outdoor air into the air handling unit. The air handling unit mixes the outdoor fresh air and the return air to provide a mixed air stream to the HVAC system. In one illustrative embodiment, one or more sensors are used to measure the temperature and flow rate of the air entering or passing through the outdoor fresh air region, the temperature of the air entering or passing through the return air region and the flow rate of the air passing through the supply air region. The temperature of the mixed air stream, which is provided to the HVAC system, is then calculated using a controller or the like.

Abstract: A device and method that may be used at nearly any place to set and adjust a control system such as a thermostat, controller or computer having numerous parameters and options that may be selected for desired operation of an air management system. One may remotely, via a personal digital assistant, configure, commission, select, set or adjust the parameters and options of a control system, which may include, but not be limited to, temperatures, humidity, sensors, volume of air movement, fan or air mover behavior, the percentage of added fresh air, modulated and non-modulated control of valves and dampers, stages of cooling and heating at various zones, control of heat pumps, heaters and air conditioners, modes of occupied, unoccupied or standby of respective spaces in a building, for day and night, at selected times, on certain days, for specific buildings at particular locations.

Abstract: A device and method that may be used at nearly any place to set and adjust a control system such as a thermostat, controller or computer having numerous parameters and options that may be selected for desired operation of an air management system. One may remotely, via a personal digital assistant, configure, commission, select, set or adjust the parameters and options of a control system, which may include, but not be limited to, temperatures, humidity, sensors, volume of air movement, fan or air mover behavior, the percentage of added fresh air, modulated and non-modulated control of valves and dampers, stages of cooling and heating at various zones, control of heat pumps, heaters and air conditioners, modes of occupied, unoccupied or standby of respective spaces in a building, for day and night, at selected times, on certain days, for specific buildings at particular locations.

Abstract: A system PDA-based on line diagnostics for automatically discovering a thermostat configuration, turning off normal controller delays, temporary overriding sensor inputs and set points, and verifying proper output action including the monitoring the discharge air temperature for the resulting temperature behavior based on the equipment stages activated. The diagnosis may include the testing of sensors, set points, the fan, cooling equipment, heating equipment and the wiring connecting the controls with the fan, and the cooling and heating equipment. Problems discovered may be reported, automatically recorded and the original operating parameters may be restored.

Abstract: A device and method that may be used at nearly any place to set and adjust a control system such as a thermostat, controller or computer having numerous parameters and options that may be selected for desired operation of an air management system. One may remotely, via a personal digital assistant or computer, configure, commission, select, set or adjust the parameters and options of a control system. The configuration information may be shared with other personal digital assistants in a wireless or non-wireless manner. Further, enhanced diagnostics and repair may be achieved with the sending of configuration information from one PDA or computer to a PDA or computer at a diagnostic and repair facility. New modifications and calibration may be provided for the configuration. Such added information and configuring may be sent back to the originating PDA or computer for the providing to the controller or thermostat.

Abstract: A system PDA-based on line diagnostics for automatically discovering a thermostat configuration, turning off normal controller delays, temporary overriding sensor inputs and set points, and verifying proper output action including the monitoring the discharge air temperature for the resulting temperature behavior based on the equipment stages activated. The diagnosis may include the testing of sensors, set points, the fan, cooling equipment, heating equipment and the wiring connecting the controls with the fan, and the cooling and heating equipment. Problems discovered may be reported, automatically recorded and the original operating parameters may be restored.

Abstract: A deadband control assistant, operating as part of a control system, eliminates oscillation of a controlled process output around a desired setpoint. The deadband control defines a deadband range, and steady-state-stabilization-time for the process being controlled. When the process output is within the deadband range and oscillation around the setpoint occurs for the steady-state-stabilization-time, the error is set to zero. The control signal may simultaneously be set, or may settle to a fixed value. The deadband control assistant thus allows the process output to stabilize as close as possible to the desired setpoint. Normal process control may resume once the process output strays outside the deadband range.

Abstract: A system for controlling the operation of an HVAC system which includes a direct expansion coil, a condenser, a pre-cool coil, and a control system. The control system includes a controller and sensors. The controller receives signals indicative of air flow through the direct expansion coil from the sensors, compares the received signal to a stored air flow rate, and disables the compressor if the stored air flow rate is equal to or greater than the stored value. The controller is also adapted to vary air flow into an occupied space for small changes in the cooling load. In addition, the controller can artificially load the compressor during periods of small cooling load by restricting flow of a cooling agent between the cooling tower and the condenser, or by directing warm water from the condenser through the pre-coil coil.

Abstract: A system for controlling the operation of an HVAC system which includes a direct expansion coil, a condenser, a pre-cool coil, and a control system. The control system includes a controller and sensors. The controller receives signals indicative of air flow through the direct expansion coil from the sensors, compares the received signal to a stored air flow rate, and disables the compressor if the stored air flow rate is equal to or greater than the stored value. The controller is also adapted to vary air flow into an occupied space for small changes in the cooling load. In addition, the controller can artificially load the compressor during periods of small cooling load by restricting flow of a cooling agent between the cooling tower and the condenser, or by directing warm water from the condenser through the pre-coil coil.

Abstract: A system for controlling the operation of an HVAC system which includes a direct expansion coil, a condenser, a pre-cool coil, and a control system. The control system includes a controller and sensors. The controller receives signals indicative of air flow through the direct expansion coil from the sensors, compares the received signal to a stored air flow rate, and disables the compressor if the stored air flow rate is equal to or greater than the stored value. The controller is also adapted to vary air flow into an occupied space for small changes in the cooling load. In addition, the controller can artificially load the compressor during periods of small cooling load by restricting flow of a cooling agent between the cooling tower and the condenser, or by directing warm water from the condenser through the pre-coil coil.

Abstract: A system for controlling the operation of an HVAC system which includes a direct expansion coil, a condenser, a pre-cool coil, and a control system. The control system includes a controller and sensors. The controller receives signals indicative of air flow through the direct expansion coil from the sensors, compares the received signal to a stored air flow rate, and disables the compressor if the stored air flow rate is equal to or greater than the stored value. The controller is also adapted to vary air flow into an occupied space for small changes in the cooling load. In addition, the controller can artificially load the compressor during periods of small cooling load by restricting flow of a cooling agent between the cooling tower and the condenser, or by directing warm water from the condenser through the pre-coil coil.

Abstract: A system for controlling the operation of an HVAC system which includes a direct expansion coil, a condenser, a pre-cool coil, and a control system. The control system includes a controller and sensors. The controller receives signals indicative of air flow through the direct expansion coil from the sensors, compares the received signal to a stored air flow rate, and disables the compressor if the stored air flow rate is equal to or greater than the stored value. The controller is also adapted to vary air flow into an occupied space for small changes in the cooling load. In addition, the controller can artificially load the compressor during periods of small cooling load by restricting flow of a cooling agent between the cooling tower and the condenser, or by directing warm water from the condenser through the pre-coil coil.

Abstract: A system for controlling the operation of an HVAC system which includes a direct expansion coil, a condenser, a pre-cool coil, and a control system. The control system includes a controller and sensors. The controller receives signals indicative of air flow through the direct expansion coil from the sensors, compares the received signal to a stored air flow rate, and disables the compressor if the stored air flow rate is equal to or greater than the stored value. The controller is also adapted to vary air flow into an occupied space for small changes in the cooling load. In addition, the controller can artificially load the compressor during periods of small cooling load by restricting flow of a cooling agent between the cooling tower and the condenser, or by directing warm water from the condenser through the pre-coil coil.

Abstract: A system for determining the optimum stop time of an air conditioning system within a building so that energy can be conserved by shutting down the temperature control system an amount of lead time prior to end of occupancy of said building wherein said amount of lead time is arranged to confine space temperature within a comfort range as said space temperature drifts during said amount of lead time, said system including a space temperature sensor for sensing space temperature within the building, an outdoor air temperature sensor for sensing outdoor air temperature external to the building, and a controller connected to the space temperature sensor, the outdoor air temperature sensor and the temperature control system for determining temperature drift rate within the building and for turning off the temperature control system before the end of occupancy of the building by an amount of lead time dependent upon the temperature drift and the outdoor air temperature.

Abstract: A system for controlling a plurality of loads based upon command and residual priorities having a plurality of loads, a controller for controlling the loads according to at least two programs, each program having a command priority used for a program which wants control of a load and a residual priority retained for the program having control, the controller comparing the command priority of the program wanting control of the load to the residual priority of the program having control for thereby providing a command instruction to the load if the command priority of the program wanting control is greater than or equal to the residual priority of the program having control, and a communication channel connected between the controller and the loads for communicating the command instruction to the load.