Abstract: The present disclosure presents techniques for improving operational efficiency of climate control systems. A climate control system may include climate control equipment, a sensor that measures temperature in a building, and a control system that controls operation of the equipment using a first temperature schedule, which associates each time step with a temperature setpoint, when the building is occupied.

Abstract: The present disclosure includes techniques that enable a conditioned air system to automatically restore functionality and/or to operate at reduced functionality when a fault is detected, for example, to facilitate reducing likelihood that continuing operation with the fault present will decrease lifespan of the conditioned air system. To facilitate improving operation of the conditioned air system when a fault is present, the control system of the conditioned air system may utilize substitute sensor data and/or adjust its control algorithm. In this manner, the control system may facilitate improving operational reliability and/or availability of the conditioned air system, for example, by adaptively adjusting its operation to enable the conditioned air system to continue operating even when a fault is present, while reducing likelihood that the continued operation will reduce lifespan of the conditioned air system.

Abstract: The present disclosure includes a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system having a control system suitable to control operation of a device in the HVAC system. The control system may include a zone control panel that may control operation of the device using power-line communication. Accordingly, the zone control panel and the device may be both communicatively and electrically coupled via one or more power lines. To that end, the zone control panel may determine a primary address identifying the device and/or a secondary address indicating the one or more power lines electrically coupled to the device. Further, the zone control panel may communicate with and/or coordinate operation of the device by transmitting data messages to the device via the one or more power lines based on the primary address and/or the secondary address.

Abstract: The present disclosure includes systems and methods for determining dimensions, shapes, and locations of rooms of a building using a mobile device for controlling heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) provided to the rooms and building. A measuring device receives a shape of a room in the building and determines a dimension set of the room based on the shape of the room. The measuring device transmits the shape of the room and the dimension set to a mobile device that determines a layout of the building based on the shapes and the dimension sets corresponding to the rooms of the building. In this manner, the systems and methods provide the layout of the building more efficiently, resulting in an improved HVAC system installation and operation process.

Abstract: A thermostat for a building space includes a network communication module and a processing circuit. The network communication module is communicatively coupled to at least one of one or more social media servers and one or more calendar servers. The processing circuit is configured to receive at least one of social media activity, social media events, and calendar events associated with a user via the network communication module. The processing circuit is further configured to determine an expected occupancy of the building based on at least one of the social media events and the calendar events. The processing circuit is further configured to adjust a setpoint of the thermostat based on at least one of the expected occupancy and the social media activity.

Abstract: A heat exchanger system that includes a heat exchanger that includes a plurality of circuits wherein the heat exchanger is configured to exchange heat between a refrigerant and a working fluid. The heat exchanger system also includes a valve configured to fluidly couple a circuit of the plurality of circuits to a flow path of the refrigerant. Further, the heat exchanger system includes a controller that is configured to receive feedback indicative of an operating parameter of the heat exchanger system and actuate the valve based on the operating parameter.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a system for a heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) system includes a compressor configured to circulate a working fluid through the HVAC system, a fan configured to direct across a heat exchanger coil of the HVAC system, an ambient sensor configured to monitor a condition of an environment surrounding the heat exchanger coil, and a control system communicatively coupled to the ambient sensor, where the control system is configured to detect a status of the ambient sensor, and where the control system is configured to adjust operation of the compressor, or the fan, or both, upon detection of an error of the ambient sensor.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) unit having a vapor compression circuit including a compressor and a heat exchanger. The HVAC unit includes a controller configured to provide a first signal to control the compressor, and provide a second signal to control a variable speed fan associated with the heat exchanger based on a target speed. The HVAC unit further includes a pressure activated device coupled between the controller and the compressor, wherein the pressure activated device is configured to temporarily block the first signal from the controller while a refrigerant pressure within the vapor compression circuit is greater than a threshold value. In response to determining that the pressure activated device has blocked the first signal for at least a threshold time period, the controller is configured to both deactivate the first signal and provide the second signal for an equilibration time.

Abstract: A configuration management system for a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system includes a controller having a memory storing a baseline configuration of the HVAC system. The baseline configuration of the HVAC system indicates that the HVAC system is an air conditioning system or a heat pump system. Additionally, the controller is configured to determine a current configuration of the HVAC system based on detecting whether a reversing valve is present in the HVAC system. The current configuration of the HVAC system includes an air conditioning system configuration or a heat pump system configuration. The controller is also configured to perform a control action in response to determining that the current configuration is different than the baseline configuration.

Abstract: An HVAC system includes, an electronic expansion valve (EEV), and a controller in communication with the EEV. The controller is configured to determine a minimum EEV setpoint position value based on a comparison of a superheat error value to a setpoint error threshold. The controller is further configured to determine a maximum EEV setpoint position value based on a comparison of a second superheat error value to a second setpoint error threshold. The controller is further configured to calculate an average setpoint value based on the maximum EEV setpoint position value and the minimum EEV setpoint position value. The controller is further configured to configure the EEV to a position corresponding to the average setpoint value and operate the EEV for a predetermined amount of time. The controller is further configured to operate the EEV according to a PID algorithm.

Abstract: A system for heating a building via refrigerant includes a coil temperature sensor, an ambient temperature sensor, and a controller. The controller includes a processing circuit configured to record a system operating parameter and a control step of a control process before performing a sacrificial defrost cycle. The processing circuit is configured to cause the system to perform the sacrificial defrost cycle and operate the system at predefined system operating parameters other than the recorded system operating parameters. The system is configured to cause the system to operate at the recorded system operating parameters and generate calibration data in response to the sacrificial defrost cycle ending. The processing circuit is configured to cause the control process to operate at the recorded control step and cause the system to perform a defrost cycle based on the calibration data, the coil temperature, and the ambient temperature.

Abstract: An outdoor unit for a building HVAC system includes one or more sensors configured to measure temperature and pressure values. The unit also includes a user interface coupled to the outdoor unit. The user interface is configured to display information to a user. The unit includes a controller including a processing circuit. The processing circuit configured to record the temperature values and the pressure values via the sensors and cause the user interface to display temperature values and pressure values.

Abstract: A control system for an HVAC system. The control system includes a user interface configured to present information to a user and receive inputs from the user. A processor is configured to cause the processor to receive one or more system parameters associated with HVAC system components. The processor is further configured to determine if a maintenance operation is required in response to receiving the one or more system parameters, and to display to the user via the user interface an indication that a maintenance operation is required. The processor is also configured to receive an instruction from the user to initiate the maintenance operation, and to display one or more operational conditions required to be satisfied prior to the maintenance operations being performed. The HVAC components are monitored to determine if the operational conditions are completed, and maintenance instructions are displayed in response to the operational conditions being completed.

Abstract: A residential HVAC system includes, a compressor, and an outdoor unit controller in communication with the compressor. The outdoor unit controller is configured to receive an indoor ambient temperature and a temperature set point. The outdoor unit controller is further configured to determine an outdoor ambient temperature, and to determine an operating value for the compressor based on a percentage of a delta between a minimum operating value of the compressor and a maximum operating value of the compressor, plus the minimum operating value. The minimum operating value and the maximum operating value are based on the determined outdoor ambient temperature. The percentage of the delta is based on a predefined temperature differential multiplier and one or more time dependent multipliers. The outdoor unit controller is further configured to modify the current operating value of the compressor with the determined operating value.

Abstract: A heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system includes an outdoor unit having a heat exchanger. The heat exchanger includes a coil configured to route refrigerant therethrough. The HVAC system also includes a motor configured to drive a fan, a motor controller configured to regulate operation of the motor, and a global controller configured to regulate operation of global aspects of the HVAC system. The HVAC system also includes a power sensor configured to detect a power parameter relating to a power input to the motor controller, a power output from the motor controller, or a power input to the motor, wherein the global controller is configured to receive data indicative of the power parameter from the power sensor, and wherein the global controller is configured to analyze the data indicative of the power parameter to detect a frozen coil condition, a fouled coil condition, or both.

Abstract: A heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system includes a controller associated with a residence. The controller is configured to determine an expected value range for an operating parameter of a component of the HVAC system. Additionally, the controller is configured to receive a signal from a sensor indicative of a current value of the operating parameter of the component and determine if the current value of the operating parameter is outside the expected value range. Based on the determination that the current value is outside the expected value range, the controller is additionally configured to initiate a diagnostic mode of the controller. In the diagnostic mode, the controller is configured to collect diagnostic data associated with the HVAC system.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the present disclosure, a heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) system includes a refrigerant circuit configured to flow a refrigerant. The refrigerant circuit includes a compressor configured to compress the refrigerant, a condenser configured to receive the refrigerant from the compressor and to condense the refrigerant, a valve configured to receive a first portion of the refrigerant from the condenser and to decrease a pressure of the first portion of the refrigerant, and an evaporator configured to receive the first portion of the refrigerant from the condenser and configured to evaporate the first portion of the refrigerant. The refrigerant circuit also includes a refrigerant sub-circuit configured to receive a second portion of the refrigerant from the condenser and to convert thermal energy of the second portion of the refrigerant to electrical energy.

Abstract: A thermostat for a building space includes a communications interface, an electronic display, and a processing circuit. The communications interface is configured to receive service provider information via a network connection. The electronic display includes a user interface configured to display the service provider information. The processing circuit is configured to determine when to display the service provider information on the electronic display by monitoring thermostat events.

Abstract: A thermostat for a building space. The thermostat includes a user interface and a processing circuit. The user interface is configured to serve notifications to a user and receive input from the user. The communications interface is configured to perform bidirectional data communications with HVAC equipment controlled by the thermostat. The communications interface is configured to receive performance information for the HVAC equipment. The processing circuit is configured to provide control signals to the HVAC equipment to achieve a setpoint for the building space. The processing circuit is further configured to evaluate the performance information for the HVAC equipment to determine a recommendation for improving HVAC equipment performance. The processing circuit is further configured to automatically adjust at least one of the setpoint and the control signals provided to the HVAC equipment based on the recommendation for improving HVAC equipment performance.

Abstract: A thermostat for a building space includes an electronic display, a frame, a touch sensitive interface, and a processing circuit. The touch-sensitive interface has a first portion that overlays the electronic display and a second portion that overlays the frame. The touch-sensitive interface is configured to receive touch-based input via both the first portion and the second portion. The processing circuit is configured to define one or more locations within the second portion that correspond to touch-sensitive buttons. The locations of the touch-sensitive buttons are customizable and can be changed by a user. The thermostat further including at least one of a sticker and a skin that covers at least part of the second portion and visually marks the locations of the touch-sensitive buttons.