Abstract: A system and method for controlling delivery of either heated or cooled water to a plurality of heat exchangers includes a system controller which gathers information as to the current and future heating or cooling demands of a plurality of zone controllers associated with the plurality of heat exchangers. The system controller is operative to provide heated or cooled water to the heat exchangers even though current heating or cooling demands may not be sufficient to require the provision of heated or cooled water to the heat exchangers. The system controller analyzes current demands for heating or cooling in combination with future demands for heating or cooling to determine if there is any combination of current and future heating or cooling demands that exceed a minimum level or number of demands necessary to authorize heating or cooling.

Abstract: In a radiant energy heating system having one or more types of radiant energy heating sub-systems, a control system comprising a solid state electronic control panel pre-programmed to control two or more of the types of radiant heating sub-systems, wherein the control panel controls one or more of the types of sub-systems.

Abstract: A system for controlling delivery of conditioned water to a plurality of heat exchangers includes a system controller which gathers information as to the current and future demands for conditioned water by a plurality of zone controllers associated with the plurality of heat exchangers. The system controller is operative to provide conditioned water to the heat exchangers even though current demands for conditioned water may not be sufficient to require the provision of conditioned water to the heat exchangers. The system controller does this by analyzing current demands for conditioned water in combination with future demands for conditioned water to determine if the combined demands exceed a minimum level or number of demands necessary to authorize provision of conditioned water to the heat exchanger.

Abstract: A system for controlling delivery of conditioned water to a plurality of heat exchangers includes a system controller which gathers information as to the current and future demands for conditioned water by a plurality of zone controllers associated with the plurality of heat exchangers. The system controller is operative to provide conditioned water to the heat exchangers even though current demands for conditioned water may not be sufficient to require the provision of conditioned water to the heat exchangers. The system contoller does this by analyzing current demands for conditioned water in combination with future demands for conditioned water to determine if the combined demands exceed a minimum level or number of demands necessary to authorize provision of conditioned water to the heat exchangers.

Abstract: A system for controlling delivery of either heated or cooled water to a plurality of heat exchangers includes a system controller which gathers information as to the current and future heating or cooling demands of a plurality of zone controllers associated with the plurality of heat exchangers. The system controller analyzes current demands for heating or cooling in combination with future demands for heating or cooling to determine if there is any combination of current and future heating or cooling demands that exceed a minimum level or number of demands necessary to authorize heating or cooling. A start time for the provision of the heated or cooled water is thereafter determined by the system controller in the event that there is any combination of current and future heating or cooling demands that exceed the minimum level or number of demands necessary to authorize a heating or cooling.

Abstract: A strategy for controlling an air side economizer of an HVAC system uses a model of the airflow through the system to estimate the load in two modes when minimum and maximum amounts of outdoor air are being introduced into the building. Transitions between minimum outdoor air and maximum outdoor air usage occur based on those estimated loads, which in a preferred embodiment are cooling loads. The second embodiment of this economizer control strategy uses the model and a one-dimensional optimization routine to determine the fraction of outdoor air that minimizes the load on the HVAC system.

Abstract: An automated energy saving system dispenses HVAC energy from a common energy source to a set of utility zones, typically rooms in a house or commercial building which are dispersed at different locations remote from the energy source, typically a roof top unit. Each utility zone selects locally established operating conditions as operating parameters serviced at a control center, typically located at the energy source site, to distribute available HVAC energy to the independent utility zones of the set in an energy saving mode of operation. The remote utility zones communicate with the common controller by wiring or wireless communication links. At the energy source energy is distributed by off-on control of individual energy conduits to the individual utility sites.

Abstract: A thermostat receives setpoint information from a system in communication with the thermostat. The thermostat is operative to modify any locally entered setpoints by a predefined amount dictated by the setpoint information received from the system in communication with the thermostat. The thermostat is preferably operative to continually display the time remaining during which it will be under the control of the system in communication with the thermostat. This affords an occupant of the room viewing the displayed time with an opportunity to elect to either continue or to override the control by the system in communication with the thermostat at any time.

Abstract: The present invention relates an automatic adjusting control system which is able to automatically adjust an operation setting value thereof according to the air-conditioning environmental conditions and the changes of load or the requirements of users. The control system mainly includes a plurality of air-conditioners, a plurality of sensors, a central control unit which is able to compare the operation setting value with values detected by each of the sensors to produce a mating signal, and a plurality of control boxes being able to control the operation of each of the air-conditioners according to the mating signal supplied from the central control unit so as to adjust the air-conditioning effect and to save energy.

Abstract: A motor drive control method and an apparatus therefor in a motor used in an adjusting device for adjusting a physical amount such as a temperature of a heat-generating member, wherein a load on a bearing of the motor caused by frequently repeating drive/stop of the motor can be reduced; thereby, prolonging the service life of the motor. The temperature of the heat-generating member is detected by a temperature detection sensor. A comparison calculating unit calculates a temperature change rate K.sub.n or the like in order to recognize the temperature of the heat-generating member and a change state (such as, a temperature change rate), and selects a rotating speed change characteristic appropriate for the change state at such time. An indication signal for changing the rotating speed of the motor on the basis of the selected characteristic is outputted to a motor control driver in order to perform drive control for the motor.

Abstract: In a distributed air conditioning system capable of controlling cooling or heating by means of a substitute temperature detector when the room temperature detector of a room to be air conditioned is abnormal, room temperatures detected by the temperature detector D2 of an indoor unit 20, the temperature detector D1 of an operation unit 30 and the temperature detector D3 of a monitoring meter 86 for monitoring the environment of the room 85 to be air conditioned are monitored by a central monitoring and control board 50 and the order of selecting the temperature detectors used for the control of cooling or heating is determined. When a temperature detector selected according to the selection order is abnormal, an alarm for the abnormality is displayed by the central monitoring and control board 50 and a temperature detector which is the next in the selection order is selected to control cooling or heating of the indoor unit.

Abstract: A thermostat control having improved user controls wherein an analog version contains a binary coded switch for selectively setting a setpoint temperature. The binary coded switch is configured to have discrete positions corresponding to a plurality of setpoint temperature settings. It contains, among other things, a resistor network configured to produce a setpoint signal indicative of the binary coded switch position and a setpoint adjust switch for setting the binary coded switch position. Also, digital version having a man-machine interface port, wherein point information from a controller can be viewed and modified with the thermostat control device controls when a hardware passkey is inserted into the man-machine interface port.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for conveying network identifications of HVAC master controllers within an HVAC communication network to their respective zone controllers. Each master controller addresses and transmits its network identification to zone controllers within a predefined range of network addresses unless it encounters another master controller. The network identifications are used by the zone controllers to identify messages from their respective master controllers.

Abstract: A climate control system having a control means for receiving cool call signals and heat call signals from a plurality of thermostats. The control means blocking action by conflicting calls when the system is in a heat mode or cool mode. The system also preventing a single zone from dominating the mode of the control system and allow a conflicting call to be received after the control system has been in a particular mode for a maximum period or the conflicting call has been waiting for longer than a maximum period. The control system also properly adjusting the dampers to allow purging of ducts after heating and cooling mode and to allow zone or system ventilation upon request.

Abstract: An air conditioner has a plurality of indoor units (3, 3, . . . ) and a single remote controller (4). The controller (4) is provided with an anomalous unit memory section (45) for a unit number of an indoor unit (3) in operation anomaly, a button operating section (42) for inputting a check signal for checking on the location of the operation anomaly, and a forcedly fan-on section (46) for outputting a forcedly fan-on signal, at the time of input of the check signal in the case that the unit number is stored, to the indoor unit (3) having the unit number. When each of the indoor units (3, 3, . . . ) causes an operation anomaly, it outputs an anomalous condition signal to the remote controller (4) and then receives a forcedly fan-on signal from the remote controller (4) to activate a fan.

Abstract: This document describes an energy management system in which microprocessor based thermostats are used to control individual room temperatures in a multiple room building in accordance with the known occupancy status of the room. The occupancy status information, as well as other control parameters, are transmitted to the thermostats from a central computer program. The control of a heating and cooling appliances is performed by an algorithm running on the electronic thermostat, which performs this function in accordance with these downloaded parameters. The system, allows room occupants to control the temperature of an occupied room within preset limits, automatically limits energy usage in unoccupied rooms, and provides additional facilities for energy management and general building management.

Abstract: A plurality of remote control groups (GR) each have a plurality of indoor units (20, 20, . . . ) designated as a single master unit (2a) and as slave units (2b) cooperating with the master unit (2a). A central monitor board (30) is provided for communicating control signals with each of the indoor units (20, 20, . . . ). A memory of the central monitor board (30) has a type area (M2) for storing type data representing that each indoor unit is a master unit (2a) or a slave unit (2b). The central monitor board (30) transmits a start signal to the indoor unit (20) as a master unit (2a) in accordance with type data of the type area (M2). In addition, the central monitor board (30) determines that the indoor units (20, 20, . . . ) having begun to operate in response to the start signal belong to one group (GR) and enters the determination result in a group area (M3) of the memory.

Abstract: An integrated zoning circulator includes a priority controller, integral with the zoning circulator, for determining the priority given to the circulator in an individual zone of a multi-zone hydronic system. The zoning circulator also includes a priority circulator system for a multi-zone hydronic system having a zoning circulator at each zone, a plurality of control boxes each having a thermostat, one control box being associated with each circulator, and, a plurality of priority controllers, one priority controller being associated with each control box. Each priority controller, when activated, functions to assure that when the associated thermostat calls for the circulator to operate, other circulators in non-priority mode are prevented from operating simultaneously.

Abstract: A variable air volume heating and cooling system that provides automatic system-wide airflow balancing is disclosed. To balance the system, each terminal box maximum airflow setting is automatically and continuously adjusted in response to central supply fan loading conditions together with local zone conditions. The new system has the advantage of automating both initial air balancing of terminal units at the time of installation, as well as rebalancing to respond to changing conditions, without technician intervention. Substantial savings in energy cost can be achieved since the operating curve of each terminal unit is automatically adjusted to demand no more conditioned air volume than necessary.

Abstract: The difference between the zone temperature and the scheduled setpoint, or .DELTA.t, is the basic data from each zone. Communication between the air handler control and the air terminal control is provided via the air system control so that the system is temperature, rather than pressure, responsive.