Abstract: The invention relates to an HVAC apparatus, method, and system. Aspects of the invention include a supplemental heat source with an air handler unit for a conventional forced air heating and cooling system. The supplemental heat source in one example is a hydronic subsystem. It can be used alone or to supplement the forced air subsystem. Another aspect of the invention includes an air handling subsystem that has a housing that can be highly flexible in configuration and installation. The housing can support internal components, including a hydronic or other supplemental heat source with the forced air components. At least two sides of the housing can be configured for access for maintenance and repair. A control system can be designed to eliminate need for defrost cycle for forced air refrigeration-type subsystem and/or for better maintenance for comfort in the air conditioned space.

Abstract: A combustion heater generates heat by means of flame. The combustion heater is disposed adjacent to a refrigerant circuit filled with a combustible refrigerant. The combustion heater includes a combustion unit and a porous body. The combustion unit causes generation of flame. The porous body covers the combustion unit or a periphery of the combustion unit. The porous body at least partially covers both or one of a combustion space receiving combustible refrigerant leaking from the refrigerant circuit and a member in contact with the combustible refrigerant leaking from the refrigerant circuit. The porous body has a plurality of holes. The holes have a diameter d1 equal to or less than an extinction diameter d of the combustible refrigerant.

Abstract: A method for adjusting an economic balance point in a dual fuel HVAC system includes a furnace, a heat pump and a control system. The method comprises providing a control device having a preprogrammed algorithm for controlling the HVAC system, providing a communication path between the control device and at least one component of the HVAC system, and accessing current fuel cost data; determining an economic balance point temperature based on the current fuel cost data; and updating the economic balance point temperature in the preprogrammed algorithm to adjust an actual balance point of the HVAC system.

Abstract: An air conditioning unit for a recreational vehicle including a first heater and a second heater, and configured to initiate a heating operation including analyzing an interior temperature and an exterior temperature, determine an operating mode of the air conditioning unit, and controlling the first heater and the second heater according to the determined operation mode.

Abstract: A fault detection method for an air conditioning system is provided by the present disclosure. The air conditioning system has a liquid pump and an injector. The fault detection method includes: automatically learning to obtain a monotonically decreasing fault detection characteristic curve Y=K(X?XMAX)+A by using an electrical power consumption of the liquid pump and a high-pressure-side pressure of the injector; wherein when Y and A are 0, X corresponds to a maximum high-pressure-side pressure Xmax of the injector; and when the current pressure of the injector Xcurrent?Xmax: if the current electrical power consumption Ycurrent<K(Xcurrent?Xmax)+A, then a probability of the injector state of the air conditioning system being normal is greater than a first preset value; and if the current electrical power consumption Ycurrent>K(Xcurrent?Xmax)+A, a probability of the injector of the air conditioning system having a fault is greater than a second preset value.

Abstract: A control method for an air conditioning system. The control method includes: S100, acquiring an actual cooling/heating capacity output by the air conditioning system, and acquiring an actual temperature change rate of an indoor heat exchange unit; S200, automatically learning a heat exchange load characteristic curve of the indoor heat exchange unit based on the actual cooling/heating capacity and the temperature change rate; S300, acquiring a steady state load and/or a desired load of the indoor heat exchange unit based on the heat exchange load characteristic curve; and S400 adjusting the number of operating compressors and rotational speeds of compressors, and/or adjusting the number of operating injectors and opening degrees of injectors, based on the steady state load and/or the desired load.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a bathroom management system for heating, sterilizing or deodorizing the inside of a bathroom according to the state of the inside or outside of bathroom. The bathroom managing system includes: a ventilation unit disposed in a bathroom to exhaust air inside the bathroom to the outside; a bathroom managing apparatus disposed inside the bathroom and heat, sterilize to deodorize the inside of bathroom; and a switch disposed outside the bathroom to control the ventilation unit and communicate with the bathroom managing apparatus.

Abstract: A method for controlling a heat pump is provided. A working mode of the heat pump is determined. Based on a determination that the working mode of the heat pump is a heating mode, an ambient temperature of the heat pump is determined. Based on a determination that the ambient temperature of the heat pump is higher than a first predetermined temperature, a first compressor of the heat pump is operated. Based on a determination that the ambient temperature of the heat pump is lower than the first predetermined temperature, both the first compressor and a second compressor of the heat pump are enabled to operate, in response to a two-stage thermostat. The first compressor and the second compressor are coupled in parallel. The method allows the heat pump to be suitable for a cold climate.

Abstract: A system is provided and may include a compressor functioning in a refrigeration circuit. An ambient temperature sensor may produce a signal indicative of an ambient temperature. Processing circuitry may calculate an energy efficiency rating of the refrigeration circuit and may generate a relationship of the calculated energy efficiency rating and ambient temperature. The processing circuitry may compare the calculated energy efficiency rating to a base energy efficiency rating to determine if a fault condition exists.

Abstract: One aspect presents an controller that comprises a control board, a microprocessor located on and electrically coupled to the control board, and a memory coupled to the microprocessor and located on and electrically coupled to the control board. The controller is configured to receive a trip signal from a refrigerant high pressure sensor and set a maximum heating % demand of the heat pump system based on the trip signal, recalculate a heating % demand based on at least one of the recalculated heating % demand or the maximum heating % demand.

Abstract: Disclosed are embodiments of heat pump systems and methods for operating such systems in the heating mode while a heat pump operating parameter reaches or is equal to a predetermined operating value at which it is not advisable to use conventional heat pump systems for heating an enclosed structure. In addition to ancillary components, the heat pump systems includes indoor, outdoor and auxiliary heat exchangers, reversing and flow diverting valves, compressors, refrigerant superheat controllers, and auxiliary energy sources. During the heating mode of operation, while the heat pump operating parameter reaches or is equal to the predetermined operating value, the flow of liquid refrigerant through the outdoor heat exchangers is inhibited and is diverted to flow through the auxiliary heat exchangers. Thermal energy from the auxiliary energy source is used for evaporating the liquid refrigerant flowing through the auxiliary heat exchangers.

Abstract: A controller sets a target setting temperature for an air-conditioning space, compares a value obtained by subtracting an outdoor temperature detected by an outdoor temperature sensor from the target setting temperature, with a first threshold related to the value, compares a value obtained by subtracting the outdoor temperature from an indoor temperature detected by an indoor temperature sensor, with a second threshold related to the value, compares a value obtained by subtracting a heat load in the air-conditioning space from a cooling capacity, with a third threshold related to the value, and controls operation of a heat pump type air-conditioning device and a ventilating device on the basis of these comparison results. The first threshold, the second threshold, and the third threshold are set in accordance with the number of people detected by a human detection sensor.

Abstract: A climate control system and method for optimizing energy consumption in a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) is provided. By varying evaporator temperatures based on occupant settings and environmental conditions, electric compressor speed can be optimized to provide the necessary cooling capacities resulting in energy savings. Determining the impact that increasing or decreasing engine cooling fan speed has on the overall energy consumption of the climate control system without affecting target discharge air temperature provides for energy saving opportunities. Optimizing energy consumption according to the provided strategy provides for improved fuel economy without sacrificing passenger comfort.

Abstract: An automotive air conditioning system has a primary hot water circuit 11 located on a side where a vehicle installed heat generator 10 is located and a secondary hot water circuit 13 which includes a hot water type heater core 12 for heating passenger compartment outlet air, whereby when in a heating mode, in the event that a coolant temperature TW1 of the primary hot water circuit is lower than a coolant temperature TW2 of the secondary hot water circuit 13, an opening and closing valve 26 is closed, whereas an opening and closing valve 23 is opened, so that a state is created in which the hot water circuits 11, 13 are separated from each other.

Abstract: A heat pump type heating and air conditioning system includes a gas furnace or other auxiliary heat source and a thermostat and controller associated with the heat pump and the auxiliary heat source for automatically energizing the heat pump if the auxiliary heat source is inoperative regardless of whether or not the automatic heating mode has been selected or the auxiliary heating mode has been selected by the user of the system. A method of operating a heat pump system with an auxiliary heating source to automatically change from operation of the heat pump to the auxiliary heating source depending on conditions such as outdoor temperature, and to automatically change back to operation of the heat pump if the auxiliary heating source is inoperable.

Abstract: Air conditioner, and method for controlling an operation of the same, the air conditioner including a sheath heater in the accumulator for heating the refrigerant in room heating for delaying deposition of frost on the outdoor heat exchanger. The sheath heater includes a coil formed heat generating part, and two electrodes connected to the heat generating part for supplying power. The method including the step of varying the heat generating rate of the sheath heater with an exterior temperature or a capacity of the indoor unit, thereby delaying deposition of frost on the outdoor heat exchanger.

Abstract: A heating control method is provided for a multi-stage heating system including a heating circuit having a compressor, a condenser and an evaporator. An auxiliary heater is provided that is selectively controlled independently of the heating circuit. During a heating cycle in which the ambient outside temperature is greater than the balance point temperature associated with the operation of the heating circuit, the auxiliary heating circuit is normally prevented from operating. However, if the heating requirements are not satisfied after a predetermined time or the compressor is non-functional or operating improperly, the auxiliary heater is enabled.

Abstract: A method of controlling a heating system including at least a first stage heat pump and a second stage auxiliary heater, and a control that implements the method. The control shuts off the first stage heat pump during cold outside temperatures without the need to directly sense the outside temperature. The method includes selectively turning on the first stage heat pump or the second stage auxiliary heater based upon a measure of the amount of time at least one of the stages was on verses the time neither of the stages was on. This can be implemented with a counter that increases when neither the heat pump nor the auxiliary heater is on, and that decreases when either the heat pump or the auxiliary heater is on.

Abstract: An apparatus for heating the interior compartment of a vehicle, the apparatus has a primary heating system, a secondary heating system and an operating system. The primary heating system receives and circulates an engine coolant through a heater core. The secondary heating system receives and circulates a gas, the secondary heating system heats the gas and circulates the heated gas through a heat exchanger. The operating system for operating the heating systems, the operating system receives a plurality of inputs and in response to the inputs the operating system determines which of the heating systems is to be activated in response to a heating request. The operating system also determines whether or not to deactivate one or both of the heating systems.

Abstract: A device and a method are provided for heating and cooling a compartment of a motor vehicle powered by an internal combustion engine. The device has a coolant circuit with a compressor, an ambient heat exchanger, at least one expansion device, an interior heat exchanger, and an exhaust heat exchanger that can be heated by exhaust gases from the engine. During heating, a coolant is guided through the compressor and through the interior heat exchanger connected downstream from the compressor, releasing heat. The compressor, interior heat exchanger, expansion device, ambient heat exchanger, and heat exchanger are connected in series so that the coolant is expanded in the expansion device to a temperature below an intake temperature of coolant into the compressor, exposed in the ambient heat exchanger to warmer ambient air, heated in the heat exchanger by the exhaust gases from the engine, and compressed in the compressor.

Abstract: A method and device for controlling the operation of a heat pump having a primary heat system and an auxiliary heat system, and used to heat air circulating in an enclosure such as a building, the invention comprising a first sensor positioned in the return duct of the heating system for measuring the temperature of air being returned to the heat system from the enclosure, a second sensor for measuring the temperature of air which has been heated only by the primary heat system, a temperature comparing relay for comparing the two sensed temperatures and determining the difference between them and actuating the auxiliary heat system only when the temperature difference is less than a predetermined set point, for example 4° F., thereby providing a significantly enhanced operating efficiency of the heating system.

Abstract: A heating system control unit is provided for use with a heating system. The control unit includes a switching element connected to a first temperature switch associated with a first stage heater, a second temperature switch and a second stage heater of the heating system. The switching element is adapted for actuating the second stage heater upon the receipt of the second temperature signal and further continuing the actuation of the second stage heater until the lack of receipt of both the first temperature signal and the second temperature signal. A thermostat on the outdoor coil serves to pass the signal from the second temperature switch only upon a temperature of the outdoor coil being below a predetermined amount of about 25 degrees Fahrenheit.

Abstract: A system (10) for increasing the temperature of air initially delivered by an existing heat pump system (100) is provided which may be easily added to the existing heat pump system. System (10) includes a heat pump comfort controller (12) having a plurality of control signal leads (14, 16, 18 and 20) which are coupled in parallel relationship with a respective plurality of control signal leads (114, 116, 118 and 120) of heat pump system (100) interconnecting the heat pump indoor unit (110) with the heat pump outdoor unit (112). Heat pump comfort controller (12) includes a thermostat (50) for sensing the outdoor ambient air temperature and includes a contact (52) that closes when the outdoor ambient temperature falls below a predetermined value, conducting a control signal from the lead (14) for signaling the energization of supplemental heating units (132) of heat pump system (100).