U.S. patent application number 16/190843 was filed with the patent office on 2019-05-16 for method of evaluating an hvac unit.
The applicant listed for this patent is Christopher Hamilton, Robert W. Lafferty, JR., Robert W. Lafferty, SR., Robert Pulsifer. Invention is credited to Christopher Hamilton, Robert W. Lafferty, JR., Robert W. Lafferty, SR., Robert Pulsifer.
Application Number | 20190145646 16/190843 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 66431961 |
Filed Date | 2019-05-16 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20190145646 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hamilton; Christopher ; et
al. |
May 16, 2019 |
METHOD OF EVALUATING AN HVAC UNIT
Abstract
An HVAC system is provided in which data is obtained and reports
generated. Actions can be taken with respect to the HVAC unit on
the basis of the reports generated.
Inventors: |
Hamilton; Christopher; (Fort
Lauderdale, FL) ; Lafferty, SR.; Robert W.; (Fort
Lauderdale, FL) ; Lafferty, JR.; Robert W.; (Fort
Lauderdale, FL) ; Pulsifer; Robert; (Fort Lauderdale,
FL) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Hamilton; Christopher
Lafferty, SR.; Robert W.
Lafferty, JR.; Robert W.
Pulsifer; Robert |
Fort Lauderdale
Fort Lauderdale
Fort Lauderdale
Fort Lauderdale |
FL
FL
FL
FL |
US
US
US
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
66431961 |
Appl. No.: |
16/190843 |
Filed: |
November 14, 2018 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
62586096 |
Nov 14, 2017 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
702/183 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F24F 2110/00 20180101;
F24F 2130/10 20180101; F24F 11/58 20180101; F24F 11/38
20180101 |
International
Class: |
F24F 11/38 20060101
F24F011/38; F24F 11/58 20060101 F24F011/58 |
Claims
1. An HVAC system, comprising: an HVAC unit; a data source in
communication with the HVAC unit, local to the HVAC unit; a cloud
server in communication with the data source; an analytic system
remote from said cloud server, said analytic system including a
data collector for collecting HVAC unit data from said cloud server
and providing it to an analytics engine in order to generate a
health scorecard report for the HVAC unit.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the analytics engine provides a
score based on weighted data received from the cloud server.
3. The system of claim 1, wherein an action is taken in response to
the report generated.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application claims benefit of co-pending
Provisional Patent Application No. 62/586,096, filed on Nov. 14,
2017, entitled Method of Evaluating an HVAC UNIT, that application
being incorporated herein, by reference, in its entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
[0002] An HVAC system and a method for evaluating an HVAC unit are
provided in which data is collected data from a digital source,
manipulates the data and calculates data points, and makes
meaningful comparisons to the norm for an HVAC unit. Actions can be
taken with respect to the HVAC unit based on the comparisons.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0003] For a fuller understanding of the nature of the present
invention reference should be made to the following detailed
description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in
which like reference numbers refer to like elements throughout the
drawings and in which:
[0004] FIG. 1 is a simplified diagram of an HVAC system in
accordance with one particular embodiment of the invention;
[0005] FIG. 2 is a chart illustrating the weighting of data for
generating a health scorecard report in accordance with one
embodiment of the invention;
[0006] FIG. 3 is an example of a health scorecard report generated
in accordance with one particular embodiment of the present
invention;
[0007] FIG. 4 is an example of another health scorecard report that
can be generated in accordance with one particular embodiment of
the present invention;
[0008] FIG. 5 is one example of how a health scorecard report may
be displayed on a web portal interface in accordance with one
particular embodiment of the invention;
[0009] FIG. 6. illustrates a portion of the code used to generate a
health scorecard report in accordance with one particular
embodiment of the present invention; and
[0010] FIG. 7 is a screen shot illustrating one embodiment of a SQL
screen useful in connection with the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0011] FIG. 1 is a simplified diagram of an HVAC system 10 in
accordance with one particular embodiment of the invention, in
which the health of one or more HVAC unit(s) 20 is/are determined
and a report 95 is generated, using data collected from the HVAC
unit 20. In use, the system 10 collects data from the HVAC unit 20.
Such data can include, but is not limited to: HVAC Status; Supply
Air Temperature; Return Air Temperature; DeltaT; Occupied Setpoint;
Vacant Setpoint; Vacant Temperature; Total HVAC Runtime; Occupied
Runtime; Vacant Runtime; Single Stage Runtime; Second Stage
Runtime; Fan Runtime; Cool Runtime; Heat Runtime; Inside Humidity;
Override Status; Condensate Line Backup; Outside Air Temperature;
Outside Humidity; Configured Alerts; Age of Equipment; Historical
Trends.
[0012] More particularly, operating data for each HVAC unit 20 is
initially collected by a physical device (i.e., data source 30)
inside the space and/or equipment. In one particular embodiment of
the invention, the data source 30 is a thermostat associated with,
and/or controlling, the respectively associated HVAC unit 20. Other
data sources may be used, including other types of sensors (i.e.,
temperature sensor, current sensor, vibration sensor, etc.) for
sensing data relating to the HVAC unit 20 and/or the environment in
which it is placed. Additionally, if desired, a networking
thermostat and other HVAC sensors may be used, such as is described
in connection with U. S. Patent Application Publication No.
2016/0205196, incorporated herein by reference.
[0013] The data collected by the data source 30 is transmitted to a
cloud computing network, such as cloud 40, through an Internet or
web connection. Such a transmission can take place, for example, by
an Internet connection via LAN, WAN, WiFi, Cellular GSM and/or by
other known communications networks, systems and/or protocols. For
example, U.S. Pat. No. 9,952,613, incorporated herein by reference,
discloses one particular system and method for transmitting data
from an energy management system, that can be used in connection
with the present invention. In one embodiment of the invention, the
data is made available to the web server(s) 50 via the "Internet of
Things" ("IoT"). Additionally, in one particular embodiment of the
invention, data from the thermostat(s) and/or data source(s) 30
is/are transmitted in increments of 60 seconds or less when devices
are connected.
[0014] A web server 50 is connected to receive data from the data
source 30 via the cloud 40 or another mechanism. In one particular
embodiment, all data from the physical devices, i.e., HVAC units
20, is stored one or more databases 55 accessible from the web
server 50.
[0015] An application program interface or "API" 58 is accessible
by the web server 50, and executed by a processor thereof. The API
58 includes the set of rules, protocols and structure that allows
others to take the data from the web server 50. In one particular
embodiment of the invention, a data collector of a remote analytics
system 60 (i.e., remote from the web server) provides a combination
of puts and calls to the API 58 and gathers data from the web
server 50. This data, once collected by the data collector 70 from
the web server 50, is provided to a web server 80 of the remote
analytics system 60. Web server 80 organizes the data into database
85 and stores the information that is used to create a "health
scorecard" of the HVAC unit 20 from which the data came.
[0016] Algorithmic analytics 90 are performed on the data in a
cloud environment and the data is manipulated to create the
relevant datasets for each health scorecard report 95. The
algorithms will be discussed more fully herein below. Once the data
has been processed by a computer processor according to the
algorithmic analytics 90, a health scorecard report 95 is populated
and accessible via a web interface, from which it can be viewed
downloaded, and printed.
[0017] As discussed above, in one particular embodiment of the
invention, the system allows for the collection of data points,
including: HVAC Status; Supply Air Temperature; Return Air
Temperature; DeltaT; Occupied Setpoint; Vacant Setpoint; Vacant
Temperature; Total HVAC Runtime; Occupied Runtime; Vacant Runtime;
Single Stage Runtime; Second Stage Runtime; Fan Runtime; Cool
Runtime; Heat Runtime;
[0018] Inside Humidity; Override Status; Condensate Line Backup;
Outside Air Temperature; Outside Humidity; Configured Alerts; Age
of Equipment; Historical Trends. With over 20 data points to choose
from, in one particular embodiment of the invention, a health
scorecard report 95 is derived from at least 7 key HVAC unit
performance data points including: age; runtime; deltaT; condensate
line backup; excessive fan runtime; zone not regulating; and high
humidity. Four of the seven data points can be grabbed directly
from the datasets the source creates, while the other three will be
calculated. The three calculated values are deltaT, excessive fan
runtime, and zone not regulating.
[0019] In order to generate the health scorecard report 95, each
data point is assigned a weighted point value. Referring now to
FIG. 2, one particular embodiment of a weighted point value system
100 will be discussed in connection with obtaining or calculating
the 7 key HVAC unit performance data points listed above. In the
present embodiment, each of the HVAC unit performance data points,
above, has been assigned a weighted point value illustrated in FIG.
2. The choice of these specific data points, and the weights
assigned for the score that they receive, comes from experience in
this industry and a knowledge of how HVAC units should work.
[0020] Age of the Unit: While this may seem apparent, the age of
the HVAC unit plays a large role in the overall health of the unit.
Equipment is not manufactured like it used to be and, on average in
our industry, HVAC components have a "useful life" of 12 years.
That is not to say that every unit will break down at the 12 year
mark, but we see particular, integral components have a higher
likelihood of failing past 12 years; that is the reasoning for this
factor accounting for 25% of the overall score (i.e., a possible 25
points out of the total 100).
[0021] Condensate Alarms: Every HVAC system plays the essential
role of either removing heat from a space, or adding heat to a
space. Through this heat removal process (i.e., while cooling), air
is rung out of its water vapor. That condensed water leaves the
HVAC unit and flows outside, normally through a pvc pipe. If the
air, coil, or unit is dirty, there can be clogs of algae and other
contaminants in this drainline. If this happens multiple times in a
90 day span, it is indicative of a larger possible issue. In the
embodiment of FIG. 2, the number of condensate alarms in the
previous 90 days contributes 5% to the overall score to be reported
on the health scorecard report.
[0022] Excessive Fan Runtime: Unnecessary fan runtime refers to
when the blower motor is running and circulating air when the HVAC
unit itself is not heating or cooling. This excess fan runtime
alert is triggered when the fan runs for at least 80% of the
previous 24 hours, which causes strain on the blower and raises
electric costs. In the embodiment of FIG. 2, the number of
excessive fan runtimes in the previous 90 days contributes 10% to
the overall score to be reported on the health scorecard
report.
[0023] Runtime: When designed and implemented correctly, an HVAC
system in Florida should run 60% of the time in a 365 day span
(based on the typical weather in Florida). This runtime scoring can
be adjusted geographically based on weather data developed for
other locations. But, for the Florida example, which equates to a
runtime of 5260 hours, we base our runtime score off of the
percentage of 5260 hours that the unit runs. If it runs at 100% or
more, it receives no points. If it runs less than that 60%, then
the points go up, meaning that the HVAC unit cools the space
efficiently and does not need excessive runtime. In the embodiment
of FIG. 2, the runtime score (finetuned for a geographic area)
contributes 25% to the overall score to be reported on the health
scorecard report.
[0024] Average DeltaT: The deltaT of an HVAC system is defined as
the difference between the return air temperature and supply air
temperature. This is valuable information, as it is a basic
identifier for how effectively an HVAC system is working as a unit
should be registering a difference of 18-22 degree delta from the
return air to the supply air. Taking the average of this data point
over an entire year tells us how effectively the HVAC system was
maintained, how efficiently is removes heat from a space, and gives
insight to the normal degradation of a coil. In the embodiment of
FIG. 2, the runtime score contributes 25% to the overall score to
be reported on the health scorecard report.
[0025] Zone Not Regulating: This alarm is triggered when the
temperature inside the space (return air) is 4 degrees or more
above the cooling setpoint for more than 60 minutes. This tells us
that the unit cannot keep up with the heat load and could need
service or maintenance. This alert gives us more insight into the
design of the unit within a space and how efficiently it cools. In
the embodiment of FIG. 2, the "zone not regulating" score
contributes 5% to the overall score to be reported on the health
scorecard report.
[0026] High Humidity: This alert is triggered when the average
humidity in the space is above 65% for more than 60 minutes.
Humidity is directly correlated to the cooling of a space in that
the more efficiently it cools, the more well maintained the
humidity levels are. In the embodiment of FIG. 2, the "high
humidity" score contributes 5% to the overall score to be reported
on the health scorecard report.
[0027] FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary health scorecard report 200,
which may be the report 95 of FIG. 1, generated in accordance with
one particular embodiment of the invention. Box 210 of the health
scorecard report 200 details the location identifying information
such as contact information and address where the HVAC system is
located. Also outlined in this box is the timeline of the data that
was utilized to form the score. Any span of time can be used to
generate a scorecard score but it is the recommendation of our HVAC
analysts that a full year be analyzed.
[0028] Box 220 is where the weighted score described above in
connection with FIG. 2 is displayed. This will be a whole number
with high contrast to easily draw the eye to it and have the end
user get an immediate understanding of their 1-100 score.
[0029] Box 230 details the identifying information for the unit
that is being evaluated and the industry averages for that type of
unit. This is important information in that it attempts to educate
the end user on what numbers they want to aim for in terms of
average deltaT and annual runtime.
[0030] Equally as important as box 230, box 240 is the actual
operational data for the unit being evaluated. Information listed
here can be directly compared by the end user to the information
above as a quick and easy initial understanding of their complex
HVAC data.
[0031] Box 250 provides an open forum for an analyst or technician
to make sensible comments and recommendations for that HVAC unit.
Common topics in this section give a layman's explanation of how
well the unit is operating, something positive that the unit is
doing such as a good schedule, highlight any issues that the
analyst sees, and a broad estimation of how much longer the unit
should last.
[0032] Any HVAC unit can need a service call at one point or
another but the inventors have found that units scoring over 90 in
our weighted score might only need a single time that a technician
has their eyes on the unit. They saw that units with lower scores
require more attention as functionality of the unit wanes and
components get older. Box 260 is a generic estimation of how many
service calls to expect based on the weighted score to assist with
budgeting of the end user.
[0033] Box 270 is a graphical representation of the total monthly
runtime for the HVAC unit. It also gives another practical and easy
understanding to their complex HVAC data.
[0034] Box 280 provides the customer with a name of the person
reviewing the unit report 200 and/or the unit itself.
[0035] FIG. 4 illustrates another possible health scorecard report
300 formatted in accordance with another embodiment of the
invention. As can be seen, the health scorecard report 300 is very
similar to that discussed in connection with FIG. 3, with like
reference numbers representing like elements. However, in the
present embodiment, boxes 210 and 230 of FIG. 3 have been combined
to form box 310 of FIG. 4.
[0036] FIG. 5 illustrates one example of how a health scorecard
report 400 may be displayed on a web portal interface in accordance
with one particular embodiment of the invention.
[0037] FIG. 6. is a view of a computer screen 450 a portion of the
code used to generate a health scorecard report in accordance with
one particular embodiment of the present invention.
[0038] FIG. 7 is a screen shot illustrating one embodiment of a SQL
screen 500 useful in connection with the present invention.
[0039] The above-described algorithm is used to generate a health
scorecard report which presents information to the user in a useful
way and which is of value to our customer base. The present
invention has the capacity to be applied to many scenarios that
improve the customer's probability of making a well informed
decision. The best way to demonstrate is through a story of the
impact on a customer who owned 94 HVAC units on 62 properties. It
is a daunting process to not only care for each of these units, but
to also find the budget to replace units when they break. Using
health scorecard reports generated in accordance with the present
invention gives the customer a broad view of their HVAC portfolio,
makes individual recommendations on when units need to be replaced
based off of the data validated score. This impactful story allowed
the customer to rethink everything they knew about the HVAC service
industry and make decisions on the scores and not merely based on
the calendar.
[0040] Additionally, it should be understood that the results of
the determinations, as represented on the health scorecard reports
can be used to automatically update factors in the HVAC unit. For
example, data from the report can be used to provide feedback to
the web server 50 of FIG. 1, that can be provided to the thermostat
and used to update operating settings for the HVAC unit.
[0041] It should be understood that all algorithms described herein
can be executed by computer hardware and/or software modules. All
data can be acquired using hardware including sensors, thermostats
and other sensing devices.
[0042] Accordingly, while a preferred embodiment of the present
invention is shown and described herein, it will be understood that
the invention may be embodied otherwise than as herein specifically
illustrated or described, and that within the embodiments certain
changes in the detail and construction, as well as the arrangement
of the parts, may be made without departing from the principles of
the present invention as defined by the appended claims.
* * * * *