Process and apparatus for energy conservation in buildings using a computer controlled ventilation system

Claim 2

An energy conservation apparatus for providing temperature responsive ventilation in a building, said building having electric power supply means and at least one temperature control output device in operative connection with said power supply means for exchanging air between the indoor and outdoor of a building, said apparatus being electrically interposed between said power supply means and said output device for controlling the transmission of electricity to said output device, said energy conservation apparatus comprising: a first temperature sensor for reading the temperature of air outside the building; a second temperature sensor for reading the temperature of air inside the building; an electronic controller for operating the temperature control output device, said controller including; a clock means for determining real time; event memory means for storing a plurality of time schedules for real-time control of the output device; memory means for storing an acceptable indoor temperature set-point for each said time schedule; program memory means for storing a set of program instructions, said program instructions including pre-determined operational criteria for each said time schedule; program means responsive to said set of stored program instructions for: obtaining real-time from said clock means; obtaining said time schedule from said event memory means; reading a outdoor temperature from said first temperature sensor; reading a indoor temperature from said second temperature sensor; comparing said real-time with each said time schedule to determine if said real-time falls within said time schedule; and comparing the read indoor temperature, the read outdoor temperature and the said indoor temperature set-point in accordance with said operational criteria associated with the selected said time schedule to switch on or switch off the temperature control output device.

Claim 3

The energy conservation apparatus of claim 1 wherein said schedule is a summer day-time schedule and said pre-determined operational criteria for said summer day-time schedule comprises: program instructions to switch on the temperature control output device when the read indoor temperature is greater than said indoor temperature set-point associated with said summer day-time schedule and the read indoor temperature is at least greater than the read outdoor temperature; and program instructions to switch off the temperature control output device when the read indoor temperature is at least less than the read outdoor temperature.

Claim 4

The energy conservation apparatus of claim 1 wherein said schedule is a summer night-time schedule and said pre-determined operational criteria for said summer night-time schedule comprises: program instructions to switch on the temperature control output device when the read indoor temperature is greater than said indoor temperature set-point associated with said summer night-time schedule and the read indoor temperature is at least greater than the read outdoor temperature; and program instructions to switch off the temperature control output device when the read indoor temperature is at least less than the read outdoor temperature.

Claim 5

The energy conservation apparatus of claim 1 wherein said schedule is a winter day-time schedule and said pre-determined operational criteria for said winter day-time schedule comprises: program instructions to switch on the temperature control output device when the read indoor temperature is less than said indoor temperature set-point associated with said winter day-time schedule and the read indoor temperature is at least less than the read outdoor temperature; and program instructions to switch off the temperature control output device when the read indoor temperature is at least greater than the read indoor temperature at which the temperature control output device was switched on.

Claim 6

The energy conservation apparatus of claim 1 wherein said temperature control output device comprises a uni-directional flow ventilation fan.

Claim 7

The energy conservation apparatus of claim 1 wherein said temperature control output device comprises a bi-directional flow ventilation fan.

Claim 8

The energy conservation apparatus of claim 6 wherein said schedule is a summer night-time schedule and said pre-determined operational criteria for said summer nigh-time schedule comprises: program instructions to switch on said ventilation fan in the reverse flow mode when the read indoor temperature is greater than said indoor temperature set-point associated with said summer night-time schedule and the read indoor temperature is at least greater than the read outdoor temperature; and program instructions to switch off the temperature control output device when the read indoor temperature is at least less than the read outdoor temperature.

Claim 9

The energy conservation apparatus of claim 6 wherein said schedule is a winter day-time schedule and said pre-determined operational criteria for said winter day-time schedule comprises: program instructions to switch on said ventilation fan in the reverse flow mode when the read indoor temperature is less than said indoor temperature set-point associated with said winter day-time schedule and the read indoor temperature is at least less than the read outdoor temperature; and program instructions to switch off the temperature control output device when the read indoor temperature is at least greater than the read indoor temperature at which the temperature control output device was switched on.

Claim 10

An energy conservation apparatus for providing temperature responsive ventilation in a building, said building having electric power supply means and at least one temperature control output device in operative connection with said power supply means for exchanging air in the building, said apparatus being electrically interposed between said power supply means and said output device for controlling the transmission of electricity to said output device, said energy conservation apparatus comprising: a first temperature sensor for reading the temperature of air outside the building; a second temperature sensor for reading the temperature of air outside the building; an electronic controller for operating the temperature control output device, said controller including; a clock means for determining real time; event memory means for storing a summer night-time schedule for real-time control of the output device; memory means for storing an acceptable indoor temperature set-point for said summer night-time schedule; program memory means for storing a set of program instructions, said program instructions including operational instructions to switch on the temperature control output device when the read indoor temperature is greater than said indoor temperature set-point associated with said summer night-time schedule and the read indoor temperature is at least greater than the read outdoor temperature and operational instructions to switch off the temperature control output device when the read indoor temperature is at least less than the read outdoor temperature; program means responsive to said set of stored program instructions for: obtaining real-time from said clock means; obtaining said summer night-time schedule from said event memory means; reading a outdoor temperature from said first temperature sensor; reading a indoor temperature from said second temperature sensor; comparing said real-time with each said summer night-time schedule to determine if said real-time falls within said summer night-time schedule; and comparing the read indoor temperature, the read outdoor temperature and the said indoor temperature set-point in accordance with said operational instructions to switch on or switch off the temperature control output device.

Claim 11

An energy conservation apparatus for providing temperature responsive ventilation in a building, said building having electric power supply means and at least one temperature control output device in operative connection with said power supply means for exchanging air in the building, said apparatus being electrically interposed between said power supply means and said output device for controlling the transmission of electricity to said output device, said energy conservation apparatus comprising: a first temperature sensor for reading the temperature of air outside the building; a second temperature sensor for reading the temperature of air outside the building; an electronic controller for operating the temperature control output device, said controller including; a clock means for determining real time; event memory means for storing a summer night-time schedule for real-time control of the output device; memory means for storing an acceptable indoor temperature set-point for said summer night-time schedule; program memory means for storing a set of program instructions, said program instructions including operational instructions to switch on the temperature control output device when the read indoor temperature is greater than said indoor temperature set-point associated with said summer night-time schedule and the read indoor temperature is at least greater than the read outdoor temperature and operational instructions to switch off the temperature control output device when the read indoor temperature is at least less than the read outdoor temperature; program means responsive to said set of stored program instructions for: obtaining real-time from said clock means; obtaining said summer night-time schedule from said event memory means; reading a outdoor temperature from said first temperature sensor; reading a indoor temperature from said second temperature sensor; comparing said real-time with each said summer night-time schedule to determine if said real-time falls within said summer night-time schedule; and comparing the read indoor temperature, the read outdoor temperature and the said indoor temperature set-point in accordance with said operational instructions to switch on or switch off the temperature control output device.

Claim 12

The energy conservation apparatus of claim 9 wherein said temperature control output device comprises a uni-directional flow ventilation fan.

Claim 13

The energy conservation apparatus of claim 9 wherein said temperature control output device comprises a bi-directional flow ventilation fan.

Claim 14

The energy conservation apparatus of claim 11 wherein said program instructions include operational instructions to switch on said bi-directional flow ventilation fan in the reverse flow mode.

Claim 17

The energy conservation method of claim 13 wherein said schedule is a summer day-time schedule and said pre-determined operational criteria for said summer day-time schedule comprises: program instructions to switch on the temperature control output device when the read indoor temperature is greater than an acceptable indoor temperature value associated with said summer day-time schedule and the read indoor temperature is at least greater than the read outdoor temperature; and program instructions to switch off the temperature control output device when the read indoor temperature is at least less than the read outdoor temperature.

Claim 18

The energy conservation method of claim 13 wherein said schedule is a summer night-time schedule and said pre-determined operational criteria for said summer night-time schedule comprises: program instructions to switch on the temperature control output device when the read indoor temperature is greater than an acceptable indoor temperature value associated with said summer night-time schedule and the read indoor temperature is at least greater than the read outdoor temperature; and program instructions to switch off the temperature control output device when the read indoor temperature is at least less than the read outdoor temperature.

Claim 19

The energy conservation method of claim 13 wherein said schedule is a winter day-time schedule and said pre-determined operational criteria for said winter day-time schedule comprises: program instructions to switch on the temperature control output device when the read indoor temperature is less than an acceptable indoor temperature value associated with said winter day-time schedule and the read indoor temperature is at least less than the read outdoor temperature; and program instructions to switch off the temperature control output device when the read indoor temperature is at least greater than the read indoor temperature at which the temperature control output device was switched on.

Claim 20

The energy conservation method of claim 13 wherein said temperature control output device comprises a uni-directional flow ventilation fan.

Claim 21

The energy conservation method of claim 13 wherein said temperature control output device comprises a bi-directional flow ventilation fan.

Claim 22

The energy conservation method of claim 18 wherein said schedule is a summer night-time schedule and said pre-determined operational criteria for said summer night-time schedule comprises: program instructions to switch on said ventilation fan in the reverse flow mode when the read indoor temperature is greater than an acceptable indoor temperature value associated with said summer night-time schedule and the read indoor temperature is at least greater than the read outdoor temperature; and program instructions to switch off the temperature control output device when the read indoor temperature is at least less than the read outdoor temperature.

Claim 23

The energy conservation method of claim 18 wherein said schedule is a winter day-time schedule and said pre-determined operational criteria for said winter day-time schedule comprises: program instructions to switch on said ventilation fan in the reverse flow mode when the read indoor temperature is less than an acceptable indoor temperature value associated with said winter day-time schedule and the read indoor temperature is at least less than the read outdoor temperature; and program instructions to switch off the temperature control output device when the read indoor temperature is at least greater than the read indoor temperature at which the temperature control output device was switched on.