Method of determining static pressure in a ducted air delivery system using a variable speed blower motor

Claim 3

The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of notifying a user of the HVAC system of the determined static pressure.

Claim 6

The method of claim 3 , wherein the following equations are used to determine the predetermined constants: j 3 =39.191 *p 3 *ρ/D 7 j 2 =5.599 e −2 *p 2 *ρ/D 4 j 1 =7.998 e −5 *p 1 *ρ/D j 0 =1.143 e −7 *p 0 *ρ*D 2 where ρ is the density of air (lb/ft 3 ), D is the blower diameter (inches), and p 3 , p 2 , p 1 , and p 0 are empirically determined pressure equation constants that characterize the air handler.

Claim 7

A control system for determining static pressure of air in an HVAC system, said air moving through said HVAC system at a system volume flowrate, said control system comprising: a control element including a microprocessor and a memory; a blower including a fan and a motor, said blower causing movement of said air through said HVAC system, said blower having an operational blower speed, and said motor having an operational motor torque; wherein said control element is in communication with said blower system, and wherein said microprocessor of said control element implements a mathematical model to determine static pressure based on data received from said blower.

Claim 8

A control system for determining static pressure of air in an HVAC system, said air moving through said HVAC system at a system volume flowrate, said control system comprising: a control element including a microprocessor and a memory; a blower including a fan and a motor, said blower causing movement of said air through said HVAC system, said blower having an operational blower speed, and said motor having an operational motor torque; wherein said control element is in communication with said blower system, and wherein said microprocessor of said control element implements a mathematical model to determine static pressure based on data received from said blower.

Claim 9

The control system of claim 5 , wherein the mathematical model implemented is a universal mathematical model.

Claim 10

The control system of claim 5 , wherein the motor is a variable speed blower motor.

Claim 11

The control system of claim 5 , further comprising an air handler control in communication with both the control element and the blower.

Claim 12

The control system of claim 5 , wherein the control element further comprises a user interface element for displaying the static pressure of the HVAC system.

Claim 13

The control system of claim 5 , wherein the control element further comprises a user input element for allowing a user of the HVAC system to change the operation of the HVAC system.

Claim 14

The control system of claim 5 , wherein a set of pre-determined constants and at least two of a set of system parameters are input to the mathematical model to determine static pressure, said set of system parameters consisting of: system volume airflow rate, blower speed, and motor torque.

Claim 15

The control system of claim 11 , wherein the at least two system parameters input to the mathematical model are system volume airflow rate and blower speed.

Claim 16

A control system for determining static pressure of air in an HVAC system, said air moving through said HVAC system at a system volume flowrate, said control system comprising: a control element including a microprocessor and a memory: a blower including a fan and a motor, said blower causing movement of said air through said HVAC system, said blower having an operational blower speed, and said motor having an operational motor torque; wherein said control element is in communication with said blower system, and said microprocessor of said control element implements a mathematical model to determine static pressure based on data received from said blower, wherein a set of pre-determined constants and at least two of a set of system parameters are input to the mathematical model to determine static pressure, said set of system parameters consisting of: system volume airflow rate, blower speed, and motor torque, wherein the at least two system parameters input to the mathematical model are system volume airflow rate and blower speed and wherein the mathematical model implemented by the microprocessor comprises the following equations: P s =j 3 *Q 3 /N+j 2 *Q 2 +j 1 *Q*N+j 0 *N 2 j 3 =39.191 *p 3 *ρ/D 7 j 2 =5.599 e −2 *p 2 *ρ/D 4 j 1 =7.998 e −5 *p 1 *ρ/D j 0 =1.143 e −7 *p 0 *ρ*D 2 where P s is the static pressure (inches water column), Q is the system volume airflow rate (cfm), N is the blower speed (rpm), ρ is the density of the air (lb/ft 3 ), D is the blower diameter (inches), and p 3 , p 2 , p 1 , and p 0 are empirically determined pressure equation coefficients.

Claim 17

A control system for determining static pressure of air in an HVAC system, said air moving through said HVAC system at a system volume flowrate, said control system comprising: a control element including a microprocessor and a memory: a blower including a fan and a motor, said blower causing movement of said air through said HVAC system, said blower having an operational blower speed, and said motor having an operational motor torque; wherein said control element is in communication with said blower system, and said microprocessor of said control element implements a mathematical model to determine static pressure based on data received from said blower, wherein a set of pre-determined constants and at least two of a set of system parameters are input to the mathematical model to determine static pressure, said set of system parameters consisting of: system volume airflow rate, blower speed, and motor torque, wherein the at least two system parameters input to the mathematical model are system volume airflow rate and blower speed and wherein the mathematical model implemented by the microprocessor comprises the following equations: P s =j 3 *Q 3 /N+j 2 *Q 2 +j 1 *Q*N+j 0 *N 2 j 3 =39.191 *p 3 *ρ/D 7 j 2 =5.599 e −2 *p 2 *ρ/D 4 j 1 =7.998 e −5 *p 1 *ρ/D j 0 =1.143 e −7 *p 0 *ρ*D 2 where P s is the static pressure (inches water column), Q is the system volume airflow rate (cfm), N is the blower speed (rpm), ρ is the density of the air (lb/ft 3 ), D is the blower diameter (inches), and p 3 , p 2 , p 1 , and p 0 are empirically determined pressure equation coefficients.

Claim 18

A control system for regulating operation of an HVAC system in which air moves at a system volume flowrate, the control system comprising: an air handler control; a control element; a blower for moving air through the HVAC system, the blower having a blower diameter and an operational blower speed; wherein said air handler control is in direct communication with both the control element and the blower; and wherein the control element determines static pressure as a function of system volume flowrate, blower speed, and blower diameter.

Claim 19

A control system for regulating operation of an HVAC system in which air moves at a system volume flowrate, the control system comprising: an air handler control; a control element; a blower for moving air through the HVAC system, the blower having a blower diameter and an operational blower speed; wherein said air handler control is in direct communication with both the control element and the blower; and wherein the control element determines static pressure as a function of system volume flowrate, blower speed, and blower diameter.

Claim 20

The control system of claim 14 , further comprising a user input interface for displaying the determined static pressure.

Claim 21

The control system of claim 14 , further comprising a user input element for allowing a user of the HVAC system to change the operation of the HVAC system.

Claim 22

The control system of claim 14 , wherein the control element receives the mathematical values of the system volume flowrate, the blower speed, and the blower diameter, from the air handler control.

Claim 23

The control system of claim 14 , wherein the air handler control receives the mathematical value of the blower speed from the blower.