Abstract:
This disclosure relates generally to air handling systems for buildings, more particularly to energy recovery ventilation systems, and specifically to a calculation/estimation of effectiveness which may be used for informational and maintenance purposes.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    This disclosure relates generally to air handling systems for buildings, more particularly to energy recovery ventilation systems, and specifically to a calculation/estimation of effectiveness which may be used for informational and maintenance purposes. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0002]    The present disclosure is directed to systems and methods which control energy recovery ventilation (ERV) systems of buildings. ERV systems may be used to recover energy and lower utility expenses. Energy recovery wheels rotate between the incoming outdoor air and the exhaust air. As the wheel rotates, it transfers a percentage of the heat and moisture differential from one airstream to the other. The outdoor air is pre-conditioned reducing the capacity and energy needed from the mechanical HVAC system. According to guidelines, building environments require a specific amount of fresh air to dilute contaminates in the space and provide ventilation for high concentrations of people. The required amount of fresh air may provide dilution of contaminates, to minimize the possibility of “sick building syndrome.” Increasing the outside air intake lowers the carbon dioxide levels in the building, and may help keep the occupants alert and healthier. ERVs may also reduce indoor odors with fresh outside air that is brought into the building as stale air may be exhausted out of the building. 
         [0003]    Effectiveness of the system may be calculated or very closely estimated and indicated to a user. This calculation may also be used to indicate inefficiencies in the system. It may also be used to indicate maintenance may be needed for components in the system. 
         [0004]    The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technical advantages of the present disclosure in order that the detailed description of the disclosure that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of the disclosure will be described hereinafter which form the subject of the claims of the disclosure. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and specific embodiment disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present disclosure. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the disclosure as set forth in the appended claims. The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the disclosure, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages will be better understood from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying figures. It is to be expressly understood, however, that each of the figures is provided for the purpose of illustration and description only and is not intended as a definition of the limits of the present disclosure. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]    The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form part of the specification in which like numerals designate like parts, illustrate embodiments of the present disclosure and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the disclosure. In the drawings: 
           [0006]      FIG. 1  is a plan view of an energy recovery ventilation system. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is a flowchart of a method according to an embodiment. 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is a flowchart of a method according to an embodiment. 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  is a schematic of an energy recovery ventilation control system, according to an embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0010]      FIG. 1  shows a general ERV system  100 . System  100  may be an air-to-air type heat exchanger. System  100  may include an energy recovery ventilation wheel, or thermal wheel, or enthalpy wheel (wheel)  110 . As the wheel rotates between the ventilation and exhaust air streams it may pick up heat energy and releases it into the colder air stream. In different seasons the inside or the outside air may have more heat and moisture, and thereby more energy. 
         [0011]    The system  100  in  FIG. 1  may show an embodiment where the outside air is warmer than the inside air. As can be seen, the conditioned inside air (return and supply/tempered) that is being exhausted may mix with the incoming outside air, via an opening  112  and the wheel  110 , to lower the temperature, and raise the relative humidity. This helps reduce the amount of energy used by the air conditioning and handling system to bring the temperature down to the set point of the system. 
         [0012]    It will be appreciated that when the outside air is cooler and the building is to be heated, the exhausted inside air will be used to warm the incoming outside air to reduce power consumption of the ERV. 
         [0013]    System  100  may also include one or more blowers  114  to aid the exchange of air to and from the building (not shown). 
         [0014]      FIG. 2  is a flow chart of a method  200  of calculating effectiveness of an ERV system, according to an embodiment. Method  200  may include the step of calculating the saturated water vapor pressure  202 . Saturated water vapor pressure (P ws ) may be calculated using the following equations: 
         [0015]    For −148&lt;T&lt;32 degrees Fahrenheit the equation is: 
         [0000]    
       
         
           
             
               
                 
                   
                     P 
                     ws 
                   
                   = 
                   
                     
                       exp 
                       ⋀ 
                     
                      
                     
                       ( 
                       
                         
                           
                             C 
                             1 
                           
                           T 
                         
                         + 
                         
                           C 
                           2 
                         
                         + 
                         
                           
                             C 
                             3 
                           
                            
                           T 
                         
                         + 
                         
                           
                             C 
                             4 
                           
                            
                           
                             T 
                             2 
                           
                         
                         + 
                         
                           
                             C 
                             5 
                           
                            
                           
                             T 
                             3 
                           
                         
                         + 
                         
                           
                             C 
                             6 
                           
                            
                           
                             T 
                             4 
                           
                         
                         + 
                         
                           
                             C 
                             7 
                           
                            
                           
                             ln 
                              
                             
                               ( 
                               T 
                               ) 
                             
                           
                         
                       
                       ) 
                     
                   
                 
               
               
                 
                   ( 
                   
                     Eq 
                     . 
                     
                         
                     
                      
                     1 
                   
                   ) 
                 
               
             
           
         
       
     
         [0016]    For 32&lt;T&lt;392 degrees Fahrenheit the equation is: 
         [0000]    
       
         
           
             
               
                 
                   
                     P 
                     ws 
                   
                   = 
                   
                     
                       exp 
                       ⋀ 
                     
                      
                     
                       ( 
                       
                         
                           
                             C 
                             8 
                           
                           T 
                         
                         + 
                         
                           C 
                           9 
                         
                         + 
                         
                           
                             C 
                             19 
                           
                            
                           T 
                         
                         + 
                         
                           
                             C 
                             11 
                           
                            
                           
                             T 
                             2 
                           
                         
                         + 
                         
                           
                             C 
                             12 
                           
                            
                           
                             T 
                             3 
                           
                         
                         + 
                         
                           
                             C 
                             13 
                           
                            
                           
                             ln 
                              
                             
                               ( 
                               T 
                               ) 
                             
                           
                         
                       
                       ) 
                     
                   
                 
               
               
                 
                   ( 
                   
                     Eq 
                     . 
                     
                         
                     
                      
                     2 
                   
                   ) 
                 
               
             
           
         
       
     
         [0017]    Where temperature T is in degrees Rankin, P ws  is water vapor saturation pressure in pounds per square inch (psi), and where: 
         [0018]    i. C 1 =4.0214165 E4 
         [0019]    C 2 =−4.893242 E00 
         [0020]    C 3 =−5.376579 E-3 
         [0021]    C 4 =1.920237 E-7 
         [0022]    C 5 =3.5575832 E-10 
         [0023]    C 6 =−9.034468 E-14 
         [0024]    C 7 =4.1635019 E00 
         [0025]    C 8 =−1.0440397 E4 
         [0026]    C 9 =−1.1294650 E1 
         [0027]    C 10 =−2.7022355 E-2 
         [0028]    C 11 =1.2890360 E-5 
         [0029]    C 12 =−2.478068 E-9 
         [0030]    C 13 =6.545967 E00 
         [0031]    The temperature may be measured within the system and converted to degrees Rankin. Once the saturated water vapor pressure is calculated at  202 , the value found in step  202  may be used in step  204  to calculate the air humidity ratio at saturation with the following equation: 
         [0000]    
       
         
           
             
               
                 
                   
                     W 
                     s 
                   
                   = 
                   
                     0.62198 
                      
                     
                         
                     
                      
                     
                       
                         P 
                         ws 
                       
                       
                         ( 
                         
                           P 
                           - 
                           
                             P 
                             ws 
                           
                         
                         ) 
                       
                     
                   
                 
               
               
                 
                   ( 
                   
                     Eq 
                     . 
                     
                         
                     
                      
                     3 
                   
                   ) 
                 
               
             
           
         
       
     
         [0032]    Where W s  is the air humidity ratio at saturation, P is the gas pressure measured with a sensor from within the system, and P ws  is the saturated water vapor pressure from the calculation at  202 . 
         [0033]    Once the air humidity ratio at saturation is calculated, it may be used at step  206  to calculate degree of saturation μ, using the following equation 
         [0000]    
       
         
           
             
               
                 
                   μ 
                   = 
                   
                     φ 
                     
                       1 
                       + 
                       
                         
                           ( 
                           
                             1 
                             - 
                             φ 
                           
                           ) 
                         
                          
                         
                           
                             W 
                             s 
                           
                           0.62198 
                         
                       
                     
                   
                 
               
               
                 
                   ( 
                   
                     Eq 
                     . 
                     
                         
                     
                      
                     4 
                   
                   ) 
                 
               
             
           
         
       
     
         [0034]    Where μ is the degree of saturation and φ is the relative humidity measured by a sensor within the system. Once degree of saturation is calculated it may be used to calculate air humidity ratio W at step  208 . Air humidity ratio may be calculated using the following equation: 
         [0000]        W=μW   s   (Eq.5)
 
         [0035]    Where W is the air humidity ratio and μ is the degree of saturation, and W s  is the air humidity ratio at saturation calculated at step  204 . Once the air humidity ratio W is calculated it may be used to calculate the air enthalpy h at step  212 . Air enthalpy h may be calculated with the following equation: 
         [0000]        h=h   a   T+Wh   g   (Eq.6)
 
         [0036]    Where h is the air enthalpy, h a  is the specific enthalpy of air, which is 0.240 T in Btu/lb. Where h g  is the specific enthalpy of water vapor, which is 1061+0.444 T in Btu/lb. T is the temperature in degree Fahrenheit measured by a sensor in the system. Once the air enthalpy h is calculated, it may be used to find latent effectiveness ε L , sensible effectiveness ε S , and total effectiveness ε T  at step  214 . Latent effectiveness ε L  may be calculated by the following equation: 
         [0000]    
       
         
           
             
               
                 
                   
                     ɛ 
                     L 
                   
                   = 
                   
                     
                       
                         m 
                         s 
                       
                        
                       
                         ( 
                         
                           
                             W 
                             sa 
                           
                           - 
                           
                             W 
                             oa 
                           
                         
                         ) 
                       
                     
                     
                       
                         m 
                         
                           m 
                            
                           
                               
                           
                            
                           i 
                            
                           
                               
                           
                            
                           n 
                         
                       
                        
                       
                         ( 
                         
                           
                             W 
                             ra 
                           
                           - 
                           
                             W 
                             oa 
                           
                         
                         ) 
                       
                     
                   
                 
               
               
                 
                   ( 
                   
                     Eq 
                     . 
                     
                         
                     
                      
                     7 
                   
                   ) 
                 
               
             
           
         
       
     
         [0037]    Where ε L  is the latent effectiveness, 
         [0038]    W sa  is the humidity ratio of supply air, 
         [0039]    W oa  is the humidity ratio of outside air, 
         [0040]    W m  is the humidity ratio of supply air. 
         [0041]    m min  is the minimum mass flow rate from supply air and exhaust air. 
         [0042]    m s  is the maximum flow rate from supply and exhaust air. 
         [0043]    Sensible effectiveness ε S  may be calculated by the following equation: 
         [0000]    
       
         
           
             
               
                 
                   
                     ɛ 
                     S 
                   
                   = 
                   
                     
                       
                         m 
                         s 
                       
                        
                       
                         ( 
                         
                           
                             T 
                             sa 
                           
                           - 
                           
                             T 
                             oa 
                           
                         
                         ) 
                       
                     
                     
                       
                         m 
                         
                           m 
                            
                           
                               
                           
                            
                           i 
                            
                           
                               
                           
                            
                           n 
                         
                       
                        
                       
                         ( 
                         
                           
                             T 
                             ra 
                           
                           - 
                           
                             T 
                             oa 
                           
                         
                         ) 
                       
                     
                   
                 
               
               
                 
                   ( 
                   
                     Eq 
                     . 
                     
                         
                     
                      
                     8 
                   
                   ) 
                 
               
             
           
         
       
     
         [0044]    Where T sa  is the temperature of supply air, T oa  is the temperature of outside air, and T ra  is the temperature of return air. 
         [0045]    Total effectiveness E T  may be calculated by the following equation: 
         [0000]    
       
         
           
             
               
                 
                   
                     ɛ 
                     T 
                   
                   = 
                   
                     
                       
                         m 
                         s 
                       
                        
                       
                         ( 
                         
                           
                             h 
                             sa 
                           
                           - 
                           
                             h 
                             oa 
                           
                         
                         ) 
                       
                     
                     
                       
                         m 
                         
                           m 
                            
                           
                               
                           
                            
                           i 
                            
                           
                               
                           
                            
                           n 
                         
                       
                        
                       
                         ( 
                         
                           
                             h 
                             ra 
                           
                           - 
                           
                             h 
                             oa 
                           
                         
                         ) 
                       
                     
                   
                 
               
               
                 
                   ( 
                   
                     Eq 
                     . 
                     
                         
                     
                      
                     9 
                   
                   ) 
                 
               
             
           
         
       
     
         [0046]    Where ε T  is the total effectiveness, h as  is the specific enthalpy of supply air, h oa  is the specific enthalpy of the outside air, and h ra  is the specific enthalpy of the return air. 
         [0047]    Total, sensible, and latent effectiveness may be calculated because it may provide the end user of the system a generally real-time performance of sensible (heat), latent (moisture), and total (heat and moisture) energy transferred between outside air and building (supply and return) air conditions. 
         [0048]    All three are shown because Air conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) Standard 1060 for air-to-air recovery ventilation equipment require all certified equipment to repot rating of equipment based on sensible, latent, and total effectiveness. 
         [0049]    All of these values are calculated for the outside air, exhaust air, return air, and supply air. When the system is cooling, the outside air calculation is used along with the supply air and the outside air. When the system is heating the return air calculation is used along with the supply air and the outside air. 
         [0050]      FIG. 3  is a flow chart of a method  300  of indicating the effectiveness of the system, and optionally indicating a need for maintenance, according to an embodiment. Method  300  may include the step of receiving information from system sensors at  302 . The system sensors may include, but are not limited to, pressure, temperature, enthalpy, and humidity. 
         [0051]    The signals from the sensors may be received by a processor or control module. The processor may then use these readings from the sensors to calculate effectiveness at  304 . The calculation may be similar to the calculations described with regard to  FIG. 2 , but also may include other and/or alternate calculations as well. 
         [0052]    At  306 , the calculated effectiveness(es) may be indicated. This indication may be as a number or graph shown on a graphical user interface (GUI), numerical display, and/or other user interface. The GUI may be in many forms including an Android operating system application, on the PC, and/or a dedicated GUI at the controls of the system. It will be appreciated that any other GUI method or may be used without straying from the spirit and scope of this disclosure. 
         [0053]    This indication may also indicate to a user the savings by the system to show a payback of costs for the installation and purchase of the system. This may also indicate inefficiencies in the system, which may facilitate changing the settings of the system to increase effectiveness. A lower effectiveness might indicate that the user should change the airflow balance, filters, ERV wheel, belt tension, and/or air leakage and/or other system portion. 
         [0054]    At  308 , an optional maintenance indication may occur. The system may alert a user that the system may need maintenance. A low effectiveness may indicate that maintenance is required. The indication may be a warning light or message or other indication. This indication may also include proposed setting changes and/or likely portion of the system to check to for maintenance, and/or other information. 
         [0055]      FIG. 4  shows a system  400  which may be capable of calculating and indicating effectiveness of an HVAC system, according to an embodiment. System  400  may include a temperature sensor  402 , a pressure sensor  404 , a humidity sensor  405 , a controller  406 , and user interface  408 , and optionally an indicator  410 . 
         [0056]    Temperature sensor  402  may be capable of sensing temperature and outputting a temperature signal generally corresponding to the temperature sensed. Similarly, pressure sensor  404  may be capable of sensing pressure of the environment it is in, and outputting a pressure signal based at least in part on the pressure sensed. Humidity sensor  405  may be capable of sensing humidity and outputting a humidity signal generally corresponding to the humidity sensed. It will be appreciated that other sensors may also be included in the system based at least in part upon the parameters needed to calculate effectiveness and/or other characteristics of the system. 
         [0057]    System  400  may also include a controller  406 . Controller  406  may be capable of receiving the temperature, pressure, humidity and other signals and converting the signals to information which may be used by the controller  406 . The controller  406  may use the information in calculation, comparisons, and/or in other programming. Controller  406  may include a processor capable of running a computer program or the like. 
         [0058]    Controller  406  may also be capable of calculating the effectiveness of the system, based at least in part upon the signals received from the sensors. Controller  406  may also be capable of outputting an indication of the effectiveness to the user interface  408  and/or to indicators  410 . 
         [0059]    Controller  406  may be capable of receiving the data outlined above with reference to  FIG. 2 , as well as other information. Controller  406  may be a portion of a printed circuit board, and/or any other form capable of achieving the tasks disclosed herein. 
         [0060]    Although the present disclosure and its advantages have been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions, and alterations can be made herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure as defined by the appended claims. Moreover, the scope of the present application is not intended to be limited to the particular embodiments of the process, machine, manufacture, composition of matter, means, methods, and steps described in the specification. As one of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate from the disclosure of the present disclosure, processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps, presently existing or later to be developed that perform substantially the same function or achieve substantially the same result as the corresponding embodiments described herein may be utilized according to the present disclosure. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to include within their scope such processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps. The disclosure disclosed herein may suitably be practiced in the absence of any element that is not specifically disclosed herein.