Patent ID: 7775865

Claim:
A controller for an exhaust system including an exhaust hood, the controller comprising: a programmable controller module (PCM) having a memory storing at least one value corresponding to a target flow rate; said PCM having an input configured to, at a configuration time, receive a signal indicating a flow rate measurement; said PCM having an output configured to output a drive signal to control a flow rate of the exhaust system; said PCM being configured to adjust, at said configuration time, said drive signal to iteratively adjust the flow rate of the exhaust system responsively to said signal indicating a flow rate measurement until it substantially corresponds to said at least one value corresponding to a target flow rate, the drive signal corresponding to a load condition of the exhaust hood, the exhaust hood load condition being associated with a fume load generated by one or more appliances disposed underneath the exhaust hood; said PCM being configured to store, at said configuration time, a value of said drive signal corresponding to said target flow rate in said memory; said PCM being configured to receive, at a time subsequent to said configuration time, an input signal indicative of the exhaust hood load condition and being configured to output a corresponding value of said drive signal; and said PCM being further configured to control, at said time subsequent to said configuration time, the flow rate of said exhaust system according to said drive signal value stored in said memory.