System and method for using an adjustable zone damper calibration

Abstract

A system and method for controlling a multi-zone HVAC system, wherein the controller operates at least one damper based on an adjustable first timing parameter and a relative damper position based on a zone demand.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An HVAC system comprising:
 an HVAC component for conditioning the air in an environment;   a plurality of conduits to provide conditioned air to a plurality of distinct zones of the environment from the HVAC component;   at least one damper, wherein the at least one damper is positioned within at least one of the plurality of conduits; and   a controller, in electrical communication with said at least one damper, the controller utilizing a plurality of adjustable first timing parameters to operate each damper.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein one of the plurality of adjustable first timing parameters is associated with one of the dampers. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the one adjustable first timing parameter is a time period to change a state of the at least one damper. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the one adjustable time period is a time period to operate the at least one damper from an open position to a closed position, or from a closed position to an open position. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to receive at least one zone control signal. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the controller is further configured to determine a zone demand for each of the plurality of distinct zones. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the controller is further configured to determine a relative position of each of the plurality of dampers based on the zone demand. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the controller is further configured to determine at least one second timing parameter. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one second timing parameter is associated with one of the dampers. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the controller operates each of the dampers for a time period defined by the respective second timing parameter. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein each of the second timing parameters is calculated by the formula:
   Second Timing Parameter=Adjustable First Timing Parameter×Relative Position.
   
     
     
         12 . A method for utilizing a controller to operate an HVAC system comprising the steps of:
 (a) determining a time to change a state of at least one of a plurality of dampers;   (b) inputting the time into the controller;   (c) saving the time as at least one of a plurality of adjustable first timing parameters within the controller;   (d) receiving at least one zone control signal from at least one of distinct zone;   (e) determining, based at least in part upon the at least one zone control signal, a zone demand within each of the distinct zones; and   (f) operating the at least one of a plurality of dampers based on the zone demand and the respective adjustable first timing parameters.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein step (a) further comprises determining the time to change the at least one of a plurality of dampers from an open position to a closed position or from the closed position to the open position. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein step (f) further comprises operating the at least one of a plurality of dampers between an open position and a closed position. 
     
     
         15 . A method for utilizing a controller to operate an HVAC system comprising the steps of:
 (a) determining the time to change a state of at least one damper;   (b) inputting the time into the controller;   (c) saving the time as at least one adjustable first timing parameters within the controller;   (d) receiving at least one zone control signal from at least one distinct zone;   (e) determining, based at least in part upon the at least one zone control signal, a zone demand within the at least one distinct zone; and   (f) determining a relative position of the at least one damper based upon the zone demand; and   (g) operating the at least one damper based on the respective relative position and the respective at least one adjustable first timing parameters.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein step (a) further comprises determining the time to change the at least one of a plurality of dampers from an open position to a closed position or from the closed position to the open position. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein step (g) further comprises operating the at least one damper for a time period based on at least one second timing parameter. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the at least one second timing parameter is defined by the formula:
   Second Timing Parameter=Adjustable First Timing Parameter×Relative Position.
   
     
     
         19 . A computer-readable medium storing a control program executable in an HVAC system, the program comprising instructions that cause a controller of the HVAC system to perform the steps of:
 (a) store a plurality of adjustable first timing parameters within the controller;   (b) receive at least one zone control signal from at least one distinct zone;   (c) determine a zone demand within the at least one distinct zone; and   (d) operate at least one damper based on the zone demand and the respective adjustable first timing parameters.   
     
     
         20 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 19 , wherein one of the adjustable first timing parameters is associated with one of the dampers. 
     
     
         21 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 19 , wherein step (d) further comprises operating the at least one damper between an open position and closed position. 
     
     
         22 . A computer-readable medium storing a control program executable in an HVAC system, the program comprising instructions that cause a controller of the HVAC system to perform the steps of:
 (a) store a plurality of adjustable first timing parameters within the controller;   (b) receive at least one zone control signal from at least one distinct zone;   (c) determine a zone demand within the at least one distinct zone; and   (d) determine a relative position for at least one damper based on the zone demand; and   (e) operate the at least one damper based on the respective relative position and the respective adjustable first timing parameters.   
     
     
         23 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 22 , wherein one of the adjustable first timing parameters is associated with one of the dampers. 
     
     
         24 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 22 , wherein step (e) further comprises operating the at least one damper for a time period based on at least one second timing parameter. 
     
     
         25 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 24 , wherein the at least one second timing parameter is defined by the formula:
   Second Timing Parameter=Adjustable First Timing Parameter×Relative Position.