Supplemental heating device and method

Abstract

A supplemental heating system includes an enclosure that encloses a primary heating device. The enclosure includes an inlet damper, an outlet damper, and an intermediate damper. In an idle state, the inlet damper and outlet damper are open while the intermediate damper is closed. In an active state, the inlet damper and outlet damper are closed while the intermediate damper is open, so that air is circulated within the enclosure.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A supplemental heating system for a primary heating device, the supplemental heating device comprising:
 an upper enclosure housing a controller and a supplemental heating element;   at least one temperature sensor communicatively coupled to the controller;   a lower enclosure;   an inlet damper disposed on the lower enclosure;   an outlet damper disposed on the upper enclosure; and   an intermediate damper disposed between the upper enclosure and the lower enclosure,   wherein the controller operatively generates instructions to open or close at least one of the inlet damper, the outlet damper, and the intermediate damper to direct airflow based on at least one of input from the at least one temperature sensor or a state of the supplemental heating element.   
     
     
         2 . The supplemental heating system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one temperature sensor comprises an external temperature sensor disposed external to the upper enclosure and the lower enclosure to operatively measure an outdoor temperature. 
     
     
         3 . The supplemental heating system of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one temperature sensor further comprises a discharge temperature sensor disposed internal to at least one of the upper enclosure or the lower enclosure, and downstream of the supplemental heating element. 
     
     
         4 . The supplemental heating system of  claim 3 , wherein the controller operatively modulates a heating input of the supplemental heating element based on measurements received from the discharge temperature sensor. 
     
     
         5 . The supplemental heating system of  claim 2 , wherein the controller operatively generates instructions to close the inlet damper and the outlet damper in response to the at least one temperature sensor. 
     
     
         6 . The supplemental heating system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one temperature sensor comprises a discharge temperature sensor disposed internal to at least one of the upper enclosure or the lower enclosure, and downstream of the supplemental heating element. 
     
     
         7 . The supplemental heating system of  claim 2 , wherein the controller generates instructions to close the inlet damper, close the outlet damper, and open the intermediate damper in response to the external temperature sensor determining that the outdoor temperature meets or is below a threshold temperature. 
     
     
         8 . The supplemental heating system of  claim 7 , wherein the controller generates instructions to close the inlet damper, close the outlet damper, and open the intermediate damper in response to the external temperature sensor determining that the outdoor temperature exceeds a threshold temperature. 
     
     
         9 . A method of controlling a supplemental heating system for a primary heating system, the method comprising:
 monitoring an outdoor temperature via a sensor;   determining whether the outdoor temperature reaches a lower limit;   in response to determining the outdoor temperature reaches a lower limit, closing an inlet damper and an outlet damper, and circulating tempered air heated by the supplemental heating system;   determining whether the outdoor temperature passes above the lower limit; and   in response to determining the outdoor temperature passes above the lower limit, opening the inlet damper and the outlet damper, and terminating heating by the supplemental heating system.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 sensing, via a second temperature sensor, a temperature of the circulating tempered air heated by the supplemental heating system; and   modulating a supplemental heat source based at least in part on the sensed temperature of air supplied to the primary heat source.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising modulating the supplemental heat source based at least in part on the sensed temperature of air supplied to the primary heat source and a temperature setting. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the temperature setting is based on an operating capacity of the primary heating system. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising wirelessly communicating the outdoor temperature from the sensor to a controller. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising wirelessly communicating the temperature of the circulating tempered air from the second sensor to a controller. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising opening an intermediary damper in response to determining the outdoor temperature reaches a lower limit. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising closing an intermediary damper in response to determining the outdoor temperature passes above the lower limit. 
     
     
         17 . A supplemental heating system for a primary heating device, the supplemental heating device comprising:
 an enclosure that operatively encloses a primary heating device;   a supplemental heat source;   one or more dampers disposed on or within the enclosure; and   a controller and one or more temperature sensors, wherein the controller is communicatively coupled to the one or more temperature sensors to operatively control the supplemental heat source and the one or more dampers based on measurements received from the one or more temperature sensors.   
     
     
         18 . The supplemental heating system of  claim 17 , wherein the controller receives input to adjust temperature limits associated with the one or more temperature sensors. 
     
     
         19 . The supplemental heating system of  claim 17 , wherein the controller receives input to adjust settings associated with the supplemental heat source and stores the settings in a memory. 
     
     
         20 . The supplemental heating system of  claim 17 , wherein the one or more temperature sensors comprises an external temperature sensor disposed external to the enclosure and beneath a cover that operatively shields the external temperature from ambient light.