Control systems for heating ventilation and cooling systems

Abstract

The disclosure relates to control systems for heating ventilation and cooling systems. In some examples, a controller for a heating ventilation and cooling system receives, from a first temperature sensor, a first temperature of a first air flow entering a conditioner system. The controller also receives, from a first humidity sensor, a first dew point of the first air flow, and also receives, from a thermostat, a desired temperature for a conditioned space. The controller generates adjustment data characterizing an adjustment to at least one of: (1) an exhaust air flow, (2) a desiccant flow rate, (3) a water flow rate, (4) a total air flow rate, and (5) a liquid desiccant concentration of the conditioner system based on at least one of the first temperature, the first dew point, and the desired temperature. The controller transmits the adjustment data to the conditioner system to cause the adjustment.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a non-transitory, machine-readable storage medium storing instructions; and   at least one processor coupled to the non-transitory, machine-readable storage medium, the at least one processor being configured to execute the instructions to:
 receive, from a first temperature sensor, a first temperature of a first air flow entering a conditioner system; 
 receive, from a first humidity sensor, a first dew point of the first air flow; 
 receive a desired temperature for a conditioned space; 
 generate adjustment data characterizing an adjustment to at least one of: (1) an exhaust air flow, (2) a desiccant flow rate, (3) a water flow rate, (4) a total air flow rate, and (5) and a liquid desiccant concentration of the conditioner system based on at least one of the first temperature, the first dew point, and the desired temperature; and 
 transmit the adjustment data to the conditioner system to cause the adjustment. 
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to execute the instructions to:
 receive, from a second humidity sensor, second dew point of a second air flow entering the conditioner system; and   generate the adjustment data based on the second dew point.   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to execute the instructions to:
 receive, from a second temperature sensor, a second temperature of the second air flow entering the conditioner system; and   generate the adjustment data based on the second temperature.   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the first air flow is a return air flow entering the conditioner system and the second air flow is an outside air flow entering the conditioner system. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to execute the instructions to:
 determine a mixed air dew point for a mixed air flow entering the conditioner system based on the first temperature, the second temperature, the first dew point, the second dew point, and an outside air flow ratio; and   generate the adjustment data based on the mixed air dew point.   
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to execute the instructions to:
 determine a mixed air enthalpy based on the first temperature, the second temperature, the first dew point, the second dew point, and the outside air flow ratio;   determine a mixed air temperature based on the mixed air dew point and the mixed air enthalpy; and   generate the adjustment data based on the mixed air temperature.   
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to execute the instructions to:
 receive a desired dew point for the conditioned space; and   determine the mixed air temperature based on the desired dew point for the conditioned space.   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to execute the instructions to determine the mixed air flow based on a desired supply air flow for the conditioned space and an exhaust air flow ratio. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to execute the instructions to:
 receive a desired dew point for the conditioned space; and   generate the adjustment data based on the desired dew point.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the adjustment data characterizes the adjustment to the exhaust air flow as a proportion of a supply air flow for the conditioned space. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the adjustment data characterizes the adjustment to the total air flow rate of the conditioner system. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the adjustment data characterizes the adjustment to at least one of the exhaust air flow, the desiccant flow rate, and the water flow rate. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to execute the instructions to:
 receive desiccant data characterizing a concentration of liquid desiccant entering the conditioner system; and   generate the adjustment data based on the desiccant data.   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to execute the instructions to:
 receive desiccant data characterizing a concentration of liquid desiccant exiting the conditioner system; and   generate the adjustment data based on the desiccant data.   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to execute the instructions to:
 receive a flow rate of liquid desiccant entering the conditioner system; and   generate the adjustment data based on the flow rate of liquid desiccant.   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to execute the instructions to:
 receive a flow rate of liquid desiccant exiting the conditioner system; and   generate the adjustment data based on the flow rate of liquid desiccant.   
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the adjustment data further characterizes an adjustment to a liquid desiccant concentration. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first air flow is a return air flow entering the conditioner system. 
     
     
         19 . A method by at least one processor, the method comprising:
 receiving, from a first temperature sensor, a first temperature of a first air flow entering a conditioner system;   receiving, from a first humidity sensor, a first dew point of the first air flow;   receiving a desired temperature for a conditioned space;   generating adjustment data characterizing an adjustment to at least one of: (1) an exhaust air flow, (2) a desiccant flow rate, (3) a water flow rate, and (4) a total air flow rate of the conditioner system based on at least one of the first temperature, the first dew point, and the desired temperature; and   transmitting the adjustment data to the conditioner system to cause the adjustment.   
     
     
         20 . A non-transitory, computer readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to perform operations comprising:
 receiving, from a first temperature sensor, a first temperature of a first air flow entering a conditioner system;   receiving, from a first humidity sensor, a first dew point of the first air flow;   receiving a desired temperature for a conditioned space;   generating adjustment data characterizing an adjustment to at least one of: (1) an exhaust air flow, (2) a desiccant flow rate, (3) a water flow rate, and (4) a total air flow rate of the conditioner system based on at least one of the first temperature, the first dew point, and the desired temperature; and   transmitting the adjustment data to the conditioner system to cause the adjustment.