Dynamic Furnace Control

Abstract

Systems and methods for dynamic and automated control of a heating appliance based on atmospheric pressure conditions are provided. Particularly, a controller of the heating appliance may be configured to automatically adjust the amount of gas and/or air provided to the combustion chamber of the heating appliance based on changes in atmospheric pressure in the environment of the heating appliance. Changes in atmospheric pressure may impact the combustion process within the heating appliance, which may lead to inefficiencies in the operation of the heating appliance if the rate at which gas and/or air is provided remain constant during pressure changes. To mitigate these impacts, a barometric pressure sensor may be used to measure the atmospheric pressure at any given time and may provide this data to the controller. The controller may then adjust the rate at which gas and/or air is provided within the heating appliance to reduce such inefficiencies.

That which is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A heating appliance comprising:
 a pressure sensor;   a controller configured to:
 receive, from the pressure sensor and at a first time, a first atmospheric pressure measurement of an ambient environment; 
 receive, from the pressure sensor and at a second time, a second atmospheric pressure measurement of an ambient environment; 
 determine that the second atmospheric pressure measurement is less than the first atmospheric pressure measurement; and 
 adjust an amount of gas or an amount of air provided to a combustion chamber of the heating appliance based on the determination. 
   
     
     
         2 . The heating appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
 receive, from the pressure sensor and at a third time, a third atmospheric pressure measurement of an ambient environment;   determine that the third atmospheric pressure measurement is greater than the second atmospheric pressure measurement; and   decrease an amount of gas or an amount of air provided to a combustion chamber of the furnace.   
     
     
         3 . The heating appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
 determine an expected pressure change within the heating appliance caused by an inducer of the heating appliance being activated at a determined fan speed;   determine, based on a difference between the first atmospheric pressure measurement and the expected pressure change, a pressure change induced by the heating appliance; and   determine a modified atmospheric pressure measurement based on the pressure change, wherein increase the amount of gas or amount of air is based on the modified atmospheric pressure measurement.   
     
     
         4 . The heating appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the pressure sensor is wirelessly coupled to the controller, and wherein the controller is configured to wirelessly receive the first atmospheric pressure measurement from the pressure sensor. 
     
     
         5 . The heating appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
 transmit the first atmospheric pressure measurement to an external device for presentation to a user through a user interface of the external device.   
     
     
         6 . The heating appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to disable an inducer fan of the heating appliance for a threshold period of time, wherein the controller is configured to receive the first atmospheric pressure measurement after the threshold period of time. 
     
     
         7 . The heating appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
 determine that the first atmospheric pressure measurement surpasses a threshold pressure value for more than a threshold period of time; and   disable operation of the heating appliance.   
     
     
         8 . A method comprising:
 receiving, by a controller of a heating appliance, from a pressure sensor, and at a first time, a first atmospheric pressure measurement of an ambient environment;   receiving, from the pressure sensor and at a second time, a second atmospheric pressure measurement of an ambient environment;   determining that the second atmospheric pressure measurement is less than the first atmospheric pressure measurement; and   increasing an amount of gas or an amount of air provided to a combustion chamber of the heating appliance.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 receiving, from the pressure sensor and at a third time, a third atmospheric pressure measurement of an ambient environment;   determining that the third atmospheric pressure measurement is greater than the second atmospheric pressure measurement; and   decreasing an amount of gas or an amount of air provided to a combustion chamber of the heating appliance.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 determining an expected pressure change within the heating appliance caused by an inducer of the heating appliance being activated at a determined fan speed;   determining, based on a difference between the first atmospheric pressure measurement and the expected pressure change, a pressure change induced by the heating appliance; and   determining a modified atmospheric pressure measurement based on the pressure change, wherein adjust the amount of gas or amount of air is based on the modified atmospheric pressure measurement.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the pressure sensor is wirelessly coupled to the controller, and wherein the controller is configured to wirelessly receive the first atmospheric pressure measurement from the pressure sensor. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 transmitting, by the controller, the first atmospheric pressure measurement to an external device for presentation to a user through a user interface of the external device.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising disabling an inducer fan of the heating appliance for a threshold period of time, wherein receiving the first atmospheric pressure measurement is performed after the threshold period of time. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 determining, by the controller, that the first atmospheric pressure measurement surpasses a threshold pressure value for more than a threshold period of time; and   disabling, by the controller, operation of the heating appliance.   
     
     
         15 . A system comprising:
 a pressure sensor; and   a controller of a heating appliance, wherein the controller is configured to:
 receive, from the pressure sensor and at a first time, a first atmospheric pressure measurement of an ambient environment; 
 receive, from the pressure sensor and at a second time, a second atmospheric pressure measurement of an ambient environment; 
 determine that the second atmospheric pressure measurement is less than the first atmospheric pressure measurement; and 
 increase an amount of gas or an amount of air provided to a combustion chamber of the heating appliance. 
   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
 determining an expected pressure change within the heating appliance caused by an inducer of the heating appliance being activated at a determined fan speed;   determining, based on a difference between the first atmospheric pressure measurement and the expected pressure change, a pressure change induced by the heating appliance; and   determine a modified atmospheric pressure measurement based on the pressure change, wherein adjust the amount of gas or amount of air is based on the modified atmospheric pressure measurement.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the pressure sensor is wirelessly coupled to the controller, and wherein the controller is configured to wirelessly receive the first atmospheric pressure measurement from the pressure sensor. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
 transmit the first atmospheric pressure measurement to an external device for presentation to a user through a user interface of the external device.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 15 , herein the controller is further configured to disable an inducer fan of the heating appliance for a threshold period of time, wherein the controller is configured to receive the first atmospheric pressure measurement after the threshold period of time. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
 determine that the first atmospheric pressure measurement surpasses a threshold pressure value for more than a threshold period of time; and   disable operation of the heating appliance.