GB2445800A

GB2445800A - Control system for a climatic conditioning arrangement

Info

Publication number: GB2445800A
Application number: GB0701111A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Nicholas John Hopper; Terence Michael Payne
Original assignee: Monodraught Ltd
Current assignee: Monodraught Ltd
Priority date: 2007-01-20
Filing date: 2007-01-20
Publication date: 2008-07-23
Also published as: GB0701111D0; EP1947532A3; EP1947532A2

Abstract

A control system for a climatic conditioning arrangement 1 comprises a timing signal receiver 3 arranged to monitor a timing standard transmission 5 via an antennae 4 to provide a timing signal to a processor 7, and the processor 7 providing a control signal adjusted for time and or seasonal variation and is dependent on the timing signal. The timing signal receiver 3 may be powered by a photovoltaic panel 2 and/or batteries and/or mains electricity. Processor 7 may periodically sample the timing signal to provide the control signal, may store the control signal for a time period and used if the timing signal receiver 3 cannot monitor the timing transmission 5. Climatic conditioning arrangement 1 may comprise of a vent having dampers 9 adjusted by the control signal from the timing signal receiver 3 to the processor 7. A fan (34, fig 2) driven by a motor and along with dampers 9 may be powered by a further photovoltaic panel 35. A drive signal for the motor may be switched on/off and/or adjusted dependent on the control signal. A plurality of arrangements 1 may be provided with each or at least some having independent control. The timing transmission 5 may be from an atomic clock and may be a MSF or DCF service broadcast or a GPS signal. The arrangement 1 may be a draught or forced air type. Control signals may be wired or wireless.

Description

A Control System The present invention relates to control systems and

more particularly to a control system for utilisation with a climate conditioning arrangement.

It is known to provide climate conditioning arrangements in which ventilation shafts have vents and apertures through which air is drawn or expelled dependent upon existing or desired climatic conditions within a building. Such systems are described in European patent application number 06255778.0 and 06255768.1. It will be understood that climate conditioning arrangements depend upon a number of factors including current climatic conditions within a building as well as the external conditions about the building. These factors necessitate provision of adjustment controls for the climate conditioning arrangement. However, it will also be understood that 1 5 the climate conditioning arrangements will typically be altered dependent upon seasonal conditions and timings and furthermore the active controls, dependent upon present conditions, may be varied dependent upon the season. Thus, the climate conditioning arrangement may be arranged to provide for greater adjustment ranges in certain seasons so that rapid adjustment or more finite adjustment may be provided as required. In the above circumstances providing a time context for a climate conditioning arrangement is important.

Previously, control systems for climate conditioning arrangements have typically incorporated an integral clock for association with a processor to provide control signals for the climate conditioning arrongement. The clock requires setting and adjustment between seasons and more particularly in order to provide synchronisation within a building all the climate conditioning arrangements which may be widely dispersed have required a central control necessitating wiring and relatively complex control procedures such that each climate conditioning arrangement can be individual'y or collectively or addressed as groups as required within the building. Such cabling and complexity has increased costs and acted as a barrier to fuller utilisation of the capabilities of climate conditioning arrangements.

In accordance with aspects of the present invention there is provided a control system for a climatic conditioning arrangemen comprising a timing signal receiver and a processor, the timing signal receiver arranged to monitor a timing standard transmission and provide a timing signal to the processor to enable the processor to provide a control signal adjusted for time and/or seasonal variation dependent upon the timing signal.

Also in accordance with aspects of the present invention there is provided a climate conditioning arrangement comprising a control system as described above and a climate adaptor such *as a ventilation adjustor to receive the control signal.

Further in accordance with aspects of the present invention there is provided a method co-ordinating a climate condiioning arrangement comprising monitoring a timing standard transmission to provide a timing signal and presenting the timing signal to a processor to define a control signal for the climate conditioning arrangement adapted for co-ordination with time and/or season in terms of adjusting a climate adaptor.

Typically, the timing signal receiver comprises a photovoltaic panel to provide electrical power and/or batteries and/or mains electricity.

Generally, the timing signal receiver comprises an antennae.

Generally, the processor periodically samples the timing signal to provide the control signal.

Possibly, the processor stores the control signal for a time period as a stored control signal. Possibly, the stored control signal is used if the timing signal receiver cannot monitor the timing standard transmissions.

Possibly, the control signal is sustained until updated. Generally, the control signal is stored by a storage device. Possibly, the storage device is associated with the climate control arrangement.

Possibly, the climate conditioning arrangement comprises a vent.

Possibly, the vent has a damper displaceable by an actuator dependent upon a damper control signal from the ventilation adjustor. Possibly, the damper control signal is switched on or off and/or adjusted dependent upon the control signal. Typically the climate conditioning arrangement has a fan.

Possibly, the fan has a motor to receive a drive signEl from the ventilation 1 5 adjustor. Possibly, the drive signal is switched on/off and/or adjusted dependent upon the control signal.

Possibly, the timing standard transmission is an MSF service broadcast within the United Kingdom or DCF service broadcast within central Europe or a GPS signal.

Typically, in accordance with aspects of the present invention, the climate conditioning arrangement comprises a plurality of ventilation adjustors and each, or at least some, of the ventilation adjustors have an independent control system in accordance with aspects of the presem invention.

Embodiments of aspects of a control system and a climate conditioning arrangement in accordance with aspects of the present invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:-Fig. 1 is a schematic side cross section of a climatic conditioning arrangement incorporating a control system in accordance with aspects of the present invention, and, Fig. 2 is a schematic side cross section of a second embodiment of a climate conditioning arrangement and a control system in accordance with aspects of the present invention.

As indicated above, in order to provide adaptability in relation to seasonal changes and in particular daylight, building occupation and probable weather conditions, it is desirable with a climate conditioning arrangement to have a time context. Previously, a clock or date device was provided which required installation, adjustment and regulation. Provision of a clock for each potential ventilation adjustor such as a fan motor or vern damper at disbursed locations within a building having a climate conditioning arrangement would be expensive in terms of the cost of each clock as well as provision of electrical power or batteries for each timer. In such circumstances, generally previously a single clock would be provided for an entire climate conditioning arrangement necessitating wiring throughout the arrang:ment adding to costs and a mains electricity supply.

More recently, buildings have been installed with climate conditioning arrangements which are substantially independent of each other. Thus, for example, a building may incorporate a ventilation shaft with vent dampers, air flow fans and other features such as sophisticated winri catchers in order to generate airflow within a building and therefore provid climate conditioning.

It will be understood particularly when fans and vent danpers are utilised it is necessary to provide some form of actuator or motor to drive movement of these ventilation adjustor features. With regard to independent climate conditioning arrangements, that power may be provided by a photovoltaic panel with or without a back-up or accumulator battery storage device, It is contrary to the objectives of providing independent climate conditioning arrangements through use of photovoltaic arrangements to then require the provision of wiring or other networking communication systems in order to distribute co-ordinating timings from a central clock. It is desirable to facilitate co-ordination without a requirement for additional wiring.

A number of organisations world wide provide timing standard transmissions. For example, in the United Kingdom there is an MSF service which disseminates UK national standards of time and frequency from a location at Rugby, England. Such transmissions are twenty four hours a day and has consistent carrier frequency such that there is an accurate delivery of the transmissions which can then be received. Each of the timing standard transmissions have a relatively sophisticated transmission range. In the case * of the MSF timing standard transmissions, this range is up to 1500Km. This is a publicly available transmission and therefore requires rio additional 1 5 authorisation. However, it may be possible for a ocal timing standard transmission to be generated at a specific frequency by a local clock and utilised in accordance with aspects of the present invention. However, that local clock would require calibration, maintenance and probably a transmission licence or digital encryption for security so this approach is not convenient. It will also be understood that other systems are available and in particular timing signals are also provided by the GPS system.

Aspects of the present invention utilise a timing standard transmission preferably from a National Authority which enables a timing signal to be provided. It is desirable for a control system in accordance with aspects of the present invention to be effectively an install and forg?t system.

* A control system in accordance with aspects of he present invention comprises a photovoltaic panel in order to generate electrical power to be utilised by a timing signal receiver in order to monitor a timing standard transmission and provide a timing signal to a processo. The processor may be incorporated within the control system in accordanc with aspects of the present invention or preferably within a climate conditioning arrangement itself. In such circumstances at a base level the control system in accordance with aspects of the present invention comprises the photovoltaic panel and a timing signal receiver in order to monitor a timing standd and then provide a timing signal to the processor. In such circumstances it is not necessary to hard wire each individual climate conditioning arrangement or adjustors within arrangements for co-ordination.

It will be understood that control signals for the climate conditioning arrangement need not be continuous and preferably will provide periodic * update reference rather thin a continuous source of time and information.

Aspects of the present invention delegate central co-ordination to the timing standard transmissions and therefore avoid unnecessary wiring and complication with regard to integration of different ventilation adjustors or otherwise within a climate conditioning arrangement.

* Typically, a dedicated photovoltaic panel is utilised with regard to a control system in accordance with aspects of the present invention. In such circumstances when there is sufficient electrical power to operate the timing signal receiver, then that timing signal receiver will receive the timing standard transmission and provide a timing signal to a processor whether that be within the control system or a climate conditioning arrangement. At other times, that is to say when the photovoltaic panel has insufficient sunlight, there will be no electrical power and therefore the timing signal receiver will not operate.

Nevertheless, it will be appreciated that there will be sufficient instances of electrical power generated by the photovoltaic panel such that the control signal will adequately update the processor for seasonal variations. It is envisaged that the photovoltaic arrangement in accorcance with aspects of the present invention will typically generate 12 or 24 volts direct electrical current to enable operation of the timing signal receiver.

The timing signal receiver will typically act as a complete time code receiver in order to generate a serial digital data output stream as a control signal. In such circumstances generally in a standby mode there will be limited power consumption, typically in the order of 1 micro amp, whilst in an active state typically power consumption will be in the order of 500 micro amps. Generally, the control signals as a data output will be connected through an appropriate active switch such as an I'JPN transistor to a processor.

1 0 As indicated above, the processor may be located within the control system or within the climate conditioning arrangement itself. In either event, the processor will receive the timing signal from the timi;'ig signal receiver and then maintain a time and date for continuing use. In surh circumstances, the climate conditioning arrangement effectively re-calibrates itself to the timing standard transmission for seasonal or other adjustment. Once the calibration has been achieved it will be appreciated that a break in monitoring of the timing standard transmission for example due to a lack of electrical power from the photovoltaic arrangement or during specific periodic switching to a standby mode that there will still be a control signal for utilisation by the climate conditioning arrangement in order to appropriately stimulate a ventilation or other adjustor within the conditioning arrangement. This specific movement to a standby mode may be programmed into the timing signal receiver in order to conserve electrical power.

In order to consistently receive the timing standard transmission it will be understood that generally a control system in accordance with aspects of the present invention will incorporate an adequate antennae. This antennae will typically be housed at a high point within a climate conditioning arrangement in order to best receive the timing stancard transmission. A typical antennae is a pre-aligned inductive-capacitive (LC) tuned ferrite antennae and will generally be configured for the particular timing signal receiver.

B

By aspects of the present invention it wilt be appreciated that independent self control of a climate conditioning arrangement is achieved which will adjust itself and calibrate itself with regard to daylight change, seasonal variations and leap years in view of the timing standard transmission. In the above circumstances it is not necessary to provide expensive calibration interface equipment for a user and in particular co-ordinated wiring or otherwise between elements of a climate conditioning arrangement.

Fig. 1 provides a schematic illustration of a climate control arrangement 1 in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention. The * arrangement 1 includes a control system comprising a photovoltaic panel 2 coupled to a timing signal receiver 3 which in turn is connected to an 1 5 antennae 4. The photovoltaic panel 2 provides electrical power to the receiver 3 in order that timing standard transmissions 5 received by the antennae 4 can be processed by the timing signal receiver 3 in order to provide a timing signal through an electrical coupling 6 o a processor 7. The processor 7 is associated with a control panel 8 whereby vents are adjusted through actuators 9 to vary air flow within a turret 10. The vents and in particular the vent actuators turn dampers 9 under the ccntrol of the processor 7 such that the available open cross section through the arrangement 1 can be varied.

* 25 It will be appreciated that the climate conditioning arrangement 1 * comprises a turret for mounting principally upon the roof of a building and generally a grille 11 is provided for association with ducting or a surface of a building such as a ceiling in order that the arrangement 1 can allow air to enter then leave that building. The arrangement can also be utilised within cross flow ventilation arrangements through the use of wall mounted louvres and/or motorised window actuators.

As indicated in the first embodiment of the invention depicted in Fig. I the processor 7 is associated with a control panel 8. This control panel 8 will allow the processor 7 to be programmed dependent upon particular requirements. As indicated above, this may result in automatic opening and closing of the dampers 9 across a vent of the arrangement 1. Typically, the dampers 9 will be rotated about spindles with a ôontrol shaft 12 displacing the dampers 9 to open and close the vent into the turret 10.

The control panel 8 will allow the processor 7 to determine the necessary movements of the dampers 9 dependent upc requirements. This requirement may be a temperature change opening the actuators for the dampers 9 and so allowing more air in or out through the turret 10. The processor 7 may also obtain information with regard to wind conditions or expected required temperature control in order to adju the actuators of the dampers 9 appropriately. As can be seen, the turret 10 includes typical louvre type side wall surfaces 13 to enable air to pass in and ou of the turret 10.

The control system in accordance with aspects ol the present invention allows the processor 7 to be updated and adjusted with regard to time which in turn will also relate to season. In such circumstanc3 the dampers 9 can be adjusted and opened and closed dependent upon requirements.

As can be seen, the antennae 4 is generally located at the highest point of the turret 10 in an angular position within a top surface of that turret.

In such circumstances the antennae 4 is in a good position to receive the timing standard transmission.

It will be understood that the first embodiment depicted in Fig. 1 is generally dependent upon wind and natural convection in order to allow air flows through the turret 10. An alternative approach is depicted in Fig. 2 in which a chmate conditioning arrangement 21 again i'icorporates a control system in accordance with aspects of the present invention comprising a photovoltaic arrangement 22, a timing signal receiver 23 and an antennae 24.

The timing signal and receiver 23 passes a timing signal to a processor 27 through a path 26. In such circumstances a timing standard transmission 25 is received by the antennae 24 and monitored by the timing signal receiver 23 in order to provide the timing signal to the processor 27.

The processor 27 is coupled to a control panel 28 in order to set the operational parameters for actuators in relation to dampers 29 and a fan 34.

* The arrangement 21 provides a turret 30 within which ai flows are provided.

As previously, the control panel 28 allows settinç. of the processor 27 as a controller for the arrangement 21. The processor 27 is calibrated in terms of time through the control system in accordance with aspects of the present invention utilising the timing standard transmission 25. In such circumstances the necessary control variations of the actuators for the vent dampers 29 and fan 34 can be adjusted dependent up.n time of day and/or season.

The dampers 27 as previously typically turn uoon spindles through control actuators 32 whilst the fan 34 generally incorporates an electric motor whose driving signals are switched on or off and/or speed adjusted dependent upon the processor 27.

The turret 30 is secured, as indicated previously, in relation to a building either directly upon a ceiling or other surface or through conduits and ducting to rooms and spaces within the building.

* It will be understood in order to operate the actuators for the vent dampers 29 or fan 34 some form of prime mover is required. Typically, this prime mover will be an electric motor in order to turn the spindles of the vent dampers 29 or the electric motor of the fan 34. In accorJance with the second embodiment of the present invention as depicted in Fig. 2, electrical power for the motor of the fan 34 or for turning the dampers 29 s provided through a photovoltaic panel 35. This photovoltaic panel 35 may be the sole source of electrical power particularly if only driving the motor for the fan 34 but most normally will act as a boost or alternative to mains eiectrical power for the actuators of the vent dampers 29 and fan 34 but can be supplemented by batteries and/or mains electricity. It will be understood that the photovoltaic arrangement 35 will typically be adequate to provide power to the motor of the fan 34 as positive displacement of air as provided by the fan 34 will typically only be required on hot days which typically will also have a high sunlight level. This electrical power will be connected through an electrical coupling 36 to the fan 34. . -As can be seen in Fig. 2, the turret 30 generally incorporates a passive flow route illustrated by arrowheads 37 in which the vent dampers 29 will 1 5 generally control convective and wind driven flows through the turret 30 whilst within a central column 30a of the turret a positive flow 7ath in the direction of arrowheads 38 will be provided. This positive flow is generated by the fan 34 and so, dependent upon the speed of the fan and direction, the flow rate in the direction of arrowheads 38 can be adjusted for climatic conditioning. It will be understood that the operation of the fan 34 will be determined by the processor 27 as a controller in accordance with requirenients indicated by the panel 28 and seasonal or other stored processors. The processor 27 requires information with respect to time in order to provide context for the instructions and stored operational processes within the processor 27.

By use of a control system in accordance with aspects of the present invention it will be appreciated that timing far the processor utilised as a controller of the climate conditioning arrangement can be achieved without external wiring. In such circumstances more independent provision of the climatic conditioning arrangement can be achieved with co-ordination between the climatic conditioning arrangements referenced by the timing standard transmission received from an appropriate source.

The timing standard transmission source as indicated may be a nationally or internationally regulated timing standard transmission from a calibrated typically atomic clock source. Although clearly operation of the ventilation adjustors in terms of the vent dampers 9, 29 or fan 34 requires consistent electrical power for operation it will be understood that, provided there is sufficient periodic electrical power provided to the timing signal receiver 3, 23 in accordance with aspects of the rresent invention, an appropriate control signal can be provided to the processor 7, 27 to enable it to be updated. In such circumstances the processor 7, 27 will generally retain the last timing signal received from the timing signa receiver in order to generate the control signal. The timing signal has a r&erence or the control signal itself may be stored in order to generate control ignaIs appropriate to that time signal. This control signal may then be stced as the calibrated reference for all control operations of the processor 7, 27 until it is possible to further monitor the timing standard transmission 5, 25 by the receiver 3, 23.

* Interruption in the ability to monitor the timing standard transmissions may be as a result of deliberate periodic switching of the re..eiver 3, 23 to save electrical power as provided by the photovoltaic panel 2, 22 or when electrical power is not sufficient from the panel 2, 22 to drive and allow operation of the receiver 3, 23 to monitor the timing standard transmi1sion. It will also be understood that a buffer such as a capacitor may be provided as an accumulator for electrical power from the photovottaic arrangement 2, 22 for periodic burst operation of the receiver 3, 23, The processor 7, 27 as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 is generally located within the control arrangements for the climate conCitioning arrangement utilising actuators for the vent dampers 9, 29 or fan 34. This processor 7, 27 may incorporate a storage device for the timing signal Cr the control signal for sustained operation of the arrangement 1, 21 in accorr'ance with aspects of the present invention. Alternatively, the control system in accordance with aspects of the present invention may incorporate a storage device itself in order to consistently present the last timing signal to the processor 7, 27 for continued operation of the arrangement 1, 21 in accorciance with aspects of the present invention. It will be understood in any event generally speaking the loss of an ability to monitor the timing standard transmission for a considerable period of time would be unusual in that at some point the photovoltaic arrangement 2, 22 would be able to provide sufficient power to the receiver 3, 23 to enable a timing signal to be generated. However if such a situation should persist, although not depicted in Fig. 1 or 2, an alarm device may be provided in the form of illuminating an LED or otherwise to warn a user as to the potential deviation from desired operation. This alarm will typically be associated with the control panel 8, 28.

It will be understood that aspects of the pres.-nt invention are not particularly dependent upon the voltage of the system si any suitable voltage may be used such as 12V or 24V. Furthermore, the ventilation system may, as illustrated above, be of a draught or forced air type but other systems such as those using a cross flow ventilation system could also be used. Such cross flow ventilation arrangements can use wall mounted Iouvres and/or motorised window actuators and carousel type inlets.

Modifications and alterations to aspects of the present invention will be appreciated by those skilled in the art. Thus, although a hard wired connection 6, 26 is depicted in the embodiment of Firs. 1 and 2, it will be understood that, where possible, local wireless trnsmissions from the receiver 3, 23 to the controller processor 7, 27 may b-provided in order to transmit the timing signal.

Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of prticular importance it should be understood that the Applicant claims proter.tion in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbetre referred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphAsis has been placed thereon.

Claims

Claims 1. A control system for a climatic conditioning arrangement

comprising a timing signal receiver and a processor, the timing signal receiver arranged to monitor a timing standard transmission and provide a timing signal to the processor to enable the processor to provide a control signal adjusted for time and/or seasonal variation dependent upon the timing signal.
2. A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the timing signal receiver comprises a photovoltaic panel to provide electrical power and/or batteries and/or mains electricity.
3. A system as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the timing signal receiver comprises an antennae.
4. A system as claimed in any of claims 1, 2 or 3 wherein the processor periodically samples the timing signal to provide the control signal.
5. A system as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the processor stores the control signal for a time period as a stored control signal.
6. A system as claimed in claim 5 wherein the stored control signal is used if the timing signal receiver cannot monitor the timing standard transmissions. * ** * *

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7. A system as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the control signal is sustained until updated.
8. A system as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the control signal is stored by a storage device.

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9. A system as claimed in claim 8 wherein the storage device is associated with the climate control arrangement.
10. A control system for a climatic conditioning arrangement substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompany drawings.
11. A climate conditioning arrangement comprising a control system as claimed in any preceding claim and a climate adaptor.
12. An arrangement as claimed in claim 11 wherein the climate adaptor is a ventilation adjuster to receive a control signal.
13. An arrangement as claimed in claim 11 or claim 12 wherein the climate conditioning arrangement comprises a vent.
14. An arrangement as claimed in claim 13 wherein the vent has a damper displaceable by an actuator dependent upon a damper control signal from the ventilation adjustor.
15. An arrangement as claimed in claim 14 wherein the damper control signal is switched on or off and/or adjusted dependent upon the control signal.
16. An arrangement as claimed in any of claims 1 to 15 wherein the ciimate conditioning arrangement has a fan.
17. An arrangement as claimed in claim 16 wherein the fan has a motor to receive a drive signal from the ventilation adjustor.
18. An arrangement as claimed in claim 17 wherein the drive signal is switched on/off and/or adjusted dependent upon the control signal.

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19. An arrangement as claimed in any of claims 11 to 18 wherein the timing standard transmission is an MSF service broadcast within the United Kingdom or DCF service broadcast within central Europe or a GPS signal.
20. An arrangement as claimed in any of claims 11 to 19 wherein the climate conditioning arrangement comprises a plurality of ventilation adjustors and each, or at least some, of the ventilation adjustors have an independent control system.
21. A climate conditioning arrangement substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
22. A method of co-ordinating a climate conditioning arrangement comprising monitoring a timing standard transmission to provide a timing signal and presenting the timing signal to a processor to define a control signal for the climate conditioning arrangement adapted for co-ordination with time and/or season in terms of adjusting a climate adaptor.
23. A method as claimed in claim 22 wherein the processor periodically samples the timing signal to provide the control signal.
24. A method as claimed in claim 22 or claim 23 wherein the processor *:.::? stores the control signal for a time period as a stored control signal.
25. A method as claimed in claim 24 wherein the stored control signal is used if the timing signal receiver cannot monitor the timing standard transmissions.

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26. A method as claimed in any of claims 22 to 25 wherein the control signal is sustained until updated.
27. A method as claimed in any of claims 22 to 26 wherein the control signal is stored by a storage device.
28. A method as claimed in any of claims 22 to 27 wherein the timing standard transmission is an MSF service broadcast within the United Kingdom or DCF service broadcast within central Europe or a GPS signal.
29. A method of co-ordinating a climate conditioning arrangement substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
30. Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter 1 5 disclosed herein, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the preceding claims. * S S * S* *SSS * I ****

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