US 12,339,024 B2
Efficiently routing excess air flow
Anthony W. Bruno, Blaine, MN (US); Aaron E. Opatz, Maple Grove, MN (US); and Christopher R. Vause, Austin, TX (US)
Assigned to TRANE INTERNATIONAL INC., Davidson, NC (US)
Filed by Trane International Inc., Davidson, NC (US)
Filed on Sep. 5, 2019, as Appl. No. 16/561,247.
Prior Publication US 2021/0071899 A1, Mar. 11, 2021
Int. Cl. F24F 11/72 (2018.01); F24F 3/044 (2006.01); F24F 110/30 (2018.01)
CPC F24F 11/72 (2018.01) [F24F 3/044 (2013.01); F24F 2110/30 (2018.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A device, comprising:
a processor; and
a memory that stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, perform operations comprising:
determining that a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) device is to be activated to provide a defined volume of conditioned air to at least one active zone of a group of zones, the at least one active zone having satisfied an activation condition to activate the HVAC device, the group of zones also including a plurality of inactive zones that have not satisfied corresponding activation conditions to activate the HVAC device,
determining that the HVAC device is to produce an excess volume of conditioned air, wherein the excess volume of conditioned air is representative of the defined volume of conditioned air less a volume that is to be delivered to the at least one active zone,
performing an excess routing procedure to identify one or more of the plurality of inactive zones to receive a distribution of the excess volume of conditioned air, wherein the excess routing procedure includes:
(a) determining that an unoccupied zone of the plurality of inactive zones has a largest difference between a measured quantity and an occupied set point for the unoccupied zone, and
(b) selecting the unoccupied zone based at least in part on (a) to receive at least a portion of the excess volume of conditioned air.