Microcomputer control for heat pump system

摘要

A method of controlling energy usage of a multi-state heat pump system in which the system includes a preprogrammed microprocessor-based controller which places and maintains the system in the most energy efficient mode of operation consistent with achieving a desired room temperature level within a reasonable period of time. The controller responds to actual room temperature and a user-inserted temperature setting to place the heat pump system into an operating state indicated by a predetermined set of operating state criteria which establishes the required operating state and the timing of state changes. Changing to higher (less energy efficient) operating states is enabled only when periodic checks of the rate of change of room temperature indicate the desired temperature will not be achieved in a selected time period. The user-inserted temperature setting is modified as a function of outside temperature extremes to modify the target temperature to which the heat pump system operates to further improve energy efficiency of the system.