System for obtaining and classifying energy characteristics
First Claim
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1. A demand response system for classifying characteristics of buildings and controlling thermostats, the system comprising:
- a computer; and
one or more thermostats situated in one or more buildings, respectively, and having a connection to the computer; and
wherein;
each of the one or more thermostats provides time series data to the computer;
the time series data comprise indoor temperature, outdoor temperature, and temperature setpoints relative to time;
a thermal response model for each of the one or more buildings is derived from the time series data;
a connection includes one or more intermediary connections; and
the one or more intermediary connections are wired, wireless, or wired and wireless,a relationship between thermal mass and heat loss characteristics of a building defines a time constant for a building and the time constant of a building is represented by (mcp/UA)=((Toa−
Tin)/(dT/dt)), wherein;
mcp represents thermal mass of the building;
UA represents heat transfer or loss from the building per degree of temperature;
Toa represents temperature outside of the building;
Tin represents temperature inside of the building; and
(dT/dt) represents a rate of change of temperature inside of the building; and
a demand response control signal is provided from the computer to at least one thermostat of the one or more thermostats to adjust the operation of the at least one thermostat, the demand response control signal is customized to adjust operation of the at least one thermostat based on the relationship between the thermal mass and heat loss characteristic of a building of the one or more buildings in which the at least one thermostat is situated.
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Abstract
An approach and system for receiving data from a thermostat in a building, treating the data as representative of a thermal response model or system, and determining a relationship between a rate of building internal temperature change and change in outdoor temperature to provide an indication of how well a building is insulated versus a thermal mass of the building.
19 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A demand response system for classifying characteristics of buildings and controlling thermostats, the system comprising:
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a computer; and one or more thermostats situated in one or more buildings, respectively, and having a connection to the computer; and wherein; each of the one or more thermostats provides time series data to the computer; the time series data comprise indoor temperature, outdoor temperature, and temperature setpoints relative to time; a thermal response model for each of the one or more buildings is derived from the time series data; a connection includes one or more intermediary connections; and the one or more intermediary connections are wired, wireless, or wired and wireless, a relationship between thermal mass and heat loss characteristics of a building defines a time constant for a building and the time constant of a building is represented by (mcp/UA)=((Toa−
Tin)/(dT/dt)), wherein;mcp represents thermal mass of the building; UA represents heat transfer or loss from the building per degree of temperature; Toa represents temperature outside of the building; Tin represents temperature inside of the building; and (dT/dt) represents a rate of change of temperature inside of the building; and a demand response control signal is provided from the computer to at least one thermostat of the one or more thermostats to adjust the operation of the at least one thermostat, the demand response control signal is customized to adjust operation of the at least one thermostat based on the relationship between the thermal mass and heat loss characteristic of a building of the one or more buildings in which the at least one thermostat is situated. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A demand response method for classifying buildings and controlling thermostats, the method comprising:
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obtaining time series data from one or more thermostats in one or more buildings; creating a thermal response model of a building from the time series data; extracting parameters from the thermal response model; classifying the one or more buildings as groups with respect to the parameters and weather conditions external to the one or more buildings, deriving a time constant for each of the one or more buildings from a relationship of insulation information and thermal mass of each of the one or more buildings, respectively; sending a demand response control signal to at least one thermostat of the one or more thermostats to adjust operation of the at least one thermostat, the demand response control signal is customized to adjust operation of the at least one thermostat based on the derived time constant of a building of the one or more buildings in which the at least one thermostat is situated; and wherein; the parameters include one or more of specific heat capacity, mass heat transfer coefficient, and internal heating/cooling source information; the time series data includes one or more of indoor temperature relative to time, outdoor temperature relative to time, and temperature setpoints relative to time; and the time constant of a building is represented by
(mcp/UA)=((Toa−
Tin)/(dT/dt)), wherein;mcp represents thermal mass of the building; UA represents heat transfer or loss from the building per degree of temperature; Toa represents temperature outside of the building; Tin represents temperature inside of the building; and (dT/dt) represents a rate of change of temperature inside of the building. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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13. A demand response mechanism for determining energy characteristics and controlling thermostats, the mechanism comprising:
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one or more thermostats situated inside one or more buildings, respectively; and a computer connected to the one or more thermostats; and wherein; the one or more thermostats provide time-series data to the computer; the time-series data comprise one or more items selected from a group consisting of indoor temperatures, indoor humidity, temperature setpoints, outdoor temperatures, outdoor humidity, heating mode, and cooling mode; a time constant is determined for at least one of the one or more buildings, the time constant of a building is represented by (mcp/UA)=((Toa−
Tin)/(dT/dt)), wherein;mcp represents thermal mass of the building; UA represents heat transfer or loss from the building per degree of temperature; Toa represents temperature outside of the building; Tin represents temperature inside of the building; and (dT/dt) represents a rate of change of temperature inside of the building; and a demand response control signal is provided from the computer to at least one thermostat of the one or more thermostats to adjust operation of the at least one thermostat, the demand response control signal is customized to adjust operation of the at least one thermostat based on the time constant of a building of the one or more buildings in which the at least one thermostat is situated. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification