System and method for using ramped setpoint temperature variation with networked thermostats to improve efficiency

• US 10,254,775 B2
• Filed: 09/01/2015
• Issued: 04/09/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: EcoFactor, Inc. (Trane Technologies plc)
• Original Assignee: EcoFactor, Inc. (Trane Technologies plc)
• Inventors: Cheung, Leo, Hublou, Scott Douglas, Steinberg, John Douglas
• Primary Examiner(s): Barnes-Bullock, Crystal J
• Application Number:
  US14/842,134
• Publication Number:
  US 20160061474A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,316 Days
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/30 for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/46 Improving electric energy efficiency or saving
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/52 Indication arrangements, e.g. displays
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/62 characterised by the type of control or by internal processing, e.g. using fuzzy logic, adaptive control or estimation of values
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/63 Electronic processing
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/10 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/12 of the outside air
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2120/20 Feedback from users
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2130/00 Control inputs relating to environmental factors not covered by group F24F2110/00
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2130/10 Weather information or forecasts
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2140/60 Energy consumption
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 13/0245 not using a perturbation signal
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/048 Monitoring; Safety
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23399 Adapt set parameter as function of measured conditions
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2614 HVAC, heating, ventillation, climate control
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2639 Energy management, use maximum of cheap power, keep peak load low
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1393 characterised by the use of electric means
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1904 variable in time
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1931 to control the temperature of one space

Abstract

The invention comprises systems and methods for ramping setpoints on thermostats controlling HVAC systems. At least one thermostat is located inside a structure and is used to control an HVAC system in the structure. At least one remote processor is in communication with said thermostat and at least one database stores data reported by the thermostat. At least one processor compares the outside temperature at at least one location and at least one point in time to information reported to the remote processor from the thermostat. The remote processor ramps the setpoint on the thermostat so as to reduce the average spread between inside temperature and outside temperature in order to reduce energy consumption with affecting comfort. The remote processor takes into account the effect of weather conditions and occupant preferences in determining whether and when to ramp setpoints.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a thermostat for energy savings comprising:

monitoring one or more thermostats located in a structure with a remotely located server via a network, the remotely located server located remotely from the structure;

determining, with the remotely located server, an existing setpoint of the one or more thermostats and storing the existing setpoint in a database structure associated with the remotely located server;

automatically setting, with the remotely located server, a first setpoint of a repeating sequence of discrete setpoints based at least in part on the value of the existing setpoint;

determining, with the remotely located server, a number of discrete setpoints in the repeating sequence of discrete setpoints, wherein the repeating sequence of discrete setpoints is comprise different values than the first setpoint and storing the repeating sequence of discrete setpoints in the database structure;

automatically setting, with the remote server, subsequent setpoints in the repeating sequence of discrete setpoints in the one or more thermostats, based at least in part on the repeating sequence of discrete setpoints stored in the database structure;

automatically setting, with the remote server, the one or more thermostats to the first setpoint after completing a last setpoint in said repeating sequence of discrete setpoints; and

monitoring, with the remote server, whether one or more manual inputs are made to the one or more thermostats and directing the one or more thermostats to return to the first setpoint in the event one or more manual inputs at the one or more thermostats is detected.

2. A method as in claim 1 wherein said repeating sequence of discrete setpoints comprises three setpoints.

3. A method as in claim 1 in which said repeating sequence of discrete setpoints are determined by the remote computer.

4. A method as in claim 1 in which said increments in said repeating sequence of discrete setpoints vary by one degree Fahrenheit.

5. A method as in claim 1 further comprising varying inside temperature between three or more setpoints, and each of said subsequent setpoints is higher than said first setpoint.

6. A method as in claim 1 wherein each of said subsequent setpoints is a higher temperature than said first setpoint.

7. A method as in claim 1 wherein each of said subsequent setpoints after the first setpoint is a lower temperature than said first setpoint.

8. A method as in claim 1 further comprising varying wherein each subsequent setpoint after the first setpoint is a lower temperature than said first setpoint, and returning to said first setpoint after reaching last setpoint of said repeating sequence of discrete setpoints.

9. A method for controlling a thermostat for energy savings comprising:

accessing one or more thermostats located in a structure with a remotely located server via a network, the remotely located server located remotely from the structure;

determining, with the remotely located server, an existing setpoint of the one or more thermostats and storing the existing setpoint in a database structure associated with the remotely located server;

automatically setting, with the remotely located server, a first setpoint of a repeating sequence of discrete setpoints to a value based at least in part on the existing setpoint;

determining, with the remotely located server, a number of discrete setpoints in the repeating sequence of discrete setpoints and storing the repeating sequence of discrete setpoints in the database structure;

automatically setting, with the remote server, subsequent setpoints in the repeating sequence of discrete setpoints in the one or more thermostats based at least in part on the repeating sequence of discrete setpoints stored in the database structure;

automatically setting, with the remote server, the one or more thermostats to the first setpoint after completing a last setpoint in said repeating sequence of discrete setpoints; and

monitoring, with the remote server, whether an override is made to the one or more thermostats by and occupant and returning to first target setpoint in response to the override by the occupant.

10. A system for automatically varying temperature setpoints for an HVAC system comprising:

a remotely located server comprising one or more computer processors, the remotely located sever configured monitor one or more thermostats located in a structure via a network, the remotely located server located remotely from the structure;

the remotely located server configured to determine an existing setpoint of the one or more thermostats and store the existing setpoint in a database structure associated with the remotely located server;

the remotely located server configured to automatically set a first setpoint of the one or more thermostats to a target inside temperature for a conditioned environment of the structure based at least in part on the existing setpoint;

the remotely located server configured to automatically set at least a second setpoint of the one or more thermostats to a target inside temperature for the conditioned environment of the structure, where said second target temperature differs from said first target temperature and wherein at least said first and second setpoints are stored in the database structure;

the remotely located server configured to automatically set subsequent setpoints in the one or more thermostats in the repeating sequence of discrete setpoints to increments away from the first setpoint;

the remote remotely located server configured to direct the one or more thermostats to cycle through said repeating sequence of discrete setpoints; and

the remotely located server configured to monitor whether one or more manual inputs are made to the one or more thermostats; and

the remotely located server configured to direct the one or more thermostats to return to the first setpoint in the event one or more manual inputs to the one or more thermostats is detected.

11. A system as in claim 10 further comprising a third setpoint and said system varies the inside temperature between said first, second and third setpoints.

12. A system as in claim 10 in which at least said second setpoint is determined by the remote computer.

13. A system as in claim 10 in which said first and second setpoints vary by one degree Fahrenheit.

14. A system as in claim 10 in which the one or more computers vary the inside temperature between a repeating sequence of three or more setpoints, and each setpoint after the first setpoint is higher than said first setpoint.

15. A system as in claim 10 in which the one or more computers vary the inside temperature between a repeating sequence of three or more setpoints, and each setpoint after the first setpoint is higher than said first setpoint, and said system returns to said first setpoint after reaching the last of said three or more setpoints.

16. A system as in claim 10 in which the one or more computers vary the inside temperature between a repeating sequence of three or more setpoints, and each setpoint after the first setpoint is lower than said first setpoint.

17. A system as in claim 10 in which the one or more computers vary the inside temperature between a repeating sequence of three or more setpoints, and each setpoint after the first setpoint is lower than said first setpoint, and said system returns to said first setpoint after reaching the last of said three or more setpoints.