Systems and methods to control energy consumption efficiency

• US 10,408,481 B2
• Filed: 04/22/2015
• Issued: 09/10/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Optimum Energy LLC
• Original Assignee: Optimum Energy LLC
• Inventors: Dempster, Ian, Erpelding, Ben, Hanna, James
• Primary Examiner(s): Lin, Jason
• Application Number:
  US14/693,722
• Publication Number:
  US 20150226446A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,602 Days
• Field of Search: None
• 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 11/62 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 11/70 Control systems characterised by their outputs; Constructional details thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2642 Domotique, domestic, home control, automation, smart house

Abstract

A controller is configured to exchange information with a building automation system and includes various executable programs for determining a real time operating efficiency, simulating a predicted or theoretical operating efficiency, comparing the same, and then adjusting one or more operating parameters on equipment utilized by a building'"'"'s HVAC system. The controller operates to adjust an operating efficiency of the HVAC system. An adjustment module utilized by the controller may modify the HVAC equipment parameters based on the likelihood that various HVAC equipment operates in parallel and on-line near its natural operating curve. In addition, the adjustment module may include a self-learning aspect that permits the controller to more efficiently make similar, future adjustments as needed.

Claims

1. A controller for communicating with a building automation system, the controller comprising:

at least one processor, the at least one processor configured to;

run simulation scenarios of operation an HVAC system having individual pieces of equipment the simulation scenarios being calculated from installation specification values that correspond to predetermined operational ranges for the individual pieces of equipment of the HVAC system, the at least one processor further adapted to determine, based on the simulation scenarios, a predicted operating efficiency of the HVAC system;

determine a real time operating efficiency of the HVAC system based on the present operating state of HVAC equipment of the HVAC system;

determine whether the real time operating efficiency is below a desired threshold relative to the predicted operating efficiency; and

transmit instructions to the building automation system, if the at least one processor determines that the real time operating efficiency is below the desired threshold, to change at least one of the operating parameters for at least one piece of equipment of the HVAC system to cause the real time operating efficiency to at least one of meet and approach the predicted operating efficiency to improve an overall energy utilization efficiency of the HVAC system.

2. The controller of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to determine whether the adjustments result in a desired overall efficiency for the HVAC system as communicated to the building automation system.

3. The controller of claim 1, wherein the HVAC system includes a variable speed chiller cooling system.

4. The controller of claim 1, wherein the predicted operating efficiency of the HVAC system includes information corresponding to a natural operating curve for the HVAC equipment.

5. A method for controlling an operating efficiency of an HVAC system having individual pieces of equipment in communication with a building automation system, the method comprising:

running simulation scenarios of operation of the HVAC system, the simulation scenarios being calculated from installation specification values that correspond to predetermined operational ranges for the individual pieces of equipment of the HVAC system;

determining, based on the simulation scenarios, a predicted operating efficiency of an HVAC system;

determining a real time operating efficiency of the HVAC system based on the present operating state of HVAC equipment of the HVAC system;

determining, by at least one processor, whether the real time operating efficiency is below a desired threshold relative to the predicted operating efficiency;

in response to determining at a first time that the real time operating efficiency is below the desired threshold, determining, by the at least one processor, adjustment values to change at least one of the operating parameters for at least one piece of equipment of the HVAC system;

transmitting, by the at least one processor, the adjustment values to the building automation system to cause the real time operating efficiency to at least one of meet and approach the predicted operating efficiency to improve an overall energy utilization efficiency of the HVAC system;

storing the adjustment values; and

in response to determining at a second time later than the first time that the real time operating efficiency is below the desired threshold, automatically transmitting, by the at least one processor, the adjustment values to the building automation system to cause the real time operating efficiency to at least one of meet and approach the predicted operating efficiency to improve the overall energy utilization efficiency of the HVAC system.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising validating whether the adjustment values for the HVAC system results in the HVAC system having approximately the predicted operating efficiency.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein determining the real time operating efficiency of the HVAC system includes determining the operating efficiency of a variable speed chiller cooling system.