System and method for modeling building heating energy consumption with the aid of a digital computer
First Claim
1. A system for modeling periodic building heating energy consumption, comprising:
- a computer coupled to a memory and comprising a processor configured to execute code stored in the memory, the computer configured to;
obtain total thermal conductivity of a building with an HVAC system;
evaluate thermal conductivity of a building based on a balance point up to which the building can be thermally sustained using only internal heating gains over a time period for a heating season;
determine fuel consumption as a function of the total thermal conductivity less the balance point thermal conductivity, the average indoor temperature less the average outdoor temperature and duration of the time period, over the HVAC system'"'"'s efficiency; and
model an effect of an optimization of heating of the building on the determined fuel consumption, the optimization comprising at least one of an improvement of a shell of the building, a change in an effective window area of the building, a change in operation of the HVAC system of the building, and an upgrade of the HVAC system, wherein the heating is optimized based on the modeling.
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Abstract
A system and method to evaluate building heating fuel consumption with the aid of a digital computer is described. The evaluation can be used for quantifying personalized electric and fuel bill savings. Such savings may be associated with investment decisions relating to building envelope improvements; HVAC equipment improvements; delivery system efficiency improvements; and fuel switching. The results can also be used for assessing the cost/benefit of behavioral changes, such as changing thermostat temperature settings. Similarly, the results can be used for optimizing an HVAC control system algorithm based on current and forecasted outdoor temperature and on current and forecasted solar irradiance to satisfy consumer preferences in a least cost manner. Finally, the results can be used to correctly size a photovoltaic (PV) system to satisfy needs prior to investments by anticipating existing energy usage and the associated change in usage based on planned investments.
72 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system for modeling periodic building heating energy consumption, comprising:
a computer coupled to a memory and comprising a processor configured to execute code stored in the memory, the computer configured to; obtain total thermal conductivity of a building with an HVAC system; evaluate thermal conductivity of a building based on a balance point up to which the building can be thermally sustained using only internal heating gains over a time period for a heating season; determine fuel consumption as a function of the total thermal conductivity less the balance point thermal conductivity, the average indoor temperature less the average outdoor temperature and duration of the time period, over the HVAC system'"'"'s efficiency; and model an effect of an optimization of heating of the building on the determined fuel consumption, the optimization comprising at least one of an improvement of a shell of the building, a change in an effective window area of the building, a change in operation of the HVAC system of the building, and an upgrade of the HVAC system, wherein the heating is optimized based on the modeling. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A system for determining heating energy consumption of a building over a fixed time period with the aid of a digital computer, comprising:
a computer coupled to a memory and comprising a processor configured to execute code stored in the memory, the computer configured to; obtain total thermal conductivity of a building and an efficiency for an HVAC system that provides the heating to the building; identify a temperature difference between an average temperature outside and an average temperature inside the building over a time period for a heating season; identify internal heating gains within the building over the time period; find balance point thermal conductivity as a function of the internal heating gains over the temperature difference and duration of the time period; determine fuel consumption for heating over the time period as a function of the difference between the total thermal conductivity and the balance point thermal conductivity, the temperature difference and the duration of the time period, over the efficiency of the HVAC system; and model an effect of an optimization of heating of the building on the determined fuel consumption, the optimization comprising at least one of an improvement of a shell of the building, a change in an effective window area of the building, a change in operation of the HVAC system of the building, and an upgrade of the HVAC system, wherein the heating is optimized based on the modeling. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
Specification