Optimization of energy use through model-based simulations

• US 10,678,279 B2
• Filed: 08/01/2012
• Issued: 06/09/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Uplight, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Tendril OE, LLC
• Inventors: Corbin, Charles D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gami, Tejal
• Application Number:
  US13/564,623
• Publication Number:
  US 20140039686A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,869 Days
• Field of Search: 700276
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/63 Electronic processing
• 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: G05D 23/1923 using thermal energy, the cost of which varies in function of time

Abstract

A facility implementing systems and/or methods for achieving energy consumption/production and cost goals is described. The facility identifies various components of an energy system and assesses the environment in which those components operate. Based on the identified components and assessments, the facility generates a model to simulate different series/schedules of adjustments to the system and how those adjustments will effect energy consumption or production. Using the model, and based on identified patterns, preferences, and forecasted weather conditions, the facility can identify an optimal series or schedule of adjustments to achieve the user'"'"'s goals and provide the schedule to the system for implementation. The model may be constructed using a time-series of energy consumption and thermostat states to estimate parameters and algorithms of the system. Using the model, the facility can simulate the behavior of the system and, by changing simulated inputs and measuring simulated output, optimize use of the system.

Claims

1. A method for achieving energy consumption goals for a heating, ventilation, and air condition (HVAC) system, the method comprising:

while performing a heating step test of the HVAC system, communicating with one or more sensors coupled to the HVAC system and monitoring a plurality of conditions of the HVAC system and an environment in which the HVAC system operates;

while performing a free-float test of the HVAC system, communicating with the sensors and monitoring the plurality of conditions of the HVAC system and the environment;

while performing a cooling step test of the HVAC system, communicating with the sensors and monitoring the plurality of conditions of the HVAC system and the environment;

generating a simulation model of the HVAC system at least in part by,

determining an envelope resistance parameter of the HVAC system based on the plurality of conditions of the HVAC system and the environment monitored during the tests,

determining a thermal capacitance parameter of the HVAC system based on the plurality of conditions of the HVAC system and the environment monitored during the tests,

determining a heating capacity parameter of the HVAC system based on the plurality of conditions of the HVAC system and the environment monitored during the tests, and

determining a cooling capacity parameter of the HVAC system based on the plurality of conditions of the HVAC system and the environment monitored during the tests;

generating a plurality of schedules of adjustments applicable to the HVAC system;

receiving utilities information from an external source;

for each of the generated schedules,

using the generated simulation model of the HVAC system and the received utilities information, simulating the effect of the schedule on a measure of energy consumption;

identifying the schedule of adjustments with an optimal measure of energy consumption based on user preferences and the received utilities information; and

facilitating implementation, by the HVAC system, of the identified schedule of adjustments.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the plurality of conditions of the HVAC system includes a state of a heating stage relay of the HVAC system.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the plurality of conditions of the HVAC system includes a state of a cooling stage relay of the HVAC system.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the plurality of conditions of the HVAC system includes a state of a fan or pump of the HVAC system.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the HVAC system is installed in a building and the plurality of conditions of the environment includes a temperature of at least one area of the building.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein at least one of the sensors is placed in at least one area of the building and the temperature of the at least one area of the building is determined via the at least one of the sensors.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the measure of energy consumption is energy use.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the measure of energy consumption is energy cost.

9. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, if executed by a computing system having a processor, cause the computing system to perform operations comprising:

performing two or more tests on an energy-consuming system, wherein the two or more tests include a free-float test and a heating step test or a cooling step test;

communicating with one or more sensors coupled to the energy-consuming system and monitoring a plurality of conditions of the energy-consuming system while the two or more tests are being performed;

generating a simulation model of the energy-consuming system based on the monitored conditions, wherein the simulation model specifies the amount of energy used by the energy-consuming system to transition between two or more states;

generating a plurality of time-based series of adjustments applicable to the energy-consuming system;

receiving utilities information from an external source;

for each of the generated time-based series of adjustments applicable to the energy-consuming system,

using the generated simulation model and the received utilities information, simulating the effect of the time-based series of adjustments applicable to the energy-consuming system on a measure of energy consumption;

identifying, from among the generated plurality of time-based series of adjustments applicable to the energy-consuming system, a time-based series of adjustments applicable to the energy-consuming system with an optimal measure of energy consumption based on user preferences and the received utilities information; and

facilitating implementation, by the energy-consuming system, of the identified time-based series of adjustments applicable to the energy-consuming system.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9, the operations further comprising:

retrieving a schedule of energy costs.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10, the operations further comprising:

for each of the generated plurality of time-based series of adjustments, calculating a cost for the time-based series of adjustments based on the retrieved schedule of energy costs.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein identifying the time-based series of adjustments with an optimal measure of energy consumption is based at least in part on the calculated costs.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9 wherein the energy-consuming system is an HVAC system.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9 wherein the one or more tests include a heating step test.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9 wherein the one or more tests include a cooling step test.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the energy-consuming system comprises a plurality of appliances.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the plurality of appliances includes at least one of a water heater, a dishwasher, a refrigerator, a photovoltaic system, and a rechargeable battery.

24. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13, the operations further comprising:

determining how much energy the HVAC system consumes while cooling from a first temperature set point to a second temperature set point; and

determining how much energy the HVAC system consumes while heating from the second temperature set point to the first temperature set point.

25. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 14 wherein the free-float test is performed after the heating step test.

18. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, if executed by a computing system having a processor, cause the computing system to perform operations comprising:

performing two or more tests on an energy-production system, wherein the two or more tests include a free-float test and a heating step test or a cooling step test;

communicating with one or more sensors coupled to the energy-production system and monitoring a plurality of conditions of the energy-production system while the two or more tests are being performed;

generating a simulation model of the energy-production system based on the monitored conditions, wherein the simulation model specifies the amount of energy produced by the energy-production system while transitioning between two or more states;

generating a plurality of time-based series of adjustments applicable to the energy-production system;

receiving utilities information from an external source;

for each of the generated time-based series of adjustments applicable to the energy-production system,

using the generated simulation model and the received utilities information, simulating the effect of the time-based series of adjustments applicable to the energy-production system on a measure of energy production;

identifying, from among the generated time-based series of adjustments applicable to the energy-production system, a time-based series of adjustments applicable to the energy-production system with an optimal measure of energy production based on user preferences and the received utilities information; and

facilitating implementation, by the energy-production system, of the identified time-based series of adjustments.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 18, the operations further comprising:

determining ranges of operating conditions for one or more components of the energy system.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 19, wherein the one or more components of the energy system comprise at least one fan of the energy system so that determining ranges of operating conditions for one or more components of the energy system comprises determining ranges of operating conditions for the at least one fan of the energy system, wherein the determined ranges of operating conditions for the at least one fan of the energy system includes available settings for the at least one fan so that determining ranges of operating conditions for the at least one fan of the energy system comprises determining available settings for the at least one fan of the energy system.

21. A system, comprising:

a processor;

a memory;

a component configured to communicate with one or more sensors coupled to an energy-production system and monitor a plurality of conditions of the energy-production system while two or more tests on the energy-production system are being performed, wherein the two or more tests include a free-float test and a heating step test or a cooling step test;

a component configured to generate a simulation model of the energy-production system based on the monitored conditions, wherein the simulation model specifies the amount of energy produced by the energy-production system while transitioning between two or more states;

a component configured to generate a plurality of time-based series of adjustments applicable to the energy-production system;

a component configured to receive utilities information from an external source;

a component configured to, for each of the generated time-based series of adjustments applicable to the energy-production system,

use the generated simulation model and the received utilities information, simulating the effect of the time-based series of adjustments applicable to the energy-production system on a measure of energy production;

a component configured to identify, from among the generated time-based series of adjustments applicable to the energy production system, a time-based series of adjustments applicable to the energy-production system with an optimal measure of energy production based on user preferences and the received utilities information; and

a component configured to facilitate implementation, by the energy-production system, of the identified time-based series of adjustments applicable to the energy-production system,

wherein each of the components comprises computer-executable instructions stored in the memory for execution by the processor.

22. A method, performed by a computing system having a memory and a processor, comprising:

communicating, by the computing system, with one or more sensors coupled to an energy-consuming system and monitoring, by the computing system, a plurality of conditions of the energy-consuming system while two or more tests on the energy-consuming system are being performed, wherein the two or more tests include a free-float test and a heating step test or a cooling step test;

generating, by the computing system, a simulation model of the energy-consuming system based on the monitored conditions, wherein the simulation model specifies the amount of energy used by the energy-consuming system to transition between two or more states;

generating, by the computing system, a plurality of time-based series of adjustments applicable to the energy-consuming system;

receiving, by the computing system, utilities information from an external source;

for each of the generated time-based series of adjustments applicable to the energy-consuming system,

using, by the computing system, the generated simulation model and the received utilities information, simulating the effect of the time-based series of adjustments applicable to the energy-consuming system on a measure of energy consumption;

identifying, by the computing system, from among the generated time-based series of adjustments applicable to the energy-consuming system, a time-based series of adjustments applicable to the energy-consuming system with an optimal measure of energy consumption based on user preferences and the received utilities information; and

facilitating, by the computing system, implementation, by the energy-consuming system, of the identified time-based series of adjustments applicable to the energy-consuming system.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the energy-consuming system is located within a building, the method further comprising:

determining, based at least on the monitoring, an envelope resistance of the building, a thermal capacitance of the building, a thermal resistance of the building, and a heating capacity of the building.

26. A computing system, having a memory and a processor, for achieving energy consumption goals for a heating, ventilation, and air condition (HVAC) system, the computing system comprising:

a component configured to, while a heating step test of the HVAC system is being performed, communicate with one or more sensors coupled to the HVAC system and monitor a plurality of conditions of the HVAC system and an environment in which the HVAC system operates;

a component configured to, while a free-float test of the HVAC system is being performed, communicate with the sensors and monitor the plurality of conditions of the HVAC system and the environment;

a component configured to, while a cooling step test of the HVAC system is being performed, communicate with the sensors and monitor the plurality of conditions of the HVAC system and the environment;

a component configured to determine an envelope resistance parameter of the HVAC system based on the plurality of conditions of the HVAC system and the environment monitored during the tests,

a component configured to determine a thermal capacitance parameter of the HVAC system based on the plurality of conditions of the HVAC system and the environment monitored during the tests,

a component configured to determine a heating capacity parameter of the HVAC system based on the plurality of conditions of the HVAC system and the environment monitored during the tests, and

a component configured to determine a cooling capacity parameter of the HVAC system based on the plurality of conditions of the HVAC system and the environment monitored during the tests;

a component configured to generate a simulation model of the HVAC system based at least in part on the determined parameters;

a component configured to generate a plurality of schedules of adjustments applicable to the HVAC system;

a component configured to receive utilities information from an external source;

a component configured to, for each of the generated schedules, simulate the effect of the schedule on a measure of energy consumption using the generated simulation model of the HVAC system and the received utilities information;

a component configured to identify the generated schedule of adjustments with an optimal measure of energy consumption based on user preferences and the received utilities information; and

a component configured to facilitate implementation of the identified schedule of adjustments,

wherein each of the components comprises computer-executable instructions stored in the memory for execution by the processor.