Profile based method for deriving a temperature setpoint using a 'delta' based on cross-indexing a received price-point level signal

• US 20030187549A1
• Filed: 04/30/2003
• Published: 10/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/1994
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Honeywell Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Schnell, Robert J., Atlass, Michael B., Merten, Gregory J., Bohrer, Philip J.
• Granted Patent: US 6,975,958 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/276
• 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 11/47 Responding to energy costs
• 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: G01K 17/06 Measuring quantity of heat conveyed by flowing media, e.g. in heating systems G01K17/02, G01K17/04 take precedencee.g. the quantity of heat in a transporting medium, delivered to or consumed in an expenditure device
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2639 Energy management, use maximum of cheap power, keep peak load low
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1923 using thermal energy, the cost of which varies in function of time
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply

Abstract

A method for adjusting a plurality of controlled subsystems in a building or plant that facilitates cooperative energy usage with a utility provider. By referring to a single profile of adjustments that correspond to changes in the value of a utility signal and distributing this to each relevant controller for each subsystem, a single setback delta can be applied to each subsystem for each change in utility signal value (i.e., pricing information). Alternatively, multiple profiles can be used to provide for firmer control and thereby allow for different zones to respond differently to a single change signal sent by the utility provider.

Claims

1. A method for controlling the energy usage in a building having controllers responsible for subsystems in the building comprising:

responding to a rate change signal received by a utility by controlling variable loads with reference to a profile of “

deltas”

stored for each possible rate change, by

a) looking up the appropriate delta for each variable load,

b) submitting the appropriate delta to the controller for that subsystem in such a way that

c) the controller for that subsystem responds by assuming the setpoint is modified by the delta.

3. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein step a) is performed iteratively for each subsystem having a stored profile.

4. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein steps a) and b) are performed iteratively for each subsystem having a stored profile.

10. The method set forth in claim 1 wherein at least one variable load relates to an individual zone in the building.

2. A method for controlling the energy usage in a building having controllers responsible for subsystems in the building comprising:

responding to a rate change signal by controlling variable loads with reference to a profile of deltas stored for each possible rate change, by looking up the value of the appropriate delta for each rate change signal received and submitting that delta to each controller for each subsystem in such a way that each controller responds by assuming the setpoint is modified by the same delta.

5. A method as set forth in claim 2 wherein each subsystem receives said appropriate delta individually.

6. A method as set forth in claim 2 wherein each subsystem is sent said appropriate delta at substantially one time.

7. A method for cooperatively responding to rate changes initiated by a utility including a prearranged pricing schedule and realtime pricing, including

a) adjusting a “

delta”

from a user-defined setpoint in accord with a user-defined schedule when

i) a prearranged pricing change occurrence, and

ii) upon receipt of a real-time pricing notification signal,

b) sending a signal indicative of the appropriate delta after every prearranged pricing change occurrence and upon receipt of a real-time pricing notification signal to each subsystem controller responsive to setpoint changes.

8. The method set forth in claim 7 wherein step a) is accomplished by:

responding to a rate change signal received by a utility by controlling variable loads with reference to a profile of “

deltas”

stored for each possible rate change, by

a) looking up the appropriate delta for each variable load,

b) submitting the appropriate delta to the controller for that subsystem in such a way that

c) the controller for that subsystem responds by assuming the setpoint is modified by the delta.

9. The method set forth in claim 7 wherein step a) is accomplished by:

responding to a rate change signal by controlling variable loads with reference to a profile of deltas stored for each possible rate change, by looking up the appropriate delta for each rate change signal received and submitting that delta to each controller for each subsystem in such a way that each controller responds by assuming the setpoint is modified by the same delta.

11. The method set forth in claim 8 wherein at least one subsystem is controlled by a zone controller.