ENERGY CONTROL SYSTEM
First Claim
1. A method for adjusting a balance point temperature in a dual fuel HVAC system having a furnace, a heat pump and a control system, by monitoring operating costs for the furnace and the heat pump, the method comprising:
- accessing fuel cost data;
determining a balance point temperature based on the fuel cost data; and
updating the balance point temperature in a preprogrammed algorithm to adjust a balance setpoint of the HVAC system, the balance setpoint being the exterior temperature below which the HVAC system switches from the heat pump to the furnace as a heat source.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for adjusting an economic balance point in a dual fuel HVAC system includes a furnace, a heat pump and a control system. The method comprises providing a control device having a preprogrammed algorithm for controlling the HVAC system, providing a communication path between the control device and at least one component of the HVAC system, and accessing current fuel cost data; determining an economic balance point temperature based on the current fuel cost data; and updating the economic balance point temperature in the preprogrammed algorithm to adjust an actual balance point of the HVAC system.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method for adjusting a balance point temperature in a dual fuel HVAC system having a furnace, a heat pump and a control system, by monitoring operating costs for the furnace and the heat pump, the method comprising:
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accessing fuel cost data; determining a balance point temperature based on the fuel cost data; and updating the balance point temperature in a preprogrammed algorithm to adjust a balance setpoint of the HVAC system, the balance setpoint being the exterior temperature below which the HVAC system switches from the heat pump to the furnace as a heat source. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An HVAC system comprising:
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a furnace, a heat pump, a controller, and a communication path between the controller and at least one component of the HVAC system; wherein the controller is configured to access a remote database including a current fuel cost data and retrieve the current fuel cost data, determine a balance point temperature based on the current fuel cost data, and update a balance point temperature in a preprogrammed algorithm to adjust a balance setpoint of the HVAC system. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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15. A method for controlling energy use in a structure, the structure including a dual fuel HVAC system having a furnace, a heat pump and a control system, comprising:
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selecting an indoor temperature setpoint, a heat loss for the structure, and a heating capacity of the system determining an application balance point exterior temperature below which the heat pump heating capacity is less than the rate of heat loss of the structure, based on one or more of the selected indoor temperature, the heat loss for the structure, and the heating capacity of the system; determining an operating cost of the furnace; determining an operating cost for the heat pump; determining a balance point temperature based on a point of intersection of the heat pump operating costs and the furnace operating cost; comparing the application balance point temperature to a balance point temperature and generating a balance setpoint, the balance setpoint being selected as the greater value of the application balance point temperature and the balance point temperature; and monitoring system parameters periodically to determine whether a change in the balance setpoint has occurred as a result of changes in system parameters. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification