HVAC CONTROL WITH UTILITY TIME OF DAY PRICING SUPPORT
First Claim
1. A method for operating an HVAC system for conditioning inside air of a building, the HVAC system including an HVAC unit and a local HVAC controller, the method comprising:
- controlling the HVAC unit with the local HVAC controller according to at least one nominal HVAC control parameter;
recording in a memory of the local HVAC controller at least one measure related to an environmental condition of the building;
predicting a Critical Peak Pricing (CPP) event of a utility supplying power to the building based at least in part upon the at least one measure related to an environmental condition of the building; and
controlling the HVAC unit with the local HVAC controller according to at least one CPP HVAC control parameter if the CPP event is predicted, wherein controlling according to the at least one CPP HVAC control parameter consumes less energy during the CPP event relative to controlling according to the at least one nominal HVAC control parameter.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present disclosure provides a method for operating an HVAC system for conditioning inside air of a building. The HVAC system includes an HVAC unit and a local HVAC controller. In some instances, control of an HVAC system may be modified based upon predictions of Critical Peak Pricing (CPP) events. For example, and in an illustrative but non-limiting example, a local HVAC controller may control an HVAC unit in accordance with at least one nominal HVAC control parameter, such as a nominal setpoint. At least one measure related to an environmental condition in or around the building and/or load on the HVAC unit may be observed, and a CPP event of a utility supplying power to the building may be predicted based at least in part on the observed measure(s). If the CPP event is predicted, the local HVAC Controller may then control the HVAC unit according to at least one CPP HVAC control parameter, which results in the HVAC unit consuming less energy during the CPP event relative to controlling according to the nominal HVAC control parameter(s).
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for operating an HVAC system for conditioning inside air of a building, the HVAC system including an HVAC unit and a local HVAC controller, the method comprising:
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controlling the HVAC unit with the local HVAC controller according to at least one nominal HVAC control parameter; recording in a memory of the local HVAC controller at least one measure related to an environmental condition of the building; predicting a Critical Peak Pricing (CPP) event of a utility supplying power to the building based at least in part upon the at least one measure related to an environmental condition of the building; and controlling the HVAC unit with the local HVAC controller according to at least one CPP HVAC control parameter if the CPP event is predicted, wherein controlling according to the at least one CPP HVAC control parameter consumes less energy during the CPP event relative to controlling according to the at least one nominal HVAC control parameter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for operating an air conditioner for cooling inside air of a building, comprising:
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recording a first measurement of at least one environmental parameter in or around the building; forecasting a future value for the at least one environmental parameter based at least in part on the first measurement; predicting a Critical Peak Pricing (CPP) event of a utility supplying energy to the building based at least in part upon the future value forecast for the at least one environmental parameter; modifying a temperature setpoint if the CPP event is predicted; and controlling the air conditioner in accordance with the modified temperature setpoint. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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19. An HVAC controller configured to operate an HVAC system for conditioning inside air of a building, the HVAC controller comprising:
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an input configured to receive at least one measure of at least one environmental parameter of the building; a memory configured to record the at least one measure of the at least one environmental parameter proximate the building; a controller configured to predict the occurrence of a Critical Peak Pricing (CPP) event of a utility supplying energy to the building based at least in part on the at least one measure of the at least one environmental parameter of the building, the controller further configured to modify a temperature setpoint if the CPP event is predicted; an output configured to issue operational commands to an HVAC unit of the HVAC system; and wherein the operational commands are issued to the HVAC unit in accordance with the modified temperature setpoint during the CPP event. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification