HVAC Controller with Predictive Set-Point Control

• US 20120305661A1
• Filed: 07/11/2011
• Published: 12/06/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Generac Power Systems Incorporated (Generac Holdings Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Ecobee Inc (Generac Holdings Incorporated)
• Inventors: YANG, Liu, MALCHIONDO, Mark
• Granted Patent: US 9,696,052 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 236/44.A
• 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 11/523 for displaying temperature data
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/526 giving audible indications
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/56 Remote control
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/58 using Internet communication
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/64 using pre-stored data
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/74 for controlling air flow rate or air velocity
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/10 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/20 Humidity
• 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

Abstract

A controller is provided for HVAC equipment. The controller receives a set of internal temperature values, and a set of external temperature values, the set of external temperature values representing at least one non-current temperature. The controller determines a predictive internal temperature value from the set of internal temperature values and a predictive external temperature value from the set of external temperature values. The controller receives an internal humidity value representing humidity within the premise, the controller further controls the HVAC equipment to modify the humidity within the premise when the received internal humidity value is different from a humidity set point; and the humidity set point is regulated by a humidity limit value, the humidity limit value being where condensation forms, the humidity limit value being calculated using the predictive internal temperature value and the predictive external temperature value.

Claims

1. A controller for operating HVAC equipment on a premise defined at least in part by a window panel, the controller having a processor and memory, wherein

the controller is operable to receive a set of internal temperature values representing a temperature within the premise, and a set of external temperature values representing temperatures outside of the premise, the set of external temperature values representing at least one non-current temperature;

the controller is operable to determine a predictive internal temperature value from the set of internal temperature values and a predictive external temperature value from the set of external temperature values;

the controller is operable to receive an internal humidity value representing humidity within the premise, the controller further being operable to control the HVAC equipment to modify the humidity within the premise when the received internal humidity value is different from a humidity set point stored in the controller; and

the humidity set point is regulated by a humidity limit value, the humidity limit value being the lowest humidity value where condensation would form on the window panel, the humidity limit value being calculated using the predictive internal temperature value and the predictive external temperature value.

2. The controller of claim 1, wherein at least one external temperature value of the set of external temperature values is received from a remote sensor on or proximate the premise.

3. The controller of claim 1, wherein at least one external temperature value of the set of external temperature values is received by a weather feed provided over a network.

4. The controller of claim 1, wherein at least one external temperature value of the set of external temperature values is a determined by averaging a value received from a remote sensor on or proximate the premise and a weather feed received over a network.

5. The controller of claim 1, wherein the set of internal temperature values is received from at least one remote sensor located within the premise.

6. The controller of claim 1, wherein the set of external temperature values includes a future external temperature value provided by a weather forecast.

7. The controller of claim 1, wherein the set of external temperature values includes a historical temperature value.

8. The controller of claim 1, wherein the set of external temperature values includes a historical temperature value being at least one hour old.

9. The controller of claim 1, wherein the set of external temperature values includes a historical, recorded temperature value being at least twelve hours old.

10. The controller of claim 1, wherein the controller is operable to receive an airflow value based upon airflow within the premise, and the humidity limit value includes an airflow adjustment factor based upon the measured airflow value within the premise.

11. The controller of claim 1, wherein the controller is operable to receive an airflow value based upon airflow outside of the premise, and the humidity limit value includes an airflow adjustment factor based upon the measured airflow value outside the premise.

12. The controller of claim 1, wherein the controller includes an airflow sensor operable to measure air movement, and the humidity limit value includes a convection coefficient based upon air movement proximate the premise border.

13. The controller of claim 1, wherein the humidity limit value includes a premise adjustment factor based upon the material of the premise border.

14. The controller of claim 1, wherein the controller includes an input device permitting a user to define a premise adjustment factor for the window panel on the controller.

15. The controller of claim 1, wherein the controller is operable to receive instructions across a network from a user using a remote device, the instructions relating to the premise adjustment factor.

16. A predictive control program for a controller operating HVAC equipment on a premise defined at least in part by a window panel, wherein

the program is operable to receive a set of internal temperature values representing a temperature within the premise, and a set of external temperature values representing temperatures outside of the premise, the set of external temperature values representing at least one non-current temperature;

the program is operable to determine a predictive internal temperature value from the set of internal temperature values and a predictive external temperature value from the set of external temperature values;

the program is operable to receive an internal humidity value representing humidity within the premise, the program further being operable to control the HVAC equipment to modify the humidity within the premise when the received internal humidity value is different from a humidity set point stored in the program; and

the humidity set point is regulated by a humidity limit value, the humidity limit value being the lowest humidity value where condensation would form on the window panel, the humidity limit value being calculated using the predictive internal temperature value and the predictive external temperature value.

17. The program of claim 16, wherein at least one external temperature value of the set of external temperature values is received from a remote sensor on or proximate the premise.

18. The program of claim 16, wherein at least one external temperature value of the set of external temperature values is received by a weather feed provided over a network.

19. The program of claim 16, wherein at least one external temperature value of the set of external temperature values is a determined by averaging a value received from a remote sensor on or proximate the premise and a weather feed received over a network.

20. The program of claim 16, wherein the set of internal temperature values is received from at least one remote sensor located within the premise.

21. The program of claim 16, wherein the set of external temperature values includes a future external temperature value provided by a weather forecast.

22. The program of claim 16, wherein the set of external temperature values includes a historical temperature value.

23. The program of claim 16, wherein the set of external temperature values includes a historical temperature value being at least one hour old.

24. The program of claim 16, wherein the set of external temperature values includes a historical, recorded temperature value being at least twelve hours old.

25. The program of claim 16, wherein the program is operable to receive an airflow value based upon airflow within the premise, and the humidity limit value includes an airflow adjustment factor based upon the measured airflow value within the premise.

26. The program of claim 16, wherein the program is operable to receive an airflow value based upon airflow outside of the premise, and the humidity limit value includes an airflow adjustment factor based upon the measured airflow value outside the premise.

27. The program of claim 16, wherein the program includes an airflow sensor operable to measure air movement, and the humidity limit value includes a convection coefficient based upon air movement proximate the premise border.

28. The program of claim 16, wherein the humidity limit value includes a premise adjustment factor based upon the material of the premise border.

29. A method for a controller to operating HVAC equipment on a premise defined at least in part by a window panel, the controller having a processor and memory, the method comprising:

receiving at the controller e a set of internal temperature values representing a temperature within the premise, and a set of external temperature values representing temperatures outside of the premise, the set of external temperature values representing at least one non-current temperature;

determining at the controller a predictive internal temperature value from the set of internal temperature values and a predictive external temperature value from the set of external temperature values;

receiving at the controller an internal humidity value representing humidity within the premise, the controller further being operable to control the HVAC equipment to modify the humidity within the premise when the received internal humidity value is different from a humidity set point stored in the controller; and

wherein the humidity set point is regulated by a humidity limit value, the humidity limit value being the lowest humidity value where condensation would form on the window panel, the humidity limit value being calculated using the predictive internal temperature value and the predictive external temperature value.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein at least one external temperature value of the set of external temperature values is received from a remote sensor on or proximate the premise.

31. The method of claim 29, wherein at least one external temperature value of the set of external temperature values is received by a weather feed provided over a network.

32. The method of claim 29, wherein at least one external temperature value of the set of external temperature values is a determined by averaging a value received from a remote sensor on or proximate the premise and a weather feed received over a network.

33. The method of claim 29, wherein the set of internal temperature values is received from at least one remote sensor located within the premise.

34. The method of claim 29, wherein the set of external temperature values includes a future external temperature value provided by a weather forecast.

35. The method of claim 29, wherein the set of external temperature values includes a historical temperature value.

36. The method of claim 29, wherein the set of external temperature values includes a historical temperature value being at least one hour old.

37. The method of claim 29, wherein the set of external temperature values includes a historical, recorded temperature value being at least twelve hours old.

38. The method of claim 29, further including:

receiving at the controller an airflow value based upon airflow within the premise, wherein the humidity limit value includes an airflow adjustment factor based upon the measured airflow value within the premise.

39. The method of claim 29, further including:

receiving at the controller an airflow value based upon airflow outside of the premise, wherein the humidity limit value includes an airflow adjustment factor based upon the measured airflow value outside the premise.

40. The method of claim 29,

receiving at the controller an airflow value from an airflow sensor operable to measure air movement, wherein the humidity limit value includes a convection coefficient based upon air movement proximate the premise border.

41. The method of claim 29, wherein the humidity limit value includes a premise adjustment factor based upon the material of the premise border.