System and Method for Optimizing and Reducing the Energy Usage of an Automatically Controlled HVAC System

• US 20130238144A1
• Filed: 04/26/2013
• Published: 09/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Smrten, LLC
• Original Assignee: Smrten, LLC
• Inventors: Shahapurkar, Som, Pratap, Rana J.
• Granted Patent: US 9,582,009 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/278
• 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: F24F 11/64 using pre-stored data
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2140/60 Energy consumption
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/19 characterised by the use of electric means G05D23/1393 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1923 using thermal energy, the cost of which varies in function of time

Abstract

System and method for optimizing and reducing the energy usage of an automatically controlled HVAC System. The system and method comprise receiving, from a server, a plurality of parameters, the parameters comprising an internal temperature of a structure, an external temperature, a utility pricing structure, and/or a user preference. The system and method may receive, by the server, a plurality of historical data related to the HVAC system. The system and method may generate a model. The model may be configured to determine a change to an operational state of the HVAC system needed to obtain an internal temperature set point. The model may be generated using a plurality of parameters received. The model may be revised iteratively. The system and method may receive, by the server, a plurality of additional parameters to revise the model. A signal may be set, by a server, to the HVAC system.

Claims

1. A method for optimizing and reducing the energy usage or cost of operation of an automatically controlled HVAC system, comprising:

receiving, by a server, a plurality of parameters, the parameters comprising at least one of;

an internal temperature of a structure;

an external temperature;

a utility pricing structure;

a user preference;

receiving, by the server, a plurality of historical data related to the HVAC system;

generating, by the server, a model configured to determine a change to an operational state of the HVAC system needed to obtain an internal temperature set point, wherein

the model is further configured to be generated using a plurality of model parameters comprising at least one of;

the internal and external temperatures of the structure;

the utility pricing structure;

the user preference;

the plurality of historical data related to the HVAC system;

iteratively processing the model, by the server, using a result of a previously generated model and a plurality of additional parameters; and

sending, by the server, a signal to the HVAC system, the signal configured to affect a current operational state of the HVAC system.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the internal temperature is received from a plurality of HVAC systems within a single structure.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the external temperature is configured to be determined by a plurality of external temperature parameters, comprises at least one of:

an external temperature;

a humidity rating; and

a cloud coverage rating.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the user preference comprises at least one of:

a comfort and tolerance level;

a time of day setting; and

an activity setting.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the historical data related to the HVAC system comprises at least one of:

historical internal and external temperatures;

historical weather conditions;

historical user preferences; and

historical utility pricing structures.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the additional parameters comprise at least one of:

a future utility pricing structure;

a future user preference; and

a future weather condition.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the utility pricing is received from a plurality of sources comprising at least one of:

a utility company;

a website; and

a user input.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the external temperature and future weather conditions are configured to be received from a plurality of sources, comprising at least one of:

a weather station;

a website; and

a utility company.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the current operational state of the HVAC comprises:

an ON state;

an OFF state; and

a MAINTAIN state wherein the current operational state of the HVAC remains unchanged.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the signal to the HVAC system is an optimized set point that reduces the energy usage or cost of operation while maintaining comfort bounds set by the user preference for the internal temperature.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the signal to the HVAC system is an optimized set point, the set point parameters computed using a genetic algorithm.

12. A system of processor-executable instructions that when executed by a server, optimize and reduce the energy usage or cost of operation of an automatically controlled HVAC system by instructing the server to:

receive a plurality of parameters, the parameters comprising at least one of;

an internal temperature of a structure;

an external temperature;

a utility pricing structure;

a user preference;

generate a model configured to determine a change to an operational state of the HVAC system needed to obtain an internal temperature set point, wherein

the model is further configured to be generated using a plurality of model parameters comprising at least one of;

the internal and external temperatures of the structure;

the utility pricing structure;

the user preference;

the plurality of historical data related to the HVAC system;

iteratively process the model, by the server, using a result of a previously generated model and a plurality of additional parameters; and

send a signal to the HVAC system, the signal configured to affect a current operational state of the HVAC system.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the external temperature is configured to be determined by a plurality of external temperature parameters, comprising at least one of:

an external temperature;

a humidity rating; and

a cloud coverage rating.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the user preference comprises at least one of:

a comfort and tolerance level;

a time of day setting; and

an activity setting.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the historical data related to the HVAC system comprises at least one of:

historical internal and external temperatures;

historical weather conditions;

historical user preferences; and

historical utility pricing structures.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein the additional parameters comprise at least one of:

a future utility pricing structure;

a future user preference; and

a future weather condition.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein the utility pricing is received from a plurality of sources comprising at least one of:

a utility company;

a website; and

a user input.

18. The system of claim 12, wherein the external temperature and future weather conditions are configured to be received from a plurality of sources, comprising at least one of:

a weather station;

a website; and

a utility company.

19. The system of claim 12, wherein the current operational state of the HVAC comprises:

an ON state;

an OFF state; and

a MAINTAIN state wherein the current operational state of the HVAC remains unchanged.

20. The system of claim 12, wherein the signal to the HVAC system is an optimized set point, the set point parameters computed using a genetic algorithm.