SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR OPTIMIZING USE OF INDIVIDUAL HVAC UNITS IN MULTI-UNIT CHILLER-BASED SYSTEMS

• US 20130338837A1
• Filed: 06/14/2012
• Published: 12/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: EcoFactor, Inc. (Trane Technologies plc)
• Original Assignee: EcoFactor, Inc. (Trane Technologies plc)
• Inventors: Hublou, Scott Douglas, Steinberg, John Douglas
• Granted Patent: US 10,048,706 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/278
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1923 using thermal energy, the cost of which varies in function of time

Abstract

Systems are disclosed for allocating the cost of operating an HVAC system of a multiunit structure. The HVAC system comprises at least a first component that consumes energy based on thermostatic settings in a particular unit of the multiunit structure. In addition, associated with the multiunit structure, is a second component such as a central heating and air conditioning unit. The run time associated with the first component as reported by the thermostatic controller is used as a determinant of the cost of operation of the second component.

Claims

1. A system for allocating the cost of operating an HVAC system where the HVAC system comprises at least a first component that consumes energy based at least in part on whether equipment associated with an individual unit of occupancy in a building comprised of a plurality of occupancy units is “

on”

or “

off”

, and at least a second component that is associated with a plurality of occupancy units that consumes energy at least in part whether or not the first component is “

on or “

off”

, the HVAC system comprising;

a thermostatic controller comprising a thermostat, the thermostatic controller configured to that turn on or off a first component that is associated with an individual unit of occupancy at least in part based on temperature readings from inside the individual unit of occupancy, and that is capable of reporting that the first component that is associated with the individual unit of occupancy is on or off;

at least a processor not located inside the individual unit of occupancy that is in communication with the thermostat;

a database for storing data reported by the thermostat; and

where at least the run time associated with the first component that is associated with the individual unit of occupancy as reported by the thermostatic controller is a determinant of the cost of operation of a second component that is associated with a plurality of units allocated to the individual unit of occupancy.

2. A system as in claim 1 in which the second component includes at least a central chiller.

3. A system as in claim 1 in which the individual unit of occupancy is an apartment.

4. A system as in claim 1 in which the thermostatic controller communicates at least in part via a wireless network.

5. A system as in claim 1 in which the thermostatic controller communicates at least in part via the Internet.

6. A system as in claim 1 in which the medium used to transfer heat between the first component and the second component is water.

7. A system as in claim 1 in which the medium used to transfer heat between the first component and the second component is steam.

8. A system as in claim 1 in which the individual unit of occupancy is a non-residential commercial space.

9. A system as in claim 1 in which the building comprises multiple stories.

10. A method for allocating the cost of operating an HVAC system where the HVAC system comprises at least a first component that consumes energy based at least in part on whether equipment associated with an individual unit of occupancy in a building comprised of a plurality of occupancy units is “

on”

or “

off”

, and at least a second component that is associated with a plurality of occupancy units that consumes energy at least in part whether or not said first component is “

on or “

off”

, the method comprising;

measuring the runtime of a first component with a thermostatic controller that turns on or off said first component that is associated with the individual unit of occupancy at least in part based on temperature readings from inside the individual unit of occupancy, and that is capable of reporting that the first component that is associated with the individual unit of occupancy is on or off;

measuring the runtime of at least the second component that is associated with a plurality of occupancy units that consumes energy at least in part whether or not the first component is “

on or “

off”

;

calculating the cost of operating the HVAC system to be allocated to the individual unit of occupancy based at least in part on the run time associated with the first component that is associated with the individual unit of occupancy as reported by the thermostatic controller relative to the cost of operation of the second component that is associated with a plurality of units allocated to the individual unit of occupancy.

11. A method as in claim 10 in which the second component includes at least a central chiller.

12. A method as in claim 10 in which the individual unit of occupancy is an apartment.

13. A method as in claim 10 in which the thermostatic controller communicates at least in part via a wireless network.

14. A method as in claim 10 in which the thermostatic controller communicates at least in part via the Internet.

15. A method as in claim 10 in which the medium used to transfer heat between the first component and the second component is water.

16. A method as in claim 10 in which the medium used to transfer heat between the first component and the second component is steam.

17. A method as in claim 10 in which the individual occupancy units are non-residential commercial spaces.

18. A method as in claim 10 in which the building comprises multiple stories.