HEAT PUMP AND AIR CONDITIONING GRADING SYSTEMS AND METHODS

• US 20150323423A1
• Filed: 05/06/2015
• Published: 11/12/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Copeland Corporation LLC (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: Emerson Climate Technologies Incorporated (Emerson Electric Company)
• Inventors: Alsaleem, Fadi Mohammad
• Granted Patent: US 10,344,997 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 11/32 Responding to malfunctions or emergencies
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/38 Failure diagnosis
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/52 Indication arrangements, e.g. displays
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/64 using pre-stored data
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/00 Control inputs relating to air properties
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/10 Temperature
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2140/50 Load
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2140/60 Energy consumption
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 3/044 Systems in which all treatment is given in the central station, i.e. all-air systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 13/00 Thermometers specially adapted for specific purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 17/08 based upon measurement of temperature difference or of a temperature
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 99/005 Testing of complete machines, e.g. washing-machines or mobile phones testing of machine parts G01M13/00; testing of electric apparatus or components G01R31/50
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 21/00 Arrangements for measuring electric power or power factor G01R7/12 takes precedence

Abstract

An expectation module determines an expected average power consumption of a heat pump for a predetermined period as a function of indoor and outdoor temperatures of the building during the predetermined period. A difference module determines a power difference between an average power consumption of the heat pump during the predetermined period and the expected average power consumption of the heat pump for the predetermined period. A grade determination module determines a grade of the heat pump for the predetermined period based on the power difference of the predetermined period. A reporting module generates a displayable report including the grade of the heat pump for the predetermined period.

Claims

1. A grading system, comprising:

an expectation module that determines an expected average power consumption of a heat pump of a building for a predetermined period as a function of indoor and outdoor temperatures of the building during the predetermined period;

a difference module that determines a power difference between an average power consumption of the heat pump during the predetermined period and the expected average power consumption of the heat pump for the predetermined period;

a grade determination module that determines a grade of the heat pump for the predetermined period based on the power difference of the predetermined period; and

a reporting module that generates a displayable report including the grade of the heat pump for the predetermined period.

2. The grading system of claim 1 wherein the expectation module determines the expected average power consumption of the heat pump for the predetermined period using a mapping that relates indoor and outdoor temperatures to expected average power consumption of the heat pump.

3. The grading system of claim 1 wherein the expectation module determines the expected average power consumption of the heat pump for the predetermined period as a function of:

(i) an average of a plurality of indoor air temperatures measured during the predetermined period; and

(ii) an average of a plurality of outdoor air temperatures measured during the predetermined period.

4. The grading system of claim 1 wherein the grade determination module sets the grade of the heat pump for the predetermined period based on 100 minus an absolute value of the power difference of the predetermined period.

5. The grading system of claim 1 further comprising an adjusting module that determines an adjusted power difference for the predetermined period based on the power difference of the predetermined period,

wherein the grade determination module determines the grade of the heat pump for the predetermined period based on the adjusted power difference of the predetermined period.

6. The grading system of claim 5 wherein:

when the average power consumption of the heat pump during the predetermined period is greater than the expected average power consumption of the heat pump for the predetermined period, the adjusting module determines the adjusted power difference based on a product of a first predetermined gain and the power difference of the predetermined period; and

,

when the average power consumption of the heat pump during the predetermined period is less than the expected average power consumption of the heat pump for the predetermined period, the adjusting module determines the adjusted power difference based on a product of a second predetermined gain and the power difference of the predetermined period.

7. The grading system of claim 6 wherein the first predetermined gain is one of greater than and less than the second predetermined gain.

8. The grading system of claim 1 wherein the grade determination module determines the grade of the heat pump for the predetermined period further based on a comparison of a temperature range for the predetermined period with a temperature difference between a return air temperature of the predetermined period and a supply air temperature of the predetermined period.

9. The grading system of claim 8 further comprising a range module that sets the temperature range for the predetermined period based on the outdoor temperature of the building during the predetermined period.

10. The grading system of claim 8 wherein:

the grade determination module decreases the grade of the heat pump for the predetermined period when the temperature difference is greater than an upper boundary of the temperature range; and

the grade determination module decreases the grade of the heat pump for the predetermined period when the temperature difference is less than a lower boundary of the temperature range.

11. A grading method, comprising:

determining an expected average power consumption of a heat pump of a building for a predetermined period as a function of indoor and outdoor temperatures of the building during the predetermined period;

determining a power difference between an average power consumption of the heat pump during the predetermined period and the expected average power consumption of the heat pump for the predetermined period;

determining a grade of the heat pump for the predetermined period based on the power difference of the predetermined period; and

generating a report for display on a display, the report including the grade of the heat pump for the predetermined period.

12. The grading method of claim 11 further comprising determining the expected average power consumption of the heat pump for the predetermined period using a mapping that relates indoor and outdoor temperatures to expected average power consumption of the heat pump.

13. The grading method of claim 11 further comprising determining the expected average power consumption of the heat pump for the predetermined period as a function of:

(i) an average of a plurality of indoor air temperatures measured during the predetermined period; and

(ii) an average of a plurality of outdoor air temperatures measured during the predetermined period.

14. The grading method of claim 11 further comprising setting the grade of the heat pump for the predetermined period based on 100 minus an absolute value of the power difference of the predetermined period.

15. The grading method of claim 11 further comprising:

determining an adjusted power difference for the predetermined period based on the power difference of the predetermined period; and

determining the grade of the heat pump for the predetermined period based on the adjusted power difference of the predetermined period.

16. The grading method of claim 15 further comprising:

when the average power consumption of the heat pump during the predetermined period is greater than the expected average power consumption of the heat pump for the predetermined period, determining the adjusted power difference based on a product of a first predetermined gain and the power difference of the predetermined period; and

,

when the average power consumption of the heat pump during the predetermined period is less than the expected average power consumption of the heat pump for the predetermined period, determining the adjusted power difference based on a product of a second predetermined gain and the power difference of the predetermined period.

17. The grading method of claim 16 wherein the first predetermined gain is one of greater than and less than the second predetermined gain.

18. The grading method of claim 11 further comprising determining the grade of the heat pump for the predetermined period further based on a comparison of a temperature range for the predetermined period with a temperature difference between a return air temperature of the predetermined period and a supply air temperature of the predetermined period.

19. The grading method of claim 18 further comprising setting the temperature range for the predetermined period based on the outdoor temperature of the building during the predetermined period.

20. The grading method of claim 18 further comprising:

decreasing the grade of the heat pump for the predetermined period when the temperature difference is greater than an upper boundary of the temperature range; and

decreasing the grade of the heat pump for the predetermined period when the temperature difference is less than a lower boundary of the temperature range.

21-60. -60. (canceled)