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Method of maximizing the efficiency of an environmental control system including a programmable thermostat

  • US 5,361,983 A
  • Filed: 09/28/1993
  • Issued: 11/08/1994
  • Est. Priority Date: 09/28/1993
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. The process by which a programmable thermostat of an environmental control system having a mode of operation for controlling the temperature of an area defined by a structure having a thermal mass and a variable external environment conserves energy, said thermostat having an occupied set point temperature and an occupied set point time, the time at which the occupied set point temperature becomes effective, and an unoccupied set point temperature and an unoccupied set point time, the time at which the unoccupied set point temperature becomes effective;

  • comprising the steps of;

    a) determining if the next set point temperature is an unoccupied set point temperature;

    b) when step a is true, advancing the unoccupied set point time by an amount Δ

    t, where Δ

    t is a function of the thermal mass of the structure defining said area, and the structure'"'"'s external environment;

    c) calculating a value for Δ

    t each time step b, is executed by determining the time it takes for the temperature of the area defined by the structure to change from the occupied set point temperature to a temperature a given number of degrees closer to the unoccupied set point temperature;

    d) using the value of Δ

    t calculated in step c, the next time the process is executed; and

    e) periodically repeating steps a through d.

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