Temperature control method and apparatus
First Claim
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1. A temperature control method, comprising:
- controlling a temperature modification device to provide a temperature in response to a desired temperature setpoint; and
changing the control of the temperature modification device in response to a predetermined power demand limit being exceeded, including controlling the temperature modification device to provide a temperature in response to a modified temperature setpoint, wherein the modified temperature setpoint is obtained by changing the desired temperature setpoint within a predetermined value of the desired temperature setpoint so that power demand is reduced in obtaining temperature in response to the modified temperature setpoint.
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Abstract
Power demand is monitored and temperature control effected in response. If monitored power demand is below a predetermined power demand limit, a selected desired temperature setpoint is used as the temperature to be attained. If monitored power demand is above the power demand limit, a modified temperature setpoint is used. The modified temperature setpoint preferably is determined to maintain a still comfortable temperature while also reducing power demand.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A temperature control method, comprising:
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controlling a temperature modification device to provide a temperature in response to a desired temperature setpoint; and changing the control of the temperature modification device in response to a predetermined power demand limit being exceeded, including controlling the temperature modification device to provide a temperature in response to a modified temperature setpoint, wherein the modified temperature setpoint is obtained by changing the desired temperature setpoint within a predetermined value of the desired temperature setpoint so that power demand is reduced in obtaining temperature in response to the modified temperature setpoint. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A temperature control method, comprising:
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selecting a desired temperature setpoint; selecting a power demand limit setpoint; selecting a temperature setpoint tolerance; monitoring power demand; and controlling temperature in response to an applied temperature setpoint, wherein the applied temperature setpoint is the desired temperature setpoint when the monitored power demand is less than the power demand limit setpoint and wherein the applied temperature setpoint is a temperature within the temperature setpoint tolerance of the desired temperature setpoint when the monitored power demand exceeds the power demand limit setpoint. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A temperature control apparatus, comprising:
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means for storing a desired temperature setpoint, a power demand limit setpoint and a temperature setpoint tolerance; means for comparing a sensed power demand with a stored power demand limit setpoint; means for sensing a temperature; means for providing a control signal to a temperature modification device in response to whether the compared sensed power demand is less than or greater than the stored power demand limit setpoint, including; means, responsive both to the compared sensed power demand being less than the stored power demand limit setpoint and to the sensed temperature, for generating the control signal to cause the temperature modification device to make the sensed temperature equal to a stored desired temperature setpoint; and means, responsive both to the compared sensed power demand being greater than the stored power demand limit setpoint and to the sensed temperature, for generating the control signal to cause the temperature modification device to make the sensed temperature equal to the stored desired temperature setpoint plus or minus a predetermined incremental deviation therefrom within a stored temperature setpoint tolerance. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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Specification