Profile based method for deriving a temperature setpoint using a ‘delta’ based on cross-indexing a received price-point level signal

• US 6,574,581 B1
• Filed: 10/25/1994
• Issued: 06/03/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Honeywell Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Schnell, Robert J., Atlass, Michael B., Merten, Gregory J., Bohrer, Philip J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Barlow, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): VO, HIEN XUAN
• Application Number:
  US08/329,129
• Time in Patent Office: 3,143 Days
• Field of Search: 364/464.04, 364/505, 364/492, 364/483, 340/310.01, 340/870.02, 340/870.05, 340/870.29, 340/870.03, 340/3.1, 340/825.52, 702/130, 702/60, 702/61, 700/286, 700/278, 700/295, 705/412
• US Class Current: 702/130
• 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: G01K 17/06 Measuring quantity of heat conveyed by flowing media, e.g. in heating systems G01K17/02, G01K17/04 take precedencee.g. the quantity of heat in a transporting medium, delivered to or consumed in an expenditure device
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2639 Energy management, use maximum of cheap power, keep peak load low
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1923 using thermal energy, the cost of which varies in function of time
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply

Abstract

A method for adjusting a plurality of controlled subsystems in a building or plant that facilitates cooperative energy usage with a utility provider. By referring to a single profile of adjustments that correspond to changes in the value of a utility signal and distributing this to each relevant controller for each subsystem, a single setback delta can be applied to each subsystem for each change in utility signal value (i.e., pricing information). Alternatively, multiple profiles can be used to provide for firmer control and thereby allow for different zones to respond differently to a single change signal sent by the utility provider.

Claims

1. A method for controlling the energy usage in a building having controllers responsible for maintaining one or more subsystems in the building at a setpoint comprising:

responding to a rate change signal received by a utility by controlling variable loads with reference to a profile of offsets, an appropriate offset stored for each possible rate change, by

a) looking up the appropriate offset for each variable load,

b) submitting the appropriate offset to the controller for each subsystem

c) modifying the setpoint associated with each subsystem by the appropriate offset.

3. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein step a) is performed iteratively for each subsystem having a stored profile.

4. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein steps a) and b) are performed iteratively for each subsystem having a stored profile.

10. The method set forth in claim 1 wherein at least one variable load relates to an individual zone in the building.

2. A method for controlling the energy usage in a building having controllers responsible for maintaining one or more subsystems in the building at a desired setpoint comprising:

responding to a rate change signal by controlling variable loads with reference to a profile of offsets, an appropriate offset stored for each possible rate change, by looking up the value of the appropriate offset for each rate change signal received and submitting that offset to each controller for each subsystem, the setpoint associated with each subsystem being thereafter modified by the appropriate offset.

5. A method as set forth in claim 2 wherein each subsystem receives said appropriate offset individually.

6. A method as set forth in claim 2 wherein each subsystem is sent said appropriate offset at substantially one time.

7. A method for cooperatively responding to rate changes initiated by a utility including a prearranged pricing schedule and real-time pricing, including

a) adjusting a user-defined setpoint by an offset in accord with a user-defined schedule when

i) a prearranged pricing change occurs, and

ii) upon receipt of a real-time pricing notification signal,

b) sending a signal indicative of the offset after every prearranged pricing change occurrence and upon receipt of a real-time pricing notification signal to each subsystem controller responsive to changes in the user-defined setpoint.

8. The method set forth in claim 7 wherein step a) is accomplished by:

responding to rate changes received from a utility by controlling variable loads with reference to a profile of offsets stored for each possible rate change, by

a) looking up the appropriate offset for each variable load,

b) submitting the appropriate offset to the controller for each subsystem

c) modifying the setpoint associated with each subsystem by the appropriate offset.

9. The method set forth in claim 7 wherein step a) is accomplished by:

responding to a rate changes by controlling variable loads with reference to a profile of offsets stored for each possible rate change, by looking up the appropriate offset for each rate change received and submitting that offset to each controller for each subsystem, the setpoint associated with each subsystem being thereafter modified by the appropriate offset.

11. The method set forth in claim 8 wherein at least one subsystem is controlled by a zone controller.

12. A method for controlling one or more energy consuming subsystems with a controller by maintaining each subsystem at a setpoint, comprising:

storing in the controller a price profile for all subsystems, the price profile correlating a cost of energy with an offset from the setpoint;

receiving from a utility which supplies energy one or more signals reflecting a current cost of the energy supplied;

retrieving from the price profile stored in the controller the offset correlated to the cost of energy at the current time for each subsystem;

adjusting the setpoint for each subsystem by the offset whereby the energy used by the subsystem is altered according to the offset.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the signal reflecting the current cost of energy comprises a specific energy rate.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the signal reflecting the current cost of energy comprises a signal reflecting energy demand at the utility.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein the signal reflecting the current cost of energy comprises a signal indicating a change in the cost of energy from the current cost.

16. The method of claim 12 wherein the signal reflecting the current cost of energy comprises a signal indicating a change in the cost of energy from a base cost.

17. The method of claim 12 wherein the signal reflecting the current cost of energy reflects a predetermined pricing schedule.

18. The method of claim 12 wherein the step of adjusting the setpoint for each subsystem comprises sending a new setpoint signal to each subsystem.

19. The method of claim 12 wherein the step of adjusting the setpoint for each subsystem comprises sending the offset directly to the subsystem.

20. The method of claim 12 wherein the each subsystem receives the offset sequentially.

21. The method of claim 12 wherein the subsystems receive the offset in parallel.

22. A method for controlling one or more energy consuming subsystems with a controller by maintaining each subsystem at a setpoint, comprising:

storing in the controller a plurality of price profiles shared among the subsystems, the price profile for each subsystem correlating a particular cost of energy with an offset from the setpoint;

receiving from a utility which supplies energy one or more signals reflecting a current cost of the energy supplied;

retrieving from the price profile stored in the controller the offset associated with the current cost of energy for each subsystem;

adjusting the setpoint for each subsystem by the offset whereby the energy used by the subsystem is altered based on the offset.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein the signal reflecting the current cost of energy comprises a specific energy rate.

24. The method of claim 22 wherein the signal reflecting the current cost of energy comprises a signal reflecting energy demand at the utility.

25. The method of claim 22 wherein the signal reflecting the current cost of energy comprises a signal indicating a change in the cost of energy from the current cost.

26. The method of claim 22 wherein the signal reflecting the current cost of energy comprises a signal indicating a change in the cost of energy from a base cost.

27. The method of claim 22 wherein the signal reflecting the current cost of energy reflects a predetermined pricing schedule.

28. The method of claim 22 wherein the step of adjusting the setpoint for each subsystem comprises sending a new setpoint signal to each subsystem.

29. The method of claim 22 wherein the step of adjusting the setpoint for each subsystem comprises sending the offset directly to the subsystem.

30. The method of claim 22 wherein the each subsystem receives the offset sequentially.

31. The method of claim 22 wherein the subsystems receive the offset in parallel.