System and method of controlling an HVAC system

• US 7,343,226 B2
• Filed: 10/26/2006
• Issued: 03/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Invensys Systems Incorporated (Invensys PLC)
• Original Assignee: Robertshaw Controls Company (Schneider Electric SE)
• Inventors: Ehlers, Gregory A., Beaudet, Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Picard, Leo
• Assistant Examiner(s): SHECHTMAN, SEAN P
• Application Number:
  US11/588,010
• Publication Number:
  US 20070043477A1
• Time in Patent Office: 502 Days
• Field of Search: 700276-278, 700/286, 700/291, 700297-300, 705/412, 702/60, 702/130
• US Class Current: 700/276
• 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 11/47 Responding to energy costs
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/523 for displaying temperature data
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/58 using Internet communication
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/64 using pre-stored data
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/86 by controlling compressors within refrigeration or heat pump circuits
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/10 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2120/00 Control inputs relating to users or occupants
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 23/0235 based on a comparison with predetermined threshold or range, e.g. "classical methods", carried out during normal operation; threshold adaptation or choice; when or how to compare with the threshold
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/06 Asset management; Financial planning or analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/14 The load or loads being home appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/64 The condition being economic, e.g. tariff based load management
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/66 one of the loads acting as master and the other or others acting as slaves
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/14 by switching loads on to, or off from, network, e.g. progressively balanced loading
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/30 Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/3225 : Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/222 : Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/242 : Home appliances
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/18 : Network protocols supporting networked applications, e.g. including control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 50/10 : Energy trading, including energy flowing from end-user application to grid

Abstract

A system and method manage delivery of energy from a distribution network to one or more sites. Each site has at least one device coupled to the distribution network. The at least one device controllably consumes energy. The system includes a node and a control system. The node is coupled to the at least one device for sensing and controlling energy delivered to the device. A control system is coupled to the node and distribution network for delivery to the node at least one characteristic of the distribution network. The node controls the supply of energy to the device as a function of the at least one characteristic.

Claims

1. A system for managing environmental comfort at a site of a customer, the site having a temperature and environment management system, the temperature and environment management system being supplied with energy from an energy provider through a distribution network, comprising:

a temperature sensor for sensing air temperature at the site; and

,

a thermostatic device being coupled to the temperature sensor and operable to establish a thermal gain characteristic of the site for a plurality of temperature setpoints and a plurality of outdoor air temperatures and a related percentage of run time of the temperature and energy management system as a function of the thermal gain characteristic and for receiving input from a user, the input including a desired temperature setpoint, the thermostatic device controlling the temperature and environment management system to operate at a fixed demand and consumption rate by varying the temperature setpoint based upon the thermal gain characteristic of the site.

2. A system, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the thermostatic device is selectively operable to either vary the demand and consumption rate when the thermostat control is based on the temperature setpoint or maintain the demand and consumption rate flat when the control is based on a fixed demand and consumption rate.

3. A system, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the demand and consumption rate is a reduced rate.

4. A system, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the thermostatic device uses a fixed demand and consumption rate control determined as a function of the temperature setpoint, the thermal gain characteristic and the operational characteristic.

5. A system, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the thermal gain characteristic and the operational characteristic include thermal recovery of the site.

6. A system, as set forth in claim 4, wherein the fixed demand and consumption rate can be modified to reduce demand for energy.

7. A system, as set forth in claim 3, wherein the fixed demand and consumption rate can be modified to reduce demand for energy.

8. A system, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the thermostatic device includes a display operable to convey information regarding the operation of the temperature and environment management system.

9. A system, as set forth in claim 8, wherein a current cost of energy and energy use information related to the site and individual devices within the site can be displayed using the thermostatic device display.

10. A system, as set forth in claim 3, wherein during a cooling operation, the thermostatic device reduces the operational characteristic and raises the setpoint to reduce total demand and raises the operational characteristic and lowers the setpoint to increase the total demand.

11. A system, as set forth in claim 3, wherein during a heating operation, the thermostatic device increases the operational characteristic and lowers the setpoint to reduce total demand and lower the operational characteristic and raises the setpoint to increase total demand.

12. A method for managing environmental comfort at a site of a customer, the site having a temperature and environment management system, the temperature and environment management system being supplied with energy from an energy provider through a distribution network, comprising:

sensing air temperature at the site;

establishing a thermal gain characteristic of the site for a plurality of temperature setpoints and a plurality of outdoor air temperatures and a base line of consumption;

receiving input from a user, the input including a temperature setpoint; and

,

controlling the temperature and environment management system to operate at a desired demand and consumption rate by adjusting the temperature setpoint based upon the thermal gain characteristic of the site for the adjusted temperature setpoint to maintain the operation of the system at or below the base line of consumption.

13. A method, as set forth in claim 12, wherein the demand and consumption rate is flat.

14. A method, as set forth in claim 12, wherein the demand and consumption rate is a reduced rate.

15. A method, as set forth in claim 12, wherein the temperature and environment management system is controlled at a fixed demand and consumption rate.

16. A method, as set forth in claim 15, wherein the fixed demand and consumption rate can be modified to reduce demand for energy.

17. A method, as set forth in claim 12, further comprising the step of displaying the current cost of energy and energy use information related to the site and individual devices within the site using a thermostatic display device.

18. A method, as set forth in claim 12, wherein during a cooling operation, the thermal gain characteristic of the site is reduced and the temperature setpoint is raised to reduce the total demand and the thermal gain characteristic is raised and the temperature setpoint lowered to increase the total demand.

19. A method, as set forth in claim 12, wherein during a heating operation, the thermal gain characteristic is increased and the temperature setpoint is decreased to reduce total demand and the thermal gain characteristic is lowered and the temperature setpoint raised to increase total demand.