Utility-driven energy-load management with adaptive fan control during load-control events
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An adaptive-fan-control (AFC) communicating thermostat for controlling an electrical load and controlling an HVAC circulation fan during a load control event to interrupt and override fan operation according to an occupant-selected fan setting of the thermostat, the thermostat comprising:
- a temperature sensor that senses temperature of a space of a facility, the space receiving conditioned air from an HVAC system having an electrical load;
an occupant-selectable fan control adapted to permit an occupant of the space to select one of a plurality of occupant-selected fan-control settings, the fan control configured to control operation of the HVAC circulation fan other than during a load-control event;
a controller in communication with the temperature sensor and the occupant-selectable fan control, including;
a transceiver adapted to receive load-control messages over a communications network;
means in communication with the transceiver, the temperature sensor, and the fan control for overriding the occupant-selected fan-control setting to operate the fan based on at least one of ductwork location, and ductwork length, and based on at least one of facility conditions, occupant settings, predetermined utility-managed load-control factors, and an override mode thereby changing operation of the fan during the load-control event and maximizing occupant comfort in the space of the facility.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An adaptive-fan-control (AFC) communicating thermostat for controlling an electrical load and controlling an HVAC circulation fan during a load control event. The thermostat interrupts and overrides an occupant-selected fan setting of the thermostat. The AFC communicating thermostat includes a controller in communication with a temperature sensor and the occupant-selectable fan control.
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Citations
33 Claims
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1. An adaptive-fan-control (AFC) communicating thermostat for controlling an electrical load and controlling an HVAC circulation fan during a load control event to interrupt and override fan operation according to an occupant-selected fan setting of the thermostat, the thermostat comprising:
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a temperature sensor that senses temperature of a space of a facility, the space receiving conditioned air from an HVAC system having an electrical load; an occupant-selectable fan control adapted to permit an occupant of the space to select one of a plurality of occupant-selected fan-control settings, the fan control configured to control operation of the HVAC circulation fan other than during a load-control event; a controller in communication with the temperature sensor and the occupant-selectable fan control, including; a transceiver adapted to receive load-control messages over a communications network; means in communication with the transceiver, the temperature sensor, and the fan control for overriding the occupant-selected fan-control setting to operate the fan based on at least one of ductwork location, and ductwork length, and based on at least one of facility conditions, occupant settings, predetermined utility-managed load-control factors, and an override mode thereby changing operation of the fan during the load-control event and maximizing occupant comfort in the space of the facility. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of controlling an electrical load of a system for conditioning air using an adaptive-fan control (AFC) communicating thermostat having an occupant-selectable fan control and a controller in communication with a utility receiving load control messages to maximize comfort of an occupant at a facility during a load-control event, the method comprising:
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receiving a load-control command at a controller in communication with a thermostat, the load-control command triggering a load-control event that includes selectively operating the electrical load of the system for conditioning air; detecting a space temperature of the facility receiving conditioned air circulated by the fan of the system for conditioning air; selectively causing the controller to determine whether the space temperature is above a set point of the thermostat; and selectively causing the controller to override a customer-selected fan setting to control the fan during the load-control event based upon at least one of ductwork location, and ductwork length, and based on at least one of facility conditions, occupant settings, predetermined utility-managed load-control factors, and an override mode. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. An adaptive-fan-control (AFC) communicating thermostat for controlling an electrical load and controlling an HVAC circulation fan during a load control event to interrupt and override fan operation according to an occupant-selected fan setting of the thermostat, the thermostat comprising:
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a temperature sensor that senses temperature of a space of a facility, the space receiving conditioned air from an HVAC system having an electrical load; an occupant-selectable fan control adapted to permit an occupant of the space to select one of a plurality of occupant-selected fan-control settings, the fan control configured to control operation of the HVAC circulation fan other than during a load-control event; a controller in communication with the temperature sensor and the occupant-selectable fan control, including; a transceiver adapted to receive load-control messages over a communications network; a processor in communication with the transceiver, the temperature sensor, and the fan control, the processor adapted to override the occupant-selected fan-control setting to operate the fan based on at least one of ductwork location, and ductwork length, and based on at least one of facility conditions, occupant settings, predetermined utility-managed load-control factors, and an override mode, thereby changing operation of the fan during the load-control event and maximizing occupant comfort in the space of the facility. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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Specification