System and method for using a network of thermostats as tool to verify peak demand reduction

• US 8,738,327 B2
• Filed: 03/28/2013
• Issued: 05/27/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: EcoFactor, Inc. (Trane Technologies plc)
• Original Assignee: EcoFactor, Inc. (Trane Technologies plc)
• Inventors: Steinberg, John Douglas, Hublou, Scott Douglas
• Primary Examiner(s): Breene, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): RIVERA VARGAS, MANUEL A
• Application Number:
  US13/852,577
• Publication Number:
  US 20130238143A1
• Time in Patent Office: 425 Days
• Field of Search: 702/176, 702182-184, 700/276, 700/278, 236/1.C, 236/46.A, 236/46.R, 165/238, 165/239
• US Class Current: 702/182
• 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 11/62 characterised by the type of control or by internal processing, e.g. using fuzzy logic, adaptive control or estimation of values
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/63 Electronic processing
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 3/08 giving differences of values using thermoelectric elements G01K7/02; giving differentiated values
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 99/005 Testing of complete machines, e.g. washing-machines or mobile phones testing of machine parts G01M13/00; testing of electric apparatus or components G01R31/50
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 13/048 using a predictor
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1917 using digital means
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1923 using thermal energy, the cost of which varies in function of time

Abstract

The invention comprises systems and methods for estimating the rate of change in temperature inside a structure. At least one thermostat located is inside the structure and is used to control an climate control system in the structure. At least one remote processor is in communication with said thermostat and at least one database stores data reported by the thermostat. At least one processor compares the outside temperature at at least one location and at least one point in time to information reported to the remote processor from the thermostat. The processor uses the relationship between the inside temperature and the outside temperature to determine whether the climate control system is “on” or “off”.

Claims

1. A system for controlling the operational status of an HVAC system comprising:

at least one thermostat associated with a structure that receives temperature measurements from inside the structure, the structure conditioned by at least one HVAC system, the thermostat having at least a first setting stored therein;

one or more servers located remotely from the structure, the one or more servers configured to receive measurements of outside temperatures from at least one source other than the HVAC system,

the one or more servers are further configured to communicate with the thermostat via a network, wherein the one or more servers receive inside temperatures from the thermostat and compares the inside temperatures of the structure and the outside temperatures over time to derive an estimation for the rate of change in inside temperature of the structure in response to outside temperature,

the one or more servers are further configured to receive a demand reduction request and determine whether the structure is associated with demand rejection request, and

based on the determination that the structure is associated with the demand reduction request, the one or more servers are further configured to send a signal to the thermostat to change the setting to a second setting to reduce electricity demand by the HVAC system.

2. The system as in claim 1 in which the one or more servers receive measurements of outside temperatures for geographic regions such as ZIP codes from sources other than the HVAC system.

3. The system as in claim 1 in which the thermostat comprises a programmable thermostat that communicates with a mesh networking protocol.

4. The system as in claim 1 in which the one or more servers communicate with the HVAC system using a network that includes an electricity meter.

5. The system as in claim 1 in which the estimation is a prediction about the future rate of change in temperature inside the structure.

6. The system as in claim 1 wherein the signal sent by the one or more servers directs the thermostat to shut down the HVAC system.

7. The system as in claim 1 wherein the signal identifies a time.

8. The system as in claim 1 wherein the second setting allows the inside temperature of the structure to increase to a certain temperature during a specified time interval.

9. The system as in claim 1 wherein the second setting is based on an agreement between a homeowner and a demand reduction aggregator.

10. The system as in claim 1 wherein the one or more servers are further configured to send an alert to a user associated with the structure.

11. A method for controlling the operation of an HVAC system comprising:

receiving temperature measurements inside a structure from at least one thermostat, the structure conditioned by at least one HVAC system, the thermostat having at least a first setting stored therein;

receiving at one or more servers located remotely from the structure, measurements of outside temperatures from at least one source other than the HVAC system;

the one or more servers communicating with the thermostat via a network;

receiving at the one or more servers, inside temperatures from the thermostat;

comparing with the one or more servers, the inside temperatures of the structure and the outside temperatures over time to derive an estimation for the rate of change in inside temperature of the structure in response to outside temperature;

receiving a demand reduction request and determining whether the structure is associated with demand rejection request; and

based on the determination that the structure is associated with the demand reduction request, sending with the one or more servers a signal to the thermostat to change the first setting to a second setting to reduce electricity demand by the HVAC system.

12. The method as in claim 11 in which the one or more processors receive measurements of outside temperatures for geographic regions such as ZIP codes from sources other than the HVAC system.

13. The method as in claim 11 in which the thermostat comprises a programmable thermostat that communicates with a mesh networking protocol.

14. The method as in claim 11 in which the one or more servers communicate with the HVAC system using a network that includes an electricity meter.

15. The method as in claim 11 in which the estimation is a prediction about the future rate of change in temperature inside the structure.

16. The method as in claim 11 wherein the signal sent by the one or more servers directs the thermostat to shut down the HVAC system.

17. The method as in claim 11 wherein the signal identifies a time.

18. The method as in claim 11 wherein the second setting allows the inside temperature of the structure to increase to a certain temperature during a specified time interval.

19. The method as in claim 11 wherein the second setting is based on an agreement between a homeowner and a demand reduction aggregator.