Apparatus for analysing an interior energy system

• US 8,935,110 B2
• Filed: 10/26/2009
• Issued: 01/13/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Technology Partnership PLC (TTP Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: The Technology Partnership PLC (TTP Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Hsieh, Mark Chang-Ming, Anderson, David Russell
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, TOAN M
• Application Number:
  US13/125,794
• Publication Number:
  US 20110276288A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,905 Days
• Field of Search: 702/60, 702/33, 702 35- 36, 702/50, 702/81, 702/84, 702 99-100, 702/127, 702/130, 702/136, 702182-185, 702188-189, 236/1.C, 236/21.B, 236/22, 236/34, 236/36, 236/44.C, 236/44.R, 236/46.R, 237/2.A, 237/8.A, 237/8.B, 237/8.R, 237/56, 237 70- 71, 700274-278, 703/7, 703/9
• US Class Current: 702/60
• CPC Class Codes: F24D 19/1048 Counting of energy consumption

Abstract

A system for analyzing an interior energy system including: at least one detachable sensor arranged to monitor a portion of the interior energy system; and an apparatus including a processor configured to receive data of a first parameter of the interior energy system from the at least one detachable sensor and determine a second parameter of the interior energy which is inferred on the basis of the received data of the first parameter; and determine a characteristic of the interior energy system from the determined second parameter. The system may provide analysis of the interior energy system and recommend improvements.

Claims

1. An apparatus for analysing an interior energy system comprising:

a processor configured to;

receive data of a first parameter of the interior energy system from at least one sensor, the at least one sensor being arranged to monitor a portion of the interior energy system;

determine a second parameter of the interior energy system using the received data of the first parameter; and

determine a characteristic of the interior energy system from the determined second parameter;

wherein the processor is configured to determine if further data is required for determining the second parameter of the interior energy system on the basis of the received sensor data;

wherein if further data is required, the processor is configured to determine when the further data is required and what further data is required, and wherein the processor is configured to provide information on how to reconfigure the at least one sensor to receive the further data.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second parameter relates to another different portion of the interior energy system.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second parameter is not directly determinable with the at least one sensor.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to provide information comprising an analysis of the interior energy system based on the determined characteristic.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to determine the second parameter on the basis of the received data of the first parameter and a stored value.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the stored value is inputted by the user, received from a remote server, or installed as a factory setting.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the processor is configured to determine the second parameter using a modeling algorithm and the received data.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the information comprises a recommendation for a user to modify their behavioural use of at least one of the interior energy system or the building.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the information comprises at least one of the following:

a suggested modified configuration of all or a portion of the interior energy system, detection of a fault in all or a portion of the interior energy system, or maintenance in all or a portion of the interior energy system.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the information comprises an indication to manually adjust the configuration of at least a portion of the interior energy system.

11. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the interior energy system is at least one of the following:

an electric heating system, a gas heating system, an oil heating system, a combined heat and power system, a bio-fuel power system, a solid fuel heating system, a hot water system, an electrical supply system, or an air conditioning system.

12. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the processor is configured to determine if further data is required for determining a characteristic of the interior energy system on the basis of the received sensor data.

13. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the processor is configured to determine a parameter of the at least one sensor to modify on the basis on the data.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the processor is configured to provide information on the parameter of the at least one sensor to be modified.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the parameter of the at least one sensor is at least one of the following:

location or configuration of the at least one detachable sensor, or timing configuration of when the at least one sensor monitors the interior energy system.

16. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information comprises a request for additional sensors to monitor the interior energy system and to send data to the apparatus.

17. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the first and second parameter is one or more of the following parameters:

a temperature of a hot water tank of the interior energy system, the flow rates of the water in pipes of the interior energy system, calorific consumption of a boiler of the interior energy system, the efficiency of the boiler of the interior energy system, timer settings of the interior energy system, settings of at least one thermostat of the interior energy system, burning periods of the boiler, usage periods of the interior energy system, a quantity of insulation of the building, a quantity of solar heating of the building, a temperature of one or more pipes, a temperature of water in one or more pipes and a temperature of water in the hot water tank or other water bearing component of the interior energy system, heat transfer between components of the interior energy system or interior or exterior portions of the building, a position of at least one valve of the interior energy system, dimensions of at least one component of the interior energy system, or dimensions of at least one portion of the building.

18. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the processor is configured to receive the data from the at least one sensor via a wireless network.

19. The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the processor is configured to receive the data from the at least one sensor via a hub and over a wireless network.

20. The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the processor is configured to further determine a characteristic of the interior energy system to be modified on the basis of data regarding meteorological information and seasonal information.

21. The apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the data regarding the external factors is received from a remote server and is stored in the apparatus.

22. The apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the processor is configured to further determine a characteristic of the interior energy system on the basis of timing data of when the climate system in use.

23. The apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the at least one sensor is a temperature sensor configured to monitor one or more of the following:

a heating pipe of the interior energy system, a water pipe, the ambient temperature of a portion of the building, the temperature of a radiator of the interior energy system, the temperature of a hot water tank of the interior energy system, and the temperature of an object which is in a portion of the building.

24. The apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the characteristic determined by the processor is one or more of the following:

the energy consumption in the interior energy system, the efficiency of the interior energy system, faults of the interior energy system, required maintenance of the interior energy system, the energy generation of the interior energy system and potential improvements of the interior energy system.

25. The apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the processor provides information to improve the efficiency of the interior energy system.

26. The apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the at least one sensor is an electrical power consumption sensor configured to monitor one or more of the following:

a single electrical appliance, a plurality of electrical appliances, and all electrical appliances in a building.

27. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the interior energy system comprises at least two different interior energy sub-systems and the processor is configured to determine a characteristic of one or both of the interior energy sub-systems.

28. The apparatus according to claim 27, wherein the processor is configured to compare the sub-systems on the basis of the characteristics and provide information of the comparison.

29. The apparatus according to claim 28, wherein the interior energy sub-systems are one or more of the following:

an electric heating system, a gas heating system, a solid fuel heating system, a hot water system, an air conditioning system, an electrical supply system, an oil heating system, a combined heat and power system, and a bio-fuel power system.

30. The apparatus according to claim 28, wherein the second parameter is not directly measurable from the received data.

31. The apparatus according to claim 28, wherein installation of the apparatus is non-disruptive such that no modification or replacement of the interior energy system is required.

32. The apparatus according to claim 28, wherein the processor is configured to determine parameters in order of a priority of the parameters.

33. The apparatus according to claim 32, wherein the processor is configured to access a data tree comprising a hierarchical evaluation the parameters.

34. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to determine the second parameter from one or more parameters other than the first parameter.

35. The apparatus according to claim 34, wherein the processor receives data for the one or more parameters from one or more other sensors.

36. A user terminal comprising the apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the user terminal is at least one of the following:

a server, a personal computer, a mobile telephone, a personal digital assistant, and a laptop.

37. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is detachable.

38. A system for analysing an interior energy system comprising:

at least one sensor arranged to monitor a portion of the interior energy system; and

an apparatus comprising a processor configured to;

receive data of a first parameter of the interior energy system from the at least one sensor;

determine a second parameter of the interior energy using the received data of the first parameter; and

determine a characteristic of the interior energy system from the determined second parameter;

wherein the processor is configured to determine if further data is required for determining the second parameter of the interior energy system on the basis of the received sensor data;

wherein if further data is required, the processor is configured to determine when the further data is required and what further data is required, and wherein the processor is configured to provide information on how to reconfigure the at least one sensor to receive the further data.

39. The system according to claim 38, wherein the sensor is detachable.

40. A method of analysing an interior energy system comprising:

receiving, at a receiver, data of a first parameter of the interior energy system from at least one sensor arranged to monitor a portion of the interior energy system;

determining, at a processor, a second parameter of the interior energy system using the received data of the first parameter;

determining, at the processor, a characteristic of the interior energy system from the determined second parameter, wherein the second parameter relates to another different portion of the interior energy system than the first parameter;

determining, at the processor, if further data is required for determining the second parameter of the interior energy system on the basis of the receiver sensor data; and

if further data is required, determining, at the processor, when the further data is required and what further data is required, and providing information on how to reconfigure the at least one sensor to receive the further data.

41. A computer program comprising code embodied in a non-transitory computer readable medium adapted to perform the method of claim 40 when the program is run on a processor.