Method for predicting HVAC energy consumption

• US 9,348,952 B2
• Filed: 02/07/2013
• Issued: 05/24/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc. DBA GE Appliances (Haier Group Company)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Wen, Yicheng, Burke, William Jerome
• Primary Examiner(s): Alhija, Saif
• Application Number:
  US13/761,671
• Publication Number:
  US 20140222396A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,202 Days
• Field of Search: 703/2
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/20 Design optimisation, verification or simulation optimisation, verification or simulation of circuit designs G06F30/30

Abstract

A method for predicting energy consumption of an HVAC system is provided. The method includes providing a model for an indoor temperature of a building, a model for an operating state of the HVAC system, and predicted future outdoor temperatures. Utilizing at least the models for the indoor temperature and the operating state of the HVAC system and the predicted future outdoor temperatures, a predicted future energy consumption of the HVAC can be estimated.

Claims

1. A method for predicting energy consumption of an HVAC system, the HVAC system configured for cooling air within a building, heating air within a building, or both, the method comprising:

providing a model for an indoor temperature, y, of the building;

providing a model for an operating state, u, of the HVAC system;

providing predicted future outdoor temperatures;

calculating predicted future indoor temperatures of the building and predicted future operating states of the HVAC system utilizing at least the model for y, the model for u, and the predicted future outdoor temperatures;

estimating a predicted future energy consumption of the HVAC system based at least in part on the predicted future operating states of the HVAC system; and

changing a control temperature of the HVAC system based at least in part upon the predicted future energy consumption of the HVAC system,

wherein the model for y comprises

y_k=a₁y_k-1+a₂y_k-2+b₁v_k-1+b₂u_k-1

where

y_k is an indoor temperature of the building at time k,

y_k-1 is an indoor temperature of the building at time k−

1,

y_k-2 is an indoor temperature of the building at time k−

2,

v_k-1 is an outdoor temperature at time k−

1,

u_k-1 is an operating state of the HVAC system at time k−

1, and

a₁, a₂, b₁, and b₂ are constants.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the model for u comprises

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of estimating comprises estimating the predicted future energy consumption of the HVAC system using the following:

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising forecasting a predicted future operating cost for the HVAC system based at least in part on the predicted future HVAC operating states.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising changing a control temperature of the HVAC system based at least in part upon the predicted future operating cost for the HVAC system.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein said step of forecasting comprises forecasting the predicted future operating cost for the HVAC system using the following:

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising adjusting a control temperature of the HVAC system based upon the predicted future energy consumption of the HVAC system.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of providing predicted future outdoor temperatures comprises determining predicted future outdoor temperatures based upon weather forecast data.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said step of providing predicted future outdoor temperatures comprises providing predicted future outdoor temperatures using the following:

10. A method for predicting energy consumption of an HVAC system, the HVAC system configured for cooling air within a building, heating air within a building, or both, the method comprising:

providing a model for an indoor temperature, y_k, of the building at time k based at least in part on an interior temperature, y_k-1, of the building at time k−

1, an exterior temperature, v_k-1, of the building at time k−

1, and an operating state, u_k-1, of the HVAC system at time k−

1;

providing a model for an operating state, u_k, of the HVAC system at time k based at least in part on y_k-1 and u_k-1;

providing predicted future exterior temperatures of the building;

estimating a predicted future energy consumption of the HVAC system utilizing at least the model for y_k, the model for u_k, and the predicted future exterior temperatures; and

changing a control temperature of the HVAC system based at least in part upon the predicted future energy consumption of the HVAC system,

wherein the model for u_k comprises

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the model for y_k comprises a second order linear model.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the model for y_k comprises

y_k=a₁y_k-1+a₂y_k-2+b₁v_k-1+b₂u_k-1

where

a₁, a₂, b₁, and b₂ are constants and

y_k-2 is an indoor temperature of the building at time k−

2.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising forecasting a predicted future operating cost for the HVAC system based at least in part on the predicted future energy consumption of the HVAC system.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising changing a control temperature of the HVAC system based at least in part upon the predicted future operating cost for the HVAC system.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein said step of forecasting comprises forecasting the predicted future operating cost for the HVAC system using the following:

16. The method of claim 10, further comprising adjusting a control temperature of the HVAC system based upon the predicted future energy consumption of the HVAC system.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein said step of providing predicted future exterior temperatures of the building comprises determining predicted future exterior temperatures of the building based upon weather forecast data or historical weather data.