HVAC controller with predictive set-point control

• US 9,696,052 B2
• Filed: 07/11/2011
• Issued: 07/04/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Generac Power Systems Incorporated (Generac Holdings Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Ecobee Inc (Generac Holdings Incorporated)
• Inventors: Yang, Liu, Malchiondo, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Jules, Frantz
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shaikh, Meraj A.
• Application Number:
  US13/179,770
• Publication Number:
  US 20120305661A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,185 Days
• Field of Search: 236 44 A, 236 44 C, 165222, 165224, 165231, 165233, 165290, 165291
• 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 11/523 for displaying temperature data
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/526 giving audible indications
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/56 Remote control
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/58 using Internet communication
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/64 using pre-stored data
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/74 for controlling air flow rate or air velocity
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/10 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/20 Humidity
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2130/00 Control inputs relating to environmental factors not covered by group F24F2110/00
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2130/10 Weather information or forecasts

Abstract

A controller is provided for HVAC equipment. The controller receives a set of internal temperature values, and a set of external temperature values, the set of external temperature values representing at least one non-current temperature. The controller determines a predictive internal temperature value from the set of internal temperature values and a predictive external temperature value from the set of external temperature values. The controller receives an internal humidity value representing humidity within the premise, the controller further controls the HVAC equipment to modify the humidity within the premise when the received internal humidity value is different from a humidity set point; and the humidity set point is regulated by a humidity limit value, the humidity limit value being where condensation forms, the humidity limit value being calculated using the predictive internal temperature value and the predictive external temperature value.

Claims

1. A controller for operating HVAC equipment on a premise defined at least in part by a window panel, the controller having a processor and memory, wherein

the controller is operable to receive a set of internal temperature values, the set of internal temperature values comprising a current internal temperature value representing a current internal temperature within the premise and a future internal temperature value set in the controller, the future internal temperature value representing a future temperature to be attained within the premise;

the controller operable to receive a set of external temperature values, the set of external temperature values comprising a current external temperature value representing a current temperature outside the premise, at least one historical external temperature value representing a historical temperature outside the premise, and at least one forecasted external temperature value representing a forecasted temperature outside the premise received from a weather feed provided over a network;

the controller is operable to determine a lowest internal temperature value from the set of internal temperature values and to identify the lowest internal temperature value as a predictive internal temperature value and to determine a lowest external temperature value from a subset of the set of external temperature values and to identify the lowest external temperature value from the subset as a predictive external temperature value;

the controller is operable to receive an internal humidity value representing humidity within the premise, the controller further being operable to control the HVAC equipment to modify the humidity within the premise when the received internal humidity value is different from a humidity set point stored in the controller; and

the humidity set point is regulated by a humidity limit value, the humidity limit value being the lowest humidity value where condensation would form on the window panel, the humidity limit value being calculated using the predictive internal temperature value and the predictive external temperature value.

2. The controller of claim 1, wherein the current external temperature value of the set of external temperature values is received from a remote sensor on or proximate the premise.

3. The controller of claim 1, wherein the current external temperature value of the set of external temperature values is received from a weather feed provided over a network.

4. The controller of claim 1, wherein the at least one historical external temperature value of the set of external temperature values is determined by averaging a plurality of historical external temperature values previously received from a remote sensor on or proximate the premise and a weather feed received over a network.

5. The controller of claim 1, wherein the current internal temperature value of the set of internal temperature values is received from at least one remote sensor located within the premise.

6. The controller of claim 1, wherein the subset of the set of external temperature values includes the current external temperature value, the at least one historical external temperature value, and the at least one forecasted external temperature value.

7. The controller of claim 1, wherein the subset of the set of external temperature values includes the at least one historical external temperature value and the at least one forecasted external temperature value.

8. The controller of claim 1, wherein the at least one historical external temperature value includes a historical external temperature value that is at least one hour old.

9. The controller of claim 1, wherein the at least one historical external temperature value includes a historical, recorded temperature value that is at least twelve hours old.

10. The controller of claim 1, wherein the controller is operable to receive an airflow value based upon airflow within the premise, and the humidity limit value includes an airflow adjustment factor based upon the measured airflow value within the premise.

11. The controller of claim 1, wherein the controller is operable to receive an airflow value based upon airflow outside of the premise, and the humidity limit value includes an airflow adjustment factor based upon the measured airflow value outside the premise.

12. The controller of claim 1, wherein the controller includes an airflow sensor operable to measure air movement, and the humidity limit value includes a convection coefficient based upon air movement proximate a premise border.

13. The controller of claim 1, wherein the humidity limit value includes a premise adjustment factor based upon a material of a premise border.

14. The controller of claim 1, wherein the controller includes an input device permitting a user to define a premise adjustment factor for the window panel on the controller.

15. The controller of claim 1, wherein the controller is operable to receive instructions across a network from a user using a remote device, the instructions relating to a premise adjustment factor.

16. The controller of claim 1, wherein the controller is operable to determine a maximum vapour pressure for the window panel and a maximum vapour pressure for the premise using the predictive internal temperature value, and wherein the humidity limit value is calculated using the maximum vapour pressure for the premise and the maximum vapour pressure for the panel.

17. The controller of claim 1, wherein the controller is operable to determine a window pane temperature for the window panel as a function of the predictive internal temperature value and the predictive external temperature value.

18. The controller of claim 17, wherein the controller is operable to calculate a dew point for the window panel, to compare the dew point to the window pane temperature, and to deactivate the HVAC equipment when the dew point is greater than or equal to the window pane temperature.

19. The controller of claim 1, wherein the controller is operable to:

receive a first airflow value representing air flow within the premise;

receive a second airflow value representing airflow outside of the premise;

determine an airflow adjustment factor based upon the first and second airflow values;

determine a premise adjustment factor based upon material used by the premise; and

,

modify a determined window pane temperature using the airflow adjustment factor and the premise adjustment factor.

20. The controller of claim 1, wherein the current internal temperature value is an internal temperature value measured by an environmental sensor of the controller and modified based on a dynamic correction factor.

21. The controller of claim 1, wherein the subset of the set of external temperature values includes the current external temperature value and the at least one historical temperature value.

22. The controller of claim 1, wherein the subset of the set of external temperature values includes the current temperature value and the at least one forecasted external temperature value.

23. The controller of claim 1, wherein the set of internal temperature values comprises a plurality of future temperature values set in the controller, each respective future temperature value of the plurality of future temperature values set in the controller representing a future temperature to be attained at a scheduled time within the premise.