SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR USING A NETWORK OF THERMOSTATS AS TOOL TO VERIFY PEAK DEMAND REDUCTION

• US 20090099699A1
• Filed: 07/31/2008
• Published: 04/16/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: EcoFactor, Inc. (Trane Technologies plc)
• Original Assignee: EcoFactor, Inc. (Trane Technologies plc)
• Inventors: Hublou, Scott Douglas, Steinberg, John Douglas
• Granted Patent: US 7,908,117 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/278
• 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 verifying the occurrence of a change in operational status for climate control systems. The climate control system measures temperature at least a first location conditioned by the climate control system. One or more processors also receive measurements of outside temperatures from at least one source other than the climate control system, and compares the temperature measurements from the first location with expected temperature measurements. The expected temperature measurements are based at least in part upon past temperature measurements obtained by the climate control system and the outside temperature measurements. A server transmits changes in programming to the climate control system based at least in part on the comparison of the temperature measurements with the expected temperature measurements.

Claims

1. A system for verifying the occurrence of a change in operational status for an HVAC control system comprising:

at least one HVAC control system that measures temperature at least a first location conditioned by said HVAC system, and reporting said temperature measurements as well as the status of said HVAC control system;

one or more processors that receive measurements of outside temperatures from at least one source other than said HVAC control systems and compare said temperature measurements from said first location with expected temperature measurements wherein the expected temperature measurements are based at least in part upon past temperature measurements obtained by said HVAC control system and said outside temperature measurements; and

at least one remote server that transmits changes in programming to said HVAC control system based at least in part on said comparison of said temperature measurements with said expected temperature measurements.

2. A system as in claim 1 in which said processors receive measurements of outside temperatures for geographic regions such as ZIP codes from sources other than said HVAC control systems.

3. A system as in claim 1 in which said comparison relates to calculated rate of change predictions for temperature over time as measured by said HVAC system.

4. A system as in claim 1 in which said HVAC control system is located within a single family dwelling.

5. A system as in claim 1 in which said HVAC control system includes a programmable thermostat.

6. A system as in claim 1 in which said HVAC control system includes a programmable thermostat that communicates with said system using the Internet.

7. A system as in claim 1 in which said processors are not in the same location as the HVAC control system and said processors communicate with said HVAC control system using a network that includes an electricity meter.

9. A system as in claim 2 in which said processors receive measurements of outside temperatures from sources other than said HVAC control systems.

10. A system as in claim 2 in which said processors are not in the same location as the HVAC control system.

11. A system as in claim 2 in which said comparison relates to calculated rate of change predictions for temperature over time as measured by said HVAC system.

12. A system as in claim 2 in which said HVAC control system includes a programmable thermostat.

13. A system as in claim 2 in which said HVAC control system includes a programmable thermostat that communicates with said system using the Internet.

14. A system as in claim 2 in which the status of said HVAC control system includes whether said system is “

on”

or “

off”

.

15. A system as in claim 2 in which said processors are not in the same location as the HVAC control system and said processors communicate with said HVAC control system using a network that includes an electricity meter.

16. A system as in claim 2 in which said thermal performance includes changes in temperature over time in relation to outside conditions and HVAC status.

8. A system for predicting the thermal performance of a structure as conditioned by an HVAC system, comprising:

at least one HVAC control system that measures temperature at least one location conditioned by said HVAC system, and reports said temperature measurements as well as status of said HVAC control system;

a database that stores said temperature measurements and said status;

one or more processors that compare said temperature measurements and said status with outside weather data, previous temperature measurements and previous status wherein said comparisons are used to determine whether said status of the HVAC system is consistent with said previous temperature measurements, said previous status, and said outside weather data.

17. A system for verifying that the operating parameters of an HVAC system have been adjusted as requested in response to a control signal comprising:

at least one HVAC control system capable of measuring temperature at least one location conditioned by said HVAC system, and reporting said temperature measurements as well as the status of said HVAC control system;

means by which said temperature measurements and HVAC status may be stored in a database;

means by which such temperature measurements and HVAC status may be compared with outside weather data and previous temperature measurements and HVAC status; and

means by which such comparisons may be used to determine whether the reported temperature information and status of the HVAC system are consistent with the adjustment requested by the transmitted control signal.