System and Method for Climate Control Set-Point Optimization Based On Individual Comfort

• US 20100262298A1
• Filed: 03/27/2009
• Published: 10/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens Industry Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Energy & Automation Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Patel, Amar, Ning, Xu, Srivastava, Virag, Sastry, Chellury R., Johnson, Joseph Andrew
• Granted Patent: US 9,020,647 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/277
• 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 11/67 Switching between heating and cooling modes
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/00 Control inputs relating to air properties
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/10 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/20 Humidity
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2120/20 Feedback from users

Abstract

A system and method for calibrating a set-point for climate control includes a sensor network having a plurality of sensors configured to report a climate condition. A database is configured to receive reports from the sensors and generate one or more profiles reflecting at least one of historic climate control information and occupant preferences. A controller is configured to receive information from the profiles to generate a set-point based upon an optimization program. The optimization program is implemented to balance competing goals to generate the set-point for controlling climate control equipment in accordance with the set-point.

Claims

1. A system for calibrating a set-point for climate control, comprising:

a sensor network having a plurality of sensors configured to report a climate condition;

a database configured to receive reports from the sensors to generate one or more profiles reflecting at least one of historic climate control information and occupant preferences; and

a controller configured to receive information from the profiles to generate a set-point based upon an optimization program configured to balance competing goals to generate the set-point for controlling climate control equipment in accordance with the set-point.

2. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the optimization program receives as input climate information directly from the sensors.

3. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the optimization program receives as input information from a statistical model, which considers climate information in areas that influence a current area being climate controlled.

4. The system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a thermostat configured to be programmed in accordance with the set-point wherein the set-point controls a heating ventilation and air conditioning unit.

5. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the profiles include climate comfort information that deviates from a comfort baseline.

6. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the sensors include a first button to indicate that a current temperature is too high and a second button to indicate that a current temperature is too low, and activation of the first or second button is stored in a profile associated with that sensor at its location.

7. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the sensors are associated with a location in a floor plan and a profile associated with a given sensor is employed to influence one or more thermostats in an area of the floor plan.

8. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the competing goals include comfort versus energy savings.

20. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the sensors are associated with a location in a floor plan and a profile associated with a given sensor is employed to influence one or more thermostats in an area of the floor plan.

9. A system for calibrating a set-point for climate control, comprising:

a sensor network having a plurality of sensors configured to report a climate condition, the sensors being distributed in locations where climate conditions influence a controlled area; and

a controller configured to receive information from the sensors to generate a set-point based upon an optimization program, the optimization program being implemented to balance competing goals to generate the set-point for controlling climate control equipment in accordance with the set-point in the controlled area.

10. The system as recited in claim 9, wherein the optimization program receives as input climate information directly from the sensors.

11. The system as recited in claim 9, further comprising a thermostat configured to be programmed in accordance with the set-point wherein the set-point controls a heating ventilation and air conditioning unit.

12. The system as recited in claim 9, further comprising a thermostat configured to function as one of the sensors.

13. The system as recited in claim 9, wherein the sensors include a temperature measurement sensor and a temperature is reported to the controller.

14. The system as recited in claim 9, wherein the sensors are associated with a location in a floor plan and the location of the sensor is employed to influence one or more thermostats in an area of the floor plan.

15. The system as recited in claim 9, wherein the competing goals include comfort versus energy savings.

16. A method for optimizing a set-point for climate control equipment, comprising:

generating a climate profile associated with a sensor at a given location based upon occupant feedback of comfort and historic data;

generating a set-point for a climate control unit by optimizing between comfort and energy savings by considering a plurality of climate profiles for a given location; and

adjusting climate conditions at the given location in accordance with the set-point.

17. The method as recited in claim 16, wherein generating a set-point includes inputting at least one of climate information directly from the sensors and information from a statistical model, which considers climate information in areas that influence a current area being climate controlled.

18. The method as recited in claim 16, wherein the profiles include climate comfort information that deviates from a comfort baseline.

19. The method as recited in claim 16, wherein the sensors include a first button to indicate that a current temperature is too high and a second button to indicate that a current temperature is too low, and the method further comprising activating the first or second button to store comfort preferences in a profile associated with that sensor at its location.