SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR USING RAMPED SETPOINT TEMPERATURE VARIATION WITH NETWORKED THERMOSTATS TO IMPROVE EFFICIENCY

• US 20100262299A1
• Filed: 07/06/2009
• Published: 10/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: EcoFactor, Inc. (Trane Technologies plc)
• Original Assignee: EcoFactor, Inc. (Trane Technologies plc)
• Inventors: Hublou, Scott Douglas, Steinberg, John Douglas, Cheung, Leo
• Granted Patent: US 8,010,237 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 11/52 Indication arrangements, e.g. displays
• 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: F24F 2110/10 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/12 of the outside air
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2120/20 Feedback from users
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2140/60 Energy consumption
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 13/0245 not using a perturbation signal
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/048 Monitoring; Safety
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23399 Adapt set parameter as function of measured conditions
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2614 HVAC, heating, ventillation, climate control
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2639 Energy management, use maximum of cheap power, keep peak load low
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1393 characterised by the use of electric means
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1904 variable in time
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1931 to control the temperature of one space

Abstract

The invention comprises systems and methods for ramping setpoints on thermostats controlling HVAC systems. At least one thermostat is located inside a structure and is used to control an HVAC system in the structure. At least one remote processor is in communication with said thermostat and at least one database stores data reported by the thermostat. At least one processor compares the outside temperature at least one location and at least one point in time to information reported to the remote processor from the thermostat. The remote processor ramps the setpoint on the thermostat so as to reduce the average spread between inside temperature and outside temperature in order to reduce energy consumption with affecting comfort. The remote processor takes into account the effect of weather conditions and occupant preferences in determining whether and when to ramp setpoints.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a thermostat for energy savings comprising:

measuring the temperature inside a conditioned space;

comparing said inside temperature to the desired setpoint for such conditioned space;

evaluating the schedule for setpoint changes;

determining whether the scheduled setpoint has been changed;

setting the actual setpoint to the desired setpoint;

determining the number of phases for actual setpoints;

setting actual setpoints to increments away from the desired setpoint as additional phases, where each successive setpoint is further from said desired setpoint than the previous setpoint;

returning to the desired setpoint after said determined number of setpoints has been reached.

2. A method as in claim 1 in which said variation of temperature setpoints is logged to a database.

3. A method as in claim 1 in which said system varies the inside temperature between three setpoints.

4. A method as in claim 1 in which said variation of temperature setpoints is initiated by a remote computer.

5. A method as in claim 1 in which said setpoints vary by one degree fahrenheit.

6. A method as in claim 1 in which said system varies the inside temperature between three or more setpoints, and each setpoint after the first setpoint is higher than said first setpoint.

7. A method as in claim 1 in which said system varies the inside temperature between three or more setpoints, and each setpoint after the first setpoint is higher than said first setpoint, and said system returns to said first setpoint after reach the last of said three or more setpoints.

8. A method as in claim 1 in which said system varies the inside temperature between three or more setpoints, and each setpoint after the first setpoint is lower than said first setpoint.

9. A method as in claim 1 in which said system varies the inside temperature between three or more setpoints, and each setpoint after the first setpoint is lower than said first setpoint, and said system returns to said first setpoint after reach the last of said three or more setpoints.

10. A method as in claim 1 in which said inside temperature returns directly to the original desired setpoint in the event a manual input to the system is detected.

11. A method as in claim 1 in which said system returns to said first target temperature in response to an override by an occupant.

12. A system for automatically varying temperature setpoints for an HVAC system comprising:

evaluating the temperature inside a conditioned environment;

evaluating weather conditions outside the conditioned environment;

setting a first target inside temperature for a specified time interval;

setting at least a second target inside temperature for a specified time interval, where said second target temperature differs from said first target temperature by a specified amount;

determining whether said variation of temperature setpoints is appropriate given said outside weather conditions; and

cycling through said two or more target temperatures.

13. A system as in claim 12 in which said variation of temperature setpoints is logged to a database.

14. A system as in claim 12 in which said system varies the inside temperature between three setpoints.

15. A system as in claim 12 in which said variation of temperature setpoints is initiated by a remote computer.

16. A system as in claim 12 in which said setpoints vary by one degree fahrenheit.

17. A system as in claim 12 in which said system varies the inside temperature between three or more setpoints, and each setpoint after the first setpoint is higher than said first setpoint.

18. A system as in claim 12 in which said system varies the inside temperature between three or more setpoints, and each setpoint after the first setpoint is higher than said first setpoint, and said system returns to said first setpoint after reach the last of said three or more setpoints.

19. A system as in claim 12 in which said system varies the inside temperature between three or more setpoints, and each setpoint after the first setpoint is lower than said first setpoint.

20. A system as in claim 12 in which said system varies the inside temperature between three or more setpoints, and each setpoint after the first setpoint is lower than said first setpoint, and said system returns to said first setpoint after reach the last of said three or more setpoints.

21. (canceled)

22. (canceled)

23. (canceled)