SYSTEM, METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR JUST-IN-TIME CONDITIONING USING A THERMOSTAT

• US 20100318227A1
• Filed: 05/04/2010
• Published: 12/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2009
• 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 8,498,753 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 11/56 Remote control
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/59 for presetting
• 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 11/64 using pre-stored data
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/65 for selecting an operating mode
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/89 Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices
• 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: G05B 19/0426 Programming the control sequence
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1917 using digital means
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1931 to control the temperature of one space

Abstract

Systems and methods for reducing the cycling time of a climate control system. For example, one or more of the exemplary systems can receive from a database a target time at which a structure is desired to reach a target temperature. In addition, the system acquires the temperature inside the structure and the temperature outside the structure at a time prior to said target time. The systems use a thermal characteristic of the structure and a performance characteristic of the climate control system, to determine the appropriate time prior to the target time at which the climate control system should turn on based at least in part on the structure, the climate control system, the inside temperature and the outside temperature. The systems then set a setpoint on a thermostatic controller to control the climate control system.

Claims

1. A method for reducing the cycling time of a climate control system, said method comprising:

retrieving from a database a target time at which a structure is desired to reach a target temperature;

acquiring the actual temperature inside said structure at a time prior to said target time;

acquiring the temperature outside said structure at a time prior to said target time;

retrieving from a database at least a thermal characteristic of said structure;

retrieving from a database at least a performance characteristic of said climate control system;

determining the appropriate time prior to said target time at which said climate control system should turn on based at least in part on said thermal characteristic of said structure, said performance characteristic of said climate control system, said inside temperature and said outside temperature; and

setting the setpoint on the thermostatic controller used to control said climate control system.

2. A system as in claim 1 where said thermostatic controller operates a system for changing the air temperature in a structure.

3. A system as in claim 1 where said climate control system is a heating, ventilation and air conditioning system.

4. A system as in claim 1 where said climate control system is a heating, ventilation and air conditioning system in a single family residence.

5. A system as in claim 1 in which at least one remote processor is in communication with said thermostatic control device.

6. A system as in claim 5 in which said remote processor is not located in the same structure as said thermostatic controller.

7. A system as in claim 5 in which said remote processor sets programming for said thermostatic controller.

8. A system as in claim 1 in which said thermostatic controller is programmable.

9. A method for minimizing the cycling time of a space heating system, said method comprising:

retrieving from a database a target time at which the temperature in a structure is desired to reach a target temperature;

acquiring the actual temperature inside said structure at a time prior to said target time;

acquiring the temperature outside said structure at a time prior to said target time;

retrieving from a database at least a thermal characteristic of said structure;

retrieving from a database at least a performance characteristic of said climate control system;

calculating at least a first setpoint and a second setpoint based at least in part on said structure, said climate control system, said inside temperature and said outside temperature, where said second setpoint is lower than said target temperature, and said first setpoint is lower than said second setpoint;

calculating at least a first setpoint target time and a second setpoint target time based at least in part on said structure, said climate control system, said inside temperature and said outside temperature, where said second setpoint target time is prior to said target time, and said first setpoint target time is prior to said second setpoint target time; and

setting at least said first setpoint at said first setpoint target time and said second setpoint at said second setpoint target time on the thermostatic controller used to control said climate control system.

10. A system as in claim 9 where said climate control system is a heating, ventilation and air conditioning system in a single family residence.

11. A system as in claim 9 in which at least one remote processor is in communication with said thermostatic control device.

12. A system as in claim 11 in which said remote processor is not located in the same structure as said thermostatic controller.

13. A system as in claim 11 in which said remote processor sets programming for said thermostatic controller.

14. A system as in claim 9 in which said thermostatic controller is programmable.

15. A method for minimizing the cycling time of an air conditioning system, said method comprising:

retrieving from a database a target time at which the temperature in said structure is desired to reach a target temperature;

acquiring the actual temperature inside said structure at a time prior to said target time;

acquiring the temperature outside said structure at a time prior to said target time;

retrieving from a database at least a thermal characteristic of said structure;

retrieving from a database at least a performance characteristic of said air conditioning system;

calculating at least a first setpoint and a second setpoint based at least in part on said structure, said air conditioning system, said inside temperature and said outside temperature, where said second setpoint is higher than said target temperature, and said first setpoint is higher than said second setpoint;

calculating at least a first setpoint target time and a second setpoint target time based at least in part on said structure, said air conditioning system, said inside temperature and said outside temperature, where said second setpoint target time is prior to said target time, and said first setpoint target time is prior to said second setpoint target time; and

setting at least said first setpoint at said first setpoint target time and said second setpoint at said second setpoint target time on the thermostatic controller used to control said climate control system.

16. A system as in claim 15 where said climate control system is a heating, ventilation and air conditioning system in a single family residence.

17. A system as in claim 15 in which at least one remote processor is in communication with said thermostatic control device.

18. A system as in claim 17 in which said remote processor is not located in the same structure as said thermostatic controller.

19. A system as in claim 17 in which said remote processor sets programming for said thermostatic controller.

20. A system as in claim 15 in which said thermostatic controller is programmable.