SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CALCULATING THE THERMAL MASS OF A BUILDING

• US 20110077896A1
• Filed: 12/02/2010
• Published: 03/31/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/2007
• 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 8,131,497 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/130
• 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 11/32 Responding to malfunctions or emergencies
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/46 Improving electric energy efficiency or saving
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/47 Responding to energy costs
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/56 Remote control
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/58 using Internet communication
• 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 2110/10 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/12 of the outside air
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/32 of the outside air
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2120/10 Occupancy
• 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 2130/20 Sunlight
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2140/50 Load
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2140/60 Energy consumption
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 1/20 Compensating for effects of temperature changes other than those to be measured, e.g. changes in ambient temperature
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 13/00 Thermometers specially adapted for specific purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/048 : Monitoring; Safety
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2614 : HVAC, heating, ventillation, climate control
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/19 : characterised by the use of electric means G05D23/1393 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1917 : using digital means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/00 : Digital computers in general details G06F1/00 – G06F13/00; Data processing equipment in general

Abstract

The invention comprises a system for calculating a value for the effective thermal mass of a building. The climate control system obtains temperature measurements from at least a first location conditioned by the climate system. One or more processors receive measurements of outside temperatures from at least one source other than the control system and compare 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 said HVAC control system and said outside temperature measurements. The processors then calculate one or more rates of change in temperature at said first location.

Claims

1. A system for calculating a value for the operational efficiency of an HVAC system comprising:

at least one HVAC control system that receives temperature measurements from at least a first location conditioned by at least one HVAC system;

one or more databases that store at least said temperatures measured at said first location over time; and

one or more processors that receive outside temperature measurements'"'"' from at least one source other than said HVAC system, wherein said one or more processors are configured to calculate one or more rates of change in temperature at said first location for periods during which the status of the HVAC system is “

on” and

wherein said one or more processors are further configured to calculate one or more rates of change in temperature at said first location for periods during which the status of the HVAC system is “

off'"'"', and to relate said calculated rates of”

change to said outside temperature measurements

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

3. A system as in claim 1 further comprising a programmable thermostat that communicates with said HVAC control system using the Internet.

4. A system as in claim 1 in which said processors communicate with said HVAC system using a network that includes an electricity meter.

5. A system as in claim 1 further comprising a programmable the thermostat and said programmable thermostat is the sole source for current data regarding temperature inside said location conditioned by said HVAC system.

6. A system as in claim 1 in which said temperature measurements inside said first location occur at only one physical location.

7. A method for calculating a value for the operational efficiency of an HVAC system that comprises:

receiving temperature measurements from at least a first location conditioned by at least one HVAC system;

storing in one or more databases at least said temperatures measured at said first location over time;

receiving outside temperature measurements from at least one source other than said HVAC system; and

calculating one or more rates of change in temperature at said first location for periods during which the status of the HVAC system is “

on” and

calculating one or more rates of change in temperature at said first location for periods during which the status of the HVAC system is “

off”

, where said calculated rates of change are related to said outside temperature measurements.

8. A method as in claim 7 in which said outside temperatures are received for geographic regions such as ZIP codes from sources other than said HVAC system.

9. A method as in claim 7 where said temperature measurements from at least a first location conditioned by at least one HVAC system further are received from a programmable thermostat that communicates with said HVAC control system using the Internet.

10. A method as in claim 7 that includes receiving information about electricity consumption in said first location from an electricity meter.

11. A method as in claim 7 in which said data regarding temperature inside said location conditioned by said HVAC system is supplied by a programmable thermostat.

12. A method as in claim 7 in which said temperature measurements at said first location occur at only one physical location.