Profile based method for deriving a temperature setpoint using a ‘delta’ based on cross-indexing a received price-point level signal

• US 6,975,958 B2
• Filed: 04/30/2003
• Issued: 12/13/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Schnell, Robert J., Atlass, Michael B., Merten, Gregory J., Bohrer, Philip J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bui, Bryan
• Assistant Examiner(s): VO, HIEN XUAN
• Application Number:
  US10/426,760
• Publication Number:
  US 20030187549A1
• Time in Patent Office: 958 Days
• Field of Search: 702/130, 702/60, 700/286, 700/295, 705/412, 340/310.01, 340/870.02, 340/870.05, 340/870.29, 340/870.03, 340/825.52
• 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 11/46 Improving electric energy efficiency or saving
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/47 Responding to energy costs
• 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: G01K 17/06 Measuring quantity of heat conveyed by flowing media, e.g. in heating systems G01K17/02, G01K17/04 take precedencee.g. the quantity of heat in a transporting medium, delivered to or consumed in an expenditure device
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2639 Energy management, use maximum of cheap power, keep peak load low
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1923 using thermal energy, the cost of which varies in function of time
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply

Abstract

A method for adjusting a plurality of controlled subsystems in a building or plant that facilitates cooperative energy usage with a utility provider. By referring to a single profile of adjustments that correspond to changes in the value of a utility signal and distributing this to each relevant controller for each subsystem, a single setback delta can be applied to each subsystem for each change in utility signal value (i.e., pricing information). Alternatively, multiple profiles can be used to provide for firmer control and thereby allow for different zones to respond differently to a single change signal sent by the utility provider.

Claims

1. A method for controlling an environmental control system, wherein the environmental control system controls one or more envirornmental conditions of an inside space of a user'"'"'s facility/home/building in accordance with one or more setpoints, the method comprising the steps of:

establishing communication with the environmental control system from a utility remote from the user'"'"'s facility/home/building; and

sending one or more setpoint commands from the utility, the one or more setpoint commands providing one or more setpoint indicators for use in determining the one or more setpoints that are to be used by the environmental control system.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the one or more setpoint indicators provided by the one or more setpoint commands are actual setpoints.

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein the one or more setpoint indicators provided by the one or more setpoint commands are setpoint offsets.

4. A method according to claim 1 wherein the environmental control system includes an interface, the interface helping to establish communication between the environmental control system and the utility.

5. A method according to claim 1 wherein communication is established at least partially over a power line.

6. A method according to claim 1 wherein communication is established at least partially over a telephone line.

7. A method according to claim 1 wherein communication is established at least partially over an RF link.

8. A method according to claim 1 wherein communication is established at least partially over a coaxial cable.

9. A controller for an environmental control system serviced by a utility having a load that includes a higher load period and a lower load period, wherein the controller accesses one or more setpoints and controls the environmental control system such that one or more environmental conditions of an inside space of a user'"'"'s facility/home/building are maintained in accordance with the one or more setpoints, the controller comprising:

a communications unit adapted to receive one or more setpoint commands from a location that is remote from the user'"'"'s facility/home/building, the one or more setpoint commands providing one or more setpoint indicators for use in determining one or more new setpoints that are to be used by the environmental control system, wherein the one or more setpoint commands are selected to help reduce the load on the utility during a higher load period; and

a controller for accessing the one or more setpoint indicators and for controlling the environmental control system such that the one or more environmental conditions of the inside space of the user'"'"'s facility/home/building are maintained in accordance with the one or more new setpoints during a higher load period of the utility.

10. A controller according to claim 9 wherein the one or more setpoint indicators provided by the one or more setpoint commands are actual setpoints.

11. A controller according to claim 9 wherein the one or more setpoint indicators provided by the one or more setpoint commands are setpoint offsets.

12. A controller according to claim 9 wherein the location remote from the user'"'"'s facility/home/building is a utility.

13. A method for controlling an environmental control system, wherein the environmental control system controls one or more environmental conditions of an inside space of a user'"'"'s facility/home/building using one or more setpoints and one or more offsets, the method comprising the steps of:

establishing communication with the environmental control system from a location that is remote from the user'"'"'s facility/home/building;

sending one or more energy price related signals to the environmental control system; and

sending one or more offset commands to the environmental control system, the one or more offset commands providing one or more offsets to the environmental control system, the environmental control system using the one or more offsets to calculate new setpoints in response to the one or more energy price related signals.

14. A method according to claim 13 wherein the location remote from the user'"'"'s facility/home/building is a utility.

15. A controller for an environmental control system, wherein the controller accesses one or more setpoints and controls the environmental control system such that one or more environmental conditions of an inside space of a user'"'"'s facility/home/building are maintained in accordance with the one or more setpoints, the environmental control system further receiving one or more energy price related signals from a utility, the controller comprising:

a communications unit adapted to receive one or more offset commands from a location that is remote from the user'"'"'s facility/home/building, the one or more offset commands providing one or more setpoint offsets, each corresponding to a energy price related signal; and

a controller for receiving the one or more setpoint offsets, and for calculating one or more setpoints for the environmental control system using the one or more setpoint offsets and the one or more energy price related signals provided by the utility.

16. A controller according to claim 15 wherein the controller selects the one or more setpoint offsets that correspond to the energy price related signal received from the utility.

17. A method for controlling an environmental control system for a user'"'"'s facility/home/building, the method comprising the steps of:

storing one or more setpoint indicators at a location that is remote and separate from the user'"'"'s facility/home/building,

establishing communications with the environmental control system and providing at least selected setpoint indicators to the environmental control system; and

operating the environmental control system to control one or more environmental conditions of an inside space of the user'"'"'s facility/home/building in accordance with one or more setpoints, wherein the one or more setpoints are based on the selected setpoint indicators.

18. A method according to claim 17 wherein the one or more setpoint indicators are actual setpoints.

19. A method according to claim 17 wherein the one or more setpoint indicators are setpoint offsets.

20. A method according to claim 17 wherein the one or more setpoint indicators include both actual setpoints and setpoint offsets.

21. A method according to claim 17 wherein the one or more setpoint indicators are stored in a database.

22. A method according to claim 21 further comprising the step of allowing a user to change the one or more setpoint indicators stored in the database.

23. A method for controlling an environmental control system, wherein the environmental control system controls one or more environmental conditions of an inside space of a user'"'"'s facility/home/building having two or more zones in accordance with one or more setpoints, the method comprising the steps of:

establishing communication with the environmental control system from a location that is remote and separate from the user'"'"'s facility/home/building; and

sending one or more setpoint commands from the remote location, the one or more setpoint commands providing one or more setpoint indicators for use in determining the one or more setpoints that are to be used by the environmental control system in each of the zones of the inside space.

24. A method according to claim 23 wherein the one or more setpoint indicators provided by the one or more setpoint commands are actual setpoints for at least two zones of the inside space.

25. A method according to claim 23 wherein the one or more setpoint indicators provided by the one or more setpoint commands are setpoint offsets for at least two zones of the inside space.

26. A method according to claim 25 wherein each of the setpoint offsets corresponds to a particular energy price related level determined by a utility.

27. A method according to claim 23 wherein the location remote from the user'"'"'s facility/home/building is a utility.

28. A controller for an environmental control system that has two or more zones, the controller comprising:

a communications unit adapted to receive one or more energy price related signals provided by a utility designating one or more energy price related levels; and

a controller for controlling the environmental control system such that one or more environmental conditions in each zone are maintained in accordance with one or more setpoints, wherein the one or more setpoints correspond to a designated energy price related level.

29. A controller according to claim 28 wherein the controller includes a memory for storing one or more setpoint profiles for each zone, at least one setpoint profile for each of at least two zones designating at least one setpoint for each of at least two energy price related levels.

30. A controller according to claim 28 wherein the one or more setpoints for each zone that correspond to a designated energy price related level are different for at least two zones.

31. A controller for an environmental control system that has two or more zones, the controller comprising:

a communications unit adapted to receive one or more energy price related signals provided by a utility designating one or more energy price related levels;

a memory for storing one or more setpoint profiles for each zone, at least one setpoint profile for two or more zones including at least one offset for each of at least two energy price related levels; and

a controller for controlling the environmental control system such that one or more environmental conditions in each zone are maintained in accordance with the corresponding one or more setpoints, as well as the corresponding at least one offset for the designated energy price related level.

32. A controller for controlling two or more appliances in a user'"'"'s facility/home/building, the controller receiving one or more energy price related signals from a utility that select one of at least two different energy price related levels, the controller comprising:

a communications unit adapted to receive the one or more energy price related signals provided by the utility; and

a memory for storing one or more setpoint profiles for each appliance, at least one setpoint profile for selected appliances including at least one offset for each of at least two energy price related levels; and

a controller for controlling the two or more appliances such that each appliance is maintained in accordance with the corresponding one or more setpoints, as well as the corresponding at least one offset for the currently designated energy price related level.

33. A controller according to claim 32 wherein at least one of the appliances is an environmental control system.

34. A controller according to claim 32 wherein at least one of the appliances is a water heater.

35. A method for controlling a control system, wherein the control system controls one or more conditions in accordance with one or more setpoints, the method comprising the steps of:

providing one or more offsets, wherein each offset corresponds to a energy price related level designated by a utility;

selecting an offset that corresponds to a current energy price related level; and

changing the one or more setpoints used by the control system based on the selected offset.

36. A method according to claim 35 wherein the one or more setpoints are changed in response to a change in the energy price related level.

37. A method according to claim 35 wherein the one or more setpoints are user-defined.

38. A method according to claim 35 wherein the one or more offsets are user defined.

39. A method according to claim 35 wherein the one or more setpoints are at least partially utility-defined.

40. A method according to claim 35 wherein the one or more offsets are at least partially utility-defined.