System and method for evaluating changes in the efficiency of an HVAC system

• US 9,939,333 B2
• Filed: 06/04/2015
• Issued: 04/10/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: EcoFactor, Inc. (Trane Technologies plc)
• Original Assignee: EcoFactor, Inc. (Trane Technologies plc)
• Inventors: Steinberg, John Douglas, Hublou, Scott Douglas
• Primary Examiner(s): LAU, TUNG S
• Application Number:
  US14/731,221
• Publication Number:
  US 20150345822A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,041 Days
• 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 11/47 Responding to energy costs
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/52 Indication arrangements, e.g. displays
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/63 Electronic processing
• 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: G01K 13/00 Thermometers specially adapted for specific purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 99/005 Testing of complete machines, e.g. washing-machines or mobile phones testing of machine parts G01M13/00; testing of electric apparatus or components G01R31/50

Abstract

The invention comprises systems and methods for evaluating changes in the operational efficiency of an HVAC system over time. The climate control system obtains temperature measurements from at least a first location conditioned by the climate system, and status of said HVAC system. One or more processors receives measurements of outside temperatures from at least one source other than said HVAC system and compares said temperature measurements from said first location with expected temperature measurements. The expected temperature measurements are based at least in part upon past temperature measurements.

Claims

1. A system for detecting behavior of HVAC control systems comprising:

a first HVAC control system that receives inside temperature measurements from at least a structure conditioned by at least one HVAC system, and receives status of said HVAC system;

at least a second HVAC control system that obtains inside temperature measurements from at least a structure conditioned by a second HVAC system, and status of said second HVAC system;

one or more databases that store at least said temperature measurements and said at least a second climatic condition related to said first structure over time, and

one or more processors that receive and records measurements of outside temperatures and at least a second variable outdoor climatic condition from at least one source other than said first and second HVAC systems and receives, records and compares said temperature measurements from said first HVAC system and said second HVAC system and said outside temperature measurements and at least a second variable climatic condition over time to determine the efficiency of the first HVAC system and the second HVAC system.

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

3. A system as in claim 1 wherein said inside temperature measurements are obtained from a programmable thermostat that communicates with said first HVAC control system using a network.

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

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

6. A system as in claim 1 in which said first HVAC system measures inside said first location at only one physical location.

7. A system as in claim 1 in which the status of said first HVAC system includes whether said first HVAC system is “

on”

or “

off”

.

8. A system as in claim 1 in which said second variable climatic condition is relative humidity.

9. A system as in claim 1 in which said first HVAC system does not independently control humidity inside said first structure.