Setpoint adjustment-based duty cycling
AssigneeTendril Networks, Inc.
InventorEric M. Shiflet
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A facility for performing setpoint adjustment-based duty cycling techniques by adjusting the setpoint of a device or component is described. The facility reduces energy consumption for a system, such as an HVAC system, or device by adjusting or modulating an associated setpoint or temperature setting. The facility modulates the setpoint between a base setpoint value and another setpoint value based on a mode of the system. When the system is in a cooling mode, the facility modulates the temperature between the base setpoint value and a higher setpoint value. When the system is in heating mode, the facility modulates the temperature between the base setpoint value and a lower setpoint value. The facility may modulate the setpoint between the two setpoint values based on an offset value or a fixed setpoint value.
Claims14
A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions for performing a method of conserving energy in a system, the method comprising:
- determining a base setpoint value for a thermostat;
- receiving an indication of a duty cycling event having a duty cycling period;
- determining whether the duty cycling event is an offset-based duty cycling event;
- in response to determining that the duty cycling event is an offset-based duty cycling event,
- determining a first offset value for the duty cycling event,
- determining whether the system is in cooling mode,
- in response to determining that the system is in cooling mode,
- determining a first offset setpoint value based at least in part on the base setpoint value and the first offset value, and
- modulating a setpoint of the thermostat between the determined base setpoint value and the first offset setpoint value, and
- in response to determining that the system is not in cooling mode,
- determining a second offset setpoint value based at least in part on the base setpoint value and the first offset value, and
- modulating the setpoint of the thermostat between the determined base setpoint value, the second offset setpoint value, and a third offset setpoint value;
- and
- in response to determining that the duty cycling event is not an offset-based duty cycling event,
- modulating the setpoint of the thermostat between a fixed offset setpoint value and the base setpoint value.
A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions for performing a method of regulating a controlled device, the method comprising:
- identifying a base setpoint value for the controlled device;
- receiving an indication of a duty cycling event, the duty cycling event having a duration and an offset value;
- defining an offset setpoint value for the controlled device based at least in part on the base setpoint value and the offset value associated with the duty cycling event;
- and
- modulating a setpoint of the controlled device between the base setpoint value and the offset setpoint value over the duration of the duty cycling event.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.