Temperature control system and methods for operating same

A method for operating a temperature control system for a structure, the method comprising:

• monitoring indoor and outdoor temperature;
• monitoring an operating state of the temperature control system;
• predicting a space temperature and an outdoor air temperature for a subsequent time period;
• estimating an operating metric for temperature control system based upon the (a) monitored interior temperature of the structure, (b) monitored outside air temperature, (c) monitored operating state of the temperature control system, (d) predicted space temperature, and (e) predicted outdoor air temperature;
• and
• controlling the temperature control system during the subsequent time period based upon the estimated operating metric.

A method for operating a temperature control system having a plurality of temperature control zones within a structure, the method comprising:

• monitoring outdoor temperature;
• monitoring an operating state of the temperature control system;
• monitoring a supply air temperature and a return air temperature;
• monitoring an operating status of a ventilation system;
• monitoring space temperature;
• monitoring a mixed air temperature, wherein the mixed air temperature is monitored within a housing of the temperature control system, downstream of a return air supply and downstream of outside air;
• calculating an opening position of the outdoor air damper based upon the monitored return air temperature, the monitored mixed air temperature, and the monitored outdoor temperature;
• calculating a first average space temperature for a first time period based upon the monitored inside air temperature;
• calculating a second average space temperature for a second time period based upon the monitored inside air temperature;
• calculating a first average outdoor air temperature for the first time period based upon the monitored outdoor air temperature;
• calculating a second average outdoor air temperature for the second time period based upon the monitored outdoor air temperature;
• iteratively, at defined time periods, summing, for a first result, a product of the monitored operating status of the ventilation system with a difference of the supply air temperature and the monitored return air temperature and a difference of a product of the monitored operating status of the ventilation system and the calculated opening position of the outdoor air damper with a difference of the monitored outdoor temperature and the monitored return air temperature;
• iteratively, at defined time periods, summing, for a result, a product of the monitored operating status of the ventilation system and the monitored opening position of the outdoor air damper with the difference of the monitored outdoor temperature and the monitored return air temperature;
• predicting a space temperature and an outdoor air temperature for a subsequent time period;
• estimating an operating metric for temperature control system based upon the (a) monitored interior temperature of the structure, (b) monitored outside air temperature, (c) monitored operating state of the temperature control system, (d) predicted space temperature, and (e) predicted outdoor air temperature, (f) the result, (g) the calculated opening position, (h) the supply air temperature, (i) the return air temperature, (j) the monitored space temperature;
• (k) the operating status of the ventilation system, (l) the calculated first average space temperature, (m) the calculated second average space temperature, (n) the calculated first average outdoor air temperature, and (o) the calculated second average outdoor air temperature;
• and
• controlling the temperature control system during the subsequent time period based upon the estimated operating metric.

A method for operating a temperature control system having a ventilation system, the ventilation system comprising an outdoor air damper, the method comprising:

• monitoring an outdoor air temperature, return air temperature, and a supply air temperature;
• monitoring an operating status of a ventilation system;
• monitoring an opening position of the outdoor air damper;
• calculating a first metric based upon a product of the monitored operating status of the ventilation system and the monitored opening position of the outdoor air damper with a difference of the monitored outdoor temperature and the monitored return air temperature;
• calculating a second metric based upon a product of the monitored operating status of the ventilation system with a difference of the supply air temperature and the monitored return air temperature and a difference of a product of the monitored operating status of the ventilation system and the monitored opening position of the outdoor air damper with the difference of the monitored outdoor temperature and the monitored return air temperature;
• and
• controlling the outdoor air damper based upon the calculated first and second metrics.

A thermostat for controlling a temperature control system for a structure, the thermostat comprising:

• an indoor temperature sensor configured to monitor indoor air temperature;
• and
• a controller configured to execute the following steps:
• monitoring indoor temperature;
• monitoring an operating state of the temperature control system;
• receiving an outdoor air temperature, and a predicted outdoor air temperature for a subsequent time period;
• predicting a space temperature for the subsequent time period;
• estimating an operating metric for temperature control system based upon the (a) monitored interior temperature of the structure, (b) outside air temperature, (c) monitored operating state of the temperature control system, (d) predicted space temperature, and (e) predicted outdoor air temperature;
• and
• controlling the temperature control system during the subsequent time period based upon the estimated operating metric.

A method for calculating a structure's R-value, the structure having a temperature control system, the method comprising:

• monitoring temperature inside the structure and an outdoor air temperature;
• monitoring a supply air temperature and a return air temperature;
• monitoring an operating status of a ventilation system;
• calculating an average space temperature set point for a first time period based upon the monitored inside air temperature;
• calculating an average outdoor air temperature for the first time period based upon the monitored outdoor air temperature;
• iteratively, at defined time periods, summing, for a first result, a product of the monitored operating status of the ventilation system with a difference of the supply air temperature and the monitored return air temperature and a difference of a product of the monitored operating status of the ventilation system with a difference of the monitored outdoor temperature and the monitored return air temperature;
• iteratively, at defined time periods, summing, for a second result, a product of the monitored operating status of the ventilation system with the difference of the monitored outdoor temperature and the monitored return air temperature;
• and
• subtracting the average space temperature set point from the average outdoor air temperature and diving by a sum of the first result and the second result to determine a slope value;
• correlating the slope value to an R-value;
• and
• controlling the temperature control system based upon the correlating.

A temperature control system for a structure, the system comprising:

• an indoor temperature sensor configured to monitor indoor air temperature;
• an outdoor temperature sensor configured to monitor outdoor air temperature;
• a server configured to monitor an operating state of the temperature control system, wherein the server is further configured for performing the following steps:
• predicting a space temperature and an outdoor air temperature for a subsequent time period;
• estimating an operating metric for temperature control system based upon the (a) monitored interior temperature of the structure, (b) monitored outside air temperature, (c) monitored operating state of the temperature control system, (d) predicted space temperature, and (e) predicted outdoor air temperature;
• and
• controlling the temperature control system during the subsequent time period based upon the estimated operating metric.

A method for operating a system having a cooling system and ventilation system to vent outside air within a structure, the method comprising:

• monitoring an interior temperature of the structure, monitoring an exterior temperature of ambient air outside of the structure;
• defining a first time range and a second time range;
• associating one or more operating parameters of the system with the first time range;
• associating one or more operating parameters of the system with the second time range;
• monitoring operational time and operational load of the cooling system for the first time range;
• and
• controlling the ventilation system during the second time range based upon the monitored operational time and operational load of the cooling system in the first time range, and the monitored interior and exterior temperatures.