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US 11,009,898 B2Granted
Thermal energy usage metering system for steam-heated multiple unit building
OwnerMarc Zuluaga, Jason Blockinventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system for determining the relative space heating energy contribution of different tenant spaces in a multiple tenant building that is heated via a central steam piping distribution system. A steam piping distribution system is connected to a central heat source such as a steam boiler plant or a local utility district steam service. The steam distribution system includes terminal units located throughout the building which deliver heat to different spaces. Data collected at regular intervals from sensors located throughout the building are analyzed by a computer in order to calculate the fraction of the overall building's steam use that is delivered to particular tenant spaces over a given interval in time.
Claims32
A steam heating metering system comprising:
- a computer in communication with a steam heating source, a plurality of valves and a plurality of temperature sensors, each temperature sensor associated with at least one of the plurality of valves and positioned remote from its associated valve and piping such that the plurality of temperature sensors measure temperature of one of one or more tenant spaces in a building;
- wherein the steam heating source is coupled to a plurality of heat elements via the piping such that adjustment of the valve position of one of the plurality of valves changes an amount of steam entering an associated one of the plurality of heat elements when the steam heating source is activated;
- software executing on said computer and receiving data from the valves indicative of a valve position thereof and status data from the steam heating source indicative of whether or not the steam heating source is activated;
- said software determines a tenant heat use quantity for each of the tenant spaces based on the status data from the steam heating source indicating the steam heating source is activated, readings from one of the plurality of temperature sensors associated with the valve, a set point of at least one thermostat in the tenant space, and a size of the tenant space.
1 more element
A steam heating metering system comprising:
- a computer in communication with a steam heating source, a plurality of heat delivery devices and a plurality of temperature sensors, each temperature sensor associated with at least one of the plurality of heat delivery devices;
- wherein the steam heating source is coupled to a plurality of heat elements via piping such that adjustment of the heat delivery devices is proportional to an amount of heat delivered when the steam heating source is activated;
- each temperature sensor positioned remote from the piping such that the plurality of temperature sensors measure temperature of one or more tenant spaces in a building;
- software executing on said computer and receiving data from the heat delivery devices indicative of a state thereof and status data from the steam heating source indicative of whether or not the steam heating source is activated;
- data storage accessible by said software and having heat element information indicative of specifications of the plurality of heat elements stored thereon wherein the heat element information is indicative of the specifications of two or more of the plurality of heat elements in different tenant spaces;
- said software determines a tenant heat use quantity for each tenant space based on the status data from the steam heating source indicating the steam heating source is activated, a set point of a thermostat associated with the tenant space and based on one or more of:
- at least one of the heat delivery devices based on the status thereof,
- the specifications of the associated heat element, and
- readings from one of the plurality of temperature sensors associated with the heat delivery device.
6 more elements
A steam heating metering system comprising:
- a computer in communication with a steam heating source and a plurality of temperature sensors;
- wherein the steam heating source is coupled to a plurality of heat elements via piping at least two sets of the plurality of heat elements comprise one or more heat elements and the at least two sets are located in at least two separate tenant spaces;
- each temperature sensor positioned remote from the piping such that the plurality of temperature sensors measure temperature of one of the at least two tenant spaces;
- software executing on said computer and receiving status data from the steam heating source indicative of whether or not the steam heating source is activated;
- data storage accessible by said software and having space information indicative of a thermal model of heat loss out of the space;
- wherein when said steam heating source is activated, said software determines a tenant heat use quantity for each of the at least two tenant spaces based the status data from the steam heating source indicating the steam heating source is activated and based on the space information, a time associated with said heating source status data indicative of said steam heating source being activated and a set point of a thermostat associated with the tenant space;
- the software further determining a tenant charge for the heat use quantity for each of the at least two tenant spaces based on a charge for energy usage associated with the steam heating source.
4 more elements
A steam heating metering system comprising:
- a computer in communication with a steam heating source and a plurality of temperature sensors wherein each temperature sensor is contained in one of a plurality of thermostats;
- the steam heating source is coupled to a plurality of heat elements via piping and at least two sets of the plurality of heat elements comprise one or more heat elements and the at least two sets are located in at least two separate tenant spaces;
- each thermostat positioned remote to the piping in that thermostat's corresponding tenant space such that the plurality of temperature sensors measure temperature of the at least two tenant spaces;
- software executing on said computer and receiving status data from the steam heating source indicative of whether or not the steam heating source is activated;
- said software determines a tenant heat use quantity based on the status data from the steam heating source indicating the steam heating source is activated, data indicative of a set point of each thermostat, and a size of the tenant space
- the software further determining a tenant charge for the heat use quantity for each of the at least two tenant spaces based on a charge for energy usage associated with the steam heating source and said software generates a bill for each tenant charge.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.