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US 12,169,072 B2Granted
Predictive control for domestic heating system
AssigneeAdemco Inc.
InventorJiri Rehor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
One or more systems, devices, and techniques for heating a structure using boiler water stored by a boiler are described herein. For example, a method includes obtaining gas consumption data for a heat source that is heating a structure and obtaining zone and ambient temperature data while the structure is being heated. Additionally, the method includes estimating unknown parameters of elements of a dynamic heat loss model as part of a model predictive control (MPC) model for the structure using inverse modeling as a function of the obtained gas consumption data and zone and ambient data.
Claims20
A method comprising:
- obtaining an outside temperature forecast for an area outside of a structure, wherein the outside temperature forecast includes a period of time following a present time;
- determining a sequence of boiler set points for a boiler using a model predictive control (MPC) model for the structure using inverse modeling, wherein the MPC model comprises:
- unknown parameters of elements of a dynamic heat loss model,
- wherein the unknown parameters are constrained within a predetermined expected range of the elements of the dynamic heat loss model, and
- wherein gas consumption data from a gas meter for the boiler is used to estimate the unknown parameters,
- a first control algorithm that accepts the outside temperature forecast as an input and generates a sequence of heat load set points over a first prediction horizon as an output, each heat load set point of the sequence of heat load set points representing a target heat load to be delivered by the boiler to a hydronic circuit at a time associated with the respective heat load set point;
- and
- a second control algorithm that accepts the sequence of heat load set points and a return water temperature, the return water temperature determined for heated water circulated via a series of pipes, as inputs and generates the sequence of boiler set points over a second prediction horizon as an output based on a determined efficiency for a respective heat load set point of the sequence of heat load set points, each boiler set point of the sequence of boiler set points representing a target parameter of the boiler at a time associated with the respective boiler set point, wherein the second prediction horizon is shorter than the first prediction horizon, the determined efficiency corresponding to a fuel cost for the respective heat load set point of the sequence of heat load set points determined as a function of the respective heat load set point and the return water temperature;
- and
- controlling, based on the MPC model including the sequence of heat load set points and the sequence of boiler set points, the boiler to heat the structure.
7 more elements
A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that when executed by a processor cause the processor to:
- obtain an outside temperature forecast for an area outside of a structure, wherein the outside temperature forecast includes a period of time following a present time;
- determine a sequence of boiler set points for a boiler using a model predictive control (MPC) model for the structure using inverse modeling, wherein the MPC model comprises:
- unknown parameters of elements of a dynamic heat loss model,
- wherein the unknown parameters are constrained within a predetermined expected range of the elements of the dynamic heat loss model, and
- wherein gas consumption data from a gas meter for the boiler is used to estimate the unknown parameters;
- a first control algorithm that accepts the outside temperature forecast as an input and generates a sequence of heat load set points over a first prediction horizon as an output, each heat load set point of the sequence of heat load set points representing a target heat load to be delivered by the boiler to a hydronic circuit at a time associated with the respective heat load set point;
- and
- a second control algorithm that accepts the sequence of heat load set points and a return water temperature, the return water temperature determined for heated water circulated via a series of pipes, as inputs and generates the sequence of boiler set points over a second prediction horizon as an output based on a determined efficiency for a respective heat load set point of the sequence of heat load set points, each boiler set point of the sequence of boiler set points representing a target parameter of the boiler at a time associated with the respective boiler set point,
- wherein the second prediction horizon comprises a first interval and a second interval distinct from the first interval, wherein the first interval comprises a consideration of various on/off scenarios for the boiler, and
- wherein the second interval comprises an assumption of a continuous modulation of the boiler,
- wherein the second prediction horizon is shorter than the first prediction horizon, the determined efficiency corresponding to a fuel cost for the respective heat load set point of the sequence of heat load set points determined as a function of the respective heat load set point and the return water temperature;
- and
- control, based on the MPC model including the sequence of heat load set points and the sequence of boiler set points, the boiler to heat the structure.
10 more elements
A device comprising:
- a processor;
- and
- a memory electrically connected to the processor, wherein the memory is configured to store a program that includes a model predictive control (MPC) model, wherein the processor is configured to:
- obtain an outside temperature forecast for an area outside of a structure, wherein the outside temperature forecast includes a period of time following a present time;
- determine a sequence of boiler set points for a boiler using MPC model for the structure using inverse modeling, wherein the MPC model comprises:
- unknown parameters of elements of a dynamic heat loss model,
- wherein the unknown parameters are constrained within a predetermined expected range of the elements of the dynamic heat loss model, and
- wherein gas consumption data from a gas meter for the boiler is used to estimate the unknown parameters,
- a first control algorithm that accepts the outside temperature forecast as an input and generates a sequence of heat load set points over a first prediction horizon as an output, each heat load set point of the sequence of heat load set points representing a target heat load to be delivered by the boiler to a hydronic circuit at a time associated with the respective heat load set point;
- and
- a second control algorithm that accepts the sequence of heat load set points and a return water temperature, the return water temperature determined for heated water circulated via a series of pipes, as inputs and generates the sequence of boiler set points over a second prediction horizon as an output based on a determined efficiency for a respective heat load set point of the sequence of heat load set points, each boiler set point of the sequence of boiler set points representing a target parameter of the boiler at a time associated with the respective boiler set point, wherein the second prediction horizon is shorter than the first prediction horizon, the determined efficiency corresponding to a fuel cost for the respective heat load set point of the sequence of heat load set points determined as a function of the respective heat load set point and the return water temperature;
- and
- control, based on the MPC model including the sequence of heat load set points and the sequence of boiler set points, the boiler to heat the structure.
10 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.