# US 2019/0170381 A1 · System and Method For Aligning HVAC Consumption With Photovoltaic Production With The Aid Of A Digital computer

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- Number: US 2019/0170381 A1
- Document ID: US20190170381A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 16/271,374
- Filed: 2019-02-08
- Published: 2019-06-06
- Earliest claimed: 2015-02-25
- Assignees: Clean Power Research, L.L.C.
- Applicants: Clean Power Research, L.L.C.
- Inventors: Thomas E. Hoff
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190170381A1

## CPC

- F24F 11/30: for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring
- F24F 11/46: Improving electric energy efficiency or saving
- F24F 11/62: characterised by the type of control or by internal processing, e.g. using fuzzy logic, adaptive control or estimation of values
- F24F 11/63: Electronic processing
- G05B 15/02: electric
- F24F 2110/10: Temperature
- F24F 2110/12: of the outside air
- F24F 2130/20: Sunlight
- F24F 2140/50: Load
- F24F 2140/60: Energy consumption
- G05B 2219/2642: Domotique, domestic, home control, automation, smart house
- F24F: AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING (removing dirt or fumes from areas where they are produced B08B15/00; vertical ducts for carrying away waste gases from buildings E04F17/02; tops for chimneys or ventilating shafts, terminals for flues F23L17/02)
- G05B: CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS (systems for controlling or regulating non-electric variables G05D; systems for regulating electric or magnetic variables G05F; control devices or systems insofar as characterised by mechanical features only G05G)

## Abstract

HVAC load can be shifted to change indoor temperature. A time series change in HVAC load data is used as input modified scenario values that represent an HVAC load shape. The HVAC load shape is selected to meet desired energy savings goals, such as reducing or flattening peak energy consumption load to reduce demand charges, moving HVAC consumption to take advantage of lower utility rates, or moving HVAC consumption to match PV production. Time series change in indoor temperature data can be calculated using only inputs of time series change in the time series HVAC load data combined with thermal mass, thermal conductivity, and HVAC efficiency. The approach is applicable for both winter and summer and can be applied when the building has an on-site PV system.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for aligning HVAC consumption with photovoltaic production with the aid of a digital computer, comprising the steps of:
obtaining time series net load for a time period during which HVAC load for a building will be shifted, an on-site PV system connected to the building, the time period comprising regular intervals;
setting time series total load to equal the time series net load plus time series PV production data;
estimating time series non-HVAC load during the time period;
finding existing time series HVAC load by subtracting the time series non-HVAC load from the time series total load;
selecting an HVAC load shifting strategy comprising moving HVAC consumption to match the PV production, the HVAC shifting strategy subject to one or more conditions associated with an indoor temperature of the building;
constructing modified time series net load to match the selected HVAC load shifting strategy subject to operational constraints on the HVAC load remaining a positive value and exceeding the HVAC equipment rating;
finding modified time series HVAC load by subtracting the time series non-HVAC load from the modified time series net load and adding to a result of the subtraction the time series PV production data;
finding time series change in HVAC load by subtracting the modified time series HVAC load from the existing time series HVAC load;
iteratively constructing time series change in indoor temperature for the time period as a function of the time series change in HVAC load and the thermal mass, thermal conductivity, and HVAC efficiency for the building;
evaluating whether the modified time series HVAC load meets the operational constraints and that the conditions associated with the indoor temperature are satisfied,
wherein the steps are performed by a suitably programmed computer and an HVAC system of the building is operated based on the HVAC load shifting strategy upon the evaluation the operational constraints and the conditions being met.

### Claim 2 (depends on 11)

A method according to claim 11, further comprising one of:
constraining the changes in indoor temperature to equal zero at the beginning and ending of the time period; and
constraining the changes in indoor temperature to not change beyond a specified range at the beginning and ending of the time period.

### Claim 3 (depends on 11)

A method according to claim 11, wherein the time series PV production data is one of measured, forecasted, or simulated.

### Claim 4 (depends on 11)

A method according to claim 11, wherein the time series PV production data is one of measured, forecasted, or simulated.