US 4,645,908 A · Residential heating, cooling and energy management system

Abstract

A residential HVAC system includes a heat pump having a compressor arranged to heat a domestic hot water vessel and to heat or cool a storage vessel which is connected to a heat exchanger within the residence. Temperature sensors are provided at critical locations throughout the system and current and voltage sensors are coupled to the power lines feeding the residence. A microprocessor controls the operation of the compressor and other components of the heat pump system in response to measured temperatures, in response to the level of energy supplied to the residence and in response to the existence of on- or off-peak time intervals to operate the compressor and/or resistive heating elements to condition the hot water and storage vessels for subsequent use and to control an interior fan to condition the space. Operation of the compressor is controlled during on-peak intervals as a function of the resident's life style as reflected in power usage and requested comfort level.

Claims8

Dependent claims

A method of controlling a space conditioning system to modify the temperature of a space within a structure wherein the system includes a thermal storage mass, means for selectively transferring heat between the storage mass and the ambient atmosphere, and means for selectively transferring heat between the storage mass and the space, the method comprising the steps of

establishing a set point temperature at which the space is to be maintained,
establishing a temperature range within which the thermal storage mass temperature is to be maintained to permit conditioning of the space using the thermal storage mass,
conditioning the thermal storage mass by transferring heat between the storage mass and the ambient atmosphere whenever the temperature of the storage mass degrades beyond the established range,
investigating the temperature of the space at selected times, and
conditioning the space by transferring heat between the thermal storage mass and the space when the temperature of the space differs from the set point by a selected amount without regard to whether the space conditioning time is during an on-peak or off-peak interval.

2 more elements

A method of controlling a space conditioning system to modify the temperature of a space within a residence being supplied with electrical energy during intervals of on-peak and off-peak electrical usage wherein the system includes a thermal storage mass, means for selectively transferring heat between the storage mass and the ambient atmosphere, means for selectively transferring heat between the storage mass and the space, and means for monitoring the electrical energy being supplied to the residence, the method comprising the steps of

establishing a set point temperature at which the space is to be maintained,
establishing a temperature range within which the thermal storage mass is to be maintained to permit conditioning of the space using the thermal storage mass,
conditioning the thermal storage mass during periods of off-peak usage to restore the temperature thereof to the established range by transferring heat between the thermal mass and the ambient atmosphere whenever the temperature of the mass degrades beyond the established range and during periods of on-peak usage for limited times to thereby cause the load factor of the residence to be close to unity,
determining the temperature of the space, and
conditioning the space by transferring heat between the thermal storage mass and the space when the temperature of the space differs from the set point by a selected amount without regard to whether the space conditioning time is during an on-peak or off-peak interval.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Residential heating, cooling and energy management system

Life of this patent

Residential heating, cooling and energy management system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims8