Thermal comfort controller having an integral energy savings estimator
AssigneeHoneywell International Inc.
InventorDipak J. Shah
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A thermal comfort controller using various recovery methods to change the indoor temperature to meet set points in a setup/setback schedule to maintain thermal comfort for occupants of an enclosure. The thermal comfort controller further comprising an apparatus to determine the expected energy savings when modifying the setup/setback schedule for the enclosure in which the temperature controller is used. The energy savings information may be displayed to the enclosure occupant for further consideration.
Claims19
An apparatus for cooperating with a thermal comfort controller having an indoor temperature sensor providing an indoor temperature signal encoding an indoor dry-bulb temperature, and which controls the operation of a climate control system to maintain an indoor temperature based upon a preprogrammed setup/setback schedule, the apparatus for further providing an accurate estimate of energy savings, said apparatus comprising:
- an outdoor temperature sensor providing an outdoor temperature signal encoding an outdoor dry-bulb temperature;
- and
- a calculator receiving an indoor temperature signal from the indoor temperature sensor which encodes the indoor temperature and the outdoor temperature signal, the preprogrammed setup/setback schedule from a thermal comfort controller memory, and a second indoor temperature set point from the thermal comfort controller, for computing a potential energy savings if the thermal comfort controller uses the second indoor temperature.
An apparatus for cooperating with a thermal comfort controller having an indoor temperature sensor, a user display, and which controls the operation of a climate control system to maintain an indoor temperature based upon a preprogrammed setup/setback schedule, the apparatus for further providing an accurate estimate of energy savings, said apparatus comprising:
- an outdoor temperature sensor providing an outdoor temperature signal encoding an outdoor temperature;
- a calculator receiving an indoor temperature signal from the indoor temperature sensor which encodes the indoor temperature and the outdoor temperature signal, the preprogrammed setup/setback schedule from a thermal comfort controller memory, and another setup/setback schedule from the thermal comfort controller, wherein both setup/setback schedules comprise at least one indoor temperature set point, for computing an amount of energy savings if the thermal comfort controller uses the said another setup/setback schedule;
- wherein the amount of energy savings is determined by:
- determining the amount of energy required to maintain the enclosure at said at least one indoor temperature set point for both setup/setback schedules;
- determining the amount of energy required to recover from an energy savings set point temperature to the sensed indoor temperature;
- determining the amount of energy required to recover from an energy savings set point temperature to said at least one indoor temperature set point of said another setup/setback schedule;
- and
- comparing the amount of energy required to maintain the enclosure at both setup/setback schedules, and the amount of energy required to recover from an energy savings set point temperature to the sensed indoor temperature and to said at least one indoor temperature set point in said another setup/setback schedule;
- and
- wherein the amount of energy savings is displayed on the thermal comfort controller display.
An apparatus for cooperating with a thermal comfort controller having an indoor temperature sensor, a user display, and which controls the operation of a climate control system to maintain an indoor temperature based upon a preprogrammed setup/setback schedule, the apparatus for further providing an accurate estimate of energy savings, said apparatus comprising:
- an outdoor temperature sensor providing an outdoor temperature signal encoding an outdoor dry-bulb temperature;
- a calculator receiving an indoor temperature signal from the indoor temperature sensor which encodes the indoor temperature and the outdoor temperature signal, the preprogrammed setup/setback schedule from a thermal comfort controller memory, and a second indoor temperature from the thermal comfort controller, for computing a percentage of potential energy savings if the thermal comfort controller uses the second indoor temperature;
- wherein the percentage energy savings is determined by a first value determined by the first indoor dry-bulb temperature minus the second indoor temperature, the first value divided by a second value determined by the first indoor dry-bulb temperature minus the outdoor dry-bulb temperature, and the resulting fraction multiplied by 100;
- and wherein the percentage of energy savings is displayed on the thermal comfort controller display.
A thermal comfort controller, including:
- an outdoor temperature sensor providing an outdoor temperature signal encoding an outdoor dry-bulb temperature;
- an indoor temperature sensor providing an indoor temperature signal encoding an indoor dry-bulb temperature value;
- a memory storing a preprogrammed setup/setback schedule and a new indoor temperature set point entered into said thermal comfort controller;
- and
- a calculator receiving the indoor and outdoor temperature signals, the preprogrammed setup/setback schedule and entered new indoor temperature set point for computing a percentage of potential energy savings using the second indoor temperature.
A thermostat comprising:
- an outdoor temperature sensor providing an outdoor temperature signal encoding an outdoor temperature;
- an indoor temperature sensor providing an indoor air temperature signal encoding an indoor temperature value;
- and
- a calculator receiving the indoor and outdoor air temperature signals, an entered preprogrammed setup/setback schedule and an entered indoor temperature, for computing a potential energy savings using the entered indoor temperature.
A method of estimating the amount energy saved by a modification of a setup/setback schedule of a thermostat controlling the temperature within a structure, comprising:
- providing a preprogrammed setup/setback schedule;
- sensing a indoor temperature;
- sensing an outdoor temperature;
- entering a proposal indoor temperature;
- calculating the energy savings;
- and
- presenting the energy savings to a thermostat user.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.