WO2016022091A1

WO2016022091A1 - Interior temperature control

Info

Publication number: WO2016022091A1
Application number: PCT/US2014/049528
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ahmed Kamal NABIH
Original assignee: Nabih Ahmed Kamal
Priority date: 2014-08-04
Filing date: 2014-08-04
Publication date: 2016-02-11

Abstract

A climate management system and method for the interiors of buildings, which includes a multi-climate adjustment method heating and/or cooling control system that can help reduce climate control related costs of a building by optimizing energy choice based on real-time energy cost, current temperature, target temperature, outside temperature, zone area, and heating duration.

Description

INTERIOR TEMPERATURE CONTROL

Field

This disclosure relates to the management of the temperature inside of buildings.

Background

Buildings, and residential buildings in particular, tend to use a single fuel climate adjustment method each for heating and/or cooling. However, a single fuel method for heating or cooling is not always the most cost effective or energy efficient method to heat a building. In addition, thermostats tend to be placed in locations based primarily on convenience and access, which are not necessarily the most appropriate location. In homes, this tends to be a larger common area, such as a living room; other areas of the building may be relatively warmer or cooler than the zone in which the thermostat is located and the temperature to which the thermostat is responding. In an era of increasing fuel costs and rising awareness of energy efficiency, single fuel method heating is no longer the best solution to interior climate adjustment.

Summary

A multi-heating method computer-controlled climate management system optimizing fuel and energy use and cost. It can help reduce climate control related costs of a building by optimizing fuel choice based on real-time fuel cost, current temperature, target temperature, outside temperature, zone area, and/or heating duration.

Advantages

The system saves on fuel cost, reduces energy consumption, can make the building more comfortable than with a single fuel source/climate adjustment method, and can guard against accidentally overloading electrical circuits in the process.

This disclosure features a method of controlling the interior temperature in an area of a building that has a single zone heating or cooling system that has a central heating source and/or central cooling source, the method comprising placing one or more sub zone heating sources and/or cooling sources at one or more locations within the single zone, each such location establishing a sub zone, placing one or more sub zone temperature sensors such that each one is affected substantially by a sub zone source, and based at least in part on the temperature sensed by a sub zone temperature sensor, operating either a central source or a sub zone source, to heat or cool a particular sub zone.

Operating either a central source or a sub zone source, to heat or cool a particular sub zone, may be further based on the costs of operating the central source and the sub zone source. The central source and the sub zone sources may consume different fuels, or may consume the same fuel. The cost of operating the central source may be based at least in part on the cost of the fuel used by the central source. The cost of operating the central source may be based at least in part on previous operation of the central source. The cost of operating the sub zone source may be based at least in part on previous operation of the particular sub zone source. The cost of operating the sub zone source may be based at least in part on the cost of the fuel used by the sub zone source. Operating either a central source or a sub zone source, to heat or cool a particular sub zone, may still further be based on one or more of: the current temperature in the particular sub zone; the set point temperature in the particular sub zone; and the outside temperature. The central source can be triggered based on a sensed temperature in one or more sub-zones.

The method may further comprise, if two or more sub zone sources are connected to the same electrical circuit, cycling the operation of the sub zone sources such that only one sub zone source is operated at a time, so as to not overload the circuit. The method may further comprise establishing for the sub zone sources a maximum run time that the source is operated during cycling of the sub zone sources. The method may further comprise establishing a priority sub zone source, where the priority sub zone source is operated first during cycling of the sub zone sources. The priority sub zone source may be set by the user. The priority sub zone source may be based on the sub zone source with the lowest temperature.

Also featured is a method of controlling the interior temperature in an area of a building that has a single zone heating or cooling system that has a central heating source and/or central cooling source, the method comprising placing one or more sub zone heating sources and/or cooling sources at one or more locations within the single zone, each such location establishing a sub zone, placing one or more sub zone temperature sensors such that each one is affected

substantially by a sub zone source, based at least in part on the temperature sensed by a sub zone temperature sensor, operating either a central source or a sub zone source, to heat or cool a particular sub zone, wherein operating either a central source or a sub zone source, to heat or cool a particular sub zone, is further based on the costs of operating the central source and the sub zone source, wherein the cost of operating the central source is based at least in part on the cost of the fuel used by the central source and is based at least in part on previous operation of the central source, wherein the cost of operating the sub zone source is based at least in pail on previous operation of the particular sub zone source and is based at least in part on the cost of the fuel used by the sub zone source, wherein operating either a central source or a sub zone source, to heat or cool a particular sub zone, is still further based on one or more of the current temperature in the particular sub zone, the set point temperature in the particular sub zone, and the outside temperature, wherein if two or more sub zone sources are connected to the same electrical circuit, cycling the operation of the sub zone sources such that only one sub zone source is operated at a time, so as to not overload the circuit, and wherein the central source can be triggered based on a sensed temperature in a single sub-zone.

Still further featured is a system that controls the temperature in an area of a building that has a single zone heating or cooling system that has a central heating source and/or central cooling source, the system comprising a sub zone heating source and/or cooling source at one or more locations within the single zone, each such location establishing a sub zone, one or more sub zone temperature sensors that are each affected substantially by a sub zone source, and a control system that, based at least in part on the temperature sensed by a sub zone temperature sensor, causes operation of either a central source or a sub zone source, to heat or cool a particular sub zone,

The operation of either a central source or a sub zone source, to heat or cool a particular sub zone, may be further based on the costs of operating the central source and the sub zone source. The central and sub zone sources may consume different fuels. The cost of operating the central source may be based at least in part on the cost of the fuel used by the central source. The cost of operating the sub zone source may be based at least in part on previous operation of the particular sub zone source. The cost of operating the central source may be based at least in part on previous operation of the central source. Operating either a central source or a sub zone source, to heat or cool a particular sub zone, may still further be based on one or more of: the current temperature in the particular sub zone; the set point temperature in the particular sub zone; and the outside temperature. The cost of operating the sub zone source may be based at least in part on the cost of the fuel used by the sub zone source. The central source can be triggered based on a sensed temperature in a single sub-zone.

The control system, if two or more sub zone sources are connected to the same electrical circuit, may cycle the operation of the sub zone sources such that only one sub zone source is operated at a time, so as to not overload the circuit. The control system may further establish for the sub zone sources a maximum run time that the source is operated during cycling of the sub zone sources. The control system may further acknowledge a priority sub zone source, where the priority sub zone source is operated first during cycling of the sub zone sources. The priority sub zone source may be established by the user. The priority sub zone source may be based on the sub zone source with the lowest temperature.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a climate management system. Figure 2 illustrates the components in one zone.

Figure 3 is a circuit diagram connected to the microcontroller for the furnace zone.

Figure 4 is a heater circuit connected to the microcontroller.

Figure 5 is a temperature sensor circuit connected to the microcontroller.

Figure 6 illustrates a user interface for system control.

Figure 7 illustrates a user interface used to set zone temperatures.

Figure 8 shows zone-specific information.

Figure 9 illustrates system wide settings.

Figure 10 is an electricity cost graph.

Figure 1 1 is a fossil fuel cost graph.

Figure 12 illustrates total cost.

Figure 13 illustrates total cost for one month.

Figure 14 illustrates temperature in one zone. Figure 15 is an overlay of the target versus actual temperature in one zone.

Figure 16 is an overlay of the minimum versus actual temperature in one zone.

Figure 17 is an overlay of the heater status on a temperature chart.

Figure 18 is an overlay of the heat status on a temperature chart.

Figure 19 is an overlay of the outside temperature on a temperature chart.

Figure 20 is an overlay of the furnace status on a temperature chart.

Figure 21 illustrates a comprehensive log page.

Detailed Description

The climate management system and method involves creating a number of sub-zones in an existing building heating or cooling zone. Commonly, but not necessarily, a sub-zone is a room that is already part of a heating or cooling zone. Each sub-zone has a heater (e.g., an electric heater) and/or a cooler (e.g., an air conditioner) added, such that it is able to heat or cool the sub- zone. Each sub-zone also has a microcontroller with a temperature sensor. The sub-zone microcontrollers communicate with a system-level controller. The sub zone heaters/coolers or the central (existing) zone heating/cooling system is then operated. Sub- zone control can be used to heat or cool smaller parts of an existing zone. They can also be used to save money by providing for the selection of a fuel source based on the cost to use that particular fuel source to heat or cool the sub-zone. The disclosure can apply to buildings with more than one zone, in which case the system and method would be cloned for each zone configured. Each room or sub- zone would be a member of a zone, and each zone would have a furnace or air conditioning system associated with it. The building could have one furnace (or air conditioning system) serving one or more zones. Or the building could have multiple furnaces (or air conditioning systems), each serving one or more zones.

Fig 1 shows the layout of a non-limiting example of the whole climate management system 10. System 10 can also be used to practice the method.

The major components of the system are:

• Main controller (central controller or controller) - (1)

o Microcontrollers - (2) ^β Temperature sensors - (3)

« Electric heaters (or air condition in case of cooling) - (4)

β Furnace (or central air condition in case of cooling) - (5)

» Communication medium (to facilitate communication between controller and

microcontrollers) - (6)

• User interface (not shown)

The system is managed by one main controller 1 that ties into the microcontrollers 2 in each sub- zone. It is a centrally located multi-threaded program running on an x86 based computer. This computer is also running a web server. The user can interact with the central controller using the browser-based software user interface via the Internet. A single microcontroller 2 is located in each sub-zone of the building. Figure 1 illustrates a system with four sub-zones 12-15.

An electric heater 4 is located in each sub-zone. The heater receives an on/off command from the microcontroller.

The furnace 5 on/off leads (normally controlled by a central thermostat) is located in one spot of the building. It is controlled by the microcontroller 2.

The computer running the main controller 1 is connected to the home/building Ethernet network. The microcontrollers 2 can talk to the main controller 1 either via the Ethernet network or via a dedicated network that allows the controller 1 to talk directly to the microcontrollers 2.

Fig 2 is a depiction of the individual components in a sub-zone.

The microcontroller 2 has a temperature sensor 3. It has a digital output value that sends a signal to the "Local CAM Unit", where CAM stands for "Climate Adjustment Unit", which is either an electric heater or an air conditioner 4, and communicates to the central controller 1 via a communication medium 6.

Fig 3 is the circuit connected to the microcontroller for the furnace zone. The circuit contains the following:

• White LED and associated resistor. Indication that the controller gave order to turn on the furnace.

• Green LED and associated resistor. Under temperature protection indication in case of heating or over temperature protection indication in case of cooling.

• Four relays. • Thermostat 1 works as an under temperature protection thermostat in case of heating or over temperature protection in case of cooling.

• Thermostat 2 works as an over temperature protection thermostat in case of heating or under temperature protection in case of cooling.

The circuit is connected to the microcontroller using the following points: β Ground

• +5V

» Digital input D8

• Digital input D9

• Digital output D10

Digital output D10 is an output signal from the microcontroller to turn on the furnace.

Digital input D9 is feedback for controller output to the furnace.

Points A and B of Relay 4 are connected to the furnace via the thermostat 1.

Digital input D8 is thermostat 2 feedback.

All resistors in all circuits are IK Ohm

Fig 4 is heater circuit connected to the microcontroller.

The circuit is connected to the microcontroller using the following points:

• Ground

• 1 5v

• Relay

• LED and associated resistor

The digital output from the microcontroller is connected to the relay, which is connected to the electric heater.

Fig 5 is the temperature sensor circuit connected to the microcontroller. RIIT03 Humidity and Temperature sensor is used in the circuit.

Fig 6 is dashboard of the user interface controlling the system. It contains the following information/controls: wide information

On/off switch to turn on/off the whole climate control system.

Heartbeat: shows the last time the controller updated the database with heartbeat. ^β Outside temperature: shows the outside temperature now.

• All rooms comiected: green when all zones are connected, and red if at least one zone not connected.

• Healthy controller: green if the central controller software is healthy, and red if it is not.

• Start/Stop controller: switch to turn on/off the central controller software.

• Run mode: shows the current run mode of the system. At the time of this screen shot, the system was running the Hybrid run mode.

• Sign out button: signs the user out of the user interface. β Sub-zone-specific information

• On/off switch to turn on/off the heat for that sub-zone

• Current temperature: shows the current temperature in the sub-zone

• Current set temperature: shows the set temperature for that sub-zone now.

• Temperature setting heat: either on/off. Shows if the heat is currently on or off. This was set in the "Temperature Settings" tab

• Connected: green the zone is connected to the main controller, red otherwise

• Heater: shows the heater status, either red on or black off.

• Heater ON or OFF duration: shows how long the heater was turned on or off.

• Furnace: (only for sub-zones that have a furnace thermostat associated with them), either red ON or black OFF, which is the status of the furnace.

• Furnace ON or OFF duration: shows how long the furnace was turned on or off.

Fig 7 is the display to set temperature at any given moment at any given sub-zone. The user can add new record or modify the current records. The shown table has the following columns:

• Select column: when a column is selected then the user push on "Delete selected

records", the record will be deleted.

« Room: shows the zone name (unmodifiable).

• Time: shows the time. The time can be modified by single clicking on the field.

• Temperature: shows the set temperature for that sub-zone at that time. The temperature can be modified by single clicking on the field.

• Disabled: disables that record. When selected, this record will be considered nonexistent.

• Heat off: if a record has heat off selected, then during that time the heat will be turned off. The temperature value in that case will be ignored.

• Aggressive: used in Hybrid more.

Fig 8 is the sub-zone-specific information. It has the following field:

Room name: the user can specify the sub-zone name.

Bluetooth MAC address is the Bluetooth MAC address of the microcontroller.

9 Heater Power (KW): is the electric heater power in KW. • Maximum run time in minutes: this is useful if there are multiple electric heaters on the same electric circuit, this would be the maximum duration the heater will be on, that gives a chance to the other electric heaters on the same circuit to be turned on.

β Priority: if there are multiple sub-zones on the same electric circuit, and all of them need to be turned on, the one with higher priority will be turned on first. If they have the same priority, then the one with lower temperature will be turned on first. If they have the same temperature, then one of them will be selected at random.

• Bias: a value to the added to the temperature as a bias. Used for calibrating the

temperature sensor.

• Length. Width, and Height: dimensions of the sub-zone.

• Heat ON: turn on/off heat in this sub-zone.

• Enabled: when unchecked, this sub-zone will be disabled. If it is disabled, then the

central controller won't try to connect to this microcontroller.

• Has Heater: when checked indicates that this sub-zone has an electric heater

• Has Furnace: when checked indicates that this sub-zone has the thermostat leads to the furnace.

• Connected: indication only, which indicates whether this microcontroller is connected or not to the central controller.

9 is the system wide settings data. It has the following fields:

• Electricity price - $/ WH: this is the electricity price from the monthly electric bill.

• Hysteresis: the value between set temperature and the minimum temperature in case of heating, or the value between the set temperature and the maximum temperature in case of cooling.

• Furnace consumption rate: consumption rate of the furnace. In the above screen shot it shows that this furnace consumes 0.85 gallons of oil per hour.

• Fuel cost per unit: in the above screenshot it shows that the cost of one gallon of oil is $3.75.

• Furniture volume percentage: this is approximate value for the furniture volume in the building.

• Zip code: the controller use the zip code to call a web service that gets the outside

temperature.

® Run mode: can take one of these values: Collect data, Heater only, Furnace only, and Flybrid.

10 electricity cost graph. Takes date range, and shows this information:

• Total energy: total electric energy used in that duration in KWH.

• Total BTU: total BTU produced by electric heaters during that duration.

• Total Cost: in dollar.

• Table that has individual sub-zones that has total time where the heater was on, the

electric power consumed during that time in KWH, and the cost in dollar.

• Cost per sub-zone bar graph. • Cost per day bar graph.

Fig 11 fossil fuel cost graph. Takes date range, and shows this information: e Total BTU

• Total cost

β Table that has the total time the furnace was on, and how many units of fuel were

consumed (in this case it consumed 0.5 gallons), and the total cost

• Cost per day bar graph

Fig 12 total cost. This will sum the electricity and fuel costs together and give you a new total set of information.

Fig 13 total cost bar graph for the month of January. This is for illustration purposes. The screenshot shows the total energy cost in the month of January. The line chart on the right bar graph is the outside temperature, which uses the right hand side y-axis.

Fig 14 temperature charting. The user selects a sub-zone, date range and it will graph the temperature profile during that day/range of days. Maximum one week can be charted for performance reasons.

Fig 15 overlaying the set (target) temperature on the temperature chart.

Fig 16 overlaying the minimum temperature on the temperature chart.

Fig 17 overlaying the heater status, where the electric heater was turned on.

Fig 18 overlaying heat status on the temperature chart. Shows when the heat was turned on/off in this sub-zone.

Fig 19 overlaying outside temperature on the temperature chart, using the right hand side y-axis.

Fi 20 overlaying furnace status on the temperature chart. This shows when the furnace was turned on/off.

Fig 21 log page. Logs pretty much everything happening in the system such that the user has full visibility on what is going on.

Operation

Residential buildings typically have a minimal number of heating zones and the temperature sensor for the zone(s) often is in a location that favors convenience over accuracy and consistent climate control. For example, a thermostat may be placed in a common living area with many windows and a larger square footage. The climate system works to maintain a temperature in that more inefficient area. As a result, smaller zones may be too warm or too cool and overall energy usage is inefficient and cost is higher.

In the present disclosure, the main controller polls the microcontrollers for temperatures in each sub-zone, then decides on the fly to either turn on/off individual electric heaters or the furnace, as indicated by Figure 1.

The central and sub-zone heaters and air conditioners are sometimes referred to herein as "sources."

The main controller can prevent multiple devices from being run on the same electric circuit at the same time, instead cycling multiple devices so desired climate adjustment can be achieved while preventing overloading of circuits and possibly power outages.

Each sub-zone, consists of a microcontroller, a temperature sensor, and delivery methods for two types of heating based on different climate adjustment methods. Temperature is recorded on an ongoing basis and sent back to the main controller via wireless/wired interface.

The furnace circuit includes also an over-temperature protection thermostat and an under- temperature protection thermostat that is specifically applied to the CAM that services the entire building, for example, a furnace that uses fossil fuels:

• The under temperature thermostat triggers a system override to prevent unsafe or

undesirable situations, for example, pipes freezing in the winter, or over consumption of an energy source in the summer.

• Conversely, the over temperature thermostat prevents over consumption of an fuel/energy in the winter, or dangerously hot situation in the summer.

The software user interface allows the building owner/manager to input building, sub-zone, and CAM-specific details, and further customize the action/reaction of the system to optimize for comfort and cost. The software can be accessed via a browser-based application and

wireless/wired technology from anywhere in the world. In addition, collected data can be used for detailed analysis of cost and efficiencies on an ongoing basis. The user interface consists of eight tabs from which a user observes, customizes and interacts with the Climate Management System, as shown in Figures 5 and 6. The main controller can direct the Climate Management System to run in four possible modes:

1. Collect data mode

2. CAM 1 only mode (ex. oil furnace)

3. CAM 2 only mode (ex. electric heaters)

4. Hybrid mode (ex. both electric heaters and oil furnace).

In collect data mode, no action is taken by the controller, instead it just records the temperatures of all the sub-zones. It also records if the furnace is turned on/off.

In CAM1 only mode, only the furnace is controlled. It doesn't control the individual electric heaters.

In CAM 2 only mode, only individual electric heaters are controlled. It doesn't control the furnace.

In hybrid mode, both the individual electric heaters as well as the furnace are controlled based on whichever has a lower cost.

The hybrid mode is implemented as follows for heating:

Given the costs for CAM 1 (Furnace) and CAM 2 (electric heaters),

if CAM 1 cost < CAM 2 cost and

any sub-zone's temperature < its sub-zone minimum temperature and

number of sub-zones below minimum temperature > threshold number of sub-zones then turn on CAM 1 , else turn on CAM 2.

Where:

• CAM cost is the cost of raising the temperature one degree Fahrenheit in a zone

• hysteresis is set from the user interface; the default value is one degree Fahrenheit, fig 9

• minimum temperature = set temperature - hysteresis

• critical minimum temperature = set temperature - 2 x hysteresis

• set (target) temperature is set from the user interface, fig 7

• threshold number of sub-zones: roundup of (total number of sub-zones / 2)

To get the CAM 1 cost: get from the database similar records for a sub-zone where CAM 1 was ON based on the outside temperature within a five degree Fahrenheit band and average them. The system then calculates total CAM 1 cost by summing CAM 1 cost for all sub-zones with a temperature less than minimum temperature. The process is repeated for CAM 2, calculating sub-zone.

When the system is initially installed, there will be no records in the database with that outside temperature to get the cost from. In that situation, CAM 1 cost will be equal to CAM 2 cost of zero, so CAM 2 will be turned on. Next time the system needs to calculate the costs, it will find a non-zero value for CAM 2 and CAM 1 will be zero, so it will turn on CAM 1 , which will get a cost record for CAM 1 in the database.

Another condition where CAM 1 is turned on is if the sub-zone that has the furnace thermostat terminals has a temperature less than critical minimum temperature. In this case, CAM 1 is triggered immediately.

The last condition in which CAM 1 is triggered is if any sub-zone has temperature below the minimum temperature and the "aggressive" flag is set via the user interface. The aggressive flag signals the system that no matter the cost, use the whole/building system (CAM 1) to adjust interior temperature to the target temperature as quickly as possible. "Aggressive" is only available in hybrid mode.

To calculate cost of individual sub-zone when the furnace is turned on:

• Calculate the duration where the furnace was on

• Read the rise in temperature in each sub- zone

• Calculate the volume of the sub-zone excluding furniture (given its dimensions and the furniture percentage volume of the sub-zone) in cubic feet, fig 8.

• Calculate sub-zone ideal BTU: sub-zone volume excluding furniture x BTU to raise one cubic foot of air one degree Fahrenheit (0.018 BTU/(cubic foot x degree Fahrenheit) ) a Calculate total ideal BTU for all sub-zones, which is the sum of the ideal BTU of all sub- zones

• Calculate total actual BTU: duration where the furnace was on x furnace BTU per hour

• Calculate the efficiency of the furnace-based heating: total ideal BTU / total actual BTU

• Calculate sub-zone actual BTU: sub-zone ideal BTU / efficiency

• Calculate units of fossil fuel consumed for a sub-zone: sub-zone actual BTU / BTU

generated per unit of fossil fuel.

• Calculate the total cost for sub-zone: units of fossil fuel consumed for a sub-zone x cost of a unit of fossil fuel.

• Calculate the cost per one degree Fahrenheit: total cost for sub-zone / total rise in

temperature

• Persist the cost of raising the temperature one degree Fahrenheit for each sub-zone in the database, as well as the outside temperature. To calculate cost of individual sub-zone when the electric heater is turned on:

• Calculate the duration where the heater was on

• Read the rise in temperature in sub-zone

« Calculate total cost: duration which the heater was on x heater power in KW x electricity cost per KWH

« Calculate cost of raising the temperature one degree Fahrenheit: total cost / rise in

temperature

The above hybrid algorithm is for heating. A similar algorithm is used for cooling.

Fig 2 shows the microcontroller interaction with the system. The microcontroller has a temperature sensor that gets read and its value is sent periodically to the main (central) controller. If the main controller decides to turn on/off the electric heater, it sends the control signal to the microcontroller, which in turn outputs this signal as a digital output signal to a relay that is connected to the electric heater.

Fig 3 shows the furnace circuit that is connected to the microcontroller.

If the controller decides that it needs to turn on the electric heater, it will output a ground signal on digital output D10, which will energize Relay 2 and Relay 4.

When relay 2 is energized, contacts A-C will be connected, and +5v will be applied to Digital input D9, providing the feedback signal, and the white LED will be lit as an indication to the user.

When relay 4 is energized, relay contacts A-B will be connected and the furnace will be turned on, provided that thermostat l's switch is closed.

In case the system is used for heating, thermostat 1 will work as an over temperature protection thermostat, and is set at a high temperature, say 75F. As long as the temperature is below 75F, the thermostat contacts will be closed. If there is a problem, for example, the contacts of relay 4 are stuck closed, the furnace can run for quite some time, which could be very costly. In this case when the temperature reaches 75F, the thermostat will open, breaking the circuit.

In case the system is used for cooling, then the thermostat 1 will work as an under temperature protection. Assume that the thermostat 1 is set to 60F. If the contacts of relay 4 are stuck closed, the central air condition can run for quite some time, which could be very costly. In this case when the temperature reaches 60F, the thermostat will open, breaking the circuit. In case the system is used for heating, thermostat 2 will work as an under temperature protection thermostat, and is set at a low temperature, say 60F. As long as the temperature is above 60F, the thermostat contacts will be opened. If there is a system malfunction and the temperature dropped below 60F, the thermostat will close, which will cause the coils of relay 1 and relay 3 to be energized. When relay 3 gets energized, contacts A-B will close, which will cause the furnace to operate. When relay 1 is energized, contact AC will be closed, which will send a feedback signal on digital input D8 to the microcontroller, that will send it to the main controller, and the green LED will be lit.

In case the system is used for cooling, thermostat 2 will work as an over temperature protection thermostat, and is set at a high temperature, say 75F. As long as the temperature is below 75F, the thermostat contacts will be opened. If there is a system malfunction and the temperature is raised above 75F, the thermostat will close, which will cause the coils of relay 1 and relay 3 to be energized. When relay 3 gets energized, contacts A-B will close, which will cause the central air condition to operate. When relay 1 is energized, contact AC will be closed, which will send a feedback signal on digital input D8 to the microcontroller, that will send it to the main controller, and the green LED will be lit.

Fig 4 is heater circuit connected to the microcontroller.

If the controller decides that it needs to turn on the electric heater, it will send a +5v output voltage to the digital output, which will do two things: light the red LED and energize the relay. When the relay is energized, it will close its contacts, causing the heater to be turned on.

Fig 6 is dashboard of the user interface controlling the system.

Using this display the user can:

• Monitor the temperatures in each sub-zone

• Turn on/off the whole system (top left big green button)

• Turn on/off heat for individual sub-zones

• Start/Stop the controller

• Monitor outside temperature

• Monitor communication status between microcontroller and controller

• Monitor the heater and furnace statuses Fig 7 is the display to set temperature at any given moment at any given sub-zone. Using this display the user can set the set temperature for each sub-zone at any given time

Conclusion, Ramifications, and Scope

In broad embodiment, the present invention is a highly cost-and-energy-efficient multi-fuel climate management system, with highly customizable parameters via a proprietary software interface.

The advantages of the present invention include, without limitation:

• Optimizing the climate of a building in response to human comfort based on current fuel cost and real-time environmental conditions. The system can identify the least costly climate adjustment method for any condition using current data and allows the user to apply that data.

• Because the system optimizes climate adjustments on a smaller zone basis (a "sub- zone"), the system is more energy efficient than traditional climate management systems. Climate can adjust where needed only, thus reducing energy waste.

• Efficient management of existing energy source resources. Specifically, when the energy is electricity, the system effectively cycles electric heater use to balance load on circuits while achieving desired climate adjustment.

• Override of the system can be achieved for any sub-zone at any time. The system can favor any sub-zone, and that can be specified in the user interface. In traditional heating systems, system override can be achieved only from a single centrally located thermostat.

While the foregoing written description of the invention enables one of ordinary skill to make and use what is considered presently to be the best mode thereof, those of ordinary skill will understand and appreciate the existence of variations, combinations, and equivalents of the specific embodiment, method, and examples herein. The invention should therefore not be limited by the above described embodiment, method, and examples, but by all embodiments and methods within the scope and spirit of the invention.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A method of controlling the interior temperature in an area of a building that has a single zone heating or cooling system that has a central heating source and/or central cooling source, the method comprising:

placing one or more sub zone heating sources and/or cooling sources at one or more locations within the single zone, each such location establishing a sub zone;

placing one or more sub zone temperature sensors such that each one is affected substantially by a sub zone source; and

based at least in part on the temperature sensed by a sub zone temperature sensor, operating either a central source or a sub zone source, to heat or cool a particular sub zone.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein operating either a central source or a sub zone source, to heat or cool a particular sub zone, is further based on the costs of operating the central source and the sub zone source.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the central source and the sub zone sources consume different fuels.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the cost of operating the central source is based at least in part on the cost of the fuel used by the central source.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein the cost of operating the central source is based at least in part on previous operation of the central source.

6. The method of claim 2 wherein the cost of operating the sub zone source is based at least in part on previous operation of the particular sub zone source.

7. The method of claim 2 wherein the cost of operating the sub zone source is based at least in part on the cost of the fuel used by the sub zone source.

8. The method of claim 2 wherein operating either a central source or a sub zone source, to heat or cool a particular sub zone, is still further based on one or more of: the current temperature in the particular sub zone; the set point temperature in the particular sub zone; and the outside temperature.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising, if two or more sub zone sources are connected to the same electrical circuit, cycling the operation of the sub zone sources such that only one sub zone source is operated at a time, so as to not overload the circuit.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising establishing for the sub zone sources a maximum run time that the source is operated during cycling of the sub zone sources.

1 1. The method of claim 9 further comprising establishing a priority sub zone source, where the priority sub zone source is operated first during cycling of the sub zone sources.

12. The method of claim 1 1 where the priority sub zone source is set by the user.

13. The method of claim 1 1 where the priority sub zone source is based on the sub zone source with the lowest temperature.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the central source can be triggered based on a sensed temperature in one or more sub-zones.

15. A method of controlling the interior temperature in an area of a building that has a single zone heating or cooling system that has a central heating source and/or central cooling source, the method comprising:

placing one or more sub zone temperature sensors such that each one is affected substantially by a sub zone source;

based at least in part on the temperature sensed by a sub zone temperature sensor, operating either a central source or a sub zone source, to heat or cool a particular sub zone;

wherein operating either a central source or a sub zone source, to heat or cool a particular sub zone, is further based on the costs of operating the central source and the sub zone source; wherein the cost of operating the central source is based at least in part on the cost of the fuel used by the central source and is based at least in part on previous operation of the central source;

wherein the cost of operating the sub zone source is based at least in part on previous operation of the particular sub zone source and is based at least in part on the cost of the fuel used by the sub zone source; wherein operating either a central source or a sub zone source, to heat or cool a particular sub zone, is still further based on one or more of: the current temperature in the particular sub zone; the set point temperature in the particular sub zone; and the outside temperature;

wherein if two or more sub zone sources are connected to the same electrical circuit, cycling the operation of the sub zone sources such that only one sub zone source is operated at a time, so as to not overload the circuit; and

wherein the central source can be triggered based on a sensed temperature in a single sub- zone.

6. A system that controls the temperature in an area of a building that has a single zone heating or cooling system that has a central heating source and/or central cooling source, the system comprising:

a sub zone heating source and/or cooling source at one or more locations within the single zone, each such location establishing a sub zone;

one or more sub zone temperature sensors that are each affected substantially by a sub zone source; and

a control system that, based at least in part on the temperature sensed by a sub zone temperature sensor, causes operation of either a central source or a sub zone source, to heat or cool a particular sub zone.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein operation of either a central source or a sub zone source, to heat or cool a particular sub zone, is further based on the costs of operating the central source and the sub zone source.

18. The system of claim 16 wherein the central and sub zone sources consume different fuels.

19. The system of claim 7 wherein the cost of operating the central source is based at least in part on the cost of the fuel used by the central source.

20. The system of claim 17 wherein the cost of operating the sub zone source is based at least in part on previous operation of the particular sub zone source.

21. The system of claim 17 wherein the cost of operating the central source is based at least in part on previous operation of the central source.

22. The system of claim 17 wherein operating either a central source or a sub zone source, to heat or cool a particular sub zone, is still further based on one or more of: the current temperature in the particular sub zone; the set point temperature in the particular sub zone; and the outside temperature.

23. The system of claim 17 wherein the cost of operating the sub zone source is based at least in part on the cost of the fuel used by the sub zone source.

24. The system of claim 16 wherein the control system, if two or more sub zone sources are connected to the same electrical circuit, cycles the operation of the sub zone sources such that only one sub zone source is operated at a time, so as to not overload the circuit.

25. The system of claim 24 wherein the control system further establishes for the sub zone sources a maximum run time that the source is operated during cycling of the sub zone sources.

26. The system of claim 24 wherein the control system further acknowledges a priority sub zone source, where the priority sub zone source is operated first during cycling of the sub zone sources.

27. The system of claim 26 where the priority sub zone source is established by the user.

28. The system of claim 26 where the priority sub zone source is based on the sub zone source with the lowest temperature.

29. The system of claim 16 wherein the central source can be triggered based on a sensed temperature in a single sub-zone.