WO2019157584A1 - Thermostat programmable par prévision météorologique et commande de ptac à réseau sans fil - Google Patents

Thermostat programmable par prévision météorologique et commande de ptac à réseau sans fil Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2019157584A1
WO2019157584A1 PCT/CA2018/050165 CA2018050165W WO2019157584A1 WO 2019157584 A1 WO2019157584 A1 WO 2019157584A1 CA 2018050165 W CA2018050165 W CA 2018050165W WO 2019157584 A1 WO2019157584 A1 WO 2019157584A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
weather
ptac
heating
anticipating
temperature
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/CA2018/050165
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Matthew James Lewis
Original Assignee
Iot Technologies Inc.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Iot Technologies Inc. filed Critical Iot Technologies Inc.
Priority to PCT/CA2018/050165 priority Critical patent/WO2019157584A1/fr
Publication of WO2019157584A1 publication Critical patent/WO2019157584A1/fr

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Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
    • F24F11/00—Control or safety arrangements
    • F24F11/50—Control or safety arrangements characterised by user interfaces or communication
    • F24F11/56—Remote control
    • F24F11/58—Remote control using Internet communication
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
    • F24F11/00—Control or safety arrangements
    • F24F11/30—Control or safety arrangements for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring
    • F24F11/32—Responding to malfunctions or emergencies
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
    • F24F11/00—Control or safety arrangements
    • F24F11/30—Control or safety arrangements for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring
    • F24F11/32—Responding to malfunctions or emergencies
    • F24F11/38—Failure diagnosis
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
    • F24F11/00—Control or safety arrangements
    • F24F11/50—Control or safety arrangements characterised by user interfaces or communication
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
    • F24F11/00—Control or safety arrangements
    • F24F11/62—Control or safety arrangements characterised by the type of control or by internal processing, e.g. using fuzzy logic, adaptive control or estimation of values
    • F24F11/63—Electronic processing
    • F24F11/65—Electronic processing for selecting an operating mode
    • F24F11/67—Switching between heating and cooling modes
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
    • F24F2110/00—Control inputs relating to air properties
    • F24F2110/10—Temperature
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
    • F24F2130/00—Control inputs relating to environmental factors not covered by group F24F2110/00
    • F24F2130/10—Weather information or forecasts
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01W—METEOROLOGY
    • G01W1/00—Meteorology
    • G01W1/10—Devices for predicting weather conditions

Definitions

  • thermostats automatically turn on the heat when the room or zone temperature drops below the heating set point and then start the air conditioning when the room or zone temperature exceeds the cooling set point.
  • a Packaged Terminal Air Conditioner (abbreviated as PTAC) is a type of self-contained heating and air conditioning system commonly used in hospitals, hotels, motels, senior housing facilities, condominiums, apartment buildings, schools and student dormitories. Most PTACs are used to heat or cool a single room using only electric heaters and or heat pumps for heating. Some PTACs are cooling only. Other PTACs are equipped with hydronic heating coils or natural gas heating.
  • the PTAC is connected to a wall thermostat with switches.
  • the switches control the heating or cooling mode of operation and the fan settings.
  • the cooling will be automatically controlled by the thermostat temperature set point.
  • the outside temperature gets cold someone in the room must switch the thermostat to heating mode and the heating will be automatically controlled by the thermostat temperature set point. If the days are hot and the nights are cool then someone will needs to switch the thermostat to heating at night and back to cooling as the room gets hot during the day. This constant switching of the thermostat results in damage to the thermostat and wasted energy by manually switching between cooling and heating.
  • a heating and air conditioning control system comprising:
  • a microcomputer-based unit with a wireless transceiver outputs connected or connectable to a heating and air conditioning system to control operation thereof, including switching thereof between heating and cooling modes, and an input connected to a temperature transducer to measure a current indoor temperature in an indoor environment in which temperature is to be controlled by operation of said heating and air conditioning system;
  • one or more internet based meteorological HTTP web servers that provide current and forecasted weather data
  • microcomputer-based unit is configured to, automatically control operation of the heating and air conditioning system based on the current and forecasted weather data and the current indoor temperature relative to a desired set point temperatures for said indoor environment.
  • the microcomputer-based unit which may be a Weather Anticipating Programmable Thermostat or Package Terminal Air Conditioning (PTAC) controller, uses meteorological data obtained through the internet to determine the upcoming heating or cooling requirements.
  • the Weather Anticipating Programmable Thermostat controls the heating and cooling based on desired set points, actual room temperature and current and/or anticipated weather conditions. As an example in a system with heating and air conditioning, if in the early morning the room or zone temperature drops below the desired heating set point and according to the current weather forecast it is going to get hot, the Weather Anticipating Programmable Thermostat will avoid heating unless absolutely needed. Likewise in the late afternoon if the room or zone temperature exceeds the cooling set point and the outside weather conditions are about to get cooler the Weather Anticipating Programmable Thermostat will avoid running the air conditioning unless absolutely needed.
  • PTAC Package Terminal Air Conditioning
  • a computer- implemented method of controlling operation of a heating and air conditioning system said method automatically obtaining current and forecasted weather data from one or more internet based meteorological HTTP based web servers, automatically controlling operation of the heating and air conditioning system based on the current and forecasted weather data and a current indoor temperature of an indoor environment relative to a desired set point temperature for said indoor environment.
  • a packaged terminal air conditioner control system comprising:
  • wireless network transceiver coupled to each said computer control system, e. wireless internet access point connecting said wireless network transceiver, f. internet server that interfaces with said computer control systems through said wireless internet access point,
  • the system further comprises an interface to the key card access system that provides room occupancy status data that is used to control the operation and temperature settings of the said packaged terminal air conditioner.
  • system further comprises an interface to the front desk registration system that provides room occupancy status data that is used to control the operation and temperature settings of the said packaged terminal air conditioner.
  • Another aspect of the invention relates to a method controlling the heating cooling changeover operation of a plurality of packaged terminal air conditioners based on current weather and weather forecast information obtained through the internet.
  • Another aspect of the invention relates to a method of controlling the peak energy demand of a plurality of packaged terminal air conditioners through a wireless network connected to an internet based cloud server.
  • Another aspect of the invention relates to a method of staging of a plurality of packaged terminal air conditioners through a wireless network connected to an internet based cloud server.
  • Another aspect of the invention relates to a method of monitoring of a plurality of packaged terminal air conditioners through a wireless network connected to an internet based cloud server.
  • Another aspect of the invention relates to a method of detecting and alarming low or high temperatures conditions in rooms with packaged terminal air conditioners through a wireless network connected to an internet based cloud server.
  • Another aspect of the invention relates to a method of controlling the operation of a plurality of packaged terminal air conditioners based on anticipated demand determined by local weather forecast data.
  • Fig. 1 is a simplified schematic diagram illustrating a first embodiment of the present invention, in which a Weather Anticipating Programmable Thermostat is employed control a heating and air conditioning system.
  • Fig. 2 is a simplified schematic diagram illustrating a second embodiment of the present invention, in which a set of microcomputer based PTAC Weather Anticipating Programmable Controllers operating a plurality of PTACs make use of weather data from one or more meteorological servers.
  • Fig. 3 illustrates heating hysteresis control using the system of either Fig. 1 or Fig. 2.
  • Fig. 4 illustrates cooling hysteresis control using the system of either Fig. 1 or Fig. 2.
  • Fig 5 illustrates an example operation of the weather anticipating programmable thermostat over a 24-hour period.
  • a first embodiment of the present invention features a Weather Anticipating Programmable Thermostat that uses meteorological data obtained through the internet to determine the upcoming heating or cooling requirements.
  • the Weather Anticipating Programmable Thermostat controls the heating and cooling based on desired set point, actual room temperature and current and anticipated weather conditions. Though described herein mainly in the context of a combined heating and air conditioning system operable in both heating and cooling modes, the same Weather Anticipating Programmable Thermostat also works with “heating only” systems that lack a separate cooling function, and air conditioning only systems that lack a heating function.
  • the Weather Anticipating Programmable Thermostat contains a microcomputer system, input output interface and wireless transceiver.
  • the microcomputer system includes a microprocessor, and non-transitory computer readable memory in the form of SRAM, and FLASH / EEPROM memory.
  • the input output interface includes the power supply, NC and NO dry contacts and transducer inputs.
  • the NC and NO dry contacts are used to interface with heating and cooling systems.
  • the transducer inputs interface with a local room or zone temperature sensor for measuring a current room/zone temperature within an indoor environment that is heated and cooled by the heating and air conditioning system.
  • the Weather Anticipating Programmable Thermostat interfaces with all types of heating systems, HVAC systems, boilers, pumps, air conditioning systems and zoned systems that are designed to operate from a common thermostat.
  • Such connections by which a computerized thermostat is interfaced with the components of a heating and air conditioning system are well known in the art, and thus not specifically described herein in greater detail.
  • the transceiver within the Weather Anticipating Programmable Thermostat may use any of the various Wi-Fi IEEE 802.11 wireless specifications for communications.
  • the Weather Anticipating Programmable Thermostat are programmed into the FLASH / EEPROM memory through a wireless enabled device.
  • the wireless enabled devices include, a cell phone, tablet, laptop or desktop computer.
  • the programmed settings include desired heating and cooling set points and 7 day time scheduled set points.
  • the Weather Anticipating Programmable Thermostat connects to the internet through a wireless access point. Via the wireless access point, the Weather Anticipating Programmable Thermostat obtains current local weather and weather forecast data from internet based meteorological servers, and obtains current local time and date from internet based NTP (Network Time Protocol) servers.
  • NTP Network Time Protocol
  • the Weather Anticipating Programmable Thermostat status and set points can be accessed through the internet, for example using any internet capable device (e.g. cell phone, tablet, laptop or desktop computer) to access one more status, interface, update servers, which may for example be cloud based.
  • Software updates for the Weather Anticipating Programmable Thermostat are downloaded through the internet from said cloud based status, interface update servers.
  • the Weather Anticipating Programmable Thermostat 101 connects to the Heating Air Conditioning System Controller 110 through wired connection 105. Temperature Set Points are programmed into the Weather Anticipating Programmable Thermostat 101 by an authorized user through the wireless network enabled device 120.
  • the Weather Anticipating Programmable Thermostat 101 connects to the Internet Cloud through a wireless connection 144, Internet Access Point Router 140 and the Broadband Internet connection 142.
  • the Status Interface Alarm Control Update Servers 139 communicate with the Weather Anticipating Programmable Thermostat 101.
  • the Weather Anticipating Programmable Thermostat 101 is mounted on the wall with an internal room / zone temperature transducer 102 and interfaces through connector 103 with the Heating Air Conditioning System 110 using dry contacts.
  • the Weather Anticipating Programmable Thermostat 101 is connected to an external room / zone temperature transducer 107 through connector 109 and connector 103, 105 interfaces with the Heating Air Conditioning System Controller 110 using dry contacts, modulated voltage or current signals.
  • the Weather Anticipating Programmable Thermostat 101 and the Heating Air Conditioning System Controller 110 are combined and installed within the Heating Air Conditioning System 104 with an external room / zone temperature transducer 107.
  • the Weather Anticipating Programmable Thermostat 101 and Heating Air Conditioning System Controller 110 form a Combination Controller 101 + 110 that interfaces with the fan motor and heating and air conditioning system 112 through dry contacts, temperature transducers, pressure switches, pressure transducers, stepping motors, modulated voltage or current signals, to directly control the operation of the fan, compressor, heaters, valves and dampers.
  • the Status Interface Alarm Control Update Servers 139 are preferably cloud based, and interface with other cloud servers including the NTP Servers 136 and Meteorological Servers 133.
  • the NTP Servers 136 provide local time and date.
  • the Status Interface Alarm Control Update Servers 139 download and process multiple http and https based webpages containing current weather data and forecasted weather data from Meteorological Servers 133.
  • the Status Interface Alarm Control Update Servers 139 may select the most accurate weather data to be used by the Weather Anticipating Programmable Thermostat 101 . To assess accuracy, The Status Interface Alarm Control Update Servers 139 obtain respective sets of weather data from the different meteorological servers, and then compare these data sets against one another in order to filter out any current and forecasted weather data that differ notably from the other data sets, essentially using this anomaly as a sign that the notably different forecast is inaccurate, and thus unreliable for use by the system. The current and forecasted weather data used by the system is thus selected from only the remaining, higher- accuracy data sets remaining after the filtering step.
  • the Weather Anticipating Programmable Thermostat 101 will switch to fail safe mode.
  • the Weather Anticipating Programmable Thermostat 101 will maintain temperatures based on predetermined settings stored within the memory of the thermostat’s microcomputer. These predetermined failsafe settings, at minimum, preferably include a default set point temperature near which the indoor environment is to be maintained during fail safe operation.
  • the Weather Anticipating Programmable Thermostat 101 will send alarm signals to the Status Interface Alarm Control Update Servers 139.
  • the Status Interface Alarm Control Update Servers 139 receive an alarm signal, they generates an alarm notification.
  • Alarm notifications are sent by email or SMS text messages to one more authorized users, who then, whether themselves, or through a representative or third party service, may initiate investigation of the problem, whether remotely or on site, and then take appropriate corrective action (e.g. equipment service, repair or replacement).
  • the Weather Anticipating Programmable Thermostat 101 After installation, the Weather Anticipating Programmable Thermostat 101 initially operates in safe mode and is programmed directly by the Wi-Fi enabled device 120, whereby the authorized user can program one more desirable set point temperatures (i.e. desired indoor air temperature for the room/zone concerned), and a scheduled timeframe at which each such set point temperature is to be applied.
  • the set point temperatures may include different set point temperatures for heating and cooling modes.
  • the Weather Anticipating Programmable Thermostat 101 is capable of switching the heating and air conditioning system between heating and cooling modes automatically, the stored set points may alternatively be independent of a particular operating mode of the heating and cooling system, and instead be correlated only with the particular timeframes assigned to the different set points.
  • the thermostat will automatically switch the heating and air conditioning system between heating and cooling mode according to weather forecast data and the current room/zone temperature relative to the currently scheduled set point.
  • the safe mode direct connection 146 allows the Weather Anticipating Programmable Thermostat 101 to be configured directly through 146 or Internet Access Point Router 140. Once the Weather Anticipating Programmable Thermostat 101 establishes connection to the Internet Cloud 130, it connects to the Status Interface Alarm Control Update Servers 139. Settings, temperature readings and updates are exchanged between the Weather Anticipating Programmable Thermostat 101 and the Status Interface Alarm Control Update Servers 139.
  • the Weather Anticipating Programmable Thermostat 101 can be monitored, programmed and controlled through the Wi-Fi enabled device either locally through the Status Interface Alarm Control Update Servers 139 with local connection 144 or remote connection 125.
  • the Status Interface Alarm Control Update Servers 139 obtain current and forecasted weather data from the meteorological cloud servers 133, and also obtain the current room/zone temperature from the Weather Anticipating Programmable Thermostat 101. Additionally, the Status Interface Alarm Control Update Servers 139 have possession of the currently assigned set point temperature, for example as initially dictated by the set point schedule programmed into the Weather Anticipating Programmable Thermostat 101 during initial safe mode setup, and subsequently forwarded therefrom for storage of the scheduled set point values by the Status Interface Alarm Control Update Servers 139.
  • the Status Interface Alarm Control Update Servers 139 use the current room/zone temperature, and currently assigned set points, and the current and forecasted weather data to determine the mode of operation and current and upcoming heating or cooling requirements.
  • the Weather Anticipating Programmable Thermostat 101 is not designed to maintain an exact temperature because this would require switching on and off the heating or cooling several times a minute.
  • thermostats use a hysteresis range, which denotes the difference between the temperatures at which the thermostat cycles the cooling or heating on and off.
  • the heating/cooling system is deactivated once the room temperature reaches the lower limit of the hysteresis range, and is only reactivated if the room temperature rises back up over the upper limit of the hysteresis range.
  • the heating/cooling system In heating mode, the heating/cooling system is deactivated once the room temperature reaches the upper limit of the hysteresis range, and only activated again if the room temperature falls back below the lower limit of the hysteresis range.
  • the hysteresis range falls around the targeted set point temperature for the room, zone or other indoor environment concerned.
  • the Weather Anticipating Programmable Thermostat 101 uses a variable hysteresis range and offsets the set point temperature depending on current and forecasted weather conditions and other factors.
  • the variable hysteresis range and set point adjustments may be calculated locally on the thermostat based on data from the cloud server, or may be calculated by the cloud server and transmitted to the thermostat.
  • the hysteresis range and set point temperature are adjusted by one or more of the following factors: (a) difference between the current outdoor temperature and set point room temperature, (b) difference between the forecasted outdoor temperature and set point room temperature, (c) past outdoor temperature records with the amount of time the heating system was required to remain on to achieve desired set point, and the temperature overshoot after the heating system was turned off, and (d) past outdoor temperature records with the amount of time the cooling system was required to remain on to achieve desired set point, and the temperature overshoot after the cooling system was turned off.
  • the hysteresis range assigned by the thermostat 101 The wider the difference between the outdoor temperature and the desired room temperature (i.e. the set point temperature), the tighter the hysteresis range assigned by the thermostat 101 .
  • the hysteresis range is shortened because it requires a longer heating cycle to heat the room.
  • the hysteresis range is shortened because it requires a longer cooling cycle to cool the room.
  • the outside temperature is close to the desired room temperature, then the cooling or heating hysteresis range is widened.
  • the Weather Anticipating Programmable Thermostat 101 communicates with the cloud server to send the current status of the Weather Anticipating Programmable Thermostat 101 to the cloud server and to request updates from the cloud servers.
  • the thermostat status and updates include one or more of the following (a) current outside weather data obtained from the meteorological server by the cloud server, (b) current indoor temperature obtained by the thermostat from the indoor temperature transducer, (c) current indoor relative humidity obtained by an optional humidity transducer, (d) weather forecast data obtained from the meteorological server by the cloud server, (e) temperature set points, (f) hysteresis ranges, (d) current time and date obtained from the NTP server by the cloud server, (e) cooling cycle run time, (f) heating cycle run time, and (g) updates to system software.
  • the thermostat or cloud server compares the current indoor air temperature from the temperature transducer with the latest current outdoor temperature received from the cloud server, and sets the current hysteresis range based at least partly on the measured difference between the current indoor air temperature and the current outdoor temperature, setting a narrower hysteresis range for a larger indoor/outdoor temperature difference or a wider hysteresis range for a smaller indoor/outdoor temperature difference.
  • Fig. 3 illustrates the heating hysteresis control.
  • 301 is the heating turn OFF and 302 is the turn ON.
  • the hysteresis is widened and the OFF is below the desired room temperature 303.
  • the ON /OFF hysteresis is automatically narrowed by the weather anticipating programmable thermostat.
  • Fig. 4 illustrates the cooling hysteresis control.
  • 402 is the cooling turn OFF and 401 is the turn ON.
  • the hysteresis is widened and the OFF is above the desired room temperature 402.
  • the ON /OFF hysteresis is automatically narrowed by the weather anticipating programmable thermostat.
  • the hysteresis control is only used in systems with ON / OFF controls.
  • heating systems with modulated control valves, modulated SCR controllers or VFDs the weather anticipating programmable thermostat sends modulated voltage or current signals to the respective heating or cooling controls using PID algorithms to control the room / zone temperature.
  • the inclusion of current weather conditions in the retrieved weather data from the meteorological server also serves another notable purpose. Particularly when the current outside temperature is below freezing, detection of a room/zone air temperature that is below a predetermined low temperature alarm threshold will cause the Status Interface Alarm Control Update Servers 139 to send an alarm to the user(s), for example by way of email or SMS text message. In response to the alarm, the user can investigate potential malfunction of the heating system before freeze related damage (e.g. burst plumbing pipes) can occur in the indoor environment. Accordingly, detection of a current outdoor temperature below freezing may be used to trigger monitoring of the room temperature against the predetermined low temperature alarm threshold.
  • freeze related damage e.g. burst plumbing pipes
  • the Weather Anticipating Programmable Thermostat automatically sets the heating/cooling system into its heating or cooling mode according to where the forecasted outdoor temperature relative to the heating and cooling room / zone set points.
  • Fig 5 illustrates an example operation of the weather anticipating programmable thermostat over 24 HR. This example overlays the weather forecasted temperature data 501 with the room / zone temperature data 502. Note: Night or unoccupied setback is not included in this example. At 00:00 the system is in heating mode as the outside temperature is below the room / zone temperature set point of 69F/ 20.5C and the room / zone temperature is maintained around this temperature.
  • the weather anticipating programmable thermostat goes into heating energy conservation mode and lowers the set point 503 because the weather forecast indicates that the outside temperature will be above the set point 504.
  • the room / zone temperature drops to the lower set point 505 and then the heating is activated to maintain the room / zone temperature.
  • Once the actual outside temperature rises above the room / zone temperature set point the system is automatically switched to cooling mode.
  • the room / zone temperature rises to the cooling set point of just below 25C / 77F and the cooling is activated 506.
  • the weather anticipating programmable thermostat goes into cooling energy conservation mode and raises the set point 507 because the weather forecast indicates that the outside temperature will be below the set point 506.
  • the room / zone temperature rises to the higher set point 508 and then the cooling is activated to maintain the room / zone temperature. Once the actual outside temperature drops below the room / zone temperature set point the system is automatically switched to heating mode and the room / zone temperature is maintained at the heating set point 509.
  • the weather anticipating programmable thermostat calculates the amount of time for heating and cooling energy conservation modes by recording the temperatures during previous energy conservation modes. In this example the heating energy conservation mode was activated at 503 about 4.5HR before the anticipated rise in outdoor temperature from the weather forecast data 504. In order to minimize discomfort caused by the heating being lowered 505 below the set point the next heating energy conservation mode cycle would be shortened so that lower room / zone temperature 505 occurs around 09:00.
  • next cooling energy conservation mode cycle would be shortened so that higher room / zone temperature 508 occurs around 17:00.
  • the room / zone temperature drop below the minimum cooling / heating changeover setting 511 the system is switched to heating mode, likewise should the room / zone temperature go above the maximum changeover set point 513 the system is switched to cooling mode.
  • the room / zone temperature exceed 515 or drop below 517 an alarm signal is sent to the Status Interface Alarm Control Update Servers.
  • the hysteresis range can be fine-tuned if historical data recorded by the cloud server includes a record of a prior instance of similar temperature conditions.
  • Each stored historical record preferably includes the current outdoor temperature from said prior instance, the set point temperature from said prior instance, an amount of run time the heating/cooling system was operated before shutting off during said instance, and the room temperature achieved after said shut off. It is know that heating mode operation of the heating/cooling system can sometimes notably“overshoot” the set point temperature, as remnant heat in the system continues to emanate within the indoor environment after shut off of the heating system.
  • the overshoot after the heating is turned off is less than when the outdoor temperature is just below the indoor temperature, as the rate of heat loss from the indoor environment to the outside environment is notably greater.
  • the overshoot after the cooling is turned off is less than when the outdoor temperature is just above the indoor temperature.
  • the Weather Anticipating Programmable Thermostat or Status Interface Alarm Control Update Servers also compares the anticipated outdoor temperature against the current outdoor air temperature and the current indoor set points to assess whether anticipated weather changes outweigh the current need to heat or cool the indoor environment. If the anticipated outdoor temperature differs from the present outdoor temperature by more than a predetermined amount, thereby denoting an significant upcoming change in outdoor temperature, above the heating set point or below the cooling set point the respective heating or cooling set points are adjusted to a predetermined energy conservation set point.
  • the heating set point is lowered to the cooling energy conservation set point, as the anticipated high outdoor temperatures will naturally warm the indoor environment.
  • the cooling set point is raised to the cooling energy conservation set point, as the anticipated cold outdoor temperatures will naturally cool the indoor environment.
  • FIG. 1 illustrates a single-dwelling or single-room / zone application where a singular Weather Anticipating Programmable Thermostat controls a singular heating and cooling system
  • Fig.2 illustrates another embodiment featuring several Packaged Terminal Air Conditioners (PTAC) system controllers 202.1 , 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 connected directly to PTAC Weather Anticipating Programmable Controllers 201.1 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 that incorporate internal temperature transducers therein, and the PTAC Weather Anticipating Programmable Controller 201.2, 8 are directly installed within the PTAC system controllers 202.2, 8 and connect through 207.2, 8 to external temperature transducers 206.2, 8.
  • PTAC Packaged Terminal Air Conditioners
  • the PTACs and Weather Anticipating Programmable Thermostats / Temperature Transducers are respectively installed in different rooms or zones of a multi-room or multi-dwelling indoor environment (e.g. hospitals, hotels, motels, senior housing facilities, condominiums, apartment buildings, schools and student dormitories).
  • a multi-room or multi-dwelling indoor environment e.g. hospitals, hotels, motels, senior housing facilities, condominiums, apartment buildings, schools and student dormitories.
  • the PTAC Weather Anticipating Programmable Controller 201.1 , 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 each monitor the room/zone temperature in a respective room or zone with the respective internal or external temperature transducer.
  • the wireless transceivers within the PTAC Weather Anticipating Programmable Controller communicates with other devices and servers using wireless networks.
  • the PTAC Weather Anticipating Programmable Controller 201.1 , 2 communicate using the various Wi-Fi IEEE 802.11 specifications
  • the PTAC Weather Anticipating Programmable Controller 201.8, 7, 6, 5 communicate using the various IEEE 802.15.4 wireless network specifications
  • the Weather Anticipating Programmable Controllers 201.3, 4 communicate using the various Wi-Fi IEEE 802.11 and various IEEE 802.15.4 wireless network specifications.
  • PTAC Weather Anticipating Programmable Controller 201 .3, 4 also act as a bridge between the Wi- Fi IEEE 802.11 and IEEE 802.15.4 wireless networks.
  • Each PTAC Weather Anticipating Programmable Controller is configured using a Wi-FI enabled device 120 through 231.1 , 2, 3 or through the Status Interface Alarm Control Update Servers 260.
  • the PTAC Weather Anticipating Programmable Controller 201 .1 , 2, 3 will attempt to connect to the wireless access point with the strongest signal. Should PTAC Weather Anticipating Programmable Controller 201 .3 be unable to connect to a wireless access point / router 223 through 233.1 it will attempt to connect to wireless access point / router 221 through 233.6, if PTAC Weather Anticipating Programmable Controller 201 .3 is unable to connect to any of the wireless access points / routers then it will connect to another PTAC Weather Anticipating Programmable Controller (201 .2 or 201 .1 ) through (241 .5 / 241 .4) and PTAC Weather Anticipating Programmable Controller (201 .2 / 1 ) will relay data to and from the PTAC Status Interface Alarm Control Update Servers 260.
  • PTAC Weather Anticipating Programmable Controller 201 .4 is out of range of the wireless access points / routers 221 , 223 and connects through the PTAC Weather Anticipating Programmable Controller (201 .3 / 2) with the strongest signal. Weather Anticipating Programmable Controller (201 .3 / 2) than relays Weather Anticipating Programmable Controller 201 .4 data to the PTAC Status Interface Alarm Control Update Servers 260.
  • PTAC Weather Anticipating Programmable Controller 201.8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3 use an IEEE 802.15.4 wireless mesh network 235.9, 8, 7, 6, 4, 3, 2, 1 to communicate and exchange data with PTAC Status Interface Alarm Control Update Servers 260 through the wireless data transceivers within Weather Anticipating Programmable Controller (201 .3 or 201 .4). All the PTAC Weather Anticipating Programmable Controllers receive software updates, operational settings and programming from internet based PTAC Status Interface Alarm Control Update Servers 260 through wireless access points. The wireless access points connect to the internet through a DSL, cable connection, fiberoptic or cellular connection 115.
  • the PTAC Weather Anticipating Programmable Controllers each contain a microcomputer system, input output interface and wireless transceiver.
  • the microcomputer system includes a microprocessor, SRAM, and FLASH / EEPROM memory.
  • the PTAC Weather Anticipating Programmable Controllers can also interface with additional digital temperature transducers, room humidity transducer and water detector sensors.
  • the PTAC Status Interface Alarm Control Update Servers 260 obtain current and forecasted weather data from meteorological cloud servers 133.
  • the PTAC Status Interface Alarm Control Update Servers 260 uses the weather data in the same manner described above in relation to the thermostat embodiment.
  • additional factors taking into account in the second embodiment include (e) current occupancy status, (f) upcoming occupancy schedule, and (g) start-up time delays.
  • Current and upcoming occupancy data can be obtained from room occupancy management systems including key card room access systems, hotel guest registries, hospital patient management systems, and other occupancy and alarm systems that store and/or monitor current and/or scheduled occupancy data for multi-room or multi-dwelling properties can also send room occupancy information to the PTAC cloud server.
  • the PTAC Status Interface Alarm Control Update Servers uses the room occupancy information to reduce energy consumption by automatically changing the PTAC operational settings (hysteresis ranges, set points, changeover, etc.) depending on the occupancy status.
  • the cooling or heating hysteresis range is also widened and narrowed depending on room occupancy or upcoming room occupancy status. If the room is unoccupied or going to be unoccupied then the hysteresis range is widened, allowing the room temperature to drift further above the cooling temperature set point in cooling mode, or further below the heating temperature set point in heating mode.
  • the PTAC cloud server may readjust the variable hysteresis range to a normal occupancy setting a predetermined time in advance of a scheduled occupancy in order to pre-heat or pre-cool the room/zone into closer conformance with the set point temperature. So the system may use a wider hysteresis range for non-booked days of a hotel room, and then revert to a narrower hysteresis range at or shortly before a guest-specified or hotel-wide check-in time on the guest’s scheduled day of arrival.
  • similar pre-heating or pre-cooling of a patient’s room or procedure room by narrowing of the hysteresis range may be performed based on a scheduled patient arrival date and time.
  • the PTAC Weather Anticipating Programmable Controller and PTAC cloud server communicate on regular intervals, and so if communications between the PTAC Weather Anticipating Programmable Controller and PTAC cloud server should be interrupted or fail, the PTAC Weather Anticipating Programmable Controller will switch to failsafe mode and the PTAC cloud server will generate another alarm notification.
  • the PTAC Weather Anticipating Programmable Controller controls the set points, hysteresis ranges and changeover automatically at predetermined settings, i.e. independently of the outdoor weather conditions in view of the unavailability of up-to-date weather data.
  • the PTAC Weather Anticipating Programmable Controller will automatically override any settings to prevent the room from exceeding a high or low temperature alarm threshold, and the PTAC server will accordingly send out an alarm notification to the authorized user(s).
  • the low temperature alarm threshold is particularly valuable if a current outdoor temperature acquired from the meteorological server by the PTAC cloud server is below freezing.
  • the PTAC Weather Anticipating Programmable Controller is preferably equipped with a tamper detector to determine if the cover is removed and sends a tamper alarm signal to the PTAC cloud server, which accordingly issues a corresponding alarm notification to the authorized user(s).
  • each PTAC is assigned a different start-up time delay, i.e. a timed delay from the point at which a heating/cooling need is identified based on determination that the room/zone temperature is out of the desired temperature range, to the actual sending of an ON signal from the thermostat to the heating/cooling system.
  • start-up time delay i.e. a timed delay from the point at which a heating/cooling need is identified based on determination that the room/zone temperature is out of the desired temperature range, to the actual sending of an ON signal from the thermostat to the heating/cooling system.
  • the internet enabled devices include, cell phones, tablets, laptops or desktop computers. Time and dates for room occupancy can be programmed into the PTAC cloud server, or retrieved from external occupancy management systems as outlined above.
  • TLS Transport Layer Security
  • Alarm notifications are sent by email or text messages to a list of personnel that are responsible for operations.
  • Contact info email and or text cell phone numbers are entered and updated on the PTAC Cloud Server through a web enabled device.
  • Each PTAC Weather Anticipating Programmable Controller may be installed within the PTAC enclosure with the direct to digital transducer mounted externally of the PTAC on a wall of the given room or zone, or the PTAC Weather Anticipating Programmable Controller may be mounted directly on the wall like a room thermostat.
  • hysteresis, PID control and set point adjustment decisions made using data from the cloud server may be made either at the server or at the thermostat or PTAC Weather Anticipating Programmable Controllers.
  • handling of at least some of these determinations at the server level may be preferable in view of efficiencies and advantages resulting from this particular configuration. For example, performing weather data comparisons at the PTAC cloud servers avoids the need to distribute the collected weather data to all PTAC Weather Anticipating Programmable Controllers, while the forwarding of the detected room temperature data to the server enables historical tracking, and handling of remote access and alarm notifications from a singular central point.

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  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
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  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
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  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
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Abstract

L'invention concerne un procédé mis en œuvre par ordinateur qui permet de commander le fonctionnement d'un système de chauffage et de climatisation, ledit procédé consistant à obtenir automatiquement des données météorologiques actuelles et prévues auprès d'un ou de plusieurs serveurs web HTTP météorologiques sur internet, et à commander automatiquement le fonctionnement du système de chauffage et de climatisation en fonction des données météorologiques actuelles et prévues et de la température intérieure actuelle d'un environnement intérieur par rapport à la température de point de consigne souhaitée pour ledit environnement intérieur. Des plages d'hystérésis variables et des points de consigne de température variables sont réglés non seulement en fonction des données météorologiques, mais également d'un état d'occupation de l'environnement intérieur. Certains modes de réalisation comprennent des thermostats à prédiction météorologique et des dispositifs de commande de climatiseur terminal monobloc interagissant avec des serveurs de mise à jour, de commande, d'alarme, d'interface et d'état.
PCT/CA2018/050165 2018-02-14 2018-02-14 Thermostat programmable par prévision météorologique et commande de ptac à réseau sans fil WO2019157584A1 (fr)

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JP7415075B1 (ja) 2023-09-01 2024-01-16 東京瓦斯株式会社 空調システム

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US5924486A (en) * 1997-10-29 1999-07-20 Tecom, Inc. Environmental condition control and energy management system and method
US6478084B1 (en) * 1998-04-24 2002-11-12 Steven Winter Associates, Inc. Energy saving thermostat with a variable deadband
US20130190940A1 (en) * 2012-01-23 2013-07-25 University Of Maryland, College Park Optimizing and controlling the energy consumption of a building
FR3001529A1 (fr) * 2013-01-25 2014-08-01 Ass De Gestion De L Ecole Centrale D Electronique Dispositif de gestion de la temperature d'un local en fonction de l'agenda de l'utilisateur
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CN105465955A (zh) * 2015-12-18 2016-04-06 宁波奥克斯空调有限公司 一种天气联动空调控制方法

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JP7415075B1 (ja) 2023-09-01 2024-01-16 東京瓦斯株式会社 空調システム

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