An electrical control system for controlling a variable transmittance window is disclosed. The system comprises a driver circuit in communication with an electro-optic element. A controller is in communication with the driver circuit. The controller is configured to identify a temperature condition of the electro-optic element and adjust an output voltage supplied to the electro-optic element in response to the temperature condition.

Thermophysical property measurement method and apparatus are provided that make it possible to simply and conveniently obtain a highly precise absolute thermoelectric power and thermal conductivity.

Embodiments of the present invention provides a thermophysical property measurement method, including a first step of applying a DC voltage or a DC current at both ends of a metal to which a temperature gradient is applied to measure a first temperature at a center of the metal; a second step of applying DC voltages or DC currents of different polarities at both ends of the metal to measure a second temperature at the center of the metal; a third step of calculating a Thomson coefficient of the metal using the first and second temperatures measured in the first and second steps; and a fourth step of calculating at least one of absolute thermoelectric power and thermal conductivity of the metal using the Thomson coefficient calculated in the third step, the third step including: calculating an average value of a difference between the first temperature and the second temperature; calculating an average value of a sum of the first temperature and the second temperature; and dividing a product of a magnitude of a current that flows through the metal, electrical resistance of the metal, and the average value of the difference by the average value of the sum and the difference between the first temperature and the second temperature.

Thermophysical property measurement method and apparatus are provided that make it possible to simply and conveniently obtain a highly precise absolute thermoelectric power and thermal conductivity.

Embodiments of the present invention provides a thermophysical property measurement method, including a first step of applying a DC voltage or a DC current at both ends of a metal to which a temperature gradient is applied to measure a first temperature at a center of the metal; a second step of applying DC voltages or DC currents of different polarities at both ends of the metal to measure a second temperature at the center of the metal; a third step of calculating a Thomson coefficient of the metal using the first and second temperatures measured in the first and second steps; and a fourth step of calculating at least one of absolute thermoelectric power and thermal conductivity of the metal using the Thomson coefficient calculated in the third step, the third step including: calculating an average value of a difference between the first temperature and the second temperature; calculating an average value of a sum of the first temperature and the second temperature; and dividing a product of a magnitude of a current that flows through the metal, electrical resistance of the metal, and the average value of the difference by the average value of the sum and the difference between the first temperature and the second temperature.

A system and method for personal energy-related changes payback evaluation with the aid of a digital computer are provided. An overall thermal performance of a building is estimated. One or more proposed replacements for existing equipment associated with an individual associated with the building is received. An annual electric consumption associated with the existing equipment is determined. The consumption associated the existing equipment is converted into a time series that includes a plurality of values that are each associated with a time interval. Renewable energy production data associated with the building is obtained. The time series is combined with the photovoltaic production data to obtain time series net consumption data. A cost associated with the time series net consumption data is determined. A payback associated with replacing the existing equipment is estimated using the cost.

A system and method for personal energy-related changes payback evaluation with the aid of a digital computer are provided. An overall thermal performance of a building is estimated. One or more proposed replacements for existing equipment associated with an individual associated with the building is received. An annual electric consumption associated with the existing equipment is determined. The consumption associated the existing equipment is converted into a time series that includes a plurality of values that are each associated with a time interval. Renewable energy production data associated with the building is obtained. The time series is combined with the photovoltaic production data to obtain time series net consumption data. A cost associated with the time series net consumption data is determined. A payback associated with replacing the existing equipment is estimated using the cost.

Disclosed is a radio frequency (RF) power calorimeter having a load electrically coupled to a RF input, a variable low-frequency power source electrically coupled to the load and configured to apply low-frequency bias to the load. The RF power calorimeter includes a thermal medium thermally coupled to the load. Additionally, the RF power calorimeter includes an outlet temperature sensor thermally coupled to the thermal medium, the outlet temperature sensor being positioned to measure the temperature of the thermal medium due to heating by the load. The RF power calorimeter also has circuitry configured to use temperature measurements of the thermal medium in thermal contact with an RF load in combination with the low-frequency bias to measure average power of an RF source electrically coupled to the RF input. Also disclosed in a method of measuring RF power using the RF power calorimeter.

Disclosed is a radio frequency (RF) power calorimeter having a load electrically coupled to a RF input, a variable low-frequency power source electrically coupled to the load and configured to apply low-frequency bias to the load. The RF power calorimeter includes a thermal medium thermally coupled to the load. Additionally, the RF power calorimeter includes an outlet temperature sensor thermally coupled to the thermal medium, the outlet temperature sensor being positioned to measure the temperature of the thermal medium due to heating by the load. The RF power calorimeter also has circuitry configured to use temperature measurements of the thermal medium in thermal contact with an RF load in combination with the low-frequency bias to measure average power of an RF source electrically coupled to the RF input. Also disclosed in a method of measuring RF power using the RF power calorimeter.

The overall thermal performance of a building UA.sup.Total can be empirically estimated through a short-duration controlled test. Preferably, the controlled test is performed at night during the winter. A heating source, such as a furnace, is turned off after the indoor temperature has stabilized. After an extended period, such as 12 hours, the heating source is briefly turned back on, such as for an hour, then turned off. The indoor temperature is allowed to stabilize. The energy consumed within the building during the test period is assumed to equal internal heat gains. Overall thermal performance is estimated by balancing the heat gained with the heat lost during the test period.

The overall thermal performance of a building UA.sup.Total can be empirically estimated through a short-duration controlled test. Preferably, the controlled test is performed at night during the winter. A heating source, such as a furnace, is turned off after the indoor temperature has stabilized. After an extended period, such as 12 hours, the heating source is briefly turned back on, such as for an hour, then turned off. The indoor temperature is allowed to stabilize. The energy consumed within the building during the test period is assumed to equal internal heat gains. Overall thermal performance is estimated by balancing the heat gained with the heat lost during the test period.

Systems and methods detect abnormal conditions in electrical circuits by providing thermal imaging combined with non-contact measurements of current and voltage. Such systems may be implemented in a single test device, or in wired combinations, or in wireless communication implementations with multiple test devices and/or accessories, or in combination with one or more additional devices, such as a mobile phone, tablet, personal computer (PC), cloud-based server, etc. A thermal imaging tool that includes an infrared sensor may first discover and image one or more thermal anomalies in an object, such as an electrical circuit. One or more non-contact current or voltage sensors may be used to measure current and/or voltage, which allows for determination of the power loss at the measured location. The power loss may be used to determine an estimation of the abnormal resistive power losses in a circuit, as well as the costs associated therewith.