System and method for climate control in a building
10330330 · 2019-06-25
Assignee
Inventors
Cpc classification
F24F2140/60
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F24F2110/10
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F24F11/56
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F24F3/0442
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F24F11/62
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F24F11/47
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F24F11/63
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F24F11/30
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F24F11/64
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F24F11/70
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F24F11/61
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
International classification
F24F3/044
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F24F11/30
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F24F11/56
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F24F11/64
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F24F11/70
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F24F11/47
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F24F11/61
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
Abstract
A method for controlling a climate parameter in a room of a building, the method comprising obtaining information regarding the climate parameter, the information including room specific measurements of the climate parameter during at least one climate control process, based on the room specific measurements of the climate parameter providing or amending a correspondence indicator CI, such that the correspondence indicator comprises information indicative of a rate of change of the climate parameter within the at least one room during the at least one climate control process, obtaining climate setting information including a desired climate parameter value C and a corresponding desired time t.sub.1, obtaining a starting value V.sub.1 of the climate parameter of the at least one room, based on the correspondence indicator CI, the desired time t.sub.1, the starting value V.sub.1 and the desired climate parameter value C.sub.1 calculating a measure M.sub.1 for an amount of time t needed to 1 change the climate parameter from the starting value V.sub.1 of the climate parameter to the desired climate parameter value C.sub.1, and scheduling a second climate control process of the climate parameter of the at least one room as a function F.sub.1 of the measure M.sub.1.
Claims
1. A method for controlling at least one climate parameter, including a first climate parameter, in at least one room of a building, performed by a climate control system, the method comprising: obtaining first information regarding the at least one climate parameter of the at least one room, the first information including first room specific measurements of the first climate parameter during at least one first climate control process, the at least one first climate control process including controlling the first climate parameter in the at least one room, based on the first room specific measurements of the first climate parameter providing or amending a correspondence indicator CI, such that the correspondence indicator CI comprises information indicative of a first rate of change of the first climate parameter within the at least one room during the at least one first climate control process, obtaining climate setting information including a desired first climate parameter value C.sub.1 and a corresponding desired first time t.sub.1 at which the desired first climate parameter value C.sub.1 is desired to be present within the at least one room, measuring a first starting value V.sub.1 of the first climate parameter of the at least one room, calculating, based on the first correspondence indicator CI, the desired first time t.sub.1, the first starting value V.sub.1 of the first climate parameter and the desired first climate parameter value C.sub.1, a first measure M.sub.1 for an amount of time t needed to change the first climate parameter of the at least one room from the first starting value V.sub.1 of the first climate parameter to the desired first climate parameter value C.sub.1, converting the climate control system into a more precise climate control system by dynamically scheduling a time at which to perform at least an initial part of a second climate control process for changing a value of the first climate parameter in the at least one room as a first function F.sub.1 of the first measure M.sub.1, whereby the climate control system is configured to automatically control an environment of the at least one room; wherein the first function F.sub.1 is defined such that the second climate control process is initiated at a first initiating time being at least at the amount of time t before the desired first time t.sub.1; and wherein the amount of time t before the desired first time t.sub.1 is selected from the group comprising 110% or more, 120% or more, and 150% or more of the amount of time t before the desired first time t.sub.1.
2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: obtaining second information regarding the first climate parameter of the at least one room, the second information including room specific measurements of the first climate parameter during the second climate control process, utilizing the second information to amend the correspondence indicator CI, such that the correspondence indicator comprises information indicative of a second rate of change of the first climate parameter within the at least one room during the second climate control process, and utilizing the amended correspondence indicator CI for scheduling a climate control process being subsequent to the second climate control process.
3. The method according to claim 1, wherein an initial part of the second climate control process comprises obtaining a second starting value V.sub.2 of the first climate parameter of the at least one room, calculating, based on the first correspondence indicator CI, the desired first time t.sub.1, the second starting value V.sub.2 of the first climate parameter and the desired first climate parameter value C.sub.1, a second measure M.sub.2 for a second amount of time needed to change the first climate parameter of the at least one room from the second starting value V.sub.2 of the first climate parameter to the desired first climate parameter value C.sub.1, and amending the scheduling of the second climate control process of the first climate parameter of the at least one room as a function of the second measure M.sub.2.
4. The method according to claim 3, further comprising the step of storing any one or more of the first information regarding the at least one climate parameter of the at least one room, the second information regarding the at least one climate parameter of the at least one room, the correspondence indicator CI, the desired first climate parameter value C.sub.1, the desired first time t.sub.1, the measured or estimated first starting value V.sub.1 of the first climate parameter, the measured or estimated second starting value V.sub.2 of the first climate parameter, the first measure M.sub.1, the second measure M.sub.2, the first function F.sub.1, a second function F.sub.2, and the amount of time t in a memory, the memory being one or more of an internal memory and an external memory.
5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first function F.sub.1 is defined such that the second climate control process is initiated at a first initiating time being about the amount of time t before the desired first time t.sub.1.
6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the correspondence indicator CI comprises any one of an average rate of change of the first climate parameter within the at least one room during at least the at least one first climate control process, and a rate of change as a function of the actual value of the first climate parameter at the onset of at least the at least one first climate control process.
7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first climate parameter comprises any one or more of the air temperature within the at least one room and the air humidity within the at least one room.
8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method further comprises obtaining information regarding one or more appliances situated in the at least one room during the at least one first climate control, the second climate control, or both of the at least one first climate control and the second climate control, and wherein the information regarding appliances situated in the at least one room is included in the correspondence indicator CI.
9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the information regarding one or more appliances situated in the at least one room during the at least one first climate control or the second climate control is selected from the group comprising information regarding power consumption, heat generation, cold generation, condensation and vaporization of/by the appliances.
10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method further comprises obtaining during the at least one first climate control, the second climate control, or both of the at least one first climate control and the second climate control information regarding one or more of a temperature T.sub.ext outside the at least one room, a solar influx from outside the at least one room to the at least one room, an air humidity H.sub.ext outside the at least one room, wind conditions outside the building, and draught to and from the at least one room and wherein the information regarding one or more of the temperature T.sub.ext, the solar influx, the air humidity H.sub.ext, the wind conditions outside the building and the draught to and from the at least one room is included in the correspondence indicator CI.
11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first climate parameter is the air temperature within the at least one room, wherein the correspondence indicator CI is indicative of a rate of a change of the air temperature T within the at least one room, and wherein T is a constant being between 0.5 C. and 5 C.
12. The method according to claim 11, wherein T is a constant being 1 C.
13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first climate parameter is the air humidity within the at least one room, wherein the correspondence indicator CI is indicative of a rate of a change of the air humidity H within the at least one room, and wherein H is a constant being between 0.5 and 5 percentage points.
14. The method according to claim 13, wherein H is a constant being 1 percentage point.
15. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method further comprises: obtaining information regarding energy prices and the step of using the information regarding energy prices to for scheduling the second climate control process.
16. A climate control system for controlling at least one climate parameter, including a first climate parameter, in at least one room of a building, the climate control system comprising: at least one sensor device obtaining first information regarding the at least one climate parameter of the at least one room, the first information including first room specific measurements of the first climate parameter during at least one first climate control process, the at least one first climate control process including controlling the first climate parameter in the at least one room, a first input element, the first input element being configured to obtain a first input in the form of climate setting information including a desired first climate parameter value C.sub.1 and a corresponding desired first time t.sub.1 at which the desired first climate parameter value C.sub.1 is desired to be present within the at least one room, a second input element, the second input element being configured to measure a second input in the form of a first starting value V.sub.1 of the first climate parameter of the at least one room, a processing element, the processing element being configured to, based on the first room specific measurements of the first climate parameter, provide or amend a correspondence indicator CI, such that the correspondence indicator comprises information indicative of a first rate of change of the first climate parameter within the at least one room during the at least one first climate control process and to calculate, based on the first correspondence indicator CI, the desired first time t.sub.1, the first starting value V.sub.1 of the first climate parameter and the desired first climate parameter value C.sub.1, a first measure M.sub.1 for an amount of time t needed to change the first climate parameter of the at least one room from the first starting value V.sub.1 of the first climate parameter to the desired first climate parameter value C.sub.1, and a regulating element, the regulating element being configured to convert the climate control system into a more precise climate control system by dynamically scheduling a time at which to perform at least an initial part of a second climate control process for changing a value of the first climate parameter in the at least one room as a first function F.sub.1 of the first measure M.sub.1, whereby the climate control system is configured to automatically control an environment of the at least one room; wherein the first function F.sub.1 is defined such that the second climate control process is initiated at a first initiating time being at least at the amount of time t before the desired first time t.sub.1; and wherein the amount of time t before the desired first time t.sub.1 is selected from the group comprising 110% or more, 120% or more, and 150% or more of the amount of time t before the desired first time t.sub.1.
17. A method for controlling at least one climate parameter, including a first climate parameter, in at least one room of a building, performed by a climate control system, the method comprising: obtaining first information regarding the at least one climate parameter of the at least one room, the first information including first room specific measurements of the first climate parameter during at least one first climate control process, the at least one first climate control process including controlling the first climate parameter in the at least one room, based on the first room specific measurements of the first climate parameter providing or amending a correspondence indicator CI, such that the correspondence indicator comprises information indicative of a first rate of change of the first climate parameter within the at least one room during the at least one first climate control process, obtaining climate setting information including a desired first climate parameter value C.sub.1 and a corresponding desired first time t.sub.1 at which the desired first climate parameter value C.sub.1 is desired to be present within the at least one room, measuring a first starting value V.sub.1 of the first climate parameter of the at least one room, and calculating, based on the first correspondence indicator CI, the desired first time t.sub.1, the first starting value V.sub.1 of the first climate parameter and the desired first climate parameter value C.sub.1, a first measure M.sub.1 for an amount of time t needed to change the first climate parameter of the at least one room from the first starting value V.sub.1 of the first climate parameter to the desired first climate parameter value C.sub.1; wherein the climate control system is converted into a more precise climate control system by dynamically scheduling a time at which to perform a second climate control process for changing a value of the first climate parameter in the at least one room based on the first measure M.sub.1, whereby the climate control system is configured to automatically control an environment of the at least one room; and wherein the amount of time t before the desired first time t.sub.1 is selected from the group comprising 110% or more, 120% or more, and 150% or more of the amount of time t before the desired first time t.sub.1.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) The invention will now be described in greater detail using non-limiting exemplary embodiments and with reference to the schematic drawings, on which:
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
(8)
(9) Initially, in step 101, first information regarding the at least one climate parameter of the at least one room is obtained. The first information includes, but is not limited to, first room specific measurements of the first climate parameter during at least one first climate control process. The at least one first climate control process may be a climate control process performed in advance of carrying out the method according to the invention, and it includes controlling the first climate parameter in the at least one room.
(10) In step 102, a correspondence indicator CI is provided or amended based on the first room specific measurements of the first climate parameter, such that the correspondence indicator comprises information indicative of a first rate of change of the first climate parameter within the at least one room during the at least one first climate control process.
(11) In step 103 climate setting information is obtained. The climate setting information includes, but is not limited to, a desired first climate parameter value C.sub.1 and a corresponding desired first time t.sub.1 at which the desired first climate parameter value C.sub.1 is desired to be present within the at least one room.
(12) In step 104 a first starting value V.sub.1 of the first climate parameter of the at least one room is obtained, preferably by measurement or estimation.
(13) In step 105 a first measure M.sub.1 for an amount of time t needed to change the first climate parameter of the at least one room from the first starting value V.sub.1 of the first climate parameter to the desired first climate parameter value C.sub.1 is calculated based on the first correspondence indicator CI, the desired first time t.sub.1, the first starting value V.sub.1 of the first climate parameter and the desired first climate parameter value C.sub.1.
(14) Finally, in step 106, at least an initial part of a second climate control process of the first climate parameter of the at least one room is scheduled as a first function F.sub.1 of the first measure M.sub.1.
(15) In the following, and with reference to
(16) In this case the first information obtained in step 101 includes information regarding room specific measurements of the air temperature during at least one first climate control process. The correspondence indicator CI provided or amended in step 102 thus comprises information indicative of a first rate of change of the air temperature during the at least one first climate control process. The climate setting information obtained in step 103 includes as the desired first climate parameter value C.sub.1 a desired air temperature of 23 C. and a corresponding desired point of time t.sub.1 of 8:00 hours (8 AM) at which a user desires the room to have the desired air temperature of 23 C. This is indicated in
(17) Finally, the climate control process scheduled in step 106 may be a heating or a cooling of the at least one room. In the example illustrated in
(18) Alternatively, the climate parameter may be the air humidity of the at least one room.
(19) With reference now to
(20) A first optional series of steps 107, 108, 109 are intended for using the previous climate control process history of steps 101 to 106 as additional information in a subsequent climate control process to improve the precision of the method for a subsequent climate control process. The first optional series of steps comprise in step 107 obtaining second information regarding the first climate parameter of the at least one room, the second information including room specific measurements of the first climate parameter during the second climate control process scheduled in step 106 above, in step 108 utilizing the second information obtained in step 107 to amend the correspondence indicator CI provided or amended in step 102 above, and in step 109 utilizing the amended correspondence indicator CI for scheduling a climate control process being subsequent to the second climate control process scheduled in step 106 above.
(21) A second optional series of steps 110, 111, 112 are intended to enable taking into account changes in the conditions and particularly values employed in steps 101-106 above by improving the precision of the first starting value V.sub.1 obtained in step 104 and are intended to be carried out during the scheduling procedure in step 106. By way of example, it may occur that the actual air temperature in the room changes subsequent to the scheduling performed in step 106, but before the actual climate control process (i.e. the actuation of a change of the first climate parameter) is initiated. Such a change affects the starting value V.sub.1 and thus the measure M.sub.1 for the amount of time t, which in turn gives rise to a need to reschedule the climate control process to obtain optimum precision.
(22) The second optional series of steps 110, 111, 112 comprise in step 110 obtaining, preferably measuring, a second starting value V.sub.2 of the first climate parameter of the at least one room, in step 111 calculating a second measure M.sub.2 for a second amount of time needed to change the first climate parameter of the at least one room from the second starting value V.sub.2 of the first climate parameter to the desired first climate parameter value C.sub.1 based on the first correspondence indicator CI, the desired first time t.sub.1, the second starting value V.sub.2 of the first climate parameter and the desired first climate parameter value C.sub.1, and in step 112 amending the scheduling of the second climate control process of the first climate parameter of the at least one room as a function of the second measure M.sub.2.
(23) Another optional step is a step 113 of storing any one or more of the different types of information and values obtained and/or calculated in other steps of the method in a memory. These values may be, but are not limited to, the information regarding the at least one climate parameter of the at least one room, the further information regarding the at least one climate parameter of the at least one room, the correspondence indicator CI, the desired first climate parameter value C.sub.1, the desired first time t.sub.1, the measured or estimated first starting value V.sub.1 of the first climate parameter, the measured or estimated second starting value V.sub.2 of the first climate parameter, the first measure M.sub.1, the second measure M.sub.2, the first function F.sub.1, the second function F.sub.2, and the amount of time t.
(24) Such a memory may be an internal memory or an external memory, such as a cloud, or a combination thereof. Thereby the different types of information and values obtained and/or calculated in other steps of the method may be loaded and used in other steps of the method and/or in following passes of the method.
(25) It is noted that the storing step 113 may be carried out once for all information that it is desired to store at a suitable point of time in the course of method, or alternatively two or more times for different pieces of information at different suitable points of time in the course of method.
(26) Another optional step is a step 114 of obtaining information regarding one or more appliances situated in the at least one room, such as, but not limited to, information regarding power consumption, heat generation, cold generation, condensation and/or vaporization of/by the appliances. The information obtained in step 114 is included in the correspondence indicator CI provided or amended in step 102.
(27) Another optional step is a step 115 of obtaining information regarding exterior climate conditions, such as, but not limited to, one or more of a temperature T.sub.ext outside the at least one room, particularly outside the building, a solar influx from outside the at least one room, particularly outside the building, to the at least one room, an air humidity H.sub.ext outside the at least one room, particularly outside the building wind conditions outside the building and draught to and/or from the at least one room. The information obtained in step 115 is included in the correspondence indicator CI.
(28) A third optional series of steps 116, 117 are intended to improve the cost optimization even further. The third optional series of steps comprise in step 116 obtaining information regarding energy prices, such as e.g. information regarding electricity prices or water prices, and in step 117 using the information regarding energy prices in step 106 when scheduling the second climate control process for either automatically adjusting the schedule or for suggesting to a user a different point of time at which it is more cost efficient to schedule a climate control process.
ExampleControlling the Heating of a Room
(29) The idea behind the method according to the invention as used in this example is to keep track of how long it takes to warm up the room and use this historical information to determine how long in advance the heating shall be started in order to reach a desired temperature at a desired time.
(30) To determine t indicating how long in advance of a desired time t.sub.1 the heating shall be started, it is determined how long on average it historically takes to heat up the room by 1 C. This information is included in the correspondence indicator CI. Furthermore, to make the time calculation more accurate the system shall keep track of the external (outdoor) temperature at the location of the system and calculate a different time to heat up the room by 1 C. for different external temperature ranges e.g. in the following manner:
(31) TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 External Temperature Average Time to Heat up the Range [ C.] zone by 1 C. [seconds] <0 300 0-10 200 11-20 120 21-30 60 >30 10
(32) Table 1 may be amended by including information about the average time to heat up the zone (e.g. room) by 1 C. in dependence of the temperature of the zone.
(33) The external temperature for the system may be acquired from an external web service providing weather condition information for a given location (eg. such as the Telvent web service). The location of the system can either be pre-configured in the system or automatically deducted using a GPS module on the system controller or from the IP address of the system controller. Alternatively or additionally, the external temperature may be provided by a local measurement, such as provided by a thermometer situated immediately outside the zone.
(34) To further improve the precision for the calculation of the time it takes to heat up the room to a desired temperature, the temperature dissipation from the other room(s) surrounding the at least one room may be taken into account. In that case the method according to the invention comprises a step of obtaining information regarding the topology of the building, and correspondingly the information regarding the topology of the building may be pre-configured or stored in the system, such that for each room the neighboring rooms are known. In this way the method and the system is configured to keep track of the time it takes to heat up the room when the room has at least one neighboring room with an air temperature equal to or different from to the desired temperature.
(35) In the following a system according to the invention shall be described with reference to
(36)
(37) The system 1 further comprises a regulating element 7 for scheduling climate control process of the first climate parameter of the at least one room to be initiated e.g. the amount of time t before the desired first time t.sub.1, and for initiating the climate control process.
(38) The main unit 1a and/or the regulating element 7 may comprise a suitable user interface adapted for receiving user input, such as a keyboard or a touch screen or the like and/or a receiving element for receiving information from internal or external sources such as the above mentioned sensor device.
(39) In one embodiment the main unit 1a and/or the regulating element 7 may be incorporated in or connected to another unit adapted for mounting in a building. An example of such a unit is a smart plug such as those manufactured by the applicant under the name Zelio Logic.
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(41) The system 1 further comprises a first input element (not shown on
(42) Preferably one of the first and second input elements is a suitable user interface adapted for receiving user input, such as a keyboard or a touch screen or the like, while the other input element is a receiving element for receiving information from internal or external sources such as the above mentioned sensor unit.
(43) Alternatively, the system 1 may comprise just one input element adapted for obtaining all information desired and needed or several input elements each adapted for obtaining one or more specific types of information.
(44) The first and/or second input elements may additionally or alternatively be adapted for obtaining other information needed, such as information regarding appliances, external conditions and energy prices as described above in relation to the method according to the invention.
(45) However, in the embodiment shown in
(46) The system 1 shown in
(47) The regulating element 7 may e.g. be at least one controllable climate actuator including a first climate actuator configured to control the first climate parameter within the at least one room 30a, 30b.
(48) Obviously, the system may be expanded to be adapted to buildings comprising more than two rooms, particularly by comprising a plurality of sensors, at least one sensor being arranged in each room of the building.
(49) Turning now to
(50) The processing element 5 is adapted to perform all calculations needed, including based on the first room specific measurements of the first climate parameter providing or amending a correspondence indicator CI, based on the first correspondence indicator CI, the desired first time t.sub.1, the first starting value V.sub.1 of the first climate parameter and the desired first climate parameter value C.sub.1 calculating a first measure M.sub.1 for an amount of time t needed to change the first climate parameter of the at least one room from the first starting value V.sub.1 of the first climate parameter to the desired first climate parameter value C.sub.1.
(51) The memory 6 is provided for storing any one or more of the obtained and/or calculated different types of information and values. Thereby, the system 1 is enabled to load this information from the memory 6 and take into account the information and values at a later point of time.
(52) As mentioned above, the main unit 1a of the system 1 may further comprise input elements for obtaining various information, such as a first input element 3 for obtaining information regarding a desired first climate parameter value C.sub.1 and a corresponding desired first time t.sub.1 at which the desired first climate parameter value C.sub.1 is desired to occur, as well as a second input element 4 for obtaining, preferably measuring or estimating, a starting value C.sub.0 of the first climate parameter of the room 30 or the two rooms 30a, 30b.
(53) The different elements of the system 1 may be connected wirelessly and/or by means of wired connections.
(54) Generally speaking and in further embodiments the system 1 is adapted for performing a method according to any one of the embodiments described herein and in the dependent method claims.
(55) The method and system according to the invention may be employed to control a climate parameter in just one specific room of a building, or alternatively the method and system according to the invention may be employed to control a climate parameter in two or more specific rooms, and particularly all rooms, of a building independently (and/or independence) of one another.
(56) The method according to the invention may be adapted to be performed by remote control. Correspondingly, the system according to the invention may comprise a remote control device (not shown) for remote controlled actuation and/or operation of the system by a user such as an inhabitant or an owner of the building, a caretaker/janitor or even a supplier of for instance electricity, water or heat.
(57) In the above the present invention has been described based on embodiments. It will be apparent for the skilled person that numerous variations are possible without deviating from the scope of the invention as laid down in the appended claims.