Thermo Efficiency Measurement System

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for determining an energy transfer rate of a room via one or more sensors to determine a baseline efficiency measurement of a room as well as delta efficiency gains obtained by making changes to internal or external factors affecting thermal efficiency. The system further include the automatic control for various equipment associated with the room and automatic measurement based on the status of the room.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention relates to systems and methods for evaluating the thermal envelop of an individual space or room to determine the value of stepwise changes taken to improve the thermal envelop of the space. In particular, the system relates to a measurement device that can be freely placed in the space to gather specific environmental data that can be compared / combined with target or expected data or with alternative measurement data to achieve an energy reduction goal.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]Energy use has been a concern for companies for many years leading to many different efforts to quantify energy use with the purpose of determining how energy use could be reduced. For years it has been the escalating costs associated with excessive energy use that has driven the desire to lower energy usage. As energy costs continue to escalate, cost is still a driving factor motivating companies to look for new and better ways to reduced energy usage...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The patent describes a device that can measure the energy transfer rate (thermal efficiency) of a room and provide a standardized measurement. It also suggests using an external sensor to trigger testing when conditions are right, and running short tests when occupants are not in the space. The technical effects include improved energy efficiency, better monitoring of room performance, and reduced discomfort for occupants.

Problems solved by technology

However, it has been observed that renewable energy sources are typically restricted in size in the ability to generate megawatt hours when compared to fossil fuel burning plants.

Environmental control takes up a large portion of the overall energy consumption on the power grid.

For example, if a space has a very poor thermal envelop (i.e., allows energy to be easily transferred to or from the space), Heating Ventilation Air Conditioning (HVAC) equipment serving the space will have to work longer and harder to maintain a set environment level in the space.

Whether the construction materials were properly installed and whether they have been properly maintained can also impact the energy transfer rate.

While they may be able to point to the information previously described above, they are generally unable to provide concrete and granular data showing actual energy transfer rates for rooms or spaces within a company's facility.

Likewise, they are only able to discuss at a very general level overall expected savings for a facility.

Even in cases where products would intuitively improve for example, thermal efficiency, determining the return on investment of such improvements can be difficult without a reliable system to specifically measure these gains.

However, it is difficult to measure the efficiency and effectiveness of these changes.

Looking at the overall energy bill is not a reliable measurement technique as the overall bill reflects many variables and does not isolate the energy use to a given space to provide a good method of comparison.

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