Computer-implemented method and apparatus for determining a load profile
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- EP · EP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- SIEMENS FINANCIAL SERVICES INC
- Filing Date
- 2023-09-19
- Publication Date
- 2026-06-17
Smart Images
Figure EP2023075759_27032025_PF_FP_ABST
Abstract
Description
[0001] Computer-implemented method and apparatus for determining a load profile TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a computer-implemented method and apparatus for determining a load profile for a building and / or industrial facility. Further, the present in- vention relates to the use of such load profile in a computer application for designing energy systems to supply buildings or industrial facilities, to a computer program, and a com- puter-readable medium. TECHNICAL BACKGROUND For the design and / or planning of energy systems for the sup- ply of buildings and / or industrial facilities a time-resolved profile of an energy demand of a respective building, indus- trial facility, or the like could be helpful to ensure that the requirements for electricity, heating and cooling supply are met at all times and that they are designed and / or dimen- sioned in a cost- and emission-efficient or optimized manner. Generating such profile with meaningful accuracy requires various information that can depend on each other and / or are not directly available. Currently, in the design and / or planning of energy systems for the supply of buildings and / or industrial facilities a design of energy plants, empirical values are used, or if a simulation is used, high temporal resolution energy profiles have to be manually created and / or simplified. For this pur- pose, individually created Excel documents are typically used and all information, such as weather data, has to be manually obtained from a data source and manually incorporated into the Excel documents. These Excel documents often do not have a high temporal resolution, partly they are calculated in hourly or monthly values. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved solution for determining a load profile for a building and / or industrial facility. This problem is solved according to the invention by the sub- ject-matter of the independent claims. According to a first aspect, there is provides a computer-im- plemented method for determining a load profile for a build- ing and / or industrial facility. The method comprises receiv- ing first data indicating a geographical location and static information on a structural condition and use of the building and / or industrial facility. Further, the method comprises re- ceiving second data indicating a weather profile for the in- dicated geographical location. In addition, the method com- prises determining the load profile of the building and / or industrial facility based on the first data and the second data. This allows generating of a time-resolved load profile based on or from static information of the building or industrial facility under consideration. Dependencies in the load pro- file between the static information and the weather profile, or more generally weather data, can be automatically calcu- lated and / or considered. Further, this provides an at least semi-automated tool to a user, e.g. a designer of energy sys- tems for the supply of buildings and / or industrial facilities or the like, for which the user has to record merely a few, commonly or mostly known static information or values. The method can independently determine the weather profile based on the indicated geographical location of the building or in- dustrial facility under consideration, based on which the load profile can be calculated with a desired or certain tem- poral resolution. The load profile may be output, visualized, etc. and / or evaluated immediately after the determination. For example, an output of the method may comprise at least one of a minimum power value, a maximum power value, an en- ergy demand over one year, or the like, of the building or industrial facility under consideration, to provide the user with quick feedback and / or a plausibility check. Furthermore, the load profile may be provided automatically in a certain and / or standardized data format, such as .json or the like, via a data interface, e.g. a REST-API interface or the like, for further processing, e.g. in an energy system designing computer application and / or system. As used herein, the method may be applied to any building or industrial facility, or any combination thereof for which the load profile is to be determined. The building and / or indus- trial facility may optionally comprise multiple buildings and / or industrial facilities on a site or one site. The load profile may be used for e.g. the design and / or planning of energy systems for the supply of buildings and / or industrial facilities, wherein it is conceivable that the load profile may be used for further applications relying on such load profile. The load profile may be indicative of an energy de- mand of the building and / or industrial facility under consid- eration, e.g. electric power or energy demand or gas, e.g. natural gas, power or energy demand, etc., over a period of time. For example, the load profile may also be referred to as a daily, weekly, monthly, or annual curve, depending on the time axis. The method may be carried out by any suitable computer, such as a desktop computer, laptop computer, tablet computer, mo- bile terminal, handheld device, smartphone, or the like, wherein this is not limited herein. Such computer may com- prise at least one of a data memory, a data processor, pro- cessing circuitry, a data interface, interface circuitry, a communication interface, etc. Further, as used herein, the static information on the struc- tural condition and use of the building and / or industrial fa- cility may be derived from e.g. user input, or received from another data source. For example, the static information may be derived from at least one of specification, a construction plan, a blueprint, measurement, sensor data, or the like of the building and / or industrial facility. The term “condition” may include any condition, characteristic, property, tech- nical equipment, or the like. For example, the structural condition of the building and / or industrial facility may com- prise at least one of an electrical condition and thermal condition thereof. The use of the building and / or industrial facility may relate to the use of the building by entering, production, occupation, etc. Advantageous configurations and developments emerge from the further dependent claims and from the description with refer- ence to the figures of the drawings. According to an embodiment, the load profile may be time-re- solved and configured to indicate a variation over time of the energy or power consumed by the building and / or indus- trial facility over a period of time. A degree of temporal resolution may depend on and / or may selected based on at least one of a temporal resolution of the weather profile and a temporal resolution of the static information. For example, the temporal resolution may be in the range of at least one of minutes, hours, days, etc. The load profile may optionally comprise a prediction and / or an estimation of the energy or power consumed by the building and / or industrial facility over a future period of time in the respective sub-field. In an embodiment, the load profile may comprise at least one of an electrical load profile of production, an electrical load profile of lighting, an electrical and thermal load pro- file of a ventilation system, and a thermal load profile of a building shell of the building and / or industrial facility. Each of the foregoing electrical load profiles or thermal load profiles may be referred to as a sub load profile and by itself can already be indicative of the energy demand of the building and / or industrial facility. Each of the sub load profiles may optionally comprise a prediction and / or an esti- mation of the energy or power consumed of the building and / or industrial facility over a future period of time in the re- spective sub field. According to an embodiment, the determining of the load pro- file of the building and / or industrial facility based on the first data and the second data may comprise determining at least one of an electrical load profile of production, an electrical load profile of lighting, an electrical and ther- mal load profile of a ventilation system, and a thermal load profile of a building shell of the building and / or industrial facility based on the first data and the second data. Each of the foregoing electrical load profiles or thermal load pro- files may be referred to as a sub load profile and by itself can already be indicative of the energy demand of the build- ing and / or industrial facility. In an embodiment, the determining of the load profile of the building and / or industrial facility based on the first data and the second data may comprise combining multiple of an electrical load profile of production, an electrical load profile of lighting, an electrical and thermal load profile of a ventilation system, and a thermal load profile of a building shell of the building and / or industrial facility to a total electrical and thermal load profile. Considering and / or combining multiple of the sub load profiles may en- hance accuracy of the total load profile. According to an embodiment, the determining of the load pro- file of the building and / or industrial facility based on the first data and the second data may comprise correlating the static information and the weather profile with each other. The term “correlating” may be understood broadly as bringing the static information and the weather profile in a relation- ship to each other, using at least one calculation, computa- tion, etc. At least some of the static information may depend on the weather profile, e.g. on weather conditions recorded therein. In an embodiment, the determining of the load profile of the building and / or industrial facility based on the first data and the second data may comprise calculating at least one weather dependent parameter used to calculate based thereon the load profile. For example, at least some of the static information may depend on the weather profile, e.g. on weather conditions recorded therein. Based on the knowledge of both, the at least one weather dependent parameter may be calculated. This at least one parameter may be used, e.g. further processed, for calculating based thereon the load profile. According to an embodiment, the determining of the load pro- file of the building and / or industrial facility based on the first data and the second data may comprise inputting the first data and the second data into a computational model configured to calculate, based on the first data and the sec- ond data, at least one weather dependent parameter used to calculate based thereon the load profile. For example, at least some of the static information may depend on the weather profile, e.g. on weather conditions recorded therein. Based on the knowledge of both, the at least one weather de- pendent parameter may be calculated. This at least one param- eter may be used, e.g. further processed, for calculating based thereon the load profile. In an embodiment, the static information may be associated with at least one of an electrical load of production, an electrical load of lighting, an electrical and thermal load of a ventilation system, and a thermal load of a building shell of the building and / or industrial facility. That is, the static information may be indicative of at least one of the foregoing loads. According to an embodiment, the static information associated with the electrical load of production may comprise at least one of an annual energy consumption, a number of working days per week, number of shifts per day, shift begin, shift end, and number of working hours per shift. Based on this static information, a precise determination of the load profile can be achieved. In an embodiment, the static information associated with the electrical load of lighting may comprise at least one of a surface area and type of use, lighting requirements per type of use, time of use, and selection of energy efficiency measures. Based on this static information, a precise deter- mination of the load profile can be achieved. According to an embodiment, the static information associated with the electrical and thermal load of the ventilation sys- tem may comprise at least one of a nominal volume flow, com- pression, heat recovery coefficient, target internal tempera- ture, summer compensation enabled or disabled, working hours, and selection of energy efficiency measures, respectively re- lated to the ventilation system. Based on this static infor- mation, a precise determination of the load profile can be achieved. In an embodiment, the static information associated with the thermal load of a building shell may comprise at least one building shell transmission value, number of employees pre- sent, and selection of energy efficiency measures. Based on this static information, a precise determination of the load profile can be achieved. According to an embodiment, the weather profile may be time- resolved. It may comprise a variation over time of at least one of a temperature, a humidity, and solar radiation over a period of time. Of course, the information of the weather profile is not limited to the foregoing examples, but may comprise other or additional weather information, such as air pressure, etc. For example, the temporal resolution of the weather profile may be in the range of at least one of minutes, hours, days, etc. The weather profile may be based on local, regional and / or global weather data. In an embodiment, the method may further comprise generating output data indicating the load profile. For example, the output data may be used to indicate the load profile to a user or a subsequent computer application, for e.g. the de- sign and / or planning of energy systems for the supply of buildings and / or industrial facilities, etc. The output data may be visualized, displayed, recorded, further processed, or the like. In this way, a time-resolved load profile may be generated and output for the use in e.g. the design and / or planning of energy systems for the supply of buildings and / or industrial facilities, etc. A second aspect relates to the use of the load profile deter- mined according to the method of the first aspect in a com- puter application and / or computer system for designing and / or planning energy systems to supply buildings or instructional facilities. For example, the load profile may be provided in an at least semi-automated manner in a certain and / or stand- ardized data format, such as .json or the like, via a data interface, e.g. a REST-API interface or the like, for further processing, e.g. in an energy system designing computer ap- plication and / or system. The computer application and / or com- puter system may be configured to facilitate designing and / or planning of an energy system to supply a building and / or in- structional facility. According to a third aspect, there is provided an apparatus for determining a load profile for a building and / or indus- trial facility. The apparatus comprises interface circuitry configured to receive first data indicating a geographical location and static information on a structural condition and use of the building and / or industrial facility, and to re- ceive second data indicating a weather profile for the indi- cated geographical location. Further, the apparatus comprises processing circuitry configured to determine the load profile of the building and / or industrial facility based on the first data and the second data. The apparatus may be configured to carry out the method of the first aspect. For example, the apparatus may run a com- puter application implementing the method of the first as- pect. Accordingly, the apparatus may implement any one of the above embodiments described with respect to the first aspect. The interface circuitry and the processing circuitry may be coupled to each other. The apparatus may be implemented in hardware or software or in a combination thereof. For exam- ple, it may be a computer as described above. The interface circuitry may comprise at least one of data network cir- cuitry, a data network controller, a data communication con- troller, etc. The processing circuitry may comprise at least one of a data processor, a microprocessor, a microcontroller, a field programmable gate array (FPGA), an application-spe- cific integrated circuit (ASIC), etc. Further, the apparatus may comprise a data memory coupled to the interface circuitry and / or the processing circuitry. According to an embodiment, the interface circuitry and / or the apparatus may further comprise at least one user inter- face configured to receive user input comprising at least part of the static information. For example, the user inter- face may also be configured to provide a prompt for request- ing input data corresponding to the static information. The user interface may be coupled to at least one of the inter- face circuitry and the processing circuitry. Further, the user interface may comprise a graphical user interface. In an embodiment, the interface circuitry apparatus may fur- ther comprise at least one user interface, e.g. graphical user interface, configured to output the load profile to a user. For example, the load profile may be visualized, dis- played, or the like in a graphical manner. According to an embodiment, the interface circuitry may be configured to receive the second data from a remote weather information service. For example, the temporal resolution of the weather profile may be in the range of at least one of minutes, hours, days, etc. The second data may be requested for the indicated geographical location of the building and / or industrial facility under consideration. In an embodiment, the processing circuitry may be further configured to generate output data indicating the load pro- file. Alternatively or additionally, the output data be fur- ther processed, e.g. for designing and / or planning an energy system to supply the building and / or industrial facility un- der consideration. According to a fourth aspect, there is provided a computer program comprising instructions which, when the program is executed by a computer, cause the computer to carry out the method of the first aspect. Further, the instructions may im- plement the functions of the apparatus of the third aspect. According to a fifth aspect, there is provided a computer- readable medium comprising instructions which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to carry out the method of the first aspect. Alternatively or additionally, the com- puter-readable medium may have stored the computer program of the fourth aspect. Where appropriate and unless indicated otherwise, the above- mentioned configurations and developments can be combined im- plementations can be combined with each other as desired, as far as this is reasonable. Further possible configurations, developments and implementations of the invention also include combinations, which are not explicitly mentioned, of features of the invention which have been described previously or are described in the following with reference to the embodiments. In particular, in this case, a person skilled in the art will also add individual aspects as improvements or supplements to the basic form of the present invention. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention is described in greater detail in the following on the basis of the embodiments shown in the sche- matic figures of the drawings, in which: Fig. 1 illustrates an exemplary apparatus for determining a load profile for a building and / or industrial fa- cility according to an embodiment. Fig. 2 illustrates in a schematic block diagram an exem- plary data flow or relationship for determining a load profile for a building and / or industrial fa- cility according to an embodiment. Fig. 3 illustrates in a flow diagram a method for deter- mining a load profile for a building and / or indus- trial facility according to an embodiment. The appended drawings are intended to provide further under- standing of the embodiments of the invention. They illustrate embodiments and, in conjunction with the description, help to explain principles and concepts of the invention. Other embod- iments and many of the advantages mentioned become apparent in view of the drawings. The elements in the drawings are not necessarily shown to scale. In the drawings, like, functionally equivalent and identically operating elements, features and components are provided with like reference signs in each case, unless stated otherwise. DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Fig. 1 illustrates schematically an exemplary apparatus 100 for determining a load profile of or for a building and / or industrial facility generally denoted 10. In at least some embodiments, the apparatus 100 may be implemented by any suitable computer, such as a desktop computer, laptop com- puter, tablet computer, mobile terminal, handheld device, smartphone, or the like, wherein this is not limited herein. Such computer may comprise at least one of a data memory, a data processor, processing circuitry, a data interface, in- terface circuitry, a communication interface, etc. The apparatus 100 is configured to receive first data 112 in- dicating a geographical location and static information on a structural condition and use of the building and / or indus- trial facility, and to receive second data 114 indicating a weather profile for the indicated geographical location. Fur- ther, the apparatus 100 is configured to determine the load profile of the building and / or industrial facility based on the first data 112 and the second data 114. Optionally, the apparatus 100, e.g. the processing circuitry 120, may be con- figured to generate output data 116 indicating the load pro- file. In at least some embodiments, the apparatus may comprise in- terface circuitry 110 and processing circuitry 120 coupled to each other. The interface circuitry 110 may be configured to receive the first data 112 and the second data 114. The pro- cessing circuitry 120 may be configured for at least the de- termination of the load profile based on the first data 112 and the second data 114. The apparatus may be implemented in hardware or software or in a combination thereof. For exam- ple, it may be a computer as described above. The interface circuitry 110 may comprise at least one of data network cir- cuitry, a data network controller, a data communication con- troller, etc. The processing circuitry 120 may comprise at least one of a data processor, a microprocessor, a microcon- troller, a field programmable gate array (FPGA), an applica- tion-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), etc. Further, the apparatus 100 may comprise a data memory coupled to the in- terface circuitry and / or the processing circuitry. Further, in at least some embodiments, the apparatus 100 may comprise at least one user interface (not shown) configured to receive user input comprising at least part of the static information, i.e. at least part of the first data 112. For example, the user interface may also be configured to provide a prompt for requesting input data corresponding to the static information. By way of example, the at least one user interface may be coupled to at least one of the interface circuitry 110 and the processing circuitry 120. Alternatively or additionally, the output data may be further processed, e.g. for designing and / or planning an energy system to supply the building and / or industrial facility 10 under considera- tion. For example, the load profile may be visualized, dis- played, or the like in a graphical manner. Alternatively or additionally, the output data be further processed, e.g. for designing and / or planning an energy system to supply the building and / or industrial facility un-der consideration. In at least some embodiments, the apparatus 100, e.g. the in- terface circuitry 110, may be configured to receive the sec- ond data 120 from a remote weather information service. For example, the temporal resolution of the weather profile may be in the range of at least one of minutes, hours, days, etc. The second data 120 may be requested from the weather infor- mation service for the indicated geographical location of the building and / or industrial facility 10 under consideration. Further, in at least some embodiments, the static information included in the first data 112 may be associated with at least one of an electrical load of production, an electrical load of lighting, an electrical and thermal load of a venti- lation system, and a thermal load of a building shell of the building and / or industrial facility. That is, the static in- formation may be indicative of at least one of the foregoing loads. For example, the static information associated with the electrical load of production may comprise at least one of an annual energy consumption, a number of working days per week, number of shifts per day, shift begin, shift end, and number of working hours per shift. Further, by way of exam- ple, the static information associated with the electrical load of lighting may comprise at least one of a surface area and type of use, lighting requirements per type of use, time of use, and selection of energy efficiency measures. Further, for example, the static information associated with the elec- trical and thermal load of the ventilation system may com- prise at least one of a nominal volume flow, compression, heat recovery coefficient, target internal temperature, sum- mer compensation enabled or disabled, working hours, and se- lection of energy efficiency measures, respectively related to the ventilation system. Further, by way of example, the static information associated with the thermal load of a building shell may comprise at least one building shell transmission value, number of employees present, and selec- tion of energy efficiency measures. In at least some embodiments, the load profile may be time- resolved and configured to indicate a variation over time of the energy or power consumed by the building and / or indus- trial facility over a period of time. A degree of temporal resolution may depend on and / or may selected based on at least one of a temporal resolution of the weather profile and a temporal resolution of the static information. For example, the temporal resolution may be in the range of at least one of minutes, hours, days, etc. The load profile may optionally comprise a prediction and / or an estimation of the energy or power consumed by the building and / or industrial facility over a future period of time in the respective sub-field. Further, in at least some embodiments, the load profile may comprise at least one of an electrical load profile of pro- duction, an electrical load profile of lighting, an electri- cal and thermal load profile of a ventilation system, and a thermal load profile of a building shell of the building and / or industrial facility 10. Each of the foregoing electri- cal load profiles or thermal load profiles may be referred to as a sub load profile and by itself can already be indicative of the energy demand of the building and / or industrial facil- ity. Each of the sub load profiles may optionally comprise a prediction and / or an estimation of the energy or power con- sumed of the building and / or industrial facility over a fu- ture period of time in the respective sub field. Multiple of the sub load profiles, i.e. electrical and / or thermal sub load profiles, may be combined and / or considered for deter- mining the load profile, i.e. a total electrical and thermal load profile. Fig. 2 illustrates in a schematic block diagram 200 an exem- plary data flow or relationship for determining the load pro- file for 10 building and / or industrial facility. In Fig. 2, block 210 represents and / or corresponds to the weather pro- file and / or the second data 114. Blocks 220 to 260 may each correspond to a determination function, determination calcu- lation, or the like, resulting in the respective sub load profiles mentioned above. Each of the blocks 220 to 260 may be implemented by utilizing one or more mathematic opera- tions, functions, calculations, etc., a computational model, or the like. In Fig. 2, block 220 represents and / or corresponds to the above-mentioned electrical load profile of production of the building and / or industrial facility 10. Block 230 represents and / or corresponds to the above-mentioned electrical load profile of lighting of the building and / or industrial facil- ity 10. Block 240 represents and / or corresponds to the above- mentioned electrical and thermal load profile of a ventila- tion system of the building and / or industrial facility 10. Block 250 represents and / or corresponds to the above-men- tioned thermal load profile of a building shell of the build- ing and / or industrial facility 10. Block 260 represents and / or corresponds to the above-mentioned total electrical and thermal load profile of the building and / or industrial facility 10. The weather profile of block 210 and / or the second data 114 may be used in one or more of the blocks 220 to 250. The first data 112 (not denoted in Fig. 2) may also be used in one or more of the blocks 220 to 250, and for indicating the geographical location of the building and / or industrial fa- cility 10 for deriving the weather profile. The determining of the load profile of the building and / or industrial facil- ity 10 based on the first data 112 and the second data 114 may comprise correlating the static information and the weather profile with each other. Further, the determining of the load profile of the building and / or industrial facility 10 based on the first data 112 and the second data 114 com- prises calculating at least one weather dependent function and / or parameter used to calculate based thereon the load profile. For example, the weather profile may be time re- solved and may comprise a variation over time of at least one of a temperature, a humidity, and solar radiation over a pe- riod of time. For block 210, input data to determine and / or derive the weather profile may comprise one or more of the geological location of the building and / or industrial facility 10 in geo-coordinates and a period of time to be considered, e.g. a reference time period, such as a reference year, or the like. For block 220, input data to determine and / or derive the electrical load of production, and / or the corresponding load profile, may comprise at least one of an annual energy con- sumption, a number of working days per week, number of shifts per day, shift begin, shift end, and number of working hours per shift. This is not limited herein. Merely by way of example, block 220 may perform one or more of the following operations and / or calculations, wherein other and / or further operations and / or calculations are con- ceivable. The number of working and non-working hours of a year may be calculated, for example, by the following expressions: and ^^^^^^ ^^^ − ^^^^^^^ ^^^^^ = ^^^^^&^^^^^ '^^ (^^^ −^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^ ^^^^^).The Power used during working hours as working power and non- working hours as non-working power may be calculated, for ex- ample, by the following expressions: and ^^^ − ^^^^^^^ =^*^^ = ^^^^^&0.2 × ^^^^^^^ =^*^^),wherein this function may generate a detailed and sensitive power load representation for a given period, reflecting a factory operating environment. The distribution of load data over time may be determined, for example, by: =&#) =@^^^^^^^=^*^^, ^^ ^&#) ^^ ^ *^^^^^^ ^^ ^^^ B^^^^!ℎ^^# ≤ ^&#) < E^^!ℎ^^#^^^^^^^^^^=^*^^, ^#ℎ^^*^^^ , wherein D(t) denotes the day of the week at time t, H(t) de- notes the hour of the day at time t, and power P(t) denotes the power consumed at each timestamp t. For block 230, input data to determine and / or derive the electrical load of lighting, and / or the corresponding load profile, may comprise at least one of a surface area and type of use, lighting requirements per type of use, time of use, and selection of energy efficiency measures, such as e.g. time switching, motion sensors, daylight control, or the like. This is not limited herein. Further, block 230 may use the weather profile, or more generally weather data, as pro- vided by the second data 114. For example, the weather data, and especially, solar radiation, may affect the demand on the lighting of the building and / or industrial facility 10. Merely by way of example, block 230 may perform one or more of the following operations and / or calculations, wherein other and / or further operations and / or calculations are con- ceivable. and F^^^=^^^^K#^^^ = *^^^ + ^^F^ + F^^^^#^K^,wherein use areas may be differentiated in e.g. a logistics area and a building area. Further, by way of example, the selection of energy effi- ciency measures may be considered by following operations: F^^^I^^^ [^] = F^^^G^F^, indicating that there is no energy effi- ciency measure is selected, con- sidering presence of time switching of the lighting, F^^^I^^^ [^] = F^^^=^^^^K#^^^ × ]^#^^^!^^^^^\ℎ^^^ℎ^F^, consideringpresence of motion sensors for the lighting,F^^^I^^^ [^] = F^^^=^^^^K#^^^ × ^^F^^_^^'^K#_K^^^^^K^^^#[^], consideringdaylight control of the lighting based on the solar radiation derived from the weather profile, considering time switching and motion sensors of the light- ing, , considering time switching and daylight control of the lighting,F^^^I^^^ [^] = F^^^=^^^^K#^^^ × ]^#^^^!^^^^^\ℎ^^^ℎ^F^ ×^^F^^_^^'^K#_K^^^^^K^^^#[^], considering daylight control and mo-tion sensors of the light, andF^^^I^^^ [^] =F^^^=^^^^K#^^^ × ]^#^^^!^^^^^\ℎ^^^ℎ^F^ × ^^F^^40^^WV`abccd`dbef ,_ ^^ *^^^^^ \^^^ *^#ℎ^^ ^ℎ^^# #^^^^ , consider-F^^^G^F^, ^#ℎ^^*^^^ing time switching, motion sensors, daylight control for the lighting. Further, by way of example, based on the selected energy ef- ficiency measures, possible investment costs may be calcu- lated. The calculation may be based, for example, on the max- imum power value of the generated load profile and the trans- mitted investment costs per kW of installed power. An exem- plary calculation may comprise the following expression: that investment costs = investment costs (time control) + in- vestment costs (motion sensors) + investment costs(daylight control). For block 240, input data to determine and / or derive the electrical and thermal load of the ventilation system, and / or the corresponding load profile, comprises at least one of a nominal volume flow, compression, heat recovery coefficient, target internal temperature, summer compensation enabled or disabled, working hours, and selection of energy efficiency measures. This is not limited herein. Further, block 240 may use the weather profile, or more generally weather data, as provided by the second data 114. For example, the weather data, and especially, temperature, humidity and / or solar ra- diation, may affect the electrical and thermal load of the ventilation system of the building and / or industrial facility 10. For block 250, input data to determine and / or derive the thermal load of a building shell, and / or the corresponding load profile, may comprise at least one building shell trans- mission value, number of employees present, and selection of energy efficiency measures. This is not limited herein. Fur- ther, block 250 may use the weather profile, or more gener- ally weather data, as provided by the second data 114. For example, the weather data, and especially, temperature, hu- midity and / or solar radiation, may affect the thermal load of a building shell of the building and / or industrial facility 10. Merely by way of example, block 250 may perform one or more of the following operations and / or calculations, wherein other and / or further operations and / or calculations are con- ceivable. The block may calculate the required heating and cooling energy demand, based on e.g. the working hours, num- ber of employees in the building, outdoor temperature, heat- ing of the building by global radiation, target indoor tem- perature, heating of the building by electrical equipment in- side the building and the heat transfer coefficients of the building shell, e.g. wall, window and roof surfaces. The influence of the solar radiation may be determined and / or considered by the following expression:^^F^^ = nh^U / ^ × ^^^^!^^^^K^^^^^^* + 0,25 × ^g#^^^^F^^^^^*!^^^^K^ ×^^F^^p^^^^#^^^.The influence of the building shell may be determined and / or considered by the following expression: F^^^ = #^^'^^^^ × ^g#^^^^F^^FF + ^g#^^^^F^^^^^* + ^^^^ + ^^^^^^^^^*. The load of the heating may be determined and / or considered by the following expression:ℎ^^#^^^H^^F^^^J^^^[^] = max&F^^^ + t^^#^^^# − F^^^H^^t^[^] − *^^^^^^[^] −^^F^^, 0), wherein workers denotes the heat introduced by theworkers and ventHeat denotes the amount of heat introduced by the ventilation system. The cooling load may be determined and / or considered by the following expression: K^^F^^^J^^^[^] = min&F^^^ − t^^#H^^F − F^^^H^^t^[^] − *^^^^^^[^] − ^^F^^, 0), wherein ventCool denotes the amount of cooling introduced by the ventilation system. In block 260, the determinations, e.g. results of calcula- tions, or the like, of blocks 220 to 250 may be combined and / or considered to generate the total electrical and ther- mal load profile of the building and / or industrial facility 10. However, it is noted that each sub load profile of blocks 220 to 250 may be of interest on its own. Fig. 3 illustrates in a flow diagram a method 300 for deter- mining a load profile for a building and / or industrial facil- ity 10. For example, the method may be carried out by utiliz- ing the apparatus 100 and / or any suitable computer. The method comprises receiving 310 first data, e.g. first data 112, indicating a geographical location and static infor- mation on a structural condition and use of the building and / or industrial facility 10. Further, the method comprises receiving 320 second data, e.g. second data 114, indi- cating a weather profile for the indicated geographical loca- tion. Further, the method comprises determining 330 the load profile of the building and / or industrial facility 10 based on the first data, e.g. first data 112, and the second data, e.g. second data 114. Further, in at least some embodiments, there may be provided a computer program. The computer program may comprise in- structions which, when the program is executed by a computer, cause the computer to carry out the method 300 and / or to cause the apparatus to operate in accordance with the de- scription herein. The computer program may be stored on or transmitted via a computer-readable medium. Although the present invention has been described in the above by way of embodiments, it is not limited thereto, but rather can be modified in a wide range of ways. In particular, the invention can be changed or modified in various ways without deviating from the core of the invention.
[0002] LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS 10 building and / or industrial facility 100 apparatus 110 interface circuitry 112 first data 114 second data 116 output data 120 processing circuitry 200 data flow 210-260 blocks of the data flow 300 method 310-330 method step(s)
Claims
CLAIMS 1. A computer-implemented method (300) for determining a load profile for a building and / or industrial facility (10), the method comprising: receiving (310) first data (112 indicating a geograph- ical location and static information on a structural condition and use of the building and / or industrial fa- cility (10); receiving (320) second data (114) indicating a weather profile for the indicated geographical location; and determining (330) the load profile of the building and / or industrial facility based on the first data (112) and the second data (114).
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the load profile is time resolved and configured to indicate a variation over time of the energy or power consumed by the building and / or industrial facility (10) over a period of time.
3. The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the load profile comprises at least one of an electrical load profile of production, an electrical load profile of lighting, an electrical and thermal load profile of a ventilation system, and a thermal load profile of a building shell of the building and / or industrial facil- ity (10).
4. The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein determining the load profile of the building and / or in- dustrial facility (10) based on the first data (112) and the second data (114) comprises determining at least oneof an electrical load profile of production, an electri- cal load profile of lighting, an electrical and thermal load profile of a ventilation system, and a thermal load profile of a building shell of the building and / or in- dustrial facility (10) based on the first data (112) and the second data (114).
5. The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein determining the load profile of the building and / or in- dustrial facility (10) based on the first data and the second data comprises combining multiple of an electri- cal load profile of production, an electrical load pro- file of lighting, an electrical and thermal load profile of a ventilation system, and a thermal load profile of a building shell of the building and / or industrial facil- ity (10) to a total electrical and thermal load profile.
6. The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein determining the load profile of the building and / or in- dustrial facility (10) based on the first data (112) and the second data (114) comprises correlating the static information and the weather profile with each other.
7. The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein determining the load profile of the building and / or in- dustrial facility (10) based on the first data (112) and the second data (114) comprises calculating at least one weather dependent parameter used to calculate based thereon the load profile.
8. The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein determining the load profile of the building and / or in- dustrial facility (10) based on the first data (112) and the second data (114) comprises inputting the first data (112) and the second data (114) into a computational model configured to calculate, based on the first data(112) and the second data (114), at least one weather dependent parameter used to calculate based thereon the load profile.
9. The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the static information is associated with at least one of an electrical load of production, an electrical load of lighting, an electrical and thermal load of a venti- lation system, and a thermal load of a building shell of the building and / or industrial facility (10).
10. The method of claim 9, wherein the static information associated with the electrical load of production com- prises at least one of an annual energy consumption, a number of working days per week, number of shifts per day, shift begin, shift end, and number of working hours per shift.
11. The method of claim 9 or 10, wherein the static infor- mation associated with the electrical load of lighting comprises at least one of a surface area and type of use, lighting requirements per type of use, time of use, and selection of energy efficiency measures.
12. The method of any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein the static information associated with the electrical and thermal load of the ventilation system comprises at least one of a nominal volume flow, compression, heat recovery coefficient, target internal temperature, sum- mer compensation enabled or disabled, working hours, and selection of energy efficiency measures.
13. The method of any one of claims 9 to 12, wherein the static information associated with the thermal load of a building shell comprises at least one building shelltransmission value, number of employees present, and se- lection of energy efficiency measures.
14. The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the weather profile is time resolved and comprises a variation over time of at least one of a temperature, a humidity, and solar radiation over a period of time.
15. The method of any one of the preceding claims, further comprising generating output data (116) indicating the load profile.
16. The use of the load profile determined according to the method of any one of claims 1 to 15 in a computer appli- cation for designing energy systems to supply buildings or instructional facilities.
17. An apparatus (100) for determining a load profile for a building and / or industrial facility (10), the apparatus (100) comprising: at least one interface circuitry (110) configured to re- ceive first data (112) indicating a geographical loca- tion and static information on a structural condition and use of the building and / or industrial facility (10), and to receive second data indicating a weather profile for the indicated geographical location; and a processing circuitry (120) configured to determine the load profile of the building and / or industrial facility (10) based on the first data (112) and the second data (114).
18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the at least one in- terface circuitry (110) is configured to receive userinput comprising at least part of the static infor- mation.
19. The apparatus of 17 or 18, wherein the at least one in- terface circuitry (110) is configured to output the load profile to a user.
20. The apparatus of any one of claims 17 to 19, wherein the at least one interface circuitry (110) is configured to receive the second data from a remote weather infor- mation service.
21. The apparatus of any one of claims 17 to 20, wherein the processing circuitry (120) is further configured to gen- erate output data (116) indicating the load profile.
22. A computer program comprising instructions which, when the program is executed by a computer, cause the com- puter to carry out the method of any one of claims 1 to 15.
23. A computer-readable medium comprising instructions which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to carry out the method of any one of claims 1 to 15.