Building Thermal Diagnosis via Digital Model Estimation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for thermal diagnosis of buildings are inadequate as they rely on known thermal and dimensional characteristics, making it difficult to accurately assess intrinsic thermal performance and relate it to normative standards, especially in old buildings where such data is unavailable.
Innovation Solution
A method that uses energy consumption, weather conditions, and human presence data to estimate thermal transmission coefficients, infiltration losses, and solar gains without requiring information on the building's characteristics, creating a digital model to determine the building's thermal diagnosis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional thermal diagnosis methods using known thermal and dimensional characteristics are used, then the diagnostic process is simple and direct, but the accuracy of intrinsic thermal performance assessment deteriorates, especially in old buildings where such data is unavailable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary digital model that mediates between available operational data (energy consumption, weather conditions) and the desired thermal performance parameters. This model acts as a bridge, allowing indirect assessment of intrinsic thermal characteristics without requiring direct measurement of building envelope properties, thereby resolving the contradiction between accuracy and complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical approach of direct physical measurement and inspection of building characteristics with a computational system using numerical models and data processing. This substitution enables accurate thermal performance assessment through algorithmic analysis of operational data, eliminating the need for physical access to building envelope components
2Reliability
If measurement and verification protocols are implemented to verify energy efficiency, then confidence in performance guarantees is improved, but the cost and time required for measurements and verification increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables the building management system to automatically perform verification of thermal performance using its own operational data. The system self-validated by comparing measured energy consumption against the digital model predictions, eliminating the need for external verification protocols and reducing both time and cost while maintaining reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements continuous feedback loops where measured operational data is constantly compared against digital model predictions. This real-time feedback mechanism provides ongoing verification of thermal performance without requiring periodic external audits, thereby maintaining high reliability while minimizing time loss through automated continuous monitoring
3Measurement precision
If detailed thermal and dimensional characteristics of buildings are collected and used, then the thermal model accuracy is improved, but the data collection burden and privacy concerns increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential operational data elements needed for thermal performance assessment (energy consumption, weather conditions, occupancy patterns) while leaving out detailed thermal and dimensional characteristics. This extraction approach maintains sufficient model accuracy for verification purposes while dramatically reducing data collection burden and privacy concerns
Data Source
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AI summary
This method comprises the following steps: - measuring weather parameters, - measuring the energy consumption of the heating appliances used to heat the building and of the other appliances used in the building. A digital model is created from at least one portion of the measurements taken, without requiring information on the thermal and dimensional characteristics of the building or of a part of the building, said digital model linking the heating/cooling energy demand to weather conditions and to previous usage conditions, and a diagnosis is carried out by deriving, from the digital model, regulatory (prescribed) performances of the building or of a part of a building. The invention also relates to a device for implementing such a method.