Chiller and Heat Pump Setpoint Shifting for Grid Emissions Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing chiller/heat pump systems in buildings consume a significant portion of carbon emissions, with 30-50% of a commercial building's carbon footprint attributed to these systems, and modifying existing systems to be more energy-efficient is economically unfeasible.
Innovation Solution
A control system that adjusts the water temperature setpoint of a chiller/heat pump system based on predicted emissions levels from the power grid, increasing the setpoint when emissions are high and decreasing it when emissions are low, while maintaining a predefined temperature comfort margin.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If the chiller/heat pump system operates at a fixed temperature setpoint to maintain building comfort, then the temperature comfort in the building is maintained, but the system consumes energy regardless of the emissions level of the power grid
Solution Approach 1:
The temperature setpoint is made dynamic rather than fixed. The control system continuously adjusts the temperature setpoint based on real-time or predicted power grid emissions levels, allowing the system to adapt its operation to minimize carbon emissions while still maintaining acceptable building comfort within a predefined margin
Solution Approach 2:
The control system incorporates feedback from power grid emissions data (either real-time measurements or predictions) to adjust the chiller/heat pump operation. This feedback loop enables the system to respond to varying emissions levels and optimize its energy consumption accordingly
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the temperature setpoint is adjusted frequently to respond to emissions changes, then carbon emissions are reduced, but the building temperature may fluctuate beyond comfortable margins
Solution Approach 1:
The control system adjusts the temperature setpoint by a predefined margin rather than making extreme adjustments. This partial action approach allows emissions reduction while ensuring that temperature fluctuations remain within acceptable comfort boundaries, preventing excessive temperature variations that would compromise building comfort
3Use of energy by moving object
If existing chiller/heat pump systems are modified to be more energy-efficient, then energy consumption is reduced, but the modification cost becomes unduly expensive
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of modifying the physical hardware of existing chiller/heat pump systems, the invention changes the operational parameters (temperature setpoint) through software control. This approach achieves energy efficiency improvements without the high costs associated with hardware modifications, making existing systems more efficient through intelligent control rather than physical changes
Data Source
AI summary
A building chiller/heat pump system includes a chiller/heat pump system for supplying a conditioned fluid to change a temperature of air being delivered into a building. The chiller/heat pump system is provided with a control to achieve a desired setpoint of the air delivered into the building. The control is programmed to receive a prediction of expected remission levels in energy that will be delivered to power the chiller/heat pump system. The control is programmed to change the setpoint such that an energy level required to operate the chiller/heat pump system to achieve the setpoint will drop when the expected emissions level increases, and adjusts the setpoint in an opposed direction when the expected emissions drops. A method is also disclosed.