Climate Control Power Load Management During Grid Outages
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Solution Overview
Problem
Buildings connected to a power grid face challenges in maintaining comfortable climate conditions during power outages or insufficient power supply, as existing systems lack efficient methods to manage power loads and prioritize essential climate settings for resident comfort and safety.
Innovation Solution
A climate control system that identifies insufficient power supply, calculates total available power, and adjusts climate settings to maintain a minimum threshold for temperature, humidity, and air flow, using a controller to manage power loads and prioritize essential functions, incorporating heat pumps and energy storage devices to ensure survival operating modes based on resident data and weather conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the climate control system operates at full capacity during power outages, then comfortable climate conditions are maintained, but the available power from backup sources is depleted quickly
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies partial action by providing heated air only to occupied zones rather than the entire building, and by using the heat pump at reduced capacity. This allows the limited power from battery (2kW) and generator (5kW) sources to be extended over a longer duration while still providing meaningful climate control to residents.
Solution Approach 2:
The climate control system directs heating resources to specific occupied zones within the building rather than uniformly distributing heat throughout the entire structure. This localized approach optimizes the use of limited power resources by focusing thermal output where residents actually are, extending the duration of power supply effectiveness.
2Duration of action of moving object
If the system prioritizes essential power loads during insufficient power supply, then power supply duration is extended, but climate comfort deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes operational parameters by adjusting heat pump capacity, airflow rates, and temperature setpoints based on available power levels. During insufficient power supply, the controller modifies these parameters to maintain extended operation while preserving acceptable climate comfort through adaptive control rather than binary on/off operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The climate control system dynamically adjusts its operation based on real-time power availability. The controller continuously monitors power supply status and adapts system performance, allowing the building to transition between different operational modes that balance duration extension with comfort maintenance rather than switching between fixed states.
3Temperature
If the heat pump operates at high capacity to maintain comfortable temperatures, then climate comfort is improved, but power consumption increases beyond available backup power
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by pre-heating or pre-cooling thermal mass elements (such as water tanks or building structure) before power outage occurs, or immediately at the onset of the outage. This stored thermal energy supplements the limited backup power, allowing the heat pump to operate at lower capacity while still maintaining comfortable temperatures throughout the event.
Solution Approach 2:
The system utilizes phase transitions of thermal energy storage media (such as water freezing/thawing or phase change materials) to provide supplemental heating or cooling. This latent heat release or absorption extends the effective runtime of the heat pump without requiring proportional increases in electrical power consumption from backup sources.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system effectively maintains a safe and comfortable climate during power outages by optimizing power usage, ensuring essential loads are met, and prioritizing resident safety and comfort through adaptive climate control settings.
Implementation Method 1
The climate control system may comprise one or more heat pumps, and/or a heat pump system, configured to implement the methods described herein
Data Source
AI summary
Various implementations described herein are related to determining climate settings of a climate controlled area during a duration of insufficient supply of power. Each of one or more power units may be configured to provide power to the climate controlled area. The climate setting of a survival operating mode of a climate control system of at least part of the climate controlled area may be determined, for example, based on the duration of insufficient supply of power, the total available power, and/or one or more weather condition parameters.