Climate Control Scheduling Using Heating Inertia Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing HVAC control systems do not effectively account for heating inertia, leading to delays in achieving desired room temperatures and inefficiencies in energy use, despite efforts to increase efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that utilize real-time measurements and historical data to calculate a correspondence indicator, allowing for precise scheduling of climate control processes by accounting for the rate of change of climate parameters, such as temperature and humidity, and external influences like appliance usage and energy prices, to initiate heating or cooling at optimal times.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If heating is initiated at a scheduled point in time to reach desired temperature, then the heating procedure starts on time, but the desired temperature is reached with a delay due to heating inertia
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by calculating the heating inertia in advance through measurements during initial heating phases. This pre-calculated inertia value is then used to determine the optimal start time for heating, allowing the system to compensate for the time delay caused by heating inertia and reach the desired temperature at the target time.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies dynamics by continuously adapting the heating schedule based on measured heating inertia. Instead of using fixed static timing, the system dynamically adjusts the heating start time and duration based on the actual thermal response characteristics of the room, improving both timing accuracy and energy efficiency.
2Loss of time
If heating is initiated earlier to compensate for heating inertia, then the desired temperature is reached on time, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes parameters by using measured heating inertia values to optimize the heating schedule. Instead of always heating early to ensure temperature is reached, the system calculates the precise start time based on the actual thermal response, adjusting the heating parameters (start time, duration, intensity) to minimize energy consumption while achieving the desired temperature on time.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by measuring the actual temperature response during heating cycles and using this information to refine future heating schedules. The measured heating inertia from previous cycles feeds into the calculation of optimal heating start times, creating a closed-loop system that reduces energy waste while maintaining timing accuracy.
3Reliability
If heating is extended beyond the minimum required time, then the desired temperature is reliably reached, but energy efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies partial action by heating only for the minimum necessary duration to reach the desired temperature, avoiding excessive heating. By using measured heating inertia to calculate the precise heating duration needed, the system performs just enough heating action to achieve the temperature target without wasting energy on prolonged operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the heating duration parameter based on measured thermal response characteristics. Instead of using fixed or extended heating periods, the system dynamically adjusts the heating duration parameter to match the actual time required to reach the desired temperature, thereby eliminating energy waste from unnecessary prolonged heating while ensuring the temperature target is reliably achieved.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for controlling a climate parameter in a room of a building, the method comprising obtaining information regarding the climate parameter, the information including room specific measurements of the climate parameter during at least one climate control process, based on the room specific measurements of the climate parameter providing or amending a correspondence indicator CI, such that the correspondence indicator comprises information indicative of a rate of change of the climate parameter within the at least one room during the at least one climate control process, obtaining climate setting information including a desired climate parameter value C and a corresponding desired time t1, obtaining a starting value V1 of the climate parameter of the at least one room, based on the correspondence indicator CI, the desired time t1, the starting value V1 and the desired climate parameter value C1 calculating a measure M1 for an amount of time Δt needed to 1 change the climate parameter from the starting value V1 of the climate parameter to the desired climate parameter value C1, and scheduling a second climate control process of the climate parameter of the at least one room as a function F1 of the measure M1.