Floor Warming Thermostat with Weather-Compensated Setpoint Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing floor warming systems face inefficiencies due to fixed setpoints, leading to overheating or underheating, and often conflict with primary heating/cooling systems, failing to adapt to environmental changes like outdoor temperature and humidity.
Innovation Solution
A thermostat controller for floor warming systems that adjusts the operational setpoint based on user preferences and environmental parameters such as outdoor temperature, humidity, and barometric pressure, using a processor to calculate and adjust the setpoint dynamically to maintain comfort and efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a fixed floor warming setpoint is used, then the floor temperature is maintained at a constant level, but the interior space may overheat during mild outdoor conditions and the system becomes inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic setpoint adjustment by making the floor warming setpoint variable based on outdoor temperature conditions. The controller automatically modifies the target floor temperature according to ambient weather data, transitioning from a static fixed setpoint to a dynamic adaptive setpoint that responds to environmental changes, thereby preventing overheating while maintaining comfort.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the temperature parameter of the floor warming system based on outdoor conditions. By adjusting the setpoint temperature parameter dynamically according to outdoor temperature measurements, the system adapts its operating parameters to environmental conditions, optimizing energy efficiency while maintaining adequate floor warmth.
2Temperature
If the thermostat maintains the interior space at an air temperature set point, then the air temperature is controlled, but the floor becomes undesirably cold or hot and the floor warming thermostat fights against the primary heating/cooling thermostat
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by independently controlling the floor temperature setpoint separate from the air temperature control. The floor warming system maintains its own dedicated setpoint parameter that can be optimized for floor comfort without being directly tied to air temperature maintenance, allowing localized optimization of floor temperature while the primary thermostat handles air temperature.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the temperature control functions by separating floor temperature control from air temperature control. The floor warming thermostat operates with its own independent setpoint determination logic based on outdoor conditions, rather than being coupled to air temperature maintenance, eliminating the conflict between floor and air temperature control objectives.
3Temperature
If floor minimum and maximum temperature settings are used to keep the floor comfortable, then the floor temperature is bounded, but the primary heating/cooling thermostat and system overwhelming the floor warming thermostat cannot be prevented
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic setpoint adjustment by making the floor warming setpoint variable based on outdoor temperature conditions. The controller automatically modifies the target floor temperature according to ambient weather data, transitioning from a static fixed setpoint to a dynamic adaptive setpoint that responds to environmental changes, thereby preventing overheating while maintaining comfort.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates feedback from outdoor temperature measurements to adjust the floor warming setpoint. The controller continuously monitors outdoor conditions and uses this feedback to dynamically modify the target floor temperature, creating a closed-loop system that adapts to environmental changes rather than operating with fixed bounds.
Data Source
AI summary
A floor warming system includes floor warming elements for coupling to a floor and a first sensor assembly for generating a first signal indicative of at least one of a floor temperature and a floor warming element temperature. A thermostat controller receives the first signal and a second signal indicating an ambient outdoor temperature for controlling operation of the floor warming elements. The thermostat controller includes memory storing an instruction set and data related to a user setpoint and a processor for running the instruction set. The processor is operative to calculate an operational floor setpoint based on the first signal, the second signal and the user setpoint.