Heating Setpoint Schedule Simplification for Lower Energy Use
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current heating systems face inefficiencies due to unsuitable programming, leading to overconsumption of energy and increased costs, as users often set complex schedules with small temperature variations, resulting in high energy usage and environmental impact.
Innovation Solution
An optimized method for controlling heating systems by acquiring an initial setpoint schedule, processing it to reduce unnecessary temperature setpoints and time slots, and transmitting the optimized schedule to the system, which simplifies the temperature settings while maintaining user comfort and reducing energy consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If users set complex heating schedules with many programming slots and small temperature variations, then the heating system can adapt to user preferences, but energy consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes unnecessary programming slots and small temperature variations from complex user-defined schedules, retaining only the essential temperature adjustments needed for comfort while eliminating energy-wasting redundant settings
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of allowing users to define detailed schedules and then optimizing them, the system inverts the approach by automatically generating optimized schedules that inherently contain only necessary temperature adjustments, preventing energy waste from the outset
2Ease of operation
If users define detailed programming slots with small temperature differences, then comfort can be maintained, but the schedule complexity increases and causes overconsumption
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts and removes redundant programming slots and minor temperature variations from user-defined schedules, keeping only the essential temperature adjustments needed for comfort while eliminating complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different levels of temperature adjustment granularity to different time slots and days, using finer control only where necessary for comfort while using coarser control elsewhere, optimizing the balance between comfort and simplicity
3Ease of operation
If the heating system runs in comfort mode all the time, then user comfort is maintained, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic temperature adjustments with distinct heating phases and reduction phases, switching between comfort mode and energy-saving mode at appropriate intervals throughout the day and week, rather than maintaining comfort mode continuously
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses occupancy detection and environmental sensing to provide feedback that triggers automatic switching between comfort and energy-saving modes, ensuring comfort is maintained when needed while reducing energy consumption when occupancy is low or environmental conditions permit
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to an optimized control method for a heating system using a programmed setpoint temperature schedule, comprising the following steps: (a) acquiring an initial setpoint schedule including setpoint temperature values for the heating system and time slots, each setpoint temperature value being associated with a respective time slot; (b) processing the initial setpoint schedule to generate an optimized setpoint schedule including a reduced number of setpoint temperature values compared to the initial setpoint schedule and/or a reduced number of time slots compared to the initial setpoint schedule; (c) transmitting the optimized schedule to the heating system, to control the heating system.