HVAC Energy Estimation Using Runtime, Temperature, and Component Data
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current HVAC systems inaccurately estimate energy consumption due to reliance on operational run time alone, which does not account for unique factors such as component characteristics, weather conditions, and user settings.
Innovation Solution
An HVAC system with a controller and sensor that measures operational conditions like outdoor air and soil temperatures, combined with component characteristics, to calculate a base power consumption value and estimate energy consumption, considering installation configurations like horizontal or vertical loops.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If operational run time alone is used to estimate energy consumption, then the estimation method is simple, but the accuracy of energy consumption estimation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameters used for energy consumption estimation from simple operational run time to multiple factors including operational run time, outdoor air temperature, incoming heat exchange fluid temperature, and system characteristic values. This parameter expansion resolves the contradiction by improving estimation accuracy while maintaining reasonable system complexity through structured data collection and processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller acts as an intermediary that collects and processes multiple input parameters (operational run time, temperatures, system characteristics) to calculate base power consumption values. This intermediary processing layer integrates diverse data sources into a unified energy consumption estimation, resolving the accuracy-simplicity contradiction through systematic computation.
2Reliability
If ratings information of HVAC components is used, then the estimation accounts for component characteristics, but the estimation remains inaccurate due to typical condition assumptions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by considering specific local conditions (actual outdoor air temperature, actual incoming heat exchange fluid temperature, specific system characteristic values) rather than relying on general typical condition ratings. This localized approach resolves the contradiction by adapting component ratings to actual operating conditions, thereby improving estimation accuracy while maintaining component characteristic consideration.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from static ratings information to dynamic estimation by continuously incorporating real-time operational data (operational run time, temperatures) with system characteristics. This dynamic approach resolves the contradiction by making energy consumption estimation adaptive to changing conditions while preserving component characteristic information.
3Measurement precision
If multiple operational conditions and system characteristics are integrated, then energy consumption estimation accuracy improves, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the energy consumption estimation process into distinct components: collecting operational parameters (run time, temperatures), determining system characteristic values, calculating base power consumption values, and computing total energy consumption. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by organizing complex data processing into manageable steps, improving accuracy through comprehensive data integration while maintaining system manageability.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for estimating energy consumption in an HVAC system, the method including the steps of determining a system characteristic value, obtaining an operational condition value, determining a base power consumption value based at least in part on the system characteristic value and the operational condition value, determining an operational run time for the system, and determining an estimated energy consumption based at least in part on the operational run time and the base power consumption value.