HVAC and Lighting Control for Predicted Heat Load Disturbances

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing environmental control systems for buildings fail to effectively manage heat load disturbances caused by sources other than HVAC equipment, leading to uncomfortable conditions and increased costs due to inefficient operation.

Innovation Solution

An environmental control system that includes HVAC equipment and lighting systems, with a processing circuit to predict heat load disturbances based on various factors such as occupancy schedules, weather conditions, and lighting states, generating control decisions to optimize resource consumption and maintain occupant comfort.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If building equipment is operated to change environmental conditions without considering other heat sources, then equipment operation is simplified, but occupant comfort deteriorates and costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveequipment operation simplicityVSAvoidoccupant comfort

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring environmental conditions (temperature, humidity, occupancy) and adjusting equipment operation accordingly. The controller receives data from sensors about heat load disturbances from lighting and occupancy, then modifies HVAC operation to maintain comfort, creating a closed-loop control system that adapts to changing conditions automatically

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary action by predicting future heat load disturbances based on scheduled occupancy and lighting patterns. The controller anticipates when heat gains will occur and pre-adjusts HVAC equipment operation to maintain comfort conditions, rather than reacting after discomfort occurs

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Use of energy by moving object

If building equipment is operated without considering heat load disturbances from lighting and other sources, then energy consumption is reduced, but environmental control accuracy deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy consumptionVSAvoidenvironmental control accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies parameter changes by dynamically adjusting HVAC equipment operation parameters (temperature setpoints, equipment runtime) based on predicted heat load disturbances. The controller modifies operational parameters in response to changing conditions from lighting and occupancy, optimizing the balance between energy consumption and environmental control accuracy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Device complexity

If heat load disturbances are not predicted and managed, then system complexity is reduced, but resource consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem complexityVSAvoidresource consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by predicting future heat load disturbances from scheduled lighting and occupancy before they occur. This allows the HVAC system to be pre-positioned to meet the anticipated load, avoiding the need for excessive capacity and reducing overall energy consumption while maintaining manageable system complexity through algorithmic prediction

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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 manages heat load disturbances by optimizing the operation of HVAC and lighting equipment, ensuring comfortable conditions while reducing resource consumption and costs.

Implementation Method 1

heating, ventilation, or air conditioning (HVAC) equipment that operates to control a temperature of the building space by adding heat to the building space or removing heat from the building space

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeating: Heating

Implementation Method 2

lighting equipment that operates to control a luminosity of the building space and affects a heat load disturbance for the building space

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectJoule heating: Joule Heating

Data Source

PatentUS11530833B2Systems and methods for controlling and predicting heat load disturbances

Publication Date: 2022.12.20 TYCO FIRE & SECURITY GMBH

AI summary

An environmental control system for a building space including heating, ventilation, or air conditioning (HVAC) equipment that operates to control a temperature of the building space. The system includes lighting equipment that operates to control a luminosity and affect a heat load disturbance for the building space. The system includes an environmental controller including a processing circuit configured to predict the heat load disturbance based on potential operating states of the lighting equipment over a time period. The heat load disturbance affects the temperature of the building space. The processing circuit is configured to generate control decisions for the HVAC and lighting equipment based on the predicted heat load disturbance and subject to constraints on the temperature and luminosity of the building space. The processing circuit is configured to operate the HVAC and lighting equipment based on the control decisions.