HVAC Zoning Control Using Real-Time Multi-Sensor Recommendations
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Solution Overview
Problem
HVAC systems lack efficient methods for dynamically adjusting settings across multiple zones within a building based on real-time environmental data, leading to inconsistent comfort levels and energy inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
An HVAC control system that utilizes a cloud server to collect and analyze data from multiple sensing devices, determining recommended setting changes and communicating these through a user interface, allowing for centralized control of HVAC components and register vents to optimize comfort and energy usage across different zones.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If HVAC systems use traditional single-zone control, then system simplicity is maintained, but comfort consistency across different building zones deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the building into multiple thermal zones, each with its own temperature sensor and control parameters. The HVAC system independently monitors and adjusts temperature for each zone based on local conditions, enabling differentiated control strategies for different building areas while maintaining overall system coordination.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts HVAC operations by continuously monitoring real-time temperature data from multiple zones and modifying system performance accordingly. The controller adapts zone-specific setpoints and equipment operation based on current environmental conditions, occupancy patterns, and thermal load variations across different building areas.
2Reliability
If HVAC systems implement multi-zone control with real-time data collection, then comfort levels improve, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies local quality control by tailoring HVAC operations to the specific thermal characteristics and occupancy patterns of each building zone. Temperature setpoints, equipment scheduling, and control strategies are customized for individual zones based on their unique requirements, avoiding uniform over-conditioning of all areas.
Solution Approach 2:
Each thermal zone effectively serves itself through autonomous temperature monitoring and localized control decisions. The system uses distributed temperature sensors and zone-specific control algorithms to automatically adjust local conditions without requiring continuous centralized intervention, reducing overall system energy consumption while maintaining comfort.
3Ease of operation
If HVAC controllers use integrated user interfaces, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The HVAC controller incorporates multiple functions within a single integrated device, including temperature sensing for multiple zones, data processing, control algorithm execution, and user interface capabilities. This multi-functional approach consolidates what could be separate components into one unified controller, managing complexity through functional integration.
Solution Approach 2:
The user interface acts as an intermediary layer between the user and the complex control system. It provides simplified interaction methods for setting temperature preferences, viewing zone conditions, and adjusting system parameters without requiring users to understand the underlying complex control logic and algorithms.
Data Source
AI summary
A heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system may be controlled by an HVAC control system. The HVAC control system may include a communications block, a controller and a user interface. The communications block may receive sensed data from sensing devices located within spaces of a building. The sensing devices may be located at different spaced sensor locations within the building. The controller may receive the sensed data from the communications block and based, at least in part, on the received sensed, determine recommended setting changes to the HVAC control system. The user interface may display the recommended setting changes to a user.