Interior user-comfort energy efficiency modeling and control systems and apparatuses using comfort maps

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing HVAC systems lack the ability to effectively analyze and respond to user feedback to balance energy efficiency and comfort, often resulting in suboptimal temperature settings that fail to provide both energy savings and user comfort.

Innovation Solution

The Interior User-Comfort Energy Efficiency Modeling and Control (IUCEEMC) system uses an intelligent agent to analyze user feedback and dynamically adjust comfort map settings, shifting thermal equilibrium boundaries to achieve lower energy HVAC operational states while maintaining user comfort, through conservative or aggressive exploration methods.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by stationary object

If HVAC systems maintain traditional temperature settings to ensure user comfort, then user comfort is preserved, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveHVAC energy consumptionVSAvoidUser comfort

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by stationary objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements a feedback mechanism where user comfort feedback is continuously collected and processed. The intelligent agent analyzes this feedback to dynamically adjust temperature setpoints, ensuring that energy-saving adjustments do not compromise user comfort. This closed-loop feedback system resolves the contradiction by making the HVAC system responsive to actual user needs while optimizing energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts temperature setpoints based on real-time analysis of user feedback and environmental conditions. Rather than maintaining fixed temperature settings, the intelligent agent continuously modifies operational parameters to balance energy efficiency and comfort, allowing the system to adapt to changing user preferences and environmental factors.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Use of energy by stationary object

If HVAC systems shift to lower energy states to reduce energy consumption, then energy efficiency improves, but user comfort may deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveHVAC energy consumptionVSAvoidUser comfort satisfaction

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by stationary objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary adjustments to temperature setpoints during periods when user presence is uncertain or during transition periods. By proactively testing energy-saving setpoints and monitoring for comfort complaints, the system can identify optimal energy-saving opportunities before they impact user comfort during occupied periods.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The intelligent agent autonomously analyzes user feedback patterns and automatically adjusts temperature setpoints to achieve energy savings without compromising comfort. The system serves itself by continuously learning from user responses and independently optimizing operational parameters, eliminating the need for manual intervention while maintaining both energy efficiency and user satisfaction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Use of energy by stationary object

If HVAC systems use simple control algorithms to maintain ease of operation, then system simplicity is preserved, but ability to optimize energy efficiency and comfort balance is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveHVAC energy consumptionVSAvoidControl system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces complex mechanical control mechanisms with an intelligent software agent that processes user feedback and adjusts setpoints through computational algorithms. This substitution of mechanical/simpler control systems with intelligent software enables sophisticated optimization of energy efficiency and comfort balance without requiring complex hardware modifications, resolving the contradiction between control capability and system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS10571142B2Interior user-comfort energy efficiency modeling and control systems and apparatuses using comfort maps

Publication Date: 2020.02.25 SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC USA INC

AI summary

The INTERIOR USER-COMFORT ENERGY EFFICIENCY MODELING AND CONTROL SYSTEMS AND APPARATUSES (“IUCEEMC”) transforms comfort maps and occupant comfort inputs via a profile library manager component, exploration manager component, comfort map manager component, regulation monitor component, control temperature sequence generator component, and comfort map modification component, into comfort map and control temperature sequence outputs. In some implementations, the IUCEEMC can divide a timespace of a temperature model into a plurality of sections, select a section from the plurality of sections, perform a first persistent change of the section from the plurality of sections, and, via a control temperature sequence generator, calculate a control temperature sequence using the temperature model. The IUCEEMC can develop and execute a temperature trajectory on an HVAC system, such as a home or industrial HVAC system.