Normalized heating energy consumption estimation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing energy management systems require significant processing and data storage resources to normalize energy consumption against weather influences, making them complex and costly, and they often lack functionality in isolated locations without reliable internet access.
Innovation Solution
A method to generate and maintain a normalized model of heating-related energy consumption using simple processing and data storage components, such as a thermostat or controller, which minimizes complexity and allows local operation without remote support.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If sophisticated energy management systems are used to normalize energy consumption against weather influences, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the normalization function from complex centralized energy management systems and implements it in simplified local devices such as thermostats. The method takes out the essential calculation logic (comparing actual energy consumption with weather-normalized consumption) and places it in simple devices with minimal processing power, while removing unnecessary complexity of centralized system architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs inexpensive, simple devices like standard thermostats to perform normalization calculations that previously required sophisticated systems. By using cheap, readily available devices with basic processors and memory, the system achieves normalization functionality without investing in complex infrastructure, making the solution economically viable for widespread deployment.
2Device complexity
If simple processing components are used, then device complexity is reduced, but processing power is insufficient for complex normalization calculations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the energy management functionality into simple local components (thermostats with basic processors) that perform only normalization calculations using stored historical data and current weather information. Complex functions are divided into simple, manageable tasks that can be executed by low-power devices, eliminating the need for centralized processing while maintaining normalization accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary actions by pre-storing historical energy consumption data and weather data in local memory, and pre-calculating normalization factors. This allows the simple processor to execute straightforward comparisons between actual consumption and normalized consumption without performing complex real-time calculations, thereby reducing processing power requirements while maintaining measurement precision.
Data Source
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AI summary
An implementation of the disclosed technology provides a method that includes receiving a setpoint temperature for the building, determining an average outdoor temperature over a first predetermined time period for a location of the building, measuring a total central heating energy consumption for the building over the first predetermined time period, adding the determined average outdoor temperature and measured total central heating energy consumption to a first data set including a plurality of average outdoor temperatures and corresponding total central heating energy consumptions over a plurality of predetermined time periods having durations substantially the same as the first predetermined time period, estimating a weather independent normalized heating energy consumption for maintaining the setpoint temperature in the building based on a predetermined reference outdoor temperature and the first data set, and characterizing the heating energy consumption for heating the building based on the normalized heating energy consumption and a base temperature.