Occupancy-Based Building Conditioning With Zone-Level HVAC Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional building conditioning management systems operate on rigid schedules, leading to inefficient energy use and unnecessary costs due to inaccurate occupancy assessments, as they often assume full occupancy during business hours and neglect variations in occupancy patterns.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that track users' entries and exits via mobile devices to estimate occupancy in real-time or based on historical patterns, adjusting building conditioning (heating, cooling, ventilation, and lighting) accordingly, with zone-specific adjustments and the use of indoor localization techniques to determine user locations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If rigid scheduling is used for building conditioning systems, then system operation simplicity is improved, but energy efficiency deteriorates due to unnecessary conditioning during low-occupancy periods
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by transitioning from rigid static scheduling to dynamic occupancy-based control. The system continuously monitors occupancy levels and adjusts conditioning operations in real-time, allowing the HVAC system to adapt its operation mode (heating, cooling, ventilation) based on actual occupancy rather than fixed time schedules, thereby reducing energy waste during low-occupancy periods while maintaining comfort during high-occupancy periods
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms by using occupancy sensors and mobile device data to continuously monitor actual building occupancy levels. This feedback information is processed by the conditioning management system to automatically adjust operational parameters, creating a closed-loop control system that responds to real-time occupancy conditions rather than relying on predetermined schedules, thus optimizing energy efficiency while maintaining operational simplicity
2Reliability
If full occupancy mode is maintained during business hours, then occupant comfort is improved, but energy consumption increases due to conditioning empty spaces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by transitioning from uniform full-building conditioning to zone-specific conditioning based on actual occupancy distribution. The system divides the building into multiple zones and adjusts conditioning parameters (temperature, ventilation) independently for each zone based on its specific occupancy level, ensuring comfortable conditions only in occupied areas while reducing or suspending conditioning in unoccupied zones, thereby maintaining comfort reliability while significantly reducing overall energy consumption
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements parameter changes by dynamically adjusting conditioning parameters (temperature setpoints, ventilation rates, system on/off status) based on real-time occupancy data. Rather than maintaining constant full-occupancy parameters throughout business hours, the system modifies these parameters according to actual occupancy levels in different zones and time periods, optimizing the balance between occupant comfort and energy consumption through continuous parameter adaptation
3Device complexity
If traditional scheduling systems are used, then system complexity is reduced, but occupancy accuracy deteriorates due to inability to detect real-time occupancy changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by making mobile devices serve multiple functions: they act as occupancy sensors, location trackers, and data communication devices. Instead of deploying dedicated complex sensor infrastructure throughout the building, the system leverages universally carried mobile devices to collect occupancy information, thereby maintaining relatively simple system architecture while achieving high occupancy measurement precision through the ubiquitous presence of smartphones and tablets
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses mobile devices as intermediaries between occupants and the conditioning management system. These devices mediate the collection, transmission, and processing of occupancy data without requiring direct integration of complex sensing infrastructure into the building infrastructure. The mobile devices serve as portable intermediaries that bridge the gap between physical occupancy states and digital control systems, maintaining system simplicity while enabling accurate real-time occupancy detection
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
This approach optimizes energy consumption by matching building conditioning with actual occupancy levels, reducing energy waste and costs by dynamically adjusting HVAC and lighting systems based on real-time and historical occupancy data.
Implementation Method 1
estimating the user's location within the building using an indoor localization technique
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides a system, method, and computer program for conditioning a building environment based on occupancy estimates. In one embodiment, the method includes tracking the user's entries to and exits from the building on a mobile device associated with the user for each of a plurality of users. Entry and exit event data from the users' mobile devices are used to estimate occupancy of the building. The conditioning of the building environment is adjusted in accordance with changes in occupancy estimates. In certain embodiments, where the building has a plurality of zones, each entry and exit event may be correlated with one of the plurality of zones. Occupancy is estimated within each zone using the zone-correlated entry and exit events. Alternately, users' locations within the building may be estimated using an indoor localization technique. Each zone is then conditioned in accordance with the occupancy of the zone.