Occupancy-Based Zoned HVAC Control to Balance Comfort and Energy Use
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional HVAC system control methods often fail to maintain optimal environmental conditions across different zones of a property, leading to discomfort and inefficiency, as they rely on single-point temperature measurements rather than considering occupancy and varying conditions across multiple locations.
Innovation Solution
A disaggregated thermostat system that uses sensors to gather data on environmental conditions and user locations throughout a property, allowing for intelligent control of HVAC systems to adjust temperatures and humidity based on occupancy patterns and preferences, even if it means deviating from optimal conditions in unoccupied areas.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a single-point temperature measurement is used to control HVAC systems, then the control system is simple, but the environmental conditions cannot be optimized across different zones of the property
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the property into multiple zones with separate temperature sensors and control capabilities. Each zone can be independently monitored and controlled based on its specific conditions and occupancy status, allowing the HVAC system to adapt to varying environmental requirements across different areas of the property.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces location data as an additional dimension for HVAC control decisions. By combining temperature measurements with occupancy location information, the system creates a multi-dimensional control approach that goes beyond single-point temperature monitoring, enabling zone-specific environmental optimization.
2Reliability
If the HVAC system maintains optimal temperatures in all zones, then user comfort is maximized, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by maintaining optimal environmental conditions only in zones where occupants are present, while allowing non-occupied zones to operate at reduced capacity or different setpoints. This localized approach ensures user comfort in occupied areas while minimizing energy consumption in unoccupied areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements partial action by providing full HVAC service only to occupied zones rather than uniformly servicing all zones. The system adjusts its level of service based on occupancy detection, applying full capacity where needed and reduced capacity where not needed, thereby optimizing the balance between comfort and energy usage.
3Measurement precision
If the HVAC system uses multiple sensors to monitor environmental conditions across the property, then measurement precision improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs multi-functional devices that combine temperature sensing, occupancy detection, and location tracking capabilities. By using devices that perform multiple functions simultaneously, the system achieves high measurement precision across multiple parameters without proportionally increasing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a central control system that acts as an intermediary, receiving and processing data from multiple distributed sensors. This centralized processing approach allows the system to manage complex multi-sensor networks efficiently, coordinating information from various sources to make integrated HVAC control decisions without requiring each sensor to be independently complex.
Data Source
AI summary
Controller technology, in which data specifying a user preference relating to an environmental parameter for a property is received. Based on data collected by a monitoring system, a location of one or more users within the property is identified. Environmental condition data for the property is accessed, the environmental condition data including environmental condition data for the location of the users within the property and other unoccupied locations within the property. The environmental condition data for the property is analyzed with respect to the preference relating to the environmental parameter for the property. Based on the analysis of the environmental condition data for the property with respect to the preference relating to the environmental parameter for the property, a setting for at least one component of an HVAC system is determined. The at least one component of the HVAC system is controlled according to the determined setting.