Smart Thermostat Setpoint Control for Time-of-Use Rates
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Solution Overview
Problem
Customers lack an easy or automated way to adjust their energy consumption patterns to adapt to varying energy rates throughout the day and seasons, as existing rate plans do not accurately reflect the changing costs of energy generation, making it difficult for utilities to encourage the adoption of time-of-use (ToU) rate plans.
Innovation Solution
A smart thermostat system that includes a processing system capable of receiving ToU rate information and adjusting setpoint schedules dynamically based on energy rate changes, using a thermostat management server to communicate with energy providers and manage HVAC energy consumption, allowing for automatic adjustments during high and low-energy-cost periods.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If time-of-use rate plans are implemented to reflect varying energy costs, then energy cost accuracy is improved, but customer ability to automatically adapt consumption patterns deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The thermostat system automatically monitors ToU rate information, identifies high-cost intervals, and adjusts HVAC setpoints without customer intervention. The system serves itself by making the adaptation decisions that would otherwise require complex customer management of energy usage patterns.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously receives ToU rate information from energy providers, processes this feedback to identify cost intervals, and automatically adjusts consumption patterns accordingly. This closed-loop feedback mechanism enables automatic adaptation to varying energy costs.
2Adaptability or versatility
If manual adjustment of consumption patterns is required to adapt to pricing changes, then customer control is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The thermostat autonomously performs the consumption pattern adjustment by monitoring ToU rates and automatically modifying HVAC setpoints during high-cost intervals, eliminating the need for manual customer intervention while maintaining full adaptability to pricing changes.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts HVAC setpoints based on real-time ToU rate information, automatically adapting consumption patterns to varying pricing conditions without requiring static manual configuration or customer action.
3Ease of operation
If automated thermostat adjustment to ToU rates is implemented, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The thermostat acts as an intermediary between the energy provider's ToU rate system and the HVAC system, automatically translating rate information into appropriate setpoint adjustments. This intermediary function simplifies the user interface while managing the underlying complexity of coordinating multiple systems.
Data Source
AI summary
A thermostat my include a stored setpoint schedule, temperature sensors providing temperature sensor measurements; and a processing system configured to control an HVAC system based at least in part on the setpoint temperature and the temperature sensor measurements. The processing system may be configured to control the HVAC system by receiving an indication of a first time interval, where energy is available to the HVAC system at a first rate during the first time interval, energy is available to the HVAC system at a second rate during a second time interval that is outside of the first time interval, and the first rate is higher than the second rate; identifying a first one or more setpoints in the plurality of setpoints of the stored setpoint schedule that occur in the first time interval; and decreasing a temperature component of at least one of the first one or more setpoints.