Thermostat Price-Triggered Setpoint Offset for Demand Response
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional thermostatic controllers fail to reliably reduce air conditioner operation during peak energy demand periods as users often override temperature settings, leading to increased energy consumption despite higher energy prices.
Innovation Solution
A thermostatic controller that receives energy price rate signals and adjusts the set point temperature by a predetermined percentage or multiplier factor when prices exceed a base rate, ensuring the air conditioner remains off until the temperature rises above the new set point, while allowing users to temporarily override for comfort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If a thermostat offsets the temperature setting to 80°F during high energy price periods, then energy consumption is reduced, but users can override the setting by lowering it back to 70°F
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides visual feedback through a display device that shows the current energy price rate and the offset temperature setting. This feedback loop helps users understand the relationship between their temperature settings and energy costs, reducing the likelihood of overrides during high price periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The thermostat acts as an intermediary between the user and the air conditioner, automatically adjusting the temperature setting based on energy price rates without requiring direct user intervention. This intermediary function protects the offset setting from being easily overridden while still allowing user control when needed.
2Productivity
If the thermostat automatically offsets temperature during high energy price periods, then demand side management is achieved, but user comfort control is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The thermostat dynamically adjusts the temperature offset based on real-time energy price rate signals. The offset amount can vary depending on the severity of the price increase, allowing the system to be more aggressive during extreme price periods while maintaining user comfort during moderate increases.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the temperature setpoint parameter automatically based on energy price rate parameters. By linking temperature adjustments to price rate thresholds, the system achieves demand side management while maintaining predictable and understandable behavior for users.
3Loss of information
If the thermostat displays indicia of high energy price rate, then user awareness is increased, but user frustration may increase leading to overrides
Solution Approach 1:
The display device uses color-coded indicia to represent different energy price rate levels. For example, green might indicate low prices, yellow moderate prices, and red high prices. This visual coding makes energy price information immediately understandable and reduces user frustration by providing clear, intuitive feedback.
Data Source
AI summary
A thermostatic controller generally includes a transceiver configured to receive a signal that includes an energy price rate for a given time period, and an electronic memory device in which one or more energy price rates received by the transceiver are stored. A microprocessor is configured to select the lowest energy price rate received within a given time period for establishing a base energy price rate; determine if the energy price rate for a present time period exceeds the base energy price rate by more than a first percentage or multiplier factor of the base energy price rate; and respond to an energy price rate that exceeds the base energy price rate by more than the first percentage or multiplier factor by transmitting a signal via the transceiver to an energy consuming appliance indicating that the energy consuming appliance should be in an off state and/or to one or more ceiling fans to activate, deactivate and/or change speed of the one or more ceiling fans.