Systems and Methods for Controlling Rate of Change of Air Temperature in a Building

Abstract

A system and method for controlling the air temperature in a building. The system includes one or more equipment of a heating ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) system, at least one of one or more thermostats or one or more temperature sensors, and a controller. The controller includes a communication module to exchange data with one or more devices and an equipment interface configured to communicate control signals to the one or more equipment. The controller is configured to obtain as user input a target rate of change (ROC) of air temperature in the building and operate the one or more equipment of the HVAC system to achieve the target ROC. The controller operates the one or more equipment at an initial capacity and adjusts the capacity of the one or more equipment to achieve the target ROC of the air temperature in the building.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for controlling air temperature in a building, comprising:
 one or more equipment associated with a heating ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) system; and   a controller communicatively coupled to the one or more equipment and configured to:
 obtain as user input a target rate of change (ROC) of air temperature in the building; and 
 operate the one or more equipment of the HVAC system to achieve the target ROC. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to operate the one or more equipment by:
 operating the one or more equipment of the HVAC system at an initial capacity; and   adjusting the capacity at which the one or more equipment of the HVAC system operates to achieve the target ROC of the air temperature in the building.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
 sample the air temperature in the building at a plurality of sampling events according to a schedule; and   adjust the capacity of the one or more equipment by:
 increasing the capacity at which the one or more equipment operates by a first amount in response to detecting no change in the air temperature in a desired direction between two sampling events; 
 calculating a current ROC in the air temperature between the two sampling events in response to detecting a change in the air temperature in the desired direction; and 
 in response to calculating the current ROC:
 increasing the capacity at which the one or more equipment operates by a second amount when the current ROC is less than the target ROC; or 
 decreasing the capacity at which the one or more equipment operates by a third amount when the current ROC is same as or exceeds the target ROC. 
 
   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
 receive a heating call or a cooling call from one or more thermostats configured to record the air temperature in the building; and   operate the one or more equipment of the HVAC system to achieve the target ROC, in response to the heating call or the cooling call.   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the controller is configured to repeat the sampling and the adjusting steps until the heating call or the cooling call is removed. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
 initialize a stabilization period in response to receiving the heating call or the cooling call; and   initialize the sampling after expiration of the stabilization period.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more equipment comprises at least one of one or more furnaces, one or more air conditioners, one or more air handlers or one or more heat pumps. 
     
     
         8 . A controller for controlling air temperature in a building, comprising:
 an equipment interface configured to communicate control signals to one or more equipment of a heating ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) system to control operation of the one or more equipment;   a processor communicatively coupled to the equipment interface and configured to:
 obtain as user input a target rate of change (ROC) of air temperature in the building; and 
 operate the one or more equipment of the HVAC system to achieve the target ROC. 
   
     
     
         9 . The controller of  claim 8 , wherein the processor is configured to operate the one or more equipment by:
 operating the one or more equipment of the HVAC system at an initial capacity; and   adjusting the capacity at which the one or more equipment of the HVAC system operates to achieve the target ROC of the air temperature in the building.   
     
     
         10 . The controller of  claim 9 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 sample the air temperature in the building at a plurality of sampling events according to a schedule; and   adjust the capacity of the one or more equipment by:
 increasing the capacity at which the one or more equipment operates by a first amount in response to detecting no change in the air temperature in a desired direction between two sampling events; 
 calculating a current ROC in the air temperature between the two sampling events in response to detecting a change in the air temperature in the desired direction; and 
 in response to calculating the current ROC:
 increasing the capacity at which the one or more equipment operates by a second amount when the current ROC is less than the target ROC; or 
 decreasing the capacity at which the one or more equipment operates by a third amount when the current ROC is same as or exceeds the target ROC. 
 
   
     
     
         11 . The controller of  claim 10 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 receive a heating call or a cooling call from one or more thermostats configured to record the air temperature in the building; and   operate the one or more equipment of the HVAC system to achieve the target ROC, in response to the heating call or the cooling call.   
     
     
         12 . The controller of  claim 11 , wherein the processor is configured to repeat the sampling and the adjusting steps until the heating call or the cooling call is removed. 
     
     
         13 . A system for controlling air temperature in a building, comprising:
 one or more equipment associated with a heating ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) system;   a computing device capable of transmitting signals wirelessly; and   a controller communicatively coupled to the one or more equipment and the computing device, wherein the controller is configured to:
 wirelessly obtain, as user input from the computing device, a target rate of change (ROC) of air temperature in the building; and 
 operate the one or more equipment of the HVAC system to achieve the target ROC. 
   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the controller is configured to operate the one or more equipment by:
 operating the one or more equipment of the HVAC system at an initial capacity; and   adjusting the capacity at which the one or more equipment of the HVAC system operates to achieve the target ROC of the air temperature in the building.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
 sample the air temperature in the building at a plurality of sampling events according to a schedule; and   adjust the capacity of the one or more equipment by:
 increasing the capacity at which the one or more equipment operates by a first amount in response to detecting no change in the air temperature in a desired direction between two sampling events; 
 calculating a current ROC in the air temperature between the two sampling events in response to detecting a change in the air temperature in the desired direction; and 
 in response to calculating the current ROC:
 increasing the capacity at which the one or more equipment operates by a second amount when the current ROC is less than the target ROC; or 
 decreasing the capacity at which the one or more equipment operates by a third amount when the current ROC is same as or exceeds the target ROC. 
 
   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
 receive a heating call or a cooling call from one or more thermostats configured to record the air temperature in the building; and   operate the one or more equipment of the HVAC system to achieve the target ROC, in response to the heating call or the cooling call.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the controller is configured to repeat the sampling and the adjusting steps until the heating call or the cooling call is removed. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
 initialize a stabilization period in response to receiving the heating call or the cooling call; and   initialize the sampling after expiration of the stabilization period.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the computing device is a mobile device. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the one or more equipment comprises at least one of one or more furnaces, one or more air conditioners, one or more air handlers or one or more heat pumps.