Systems and methods for air temperature control using a target time based control plan

Abstract

A system and method for controlling the air temperature of a building using a control plan based on a target time. The system includes a controller which may be connected to a number of indoor and outdoor heating ventilation and air-conditioning units. The system may include a thermostat. The system may also operate without a thermostat. The method includes determining a control plan to reach a desired temperature in a target time. The method also includes updating the plan by comparing the actual time to reach the desired temperature with the target time.

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, wherein the controller comprises:
 a communication module to exchange data with one or more computing devices; and 
 an equipment interface configured to communicate control signals to the one or more equipment to control operation of the one or more equipment; 
 wherein the controller is configured to:
 obtain as user input from one of the one or more computing devices a target rate for achieving a target air temperature in the building, wherein the target rate includes a target time at which the target air temperature is to be achieved; 
 determine a control plan to operate the one or more equipment for achieving the target rate at which the target air temperature is achieved in the building; and 
 operate the one or more equipment according to the control plan to achieve the target rate. 
 
   
     
     
         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 according to an initial control plan;   determining an actual rate at which the target air temperature is achieved, wherein the actual rate includes an actual time taken to achieve the target air temperature;   determining a modified control plan when the actual rate is not same as the target rate; and   operating the one or more equipment of the HVAC system according to the modified control plan.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the controller is configured to periodically repeat the steps of determining the actual rate, determining the modified control plan and operating the one or more equipment of the HVAC system according to the modified control plan. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a temperature sensor communicatively coupled to the controller to measure the air temperature in the building;   wherein the controller is configured to determine the modified control plan by:
 obtaining a measurement of the air temperature in the building from the temperature sensor; 
 determining, based on the measurement, a rate of temperature change associated with a capacity at which the initial control plan is operating the one or more equipment of the HVAC system; and 
 modifying the capacity at which the modified control plan is to operate the one or more equipment, based on the rate of temperature change. 
   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the initial control plan includes operating the one or more equipment of the HVAC system at an initial capacity; and   the controller is configured to determine the modified control plan by changing a capacity at with the one or more equipment of the HVAC system is to be operated.   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more equipment comprises at least one heating equipment capable of operating at a first plurality of capacities and at least one cooling equipment capable of operating at a second plurality of capacities. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a thermostat communicatively coupled to the controller to send heating calls or cooling calls to the controller;   wherein the controller is configured to:
 receive a heating call or a cooling call from the thermostat; and 
 operate the one or more equipment of the HVAC system to achieve the target rate in response to receiving the heating call or the cooling call. 
   
     
     
         8 . A controller for controlling air temperature in a building, comprising:
 a memory module that stores temperature readings of air temperature in the building from a temperature sensor in the building; and   a processing unit communicatively coupled to the memory module and configured to:
 determine a target rate for achieving a target air temperature in the building, wherein the target rate includes a target time at which the target air temperature is to be achieved; 
 determine a control plan to operate one or more equipment of a heating and air conditioning (HVAC) system to achieve the target rate at which the target air temperature is achieved in the building; and 
 operate the one or more equipment to achieve the target rate. 
   
     
     
         9 . The controller of  claim 8 , wherein the processing unit is configured to operate the one or more equipment by:
 operating the one or more equipment of the HVAC system according to an initial control plan;   determining an actual rate at which the target air temperature is achieved, wherein the actual rate includes an actual time taken to achieve the target air temperature;   determine a modified control plan when the actual rate is not same as the target rate; and operate the one or more equipment of the HVAC system according to the modified control plan.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the processing unit is configured to periodically repeat the steps of determining the actual rate, determining the modified control plan and operating the one or more equipment of the HVAC system according to the modified control plan. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the processing unit is configured to determine the modified control plan by:
 obtaining a measurement of the air temperature in the building from the temperature sensor;   determining, based on the measurement, a rate of temperature change associated with a capacity at which the initial control plan is operating the one or more equipment of the HVAC system; and   modifying the capacity at which the modified control plan is to operate the one or more equipment, based on the rate of temperature change.   
     
     
         12 . A method for controlling air temperature in a building, comprising:
 obtaining as user input from one or more computing devices a target rate for achieving a target air temperature in the building, wherein the target rate includes a target time at which the target air temperature is to be achieved;   determining a control plan to operate one or more equipment of a heating ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) system for achieving the target rate at which the target air temperature is achieved in the building; and   operating the one or more equipment according to the control plan to achieve the target rate.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein operating the one or more equipment comprises:
 operating the one or more equipment of the HVAC system according to an initial control plan;   determining an actual rate at which the target air temperature is achieved, wherein the actual rate includes an actual time taken to achieve the target air temperature;   determining a modified control plan when the actual rate is not same as the target rate; and   operating the one or more equipment of the HVAC system according to the modified control plan.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising periodically repeating the steps of determining the actual rate, determining the modified control plan and operating the one or more equipment of the HVAC system according to the modified control plan. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a temperature sensor communicatively coupled to the controller to measure the air temperature in the building;   wherein the controller is configured to determine the modified control plan by:
 obtaining a measurement of the air temperature in the building; 
 determining, based on the measurement, a rate of temperature change associated with a capacity at which the initial control plan is operating the one or more equipment of the HVAC system; and 
 modifying the capacity at which the modified control plan is to operate the one or more equipment, based on the rate of temperature change. 
   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the initial control plan includes operating the one or more equipment of the HVAC system at an initial capacity; and   further comprising determining the modified control plan by changing a capacity at with the one or more equipment of the HVAC system is to be operated.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the initial control plan includes operating the HVAC system at a first capacity;   further comprising:
 determining that the actual rate is lower than the target rate; 
 wherein determining the modified control plan comprises determining the modified control plan to operate at least one equipment of the HVAC system at a second capacity which is higher than the first capacity. 
   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the initial control plan includes operating the HVAC system at a first capacity;   further comprising:
 determining that the actual rate is higher than the target rate; 
 wherein determining the modified control plan comprises determining the modified control plan to operate at least one equipment of the HVAC system at a second capacity which is lower than the first capacity. 
   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the one or more equipment comprises at least one heating equipment capable of operating at a first plurality of capacities and at least one cooling equipment capable of operating at a second plurality of capacities. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 receiving a heating call or a cooling call from a thermostat; and   operating the one or more equipment of the HVAC system to achieve the target rate in response to receiving the heating call or the cooling call.