Patent Publication Number: US-2020292194-A1

Title: Building relative efficiency monitoring system

Description:
CLAIM OF PRIORITY 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/817,871, entitled “BUILDING RELATIVE EFFICIENCY DETERMINATIONS” and filed on Mar. 13, 2019, which is expressly incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     The present disclosure relates generally to heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, and more particularly, to building relative efficiency monitoring systems. 
     HVAC systems are becoming increasingly automated and intelligent. Along with this automation comes the desire to control and diagnose HVAC systems from a distance. Controllers for HVAC systems are frequently “smart” devices capable of transmitting various forms of data to a targeted device. This targeted device may be a dedicated computer or a computer identified for receiving the communications from the particular HVAC system. Although a user of the targeted device may be made aware of a basic level of information related to a particular HVAC system, a need exists to have the ability to monitor and control HVAC systems at a more granular level. That is, a need exists for home owner to be informed about efficiency of a home or a building so as to make informed decisions for improvements in building efficiency. Accordingly, improvements are desired in HVAC systems. 
     SUMMARY 
     The following presents a simplified summary of one or more aspects in order to provide a basic understanding of such aspects. This summary is not an extensive overview of all contemplated aspects, and is intended to neither identify key or critical elements of all aspects nor delineate the scope of any or all aspects. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts of one or more aspects in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later. 
     The present disclosure provides systems, apparatuses, and methods for building relative efficiency determinations used with a HVAC system or any method that uses return and supply system air characteristics. 
     In an aspect, a controller for monitoring building efficiency of an HVAC system is provided. The controller may include a memory configured to store a set of instructions and at least one processor coupled to the memory and configured to execute the set of instructions. The processor may be configured to establish a current building efficiency state value of a current run cycle of the HVAC system. The processor may also be configured to determine an building efficiency state deviation value based on a difference between an average building efficiency state value of a set of previous building efficiency state values and the current building efficiency state value. The processor may further be configured to determine whether the building efficiency state deviation value satisfies a building inefficiency threshold. The processor may also be configured to provide an indication including an inefficiency status to a device associated with the HVAC system based on a determination that the current building efficiency state satisfies the building inefficiency threshold. 
     In a further aspect, a method for monitoring building efficiency is provided. The method may include establishing a current building efficiency state value of a current run cycle of the HVAC system. The method may also include determining an building efficiency state deviation value based on a difference between an average set of previous building efficiency state values and the current building efficiency state value. The method may further include determining whether the building efficiency state deviation value satisfies a building inefficiency threshold. The method may also include providing an indication including an inefficiency status to a device associated with the HVAC system based on a determination that the current building efficiency state satisfies the building inefficiency threshold. 
     In another aspect, a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer executable code for monitoring building efficiency by an HVAC unit is provided. The non-transitory computer-readable medium may include code to establish a current building efficiency state value of a current run cycle of the HVAC system. The non-transitory computer-readable medium may also include code to determine an building efficiency state deviation value based on a difference between an average building efficiency state value of a set of previous building efficiency state values and the current building efficiency state value. The non-transitory computer-readable medium may further include code to determine whether the building efficiency state deviation value satisfies a building inefficiency threshold. The non-transitory computer-readable medium may also include code to provide an indication including an inefficiency status to a device associated with the HVAC system based on a determination that the current building efficiency state satisfies the building inefficiency threshold. 
     To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the one or more aspects comprise the features hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims. The following description and the annexed drawings set forth in detail certain illustrative features of the one or more aspects. These features are indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principles of various aspects may be employed, and this description is intended to include all such aspects and their equivalents. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The disclosed aspects will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings, provided to illustrate and not to limit the disclosed aspects, wherein like designations denote like elements, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram of an example of components of an HVAC system, according to aspects of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  is a flowchart of an example method of monitoring building efficiency of the HVAC system by the HVAC unit of  FIG. 1 , according to aspects of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 3  is a block diagram of an example of components of the HVAC unit of  FIG. 1 , according to aspects of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 4  is a conceptual diagram of an example flow for monitoring building efficiency of the HVAC system by the mobile device of  FIG. 1 , according to aspects of the present disclosure; and 
         FIG. 5  is a block diagram of an example of components of the remote user device of  FIG. 1 , according to aspects of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of various configurations and is not intended to represent the only configurations in which the concepts described herein may be practiced. The detailed description includes specific details for the purpose of providing a thorough understanding of various concepts. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that these concepts may be practiced without these specific details. In some instances, well known components may be shown in block diagram form in order to avoid obscuring such concepts. 
     The present aspects generally relate to monitoring building efficiency using an HVAC system. Specifically, as part of controlling the climate of a building, an HVAC system may supply air at a certain temperature during a run cycle through one or more ducts or other pathways within the building. During the course of the run cycle, the HVAC system may also receive returned air at a certain temperature via one or more return ducts or pathways. In some cases, however, the temperature of the returned air may vary greatly from the supplied air, indicating inefficient airflow within the building (e.g., extra use of energy indicating inefficient operation of the building or building having losses). That is, if the temperature of the returned air varies greatly from the supplied air, there may be building environmental factors affecting the return air temperature (e.g., an open window, door, and/or air leaking outside of the building). Such inefficient operation may result in an increase in a number of run cycles of the HVAC system to maintain a defined temperature within the building, causing needless strain on the HVAC system and extra energy costs and inefficient use of resources. As such, it would be desirable to detect such a scenario and inform a user device of the aforementioned detection such that appropriate action may be taken to remedy the inefficient air flow within the building heating and/or cooling energy inefficiencies where they may exist. 
     As such, the present aspects provides a mechanism by which an HVAC system or any other measurement means that can measure characteristics of air stream and provide feedback to user may monitor and detect building relative inefficiencies. For example, a controller of the HVAC system may determine a reference value for heating or cooling building efficiency using return and supply air temperatures/enthalpy. The HVAC system or any other measurement means that can measure characteristics of an air stream and provide feedback to a user who can also track relative efficiency for multiple data points. The determination may be set to the start of a run cycle and end of a run cycle and average the two (current state). In other aspects, the determination may be a single cycle point or anywhere in between cycle two points. Multiple previous current state points may be stored within the controller and be used to indicate system changes. By comparing a current state point to historical points, an alert can be generated if, for example, a lower return air temperature than usual is detected, thus a lower efficiency (higher loss) can indicate higher in and out traffic or an open point of access to the outside environment. Further, multiple previous current state points may be stored inside the controller and may be used to indicate system changes. By comparing the current state point to historical points, an alert can be generated if, for example, a lower return air temperature than usual is detected. For example, the historical points or stream of data may be used for a predefined time frame such as, but not limited to, hourly, daily weekly, and/or monthly. 
     Specifically, the present aspects provide an HVAC system or any other measurement means that can measure characteristics of air stream and provide feedback to user that may establish a current building efficiency state value of a current run cycle. The HVAC system may further determine an building efficiency state deviation value based on a difference between an average building efficiency state value of a set of previous building efficiency state values and the current building efficiency state value. The HVAC system may further determine whether the building efficiency state deviation value satisfies a building inefficiency threshold. Additionally, the HVAC system may provide an indication including an inefficiency status to a device associated with the HVAC system based on a determination that the current building efficiency state satisfies the building inefficiency threshold. 
     Turning now to the figures, example aspects are depicted with reference to one or more components described herein, where components in dashed lines may be optional. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , an HVAC system  100  for a building  10  is disclosed. The HVAC system  100  may include an HVAC unit  110  configured to control an ambient condition of the one or more rooms of the building  10  based on information from one or more sensors  150  and/or a remote user device  160 . In an example, an ambient condition may be a temperature and/or a humidity level of one or more rooms of the building  10 . As shown by  FIG. 1 , the HVAC unit  110  may be external to the building  10 . Alternatively, in some aspects, one or more components (e.g., air conditioning (A/C) unit  112 , furnace  114 , blower  116 , humidifier  118 , communications component  130 , or controller  140 ) may be located in different locations including inside the building  10 . The building may be a home, office or any other structure that includes an HVAC system for controlling one or more ambient conditions of the structure. 
     In an aspect, the HVAC system  100  may include supply ducts  120  and return ducts  124  installed within the building  10  and coupled with the HVAC unit  110 . The supply ducts  120  may supply air to the building  10 , and the return ducts  124  may return air from the building  10 . The supply ducts  120  may receive supply air through one or more of intakes  128  that provide outside air to the HVAC system  100  or may recycle return air from the return ducts  124 . The supply ducts  120  may output the supply air at one or more of the rooms of the building  10  via one or more supply vents  122 . The return ducts  124  may receive return air from the building  10  via the return ducts  124  to balance air within the building  10 . The return air may be input into the return ducts  124  via one or more return vents  126 . 
     The HVAC unit  110  may include one or more of an A/C unit  112 , a furnace  114 , a blower  116 , a heat pump, a humidifier, a dehumidifier, or any other component for adjusting an ambient condition of a room of the building  10 . The A/C unit  112  may be configured to cool the supply air by passing the supply air through or around one or more cooled pipes (e.g., chiller pipes) having refrigerant flowing through the cooled pipes to lower a temperature of the supply air. The furnace  114  may be configured to warm the supply air by passing the supply air through or around one or more warmed pipes (e.g., heating coils) to raise a temperature of the supply air. The blower  116  may be configured to blow the supply air through the supply ducts  120  to the building  10  and pull the return air from the building  10 . The humidifier  118  may be configured to add moisture to the supply air. The dehumidifier may be configured to reduce moisture in the supply air. 
     The HVAC unit  110  may also include a communications component  130  configured to communicate with the one or more sensors  150  and/or the remote user device  160 . In an aspect, the communications component  130  may communicate with the one or more sensors  150  and/or the remote user device  160  via one or more communications links  132 . In an example, the communications component  130  may include one or more antennas, processors, modems, radio frequency components, and/or circuitry for communicating with the sensor  150  and/or the remote user device  160 . The one or more communications links  132  may be one or more of a wired communication link or a wireless communication link. 
     The HVAC system  100  may also include the one or more sensors  150  located within one or more rooms of the building  10  and/or within or near the supply vents  122 . One or more sensors  150  may be configured to detect an ambient condition such as a temperature and/or a humidity level of the room where the sensor  150  is located. Each of the sensors  150  may provide sensor information  180  to the HVAC unit  110 . Examples of a sensor  150  may include a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, or any sensor configured to detect an ambient condition of one or more rooms of the building  10 . 
     The HVAC system  100  may also include the remote user device  160  configured to communicate with the HVAC unit  110 . The remote user device  160  may include an HVAC application  162  configured to display, adjust, and store information including settings for one or more rooms of the building  10 . For example, the HVAC application  162  may receive an indication  164  including an inefficiency status  166  from the HVAC unit  110  and display the indication  164  on the remote user device  160 . In an example, the information may include heating/cooling settings indicating one or more temperatures (e.g., minimum and/or maximum room temperatures) for one or more rooms of the building and/or humidity settings indicating a humidity level for one or more rooms of the building  10 . The remote user device  160  may provide the information to the HVAC unit  110 . Examples of a remote user device  160  may include a cellular phone, a smart phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a wireless modem, a wireless communication device, a handheld device, a tablet computer, a laptop computer, a cordless phone, a smart watch, an entertainment device, an Internet of Things (IoT) device, or any device capable of communicating with the HVAC unit  100 . A smart speaker may include, for example, an Echo® device available from Amazon, Inc. of Seattle, Wash., a Google Home® device available from Google, Inc. of Mountain View, Calif., or other similar devices. The HVAC application  182  may include a voice interface that response to voice commands 
     The HVAC unit  110  may also include a controller  140  configured to control the A/C unit  112 , the furnace  114 , the blower  116 , and the humidifier  118 , for example, based on the sensor information  180  received from the sensor  150  and/or information received from the remote user device  160 . The controller  140  may communicate with the communications component  130 , the A/C unit  112 , the furnace  114 , the blower  116 , and/or the humidifier/dehumidifier  118  via a communications bus  134 . The controller  140  may include logic to operate the A/C unit  112 , the furnace  114 , the blower  116 , and the humidifier/dehumidifier  118 , for example, based on the sensor information  180  and/or information received from the remote user device  160 . The operation of the components of the HVAC unit  110  may include one or more of an initiation time, a stop time, a run time, a power state, speed level, a heating/cooling level, and/or any other operational state of one or more of these components of the HVAC unit  110 . 
     In an aspect, the controller  140  may include an operation control component  142  to perform the logic of the controller  140 . The operation control component  142  may include an building efficiency state value determination component  170  configured to determine a current building efficiency value  172  based at least on a difference between supply temperature  174  and a return temperature  176 . The operation control component  142  may further include an building efficiency state deviation determination component  180 , which may be configured to determine an building efficiency state deviation value  184  based on a difference between an average building efficiency state value  182  of a set of previous building efficiency state values and the current building efficiency state value  172 . In other words, the building efficiency state deviation value  184  corresponds to a difference between the average building efficiency state value  182  representing a historical building efficiency state value of the HVAC unit  110  and the current building efficiency value  172 . The operation control component  142  may further include an inefficiency determination component  190 , which may be configured to determine whether the building efficiency state deviation value  184  satisfies a building inefficiency threshold  192  (e.g., indicative of temperature or other air properties). In some aspects, the building inefficiency threshold  192  represents a minimum efficiency value by which the current building efficiency value  172  may deviate from the average building efficiency state value  182  indicating a high loss of energy supplied through supply air stream within one or more run cycles, and thereby triggering a transmission of the indication  164  including an inefficiency status  166  to the remote user device  160 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , the HVAC unit  110  and the controller  140  may include a variety of components, some of which have already been described herein. As shown, the controller  140  may also include a user interface  200 , a processor  210 , and a memory  220  which operate in conjunction to perform one or more functions described herein related to monitoring building efficiency. The user interface  200  may operate to receive information from the processor  210  and communicate the information to a user. In an example, the user interface  200  may include one or more lights, speakers, or displays to communicate the information to the user. The processor  210  may be one or more processors configured to control the HVAC unit  110  and perform one or more functions described herein. 
     The memory  220  may be configured to store data (e.g., indication  164 , average HVAC state value  182 ) used herein and/or functions and operations performed by the processor  210  and/or the operation control component  142 . The memory  220  may include any type of computer-readable medium usable by a computer or at least one processor  220 , such as random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), tapes, magnetic discs, optical discs, volatile memory, non-volatile memory, and any combination thereof. In an aspect, the memory  220  may be a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium that stores one or more computer-executable codes defining the operation control component  142  and/or one or more of subcomponents of the operation control component  142 , and/or data associated therewith, when HVAC unit  110  is operating the processor  310  to execute the operation control component  142  and/or one or more of subcomponents. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , an example of a method  200  for monitoring building efficiency (e.g., building  10 ) associated with the HVAC unit  110  is provided. The method  300  may implement the functionality described herein with reference to  FIG. 1  and may be performed by one or more components of the HVAC unit  110  as described herein with reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
     At  302 , the method  300  may include establish a current building efficiency state value of a current run cycle of the HVAC system. For example, one or more components (e.g., processor  310 , memory  320 , operation control component  142 ) of the HVAC unit  110  may establish or determine a current building efficiency state value  172  of a current run cycle of the HVAC unit  110 . In some aspects, the current building efficiency state value represents an building efficiency according to a supply temperature  174  and a return temperature  176  (or supply and return enthalpy measurements). 
     In some aspects, the current building efficiency state value  172  may be based at least in part on a difference between a supply temperature value  174  and a return temperature value  176  of the current run cycle of the HVAC unit  110 . Further, in some aspects, the current building efficiency state value  172  may be further based on a constant value (e.g., 1.08) and an airflow value of the HVAC unit  110 . Additionally, in some aspects, the current building efficiency state value  172  may be determined according to a product of the constant value and the difference between the supply temperature value  174  and the return temperature value  176  multiplied by the airflow value. 
     In some aspects, the current HVAC state value  172  may be based at least on an efficiency value of the HVAC unit  110 , a returning air flow, and a cubic volume of air flow. 
     At  304 , the method  300  may include determine an building efficiency state deviation value based on a difference between an average building efficiency state value of a set of previous building efficiency state values and the current building efficiency state value. For example, one or more components (e.g., processor  310 , memory  320 , operation control component  142 ) of the HVAC unit  110  may determine an building efficiency state deviation value  184  based on a difference between an average building efficiency state value  182  of a set of previous building efficiency state values and the current building efficiency state value  172 . 
     In some aspects, the average building efficiency state value  182  of the set of previous building efficiency state values may correspond to a running average of a previous number of building efficiency state values each associated with distinct run cycles of the HVAC unit  110 . In some aspects, the average building efficiency state value  182  of the set of previous HVAC state values may correspond to a previous number of building efficiency state values over a predetermined period of time. 
     At  306 , the method  300  may include determine whether the building efficiency state deviation value satisfies a building inefficiency threshold. For example, one or more components (e.g., processor  310 , memory  320 , operation control component  142 ) of the HVAC unit  110  may determine whether the building efficiency state deviation value  184  satisfies a building inefficiency threshold  192 . 
     In some aspects, the building inefficiency threshold  192  may correspond to a minimum deviation amount from the average building efficiency state value  182  indicating an inefficient building temperature state. 
     At  308 , the method  300  may include provide an indication including an inefficiency status to a device associated with the HVAC system based on a determination that the current building efficiency state satisfies the temperature inefficiency threshold. For example, one or more components (e.g., processor  310 , memory  320 , operation control component  142 ) of the HVAC unit  110  may provide an indication  164  including an inefficiency status  166  to a device (e.g., remote user device  160 ) associated with the HVAC unit  110  based on a determination that the current building efficiency state value  172  satisfies the temperature inefficiency threshold  192 . In some aspects, the indication  164  may correspond to an email, text message, an indication on an HVAC application on a mobile device, and/or a light on the controller 
     At  310 , the method  300  may optionally include store the building efficiency state value and forgo providing an indication including an inefficiency status to a device associated with the HVAC system. For example, one or more components (e.g., processor  310 , memory  320 , operation control component  142 ) of the HVAC unit  110  may store the current building efficiency state value  172  (e.g., in memory  32 ) and forgo providing the indication  164  including an inefficiency status  166  to a device associated with the HVAC unit  110 . 
     Although not shown, the method  300  may further adjust the average building efficiency state value  182  based on the current building efficiency state value  172 . That is, the operational control component  142  may update the average building efficiency state value  182  to incorporate the current building efficiency state value  172 . 
     In some aspects, although not shown, to determine the current building efficiency state value, the method  300  may receive a supply temperature value and a return temperature value at a first time of the current run cycle from the HVAC unit  110 , determine a first temperature difference value between the supply temperature value and the return temperature value of the first time, receive a supply temperature value and a return temperature value at a second time of the current run cycle from the HVAC unit  110 , determine a second temperature difference value between the supply temperature value and the return temperature value of the second time, where the current building efficiency state value  172  corresponds to an average of the first temperature difference value and the second temperature difference value. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , a conceptual diagram of a flow  400  for monitoring building efficiency associated with the HVAC unit  110 . The flow  400  may be implemented by one or more components of the HVAC unit  110  including the operation control component  142 . At  402 , a supply temperature and/or enthalpy (constant) “Ts/Hs” may be detected by the one or more sensors  150  at the supply ducts  120 . Further, at  404 , a return temperature and/or enthalpy “Tr/Hr” may be detected by the one or more sensors  150  at the return ducts  124 . At  406 , a current difference of loss incurred in the building may be determined. Specifically, a difference between the detected supply temperature and the return temperature may be determined. In some aspects, the building loss (efficiency value) may be determined based on or otherwise equal to an air constant multiplied by a flow rate and a difference between temperatures or heat/cooling (e.g., Building Loss=Air Constant*Flow Rate*(ΔT or ΔH)). At  408 , a determination may be made as to whether the current value (determined in  406 ) is within range of historic average. At  410 , an average for the X number of run cycles within range for a next reading is computed. At  412 , a last X number of run cycles within range may be stored. If the current value is not within the historic range (as determined at  408 ), at  416 , the data associated with the current difference of loss incurred in the building may be recorded and a warning indication issued to a device associated with the HVAC unit  110 . If not, at  414 , the data associated with the current difference of loss incurred in the building may be recorded at the HVAC unit  110  without transmission of the warning indication. Further, at  418 , a threshold or user setting or control setting may be determined. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , the remote user device  160  may include a variety of components, some of which have already been described herein. As shown, the remote user device  160  may also include a user interface  500 , a processor  510 , a memory  520 , and a communications component  530  which operate in conjunction to perform one or more functions described herein related to the building efficiency monitoring. 
     The user interface  500 , the processor  510 , the memory  520 , and the communications component  530  may be the same or similar to the corresponding components of the HVAC unit  110 , as described herein, but may be configured or programmed to perform mobile device operations as opposed to HVAC unit operations. 
     The previous description is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the various aspects described herein. Various modifications to these aspects will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other aspects. Thus, the claims are not intended to be limited to the aspects shown herein, but is to be accorded the full scope consistent with the language claims, wherein reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean “one and only one” unless specifically so stated, but rather “one or more.” The word “exemplary” is used herein to mean “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any aspect described herein as “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other aspects. Unless specifically stated otherwise, the term “some” refers to one or more. Combinations such as “at least one of A, B, or C,” “one or more of A, B, or C,” “at least one of A, B, and C,” “one or more of A, B, and C,” and “A, B, C, or any combination thereof” include any combination of A, B, and/or C, and may include multiples of A, multiples of B, or multiples of C. Specifically, combinations such as “at least one of A, B, or C,” “one or more of A, B, or C,” “at least one of A, B, and C,” “one or more of A, B, and C,” and “A, B, C, or any combination thereof” may be A only, B only, C only, A and B, A and C, B and C, or A and B and C, where any such combinations may contain one or more member or members of A, B, or C. All structural and functional equivalents to the elements of the various aspects described throughout this disclosure that are known or later come to be known to those of ordinary skill in the art are expressly incorporated herein by reference and are intended to be encompassed by the claims. Moreover, nothing disclosed herein is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether such disclosure is explicitly recited in the claims. The words “module,” “mechanism,” “element,” “device,” and the like may not be a substitute for the word “means.” As such, no claim element is to be construed as a means plus function unless the element is expressly recited using the phrase “means for.”