Systems and methods for air temperature control using a target time based control plan
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.
1. A method of controlling air temperature in a building comprising:
determining a control plan by a controller, wherein the control plan includes a determination to operate one or more heating ventilation and air-conditioning units, a determination of one or more capacities, one or more stages, or both one or more capacities and one or more stages at which to operate the one or more heating ventilation and air-conditioning units, and a determination of a target time for a current temperature in the building to become equal to a desired temperature in the building;
monitoring the current temperature in the building using one or more air temperature sensors;
generating a heating or cooling call by one of the controller or a thermostat when the current temperature in the building rises above or falls below the desired temperature in the building;
sending one or more control signals from the controller to the one or more heating ventilation and air-conditioning units based on the control plan when the heating or cooling call is generated;
operating the one or more heating ventilation and air-conditioning units based on the control plan until the current temperature in the building equals the desired temperature in the building;
determining a satisfy time;
comparing the satisfy time to the target time of the control plan;
updating the control plan based the comparison of the satisfy time to the target time of the control plan; and
repeating the steps of sending one or more control signals from the controller to the one or more heating ventilation and air-conditioning units, operating the one or more heating ventilation and air-conditioning units until the current temperature in the building equals the desired temperature in the building, determining the satisfy time, comparing the satisfy time to the target time, and updating the control plan based on the comparison of the satisfy time to the target time using the updated control plan when a new heating or cooling call is generated.
2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
communicatively coupling the one or more heating ventilation and air-conditioning units to the controller; and
discovering the one or more heating ventilation and air-conditioning units using the controller.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the controller further comprises a communication module.
4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the controller further comprises a terminal block communicatively coupled to a legacy thermostat.
5. The method of claim 2 , wherein discovering the one or more heating ventilation and air-conditioning units using the controller comprises:
identifying one or more of a type, a capacity, or a number of stages of each of the one or more heating ventilation and air-conditioning units.
6. The method of claim 2 , wherein discovering the one or more heating ventilation and air-conditioning units using the controller comprises:
using trial and error to identify one or more of a type, a capacity, or a number of stages of each of the one or more heating ventilation and air-conditioning units.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein, when the control plan includes a current capacity of the one or more capacities, a new capacity of the one or more capacities of the updated control plan is determined according to the equation:
New
Capacity
=
Current
Capacity
×
(
Satisfy
Time
Target
Time
)
×
Correction
Factor
.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein, when the control plan includes one or more stages, the control plan further includes a current low stage time, and a new low stage time of the updated control plan is determined according to the equation:
New
Low
Stage
Time
=
Current
Low
Stage
Time
×
(
Target
Time
Satisfy
Time
)
×
Correction
Factor
.
9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
communicatively coupling the one or more heating ventilation and air-conditioning units to the controller, wherein the controller comprises:
a processing unit and a memory module;
a communication module configured to exchange system data with a computing device;
a communicating equipment interface configured to communicate data with and control signals to communicating heating ventilation and air-conditioning units; and
a non-communicating equipment interface configured to control non-communicating heating ventilation and air-conditioning units.
10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
communicatively coupling the communicating equipment interface to a communicating heating ventilation and air-conditioning unit of the one or more heating ventilation and air-conditioning units; and
communicatively coupling the non-communicating equipment interface to a non-communicating heating ventilation and air-conditioning unit of the one or more heating ventilation and air-conditioning units.
11. The method of claim 9 further comprising:
exchanging system data between the communication module and the computing device; and
exchanging data between the communicating equipment interface and a communicating heating ventilation and air-conditioning unit of the one or more heating ventilation and air-conditioning units, wherein sending one or more control signals from the controller to the one or more heating ventilation and air-conditioning units based on the control plan comprises:
sending control signals from the communicating equipment interface to the communicating heating ventilation and air-conditioning unit; and
sending control signals from the non-communicating equipment interface to a non-communicating heating ventilation and air-conditioning unit of the one or more heating ventilation and air-conditioning units.
12. The method of claim 9 further comprising:
exchanging system data between the communication module and the computing device; and
exchanging data between the communicating equipment interface and a communicating heating ventilation and air-conditioning unit of the one or more heating ventilation and air-conditioning units, wherein sending one or more control signals from the controller to the one or more heating ventilation and air-conditioning units based on the control plan comprises:
sending control signals from the communicating equipment interface to the communicating heating ventilation and air-conditioning unit.
13. The method of claim 9 further comprising:
exchanging system data between the communication module and the computing device, wherein sending one or more control signals from the controller to the one or more heating ventilation and air-conditioning units based on the control plan comprises:
sending control signals from the non-communicating equipment interface to a non-communicating heating ventilation and air-conditioning unit of the one or more heating ventilation and air-conditioning units.
14. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
discovering the one or more coupled heating ventilation and air-conditioning units by trial and error.