System and method for controlling target air temperature in a target time in a building
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 system for controlling air temperature in a building, comprising:
one or more temperature sensors;
an indoor heating ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) unit comprising a furnace; and
a controller incorporated into the indoor HVAC unit and communicatively coupled to the furnace and the one or more temperature sensors, wherein the controller is configured to operate the furnace in accordance with a temperature control plan to reach a target air temperature at the one or more temperature sensors in a target time.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller comprises:
a communication module configured to communicate with one or more devices; and
an equipment interface configured to communicate control signals to the furnace to control operation of the furnace.
3. The system of claim 2 , wherein:
the one or more devices comprises one or more computing devices; and
the controller is configured to receive at least one of the target air temperature or the target time from the one or more computing devices.
4. The system of claim 2 , wherein the communication module is configured to communicate with the one or more devices wirelessly.
5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to determine the temperature control plan by:
operating the furnace according to the temperature control plan;
determining an actual time taken for achieving the target air temperature; and
modifying the temperature control plan when the actual time is not equal to the target time.
6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the controller is configured to repeat the steps of determining the actual time and modifying the temperature control plan when the actual time is not equal to the target time.
7. The system of claim 5 , wherein:
the temperature control plan comprises:
instructions for a length of time to operate the furnace; and
instructions for a capacity at which the furnace is to be operated; and
modifying the temperature control plan comprises modifying at least one of the instructions for the length of time to run the furnace or the instructions for the capacity at which the furnace is to be run.
8. The system of claim 5 , wherein:
the furnace is a multi-stage furnace;
the temperature control plan comprises:
instructions for a length of time to operate the furnace; and
instructions for a stage at which the furnace is to be operated; and
modifying the temperature control plan comprises modifying at least one of the instructions for the length of time to run the furnace or the instructions for the stage at which the furnace is to be run.
9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the system does not include a thermostat.
10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more temperature sensors are disposed within the building, and wherein the one or more temperature sensors are configured to measure the air temperature within the building.
11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the one or more temperature sensors are disposed in one or more rooms of the building.
12. The system of claim 10 , further comprising a ductwork, wherein the one or more temperature sensors are disposed in the ductwork.
13. A method for controlling air temperature in a building, comprising:
wirelessly receiving as user input a target air temperature and a target time; and
operating a furnace of a heating ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) system to achieve the target air temperature in the target time, wherein the operating the furnace comprises:
operating the furnace according to a temperature control plan;
determining an actual time taken for achieving the target air temperature; and
modifying the temperature control plan when the actual time is not same as the target time.
14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising repeating the steps of determining the actual time and modifying the temperature control plan.
15. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
incorporating and communicatively coupling a controller to the furnace; and
communicatively coupling the controller to one or more temperature sensors,
wherein the controller operates the furnace based on the temperature control plan.
16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:
measuring an air temperature in the building using one or more temperature sensors; and determining at least one of the initial control plan or the modified control plan based on the measurements.
17. The method of claim 13 , wherein the control plan is based on a heating ventilation and air-conditioning unit capacity and further comprises a current capacity, a new capacity, and an optional correction factor.
18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the control plan is updated according to the equation:
New
Capacity
=
Current
Capacity
×
(
Satisfy
Time
Target
Time
)
×
Correction
Factor
.
19. The method of claim 13 , wherein the control plan is based on a heating ventilation and air-conditioning unit low stage time and further comprises a current low stage time, a new low stage time, and an optional correction factor.
20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the control plan is updated according to the equation:
New
Low
Stage
Time
=
Current
Low
Stage
Time
×
(
Target
Time
Satisfy
Time
)
×
Correction
Factor
.