TEMPERATURE SET VERSUS ANOMALY DETECTION FOR A SMART SPACE IN A BUILDING
A method/system monitors and controls operational aspects of devices in a space, for example a living, office or other human-occupied space or storage space, in a building, such as turning lights on/off, raising/lowering blinds, maintaining or changing temperature, and other operational aspects. Sensors monitor energy usage of the devices in the space, and a controller/engine compares the monitored energy usage with reference energy usage to validate whether the devices are performing as expected. A temperate set-versus-anomaly detection technique may use temperature set point adjustments by a user (during a timeframe) to determine whether an anomaly exists that requires changes in the central plant of the building.
1 . A method to monitor and control heating and cooling associated with a smart space in a building, the method comprising:
receiving a first user input that specifies a first temperature set point for the smart space, wherein the heating and cooling in the building is respectively provided by heated and chilled water circulated in a pre-installed piping system provided by a central plant of the building;
changing, by the piping system, an actual temperature in the space towards the first temperature set point;
while changing the actual temperature towards the first temperature set point, receiving at least a second user input that specifies an adjustment from a current temperature set point to at least a second temperature set point for the smart space in an attempt to more quickly achieve the first temperature set point;
in response to the actual temperature in the space having reached the first temperature set point, determining whether a time to reach the first temperature set point is above a reference average time; and
in response to determination that the time to reach the first temperature set point is above the reference average time, sending a first alert to instruct a temperature set point adjustment at the central plant.
2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
in response to determination that a number of user inputs, which specify changes in temperature set points for the space, exceed a threshold number for a timeframe while the actual temperature is changing, sending a second alert to instruct the temperature set point adjustment at the central plant.
3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising performing the temperature set point adjustment in the central plant, in response to a plurality of users, for which the time to reach the first temperature set point in their respective smart spaces is above the reference average time, exceeds a threshold number of users.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the smart space in the building includes at least one of: a smart living, office, or other human-occupy-able space or a smart storage space in the building, and wherein the smart space is defined by pre-manufactured ceiling, floor, and wall panels that are attached to a structural frame of the building, and
the heated water is provided by at least one boiler or at least one air source heat pump (ASHP) of the central plant, and the chilled water is provided by the at least one ASHP.
5 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
in response to the actual temperature in the space failing to reach the first temperature set point, sending the first alert to instruct the temperature set point adjustment at the central plant.
6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining, while the actual temperature in the space is changing, whether a rate of change of the actual temperature matches a reference rate of change; and
in response to determination that a number of user inputs, which specify changes in temperature set points for the space, exceed a threshold number for a timeframe while the actual temperature is changing according to the determined rate of change that matches the reference rate of change, sending a second alert to instruct the temperature set point adjustment at the central plant.
7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining, while the actual temperature in the smart space is changing, whether a rate of change of the actual temperature matches a reference rate of change, wherein the reference rate of change is based on historical data for the building.
8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the historical data includes rates of change based on one or more of: a location of the space in the building, a configuration of the space, an environmental condition outside of the building, position of window coverings of the space, window exposure of the space, insulation of the space, time of day, and season.
9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the temperature set point adjustment at the central plant includes pre-chilling the water prior to circulation in the pipes for cooling, or increasing temperature of the water prior to circulation in the pipes for heating.
10 . A system, comprising:
a controller; and
a non-transitory computer-readable medium coupled to the controller and having instructions stored thereon, which in response to execution by the controller, cause the controller to perform or manage performance of operations to:
receive a first user input that specifies a first temperature set point for a smart space in a building, wherein the heating and cooling in the building is respectively provided by heated and chilled water circulated in a pre-installed piping system provided by a central plant of the building;
change an actual temperature in the space towards the first temperature set point;
while changing the actual temperature towards the first temperature set point, receive at least a second user input that specifies an adjustment from a current temperature set point to at least a second temperature set point for the smart space in an attempt to more quickly achieve the first temperature set point;
in response to an actual temperature in the space having reached the first temperature set point, determine whether a time to reach the first temperature set point is above a reference average time; and
in response to determination that the time to reach the first temperature set point is above the reference average time, send a first alert to instruct a temperature set point adjustment at the central plant.
11 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the operations further comprise:
in response to determination that a number of user inputs, which specify changes in temperature set points for the space, exceed a threshold number for a timeframe while the actual temperature is changing, send a second alert to instruct the temperature set point adjustment at the central plant.
12 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the operations further comprise:
perform the temperature set point adjustment in the central plant, in response to a plurality of users, for which the time to reach the first temperature set point in their respective smart spaces is above the reference average time, exceeds a threshold number of users.
13 . The system of claim 10 , wherein:
the smart space in the building includes at least one of: a smart living, office, or other human-occupy-able space or a smart storage space in the building, and wherein the smart space is defined by pre-manufactured ceiling, floor, and wall panels that are attached to a structural frame of the building, and
the heated water is provided by at least one boiler or at least one air source heat pump (ASHP) of the central plant, and the chilled water is provided by the at least one ASHP.
14 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the operations further comprise:
in response to the actual temperature in the space failing to reach the first temperature set point, send the first alert to instruct the temperature set point adjustment at the central plant.
15 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the operations further comprise:
determine, while the actual temperature in the space is changing, whether a rate of change of the actual temperature matches a reference rate of change; and
in response to determination that a number of user inputs, which specify changes in temperature set points for the space, exceed a threshold number for a timeframe while the actual temperature is changing according to the determined rate of change that matches the reference rate of change, send a second alert to instruct the temperature set point adjustment at the central plant.
16 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the operations further comprise:
determine, while the actual temperature in the smart space is changing, whether a rate of change of the actual temperature matches a reference rate of change, wherein the reference rate of change is based on historical data for the building.
17 . The system of claim 16 , wherein the historical data includes rates of change based on one or more of: a location of the space in the building, a configuration of the space, an environmental condition outside of the building, position of window coverings of the space, window exposure of the space, insulation of the space, time of day, and season.
18 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the temperature set point adjustment at the central plant includes s pre-chill of the water prior to circulation in the pipes for cooling, or an increase of the temperature of the water prior to circulation in the pipes for heating.
19 . The system of claim 10 , further comprising a machine-learning unit coupled to the controller, and operative to determine whether a number of user inputs to specify temperature set points, while the actual temperature in the space is changing, is indicative of user acceptance of the actual temperature.
20 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon, which in response to execution by a controller, cause the controller to perform or manage performance of operations that comprise:
receiving a first user input that specifies a first temperature set point for a smart space in a building, wherein the heating and cooling in the building is respectively provided by heated and chilled water circulated in a pre-installed piping system provided by a central plant of the building;
changing, by the piping system, an actual temperature in the space towards the first temperature set point;
while changing the actual temperature towards the first temperature set point, receiving at least a second user input that specifies an adjustment from a current temperature set point to at least a second temperature set point for the smart space in an attempt to more quickly achieve the first temperature set point;
in response to an actual temperature in the space having reached the first temperature set point, determining whether a time to reach the first temperature set point is above a reference average time; and
in response to determination that the time to reach the first temperature set point is above the reference average time, sending a first alert to instruct a temperature set point adjustment at the central plant.