US7966104B2
Active / In Force
US
⏱️ 1.4 years remaining
Apparatus and method for the control of the indoor thermal environment having feed forward and feedback control using adaptive reference models
Assignee: Siemens Corp
•
Filing: 2008-03-25
•
Granted: 2011-06-21
•
Expires: 2028-03-25
Abstract
Abstract A controller for controlling thermal sources affecting an air temperature in a space subjected to thermal variables, including a sensor network measuring the thermal variables; a feed forward controller generating a feed forward control signal based on an adaptive model including a model of the space and a model of the thermal sources, wherein the models are formed utilizing data from the sensor network; a feedback controller generating a feedback control signal based on a difference between an output of the feed forward controller and output from the space; and a combiner combining the feed forward and feedback control signals to produce a control signal for controlling the thermal sources to control the air temperatures of the space.
Inventors
- 👤 Viraj Srivastava
- 👤 Chellury R. Sastry
- 👤 David H. Archer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 06:56
CPC Classifications
G; G05; G05B; G05B13/00; G05B13/02; G05B13/04; G05B13/042; G05B13/044; G05D; G05D23/00; G05D23/19; G05D23/1919
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
119 words
A controller for controlling thermal sources affecting an air temperature in a space subjected to thermal variables, comprising: a sensor network measuring the thermal variables; a feed forward controller generating a feed forward control signal based on an adaptive model including a model of the space and a model of the thermal sources, wherein the models are formed utilizing data from the sensor network; a feedback controller generating a feedback control signal based on a difference between an output of the feed forward controller and output from the space; and a combiner averaging the feed forward and feedback control signals to produce a combined control signal for controlling the thermal sources to control the air temperatures of the space.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
119 words
A controller for controlling thermal sources affecting an air temperature in a space subjected to thermal variables, comprising: a sensor network measuring the thermal variables; a feed forward controller generating a feed forward control signal based on an adaptive model including a model of the space and a model of the thermal sources, wherein the models are formed utilizing data from the sensor network; a feedback controller generating a feedback control signal based on a difference between an output of the feed forward controller and output from the space; and a combiner averaging the feed forward and feedback control signals to produce a combined control signal for controlling the thermal sources to control the air temperatures of the space.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The controller of claim 1 , wherein the models are updated using past system performance.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The controller of claim 2 , wherein the thermal variables measured by the sensor network include outdoor air temperature, indoor air temperature, humidity, and radiant surface temperature.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
The controller of claim 3 , wherein the adaptive model of the feed forward controller uses the outdoor air temperature, indoor air temperature, humidity, and radiant surface temperature to calculate a comfort air temperature setpoint.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The controller of claim 4 , wherein the feed forward controller includes as an input the calculated comfort air temperature setpoint.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
53 words
The controller of claim 4 , wherein the model of the space outputs a calculated quantity of thermal energy required using the calculated comfort air temperature setpoint and the thermal variables measured by the sensor network, and the calculated quantity of thermal energy required is output to the model of the thermal sources.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
The controller of claim 1 , wherein the thermal sources include fan coil units, radiant systems, and air handlers.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
The controller of claim 7 , wherein the thermal sources are activated in a sequence based on their respective energy consumptions and response times.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
The controller of claim 1 , wherein the feed forward controller includes as air input the thermal variables measured by the sensor network.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
The controller of claim 1 , wherein one of the models include a model of equipment within the space, and wherein the model of the equipment is formed using performance data of the equipment.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
The controller of claim 1 , wherein the model of the space includes mode switching.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
104 words
A method for controlling thermal sources affecting an air temperature in a space subjected to thermal variables, comprising: measuring the thermal variables; generating a feed forward control signal based on an adaptive model including a model of the space and a model of the thermal sources, wherein the models are formed utilizing the measured thermal variables; generating a feedback control signal based on a difference between the feedback control signal and an output from the space; and averaging the feed forward and feedback control signals to produce a combined control signal for controlling the thermal sources to control the air temperature of the space.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
104 words
A method for controlling thermal sources affecting an air temperature in a space subjected to thermal variables, comprising: measuring the thermal variables; generating a feed forward control signal based on an adaptive model including a model of the space and a model of the thermal sources, wherein the models are formed utilizing the measured thermal variables; generating a feedback control signal based on a difference between the feedback control signal and an output from the space; and averaging the feed forward and feedback control signals to produce a combined control signal for controlling the thermal sources to control the air temperature of the space.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 12 , wherein the models are updated using past system performance.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 13 , wherein the thermal variables include outdoor air temperature, indoor air temperature, humidity, and radiant surface temperature.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 14 , wherein the adaptive model uses the outdoor air temperature, indoor air temperature, humidity, and radiant surface temperature to calculate a comfort air temperature setpoint.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 15 , wherein the model of the space outputs a calculated quantity of thermal energy required using the calculated comfort air temperature setpoint and the measured thermal variables, and the calculated quantity of thermal energy required is input to the model of the thermal sources.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 12 , wherein the thermal sources include fan coil units, radiant systems, and air handlers.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 12 , wherein one of the models include a model of equipment within the space, and wherein the model of the equipment is formed using performance data of the equipment.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
104 words
An apparatus for controlling thermal sources affecting an air temperature in a space subjected to thermal variables, comprising: a sensor network measuring the thermal variables; a feed forward controller generating a feed forward control signal based on an adaptive model formed utilizing data from the sensor network; a feedback controller generating a feedback control signal based on a difference between an output of the feed forward controller and a thermal output from the space; and a combiner averaging the feed forward and feedback control signals to produce a combined control signal for controlling the thermal sources to control the air temperatures of the space.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
104 words
An apparatus for controlling thermal sources affecting an air temperature in a space subjected to thermal variables, comprising: a sensor network measuring the thermal variables; a feed forward controller generating a feed forward control signal based on an adaptive model formed utilizing data from the sensor network; a feedback controller generating a feedback control signal based on a difference between an output of the feed forward controller and a thermal output from the space; and a combiner averaging the feed forward and feedback control signals to produce a combined control signal for controlling the thermal sources to control the air temperatures of the space.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein the adaptive model includes a model of the space and a model of the thermal sources.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein the adaptive model is updated using historical data measured by the sensor network.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 21 , wherein the adaptive model uses a lookup table.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein the space is a building and includes a plurality of rooms.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2014-06-20 | 2014-12-20 | 2015-06-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2018-06-20 | 2018-12-20 | 2019-06-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2022-06-20 | 2022-12-20 | 2023-06-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |