Thermodynamic modeling for enclosures

Abstract

Modeling the behavior of an enclosure for use by a control system of an HVAC system is described. A model for the enclosure that describes the enclosure's behavior for use by the control system is updated based on weather forecast data. The weather forecast data can include predictions more than 24 hours in the future, and can include predictions on temperature, humidity and/or dew point, solar output, precipitation. The model for the enclosure can also be updated based on additional information and data. The model for the enclosure can be updated based also on an enclosure model stored in a database, and/or enclosure information from a user. The model can be updated based on active testing of the enclosure which can be performed automatically or in response to user input. The testing can include heating and/or cooling the enclosure at times when the enclosure is not likely occupied.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for modeling internal environmental behavior of an enclosure for use by a control system of an HVAC system installed in the enclosure comprising:
 creating, over time, an occupancy model of the enclosure capable of predicting when there will be no occupants in the enclosure;   determining an error in a current environmental model for the enclosure, wherein the current environmental model describes behavior of the enclosure for use by the control system, by comparing (i) predicted HVAC system performance according the current environmental model, with (ii) actual HVAC system performance; and   updating the current environmental model, if the error exceeds a particular threshold, by:
 predicting, from the occupancy model, a period of time when there will be no occupants in the enclosure; 
 accessing a weather forecast corresponding to the period of time; and 
 determining if an exterior temperature according to the accessed weather forecast is within a particular range, and if so:
 actively inducing, during the period of time, a change in an internal environment of the enclosure; 
 measuring a response of the internal environment of the enclosure at least in part due to the induced change; and 
 updating with a processing system the current environmental mode, the updating being based at least in part on the measurement of the response from the induced change.