Apparatus and method for adaptively applying central hvac system and individual hvac system

Abstract

A method and apparatus for adaptively applying a central heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system and an individual HVAC system are provided. The method includes analyzing comfort levels of a core zone and a perimeter zone in a building by comparing temperatures of the core zone and the perimeter zone with a set temperature, comparing a difference between the temperatures of the core zone and the perimeter zone with an environmental parameter, if only one of the core zone and the perimeter zone is comfortable as a result of the analysis, and changing a currently operating HVAC system based on a result of the comparison.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for adaptively applying a central heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system and an individual HVAC system, the method comprising:
 analyzing comfort levels of a core zone and a perimeter zone in a building by comparing temperatures of the core zone and the perimeter zone with a set temperature;   comparing, if the core zone or the perimeter zone is comfortable as a result of the analysis, a difference between the temperatures of the core zone and the perimeter zone with an environmental parameter; and   changing a currently operating HVAC system based on a result of the comparison.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the environmental parameter includes at least one of a first parameter indicating a compensation temperature that the core zone is capable of acquiring through the perimeter zone, a second parameter indicating a limit for the difference between the temperatures of the core zone and the perimeter zone, considered if the perimeter zone is comfortable, and a third parameter indicating a limit for the difference between the temperatures of the core zone and the perimeter zone, considered if the core zone is comfortable, and is updated based on continuous monitoring and data collection. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the changing of the currently operating HVAC system comprises:
 determining, if the perimeter zone is comfortable as a result of the analysis, whether the difference between the temperatures of the core zone and the perimeter zone is equal to or larger than the second parameter;   switching, if the difference between the temperatures of the core zone and the perimeter zone is equal to or larger than the second parameter, the currently operating HVAC system to the central HVAC system; and   maintaining, if the difference between the temperatures of the core zone and the perimeter zone is less than the second parameter, the currently operating HVAC system.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the changing of the currently operating HVAC system comprises:
 determining, if the core zone is comfortable as a result of the analysis, whether the difference between the temperatures of the core zone and the perimeter zone is equal to or larger than the third parameter;   switching, if the difference between the temperatures of the core zone and the perimeter zone is equal to or larger than the third parameter, the currently operating HVAC system to the individual HVAC system; and   maintaining, if the difference between the temperatures of the core zone and the perimeter zone is less than the third parameter, the currently operating HVAC system.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 operating, if both of the core zone and the perimeter zone are not comfortable, the central HVAC system;   determining whether a difference between the temperature of the core zone and the set temperature is equal to or less than the first parameter;   operating, if the difference between the temperature of the core zone and the set temperature is equal to or less than the first parameter, the individual HVAC system; and   operating, if the difference between the temperature of the core zone and the set temperature is larger than the first parameter, the central HVAC system.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising discontinuing, if both of the core zone and the perimeter zone are comfortable, operation of the currently operating HVAC system. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the second parameter and the third parameter are controlled based on at least one of an energy use amount, a temperature change gradient of the core zone or the perimeter zone, an operation level of a related HVAC system, the compensation temperature, a predicted mean vote (PMV), an indoor air quality (IAQ) index, and a user-set duration. 
     
     
         8 . A method for adaptively applying a central heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system and an individual HVAC system, the method comprising:
 predicting energy consumptions of each of the central HVAC system and the individual HVAC system;   selecting a HVAC system having the smaller predicted energy consumption between the central HVAC system and the individual HVAC system;   identifying whether a currently operating HVAC system satisfies a predetermined constraint; and   determining whether to operate the selected HVAC system based on the identified result.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the predetermined constraint includes at least one of a predetermined carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) level, a predetermined carbon oxide (CO) level, a predetermined temperature difference between a core zone and a perimeter zone, reception or non-reception of a request for a response signal, a predetermined predicted mean vote (PMV) difference between the core zone and the perimeter zone, a predetermined energy consumption difference between the core zone and the perimeter zone, and a predetermined heat amount, and
 wherein the predicted energy consumptions are modeled based on environmental data, and the environmental data includes at least one of an outdoor temperature, an average outdoor temperature, a radiant temperature, a set temperature, a core zone temperature, a perimeter zone temperature, a carbon oxide (CO) level, and a carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) level.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the determination of whether to operate the selected HVAC system comprises:
 operating, if the currently operating HVAC system satisfies the predetermined constraint, the selected HVAC system; and   operating, if the currently operating HVAC system does not satisfy the predetermined constraint, the other unselected HVAC system.   
     
     
         11 . An apparatus for adaptively applying a central heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system and an individual HVAC system, the apparatus comprising:
 a controller configured to:
 analyze comfort levels of a core zone and a perimeter zone in a building by comparing temperatures of the core zone and the perimeter zone with a set temperature, 
 compare a difference between the temperatures of the core zone and the perimeter zone with an environmental parameter, and 
 change, if the core zone or the perimeter zone is comfortable as a result of the analysis, a currently operating HVAC system based on a result of the comparison; and 
   a transceiver configured to transmit and receive signals related to the controller.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the environmental parameter includes at least one of a first parameter indicating a compensation temperature that the core zone is capable of acquiring through the perimeter zone, a second parameter indicating a limit for the difference between the temperatures of the core zone and the perimeter zone, considered if the perimeter zone is comfortable, and a third parameter indicating a limit for the difference between the temperatures of the core zone and the perimeter zone, considered if the core zone is comfortable, and is updated based on continuous monitoring and data collection. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
 determine, if the perimeter zone is comfortable as a result of the analysis, whether the difference between the temperatures of the core zone and the perimeter zone is equal to or larger than the second parameter,   maintain, if the difference between the temperatures of the core zone and the perimeter zone is less than the second parameter, the currently operating HVAC system, and   switch, if the difference between the temperatures of the core zone and the perimeter zone is equal to or larger than the second parameter, the currently operating HVAC system to the central HVAC system.   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
 determine, if the core zone is comfortable as a result of the analysis, whether the difference between the temperatures of the core zone and the perimeter zone is equal to or larger than the third parameter,   maintain, if the difference between the temperatures of the core zone and the perimeter zone is less than the third parameter, the currently operating HVAC system, and   switch, if the difference between the temperatures of the core zone and the perimeter zone is equal to or larger the third parameter, the currently operating HVAC system to the individual HVAC system.   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
 operating, if both of the core zone and the perimeter zone are not comfortable, the central HVAC system,   determine whether a difference between the temperature of the core zone and the set temperature is equal to or less than the first parameter,   operate, if the difference between the temperature of the core zone and the set temperature is less than or equal to than the first parameter, the individual HVAC system, and   operate, if the difference between the temperature of the core zone and the set temperature is larger than the first parameter, the central HVAC system.   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein if both of the core zone and the perimeter zone are comfortable, the controller is further configured to discontinue operation of the currently operating HVAC system. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the second parameter and the third parameter are controlled based on at least one of an energy use amount, a temperature change gradient of the core zone or the perimeter zone, an operation level of a related HVAC system, the compensation temperature, a predicted mean vote (PMV), an indoor air quality (IAQ) index, and a user-set duration. 
     
     
         18 . An apparatus for adaptively applying a central heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system and an individual HVAC system, the apparatus comprising:
 a controller configured to:
 predict energy consumptions of each of the central HVAC system and the individual HVAC system, 
 select a HVAC system having a smaller predicted energy consumption between the central HVAC system and the individual HVAC system, 
 identifying whether a currently operating HVAC system satisfies a predetermined constraint, and 
 determine whether to operate the selected HVAC system based on the identified result; and 
   a transceiver configured to transmit and receive signals related to the controller.   
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the predetermined constraint includes at least one of a predetermined carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) level, a predetermined carbon oxide (CO) level, a predetermined temperature difference between a core zone and a perimeter zone, reception or non-reception of a request for a response signal, a predetermined predicted mean vote (PMV) difference between the core zone and the perimeter zone, a predetermined energy consumption difference between the core zone and the perimeter zone, and a predetermined heat amount,
 wherein the predicted energy consumptions are modeled based on environmental data, and   wherein the environmental data includes at least one of an outdoor temperature, an average outdoor temperature, a radiant temperature, a set temperature, a core zone temperature, a perimeter zone temperature, a carbon oxide (CO) level, and a carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) level.   
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
 operate, if the currently operating HVAC system satisfies the predetermined constraint, the selected HVAC system, and   operate, if the currently operating HVAC system does not satisfy the predetermined constraint, the other unselected HVAC system.