Model based automatic climate control system for an improved thermal comfort

Abstract

A method of providing automatic climate control. A set point temperature input setting may be read. A cabin equivalent homogeneous temperature, computed real-time, may be compared to the set point temperature. A control value may be determined to equalize the cabin equivalent homogeneous temperature with the set point temperature.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of providing automatic climate control comprising reading a set point temperature input, comparing a cabin equivalent homogeneous temperature to the set point temperature, and generating a control value to equalize the cabin equivalent homogeneous temperature with the set point temperature. 
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1  further comprising calibrating using a fixed set point temperature regardless of the ambient temperature. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 2  further comprising selecting the fixed set point temperature based on a comfort rating. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1  further comprising providing a blower and a mode controller, and controlling the blower and the mode controller using the control value. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1  further comprising determining a steady state control value component, determining a transient control value component and combining the steady state control value component and the transient control value component. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1  further comprising sensing an ambient temperature, sensing a cabin temperature and using the ambient temperature and the cabin temperature to generate the control value. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1  further comprising setting a blower speed, setting a discharge temperature, and setting an HVAC mode all based on the cabin equivalent homogeneous temperature and the set point temperature. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1  further comprising determining a control error based on a difference between the cabin equivalent homogeneous temperature and the set point temperature. 
     
     
         9 . A method of providing automatic climate control of a heating, ventilating and air conditioning system comprising reading a set point temperature input, calculating a cabin equivalent homogeneous temperature, comparing the cabin equivalent homogeneous temperature to the set point temperature, and generating a control value to equalize the cabin equivalent homogeneous temperature with the set point temperature. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 9  further comprising calibrating using a fixed set point temperature regardless of the ambient temperature. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 10  wherein the fixed set point temperature is 22 degrees Celsius. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 9  further comprising providing a blower and a mode controller, and controlling the blower and the mode controller using the control value. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 9  further comprising determining a steady state control value component, determining a transient control value component and combining the steady state control value component and the transient control value component. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 9  further comprising sensing an ambient temperature, sensing a cabin temperature, and using the ambient temperature and the cabin temperature to generate the control value. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 9  further comprising setting a blower speed, setting a discharge temperature, and setting an HVAC mode all based on the cabin equivalent homogeneous temperature and the set point temperature. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 9  further comprising determining a control error based on a difference between the cabin equivalent homogeneous temperature and the set point temperature. 
     
     
         17 . A method of controlling an HVAC system comprising reading a set point temperature input, obtaining a cabin equivalent homogeneous temperature, comparing the cabin equivalent homogeneous temperature to the set point temperature, generating a control error based on a difference between the cabin equivalent homogeneous temperature and the set point temperature, determining a control value based on the control error, and adjusting the HVAC system based on the control value. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17  further comprising determining a steady state control value component, determining a transient control value component and combining the steady state control value component and the transient control value component to obtain the control value. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 9  further comprising sensing an ambient temperature, sensing a cabin temperature and using the ambient temperature and the cabin temperature to determine both the steady state control value component and the transient control value component. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 17  further comprising setting a blower speed, setting a discharge temperature, and setting an HVAC mode all based on the cabin equivalent homogeneous temperature and the set point temperature.